AN USK hairdresser who has fitted thousands of wigs for cancer and alopecia patients across Gwent has been honoured for his support of the hair care industry and his tireless work for the treatment of hair loss in chemotherapy.

Phillip Mungeam, who owns the members-only salon The Room and is founder of wig company Peruke on Bridge Street, Usk, was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the third National Hairdressers Federation’s Welsh Hairdressing and Beauty Awards 2015, held at The Angel Hotel, Cardiff.

The awards are one of the highlights of the Welsh hairdressing calendar and recognise the best professionals in the industry.

Mr Mungeam, 63, was recognised by a panel of industry judges for his work during a career spanning more than three decades.

The entrepreneur has successfully run salons in Abergavenny and at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, has worked alongside celebrity stylist Andrew Collinge, with Tresemme and Aveda at exhibitions and seminars throughout the country as well as contributing to leading journals.

He has appeared on ITV Wales’ House to House series, QVC and Aveda cosmetics, spent time educating and mentoring students and has supplied wigs to the NHS for almost a decade.

Welsh TV personality Sian Lloyd speaking at the awards said: “He is a passionate advocate of compassionate treatment of hair loss and chemotherapy. He supplies wigs which are styled to provide dignity and beauty.

“He is incredibly passionate about his charity work and has incorporated it into his career in a two-and-a-half-hour one-man show, during which he entertains while talking about hair and makes amazing transformations on stage.

“He works very closely with the Welsh Alopecia Society, St David’s Hospice, The Little Princess Trust and the Breast Cancer Support Group and The Haven in Hereford.

“He founded Peruke for adults and children suffering from cancer and alopecia after being totally astonished at the way these people were treated when getting their wigs. “He feels passionate they should be treated with dignity and offered better help. So the focus is on beauty with dignity.”

Mr Mungeam said: “It’s a great honour to be recognised by the industry. I feel passionately that those suffering hair loss should be treated with more dignity and offered more help. It’s amazing, heart-warming, sometimes distressing but to see cancer patients, especially children, leaving with a smile makes it all worthwhile.

“I know I am a workaholic but Vidal Sassoon once said that success comes before work only in the dictionary.”

The National Hairdressers Federation Wales president and Cardiff salon owner Mark Coray said: “The Hall of Fame award is given for delivery above and beyond what is expected and for the good of hairdressing. Phillip is committed to working with cancer charities and is a great ambassador for the Welsh hair industry.”