When Magalie Lameloise was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time at the age of 40 she knew she would face a series of challenges.

Key points: Port Macquarie's Jigna Chauhan offers free henna crowns to women who have lost their hair during chemotherapy

Port Macquarie's Jigna Chauhan offers free henna crowns to women who have lost their hair during chemotherapy The women say the henna crowns are helping them feel more confident and positive

The women say the henna crowns are helping them feel more confident and positive The Cancer Council says it is a great way to help boost women's self-image

One of them was going through chemotherapy and losing her hair, and also explaining that to her young son.

"I didn't want my son Ben to feel ashamed about me losing my hair," Ms Lameloise said.

"So I explained to him that losing my hair is a good thing, it means the medication is working.

"Since that we have always been laughing about it, which made the journey much easier for me."

Ms Lameloise also found comfort in an unexpected way after hearing about a woman in her home town of Port Macquarie, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, who was offering free henna crowns to cancer patients.

"When I heard that a lady was doing henna for free, for women going through chemo, I decided to give it a try," she said.

"The experience was great. I felt pretty being bald."

Enjoying giving cancer patients a reason to smile

Jigna Chauhan offers free henna crowns to women who have lost their hair during cancer treatments. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

Ms Lameloise received her henna crown from Jigna Chauhan, who goes by the nickname Sonu, and runs a brow and body art salon in Port Macquarie.

Ms Chauhan said she started offering henna crowns as she wanted to help women who had lost their hair during cancer treatments feel good again.

"I found after doing henna crowns all the women had beautiful smiles on their face. I love to do this to make people happy," she said.

Wendy Wilkinson said her henna crown helped her feel confident. ( Supplied: Wendy Wilkinson )

"I found that after losing their hair so many women wear a scarf to cover their head. I started by doing a henna crown for a friend and she was very happy. That's what inspired me," she said.

"After having a henna crown done, people don't have to wear a scarf again.

"They are happy with their designs, and say people are stopping them and asking 'where did you get them done? They look so beautiful'.

"I am so proud that I am part of these women's journeys and to give them that beautiful smile and more confidence."

Ms Chauhan said she had been working with henna since she was a small child.

Jigna Chauhan said she had been creating henna art since she was a little girl in India. ( ABC News: Emma Siossian )

"I have been doing this for many years, since I was little. I am from India and this is my cultural thing," she said.

"I make fresh henna, because that's best for sensitive skin."

A sense of empowerment

Wendy Wilkinson also received a henna crown from Ms Chauhan and decided to include an empowering message about 'kicking cancer'.

Her aim was to get people talking in a positive way and to avoid feeling like a victim.

"I felt pretty special when I got my henna crown — a sense of empowerment in a way because I really was kicking cancer's butt," Ms Wilkinson said.

This Henna Crown contained the words 'Kicking Cancer'. ( Supplied: Wendy Wilkinson )

"I'd like to think I might have inspired other women to embrace their baldness too."

The CEO of Cancer Council Australia, Professor Sanchia Aranda, said henna crowns were a great idea.

Ms Aranda said cancer treatments often resulted in hair loss and weight gain, which could affect women's self-esteem and body image.

"Henna crowns are one new thing in the range of programs that can help women," she said.

Magalie Lameloise with Jigna Chauhan — Ms Chauhan said she loved being able to make cancer patients happy by offering henna crowns. ( Supplied: Magalie Lameloise )

"We've had things like 'Look good, feel better' for many years that help women with make-up and scarves, and how to make themselves feel attractive, and henna crowns are a great addition to that mix.

"It creates a fun and positive conversation with children in particular.

"I think it's important for women to be able to express not only how they are feeling, but also put out positive expressions. That this is something that we are going to get through."

Henna crown photo receives public support

Ben receives his People's Choice Award for a photo of his mother Magalie Lameloise with her henna crown. ( Supplied: Magalie Lameloise )

Ms Lameloise's henna crown received plenty of positive attention.

A photo taken of Ms Lameloise with her crown, captured by her son Ben, went on to win the People's Choice Award in a Your Health National photographic competition, run by the Mid North Coast Local Health District.

"This whole experience has been such an incredible adventure for [both my] son and me," Ms Lameloise said.

