A mother of two has raised more than £1,300, after first dying her hair pink and then shaving it off for charity.

Cheryl Curtis lost her natural brunette colour at the start of October, to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month.

And today, one month later, she was given a very short, back and sides while supported by her friends, family and work colleagues at Hair by Aquarius.

Staff also wore pink t-shirts and a balloon arch greeted visitors to the salon, in Courtlands Drive, Watford.

Cheryl, a bio sculpture nail technician at Aquarius, said the motivation behind her new haircut came from members of her family and a client who had suffered with breast cancer.

“I wanted to do something for charity. This seemed to be the most drastic thing to do to raise the most amount of money,” she said.

“I've been walking round looking like a marshmallow for the last month.”

Cheryl, 35, cut her hair in stages, before having it shaved to a Grade 2 length today and in total, she has raised £1,350 for Breast Cancer Care.

She said: “It's a disease that they need to find a cure for. I don't think enough's being done to help people in terms of finding a cure.”

Cheryl said friends thought she was “mad” to shave her head, but added she was really pleased with the levels of support she received, from salon clients to people stopping her and asking about her pink hair.

Parents at Nascot Wood Junior School, in Nascot Wood Road, Watford, where her two sons George, 6, and Teddy, 4, are both pupils, also donated money to her appeal.

Earlier this morning, Cheryl was “incredibly nervous” as she awaited her appointment at 12pm but was ultimately pleased with her new look.

She said: “I was a bit apprehensive. I was worrying about it for so long. My sons were really concerned I would look like a man. I was just a bit worried about what it would look like. But I love it.”

Salon owner Marlene France said: “I think it's really brave, really gutsy. I couldn't have done it. You wouldn't have seen me for six months.”

Barry, 36, an electrician, added: “I think she's pretty enough to carry it off. I'm proud of her, dead chuffed. What she's done has been quite emotional for her – raising money and what she's been through now. She's done really well.”

To sponsor Cheryl, visit www.justgiving.com/cherylcurtis.