Malaysian artist shaves hair off for charity on her birthday

Teo shaving her hair in aid of cancer survivors. Photo: Beth Teo

For most people, birthdays are about receiving – presents, attention and well-wishes.

But for 33-year-old fluid artist Beth Teo, birthdays are about giving back, making a difference and creating meaningful connections.

Teo says that shaving her hair in aid of cancer survivors has taught her about self-image and self-acceptance. Photo: Beth Teo

She marked her birthday on March 9 in a way that truly stands out – by shaving her hair to raise awareness for cancer survivors and spending time with the elderly at a care home.

This selfless act was the culmination of a year-long journey, one that began with a commitment to grow her hair long enough to be donated to cancer patients.

Inspired by a fashion designer friend who went bald for charity, Teo started her plan a year ago.

“It has to be at least 15cm long for donation to cancer survivors, and it took me that long to grow it,” she shares, adding that she donated it via Locks of Hope, a Malaysian association which turns hair donations into wigs for cancer patients.

“Hair loss, one of the side effects of chemotherapy, is difficult to face, especially for women and children.”

Teo made the choice not just to donate her hair, but to shave it all off, a personal pursuit to break free from the fear of other people’s opinions.

“Cancer patients have no choice but to shave their hair... but as someone who doesn’t have cancer, I have a choice. I wanted to create that awareness that it’s fine to be bald. It’s just hair,” she reflects.

Supporting her in this brave step was her boyfriend, Vincent Kor, who shaved his own hair alongside her. While his hair wasn’t long enough to be donated, he did it purely as a gesture of love and support.

“It’s not an easy step to take, and I just wanted to show her my support,” he says.

 

Meaningful connection

 

 

Teo giving out flowers to the residents of the home. Photo: Beth Teo

Teo’s birthday also took her to the Shan Xing Welfare Organisation for the Elderly in Puchong, Selangor.

“The small home only has 14 residents, many of whom don’t have family members to visit them because they were either abandoned or their relatives have passed away,” she says, adding that’s one of the reasons she selected this home.

There, together with her boyfriend Kor and their three friends – Michael Chuah, Noveil Lie and Elise Seah – Teo spent time teaching the residents fluid art, a tradition she started last year in honour of her late grandmother, Cindy Hue, whose giving spirit deeply influenced Teo’s approach to life.

Also known as flow art or acrylic paint pouring, it is a form of abstract art where paints are poured on canvas to create unique, flowing designs.

She says her tradition is more than just about art – it’s about connection.

“Most of them don’t have the chance to experience this type of art, so I hope to bring it to them and give them the opportunity to try fluid art for free,” she shares.

The residents enjoyed the art session, sang birthday songs, had some birthday cake and each received a flower – a tribute to her late grandmother.

“My grandma was a giver at heart and she loved giving to people.”

 

Journey of self-discovery

 

Teo ropes in her friends (clockwise top left) Chuah, Lie, and Seah, and boyfriend Kor (top right), to visit the residents of the home. Photo: Beth Teo

Shaving her head also turned out to be a profound journey of self-discovery, Teo says.

“I was always worried about what others thought of me,” Teo reveals. “By doing this, I hope to break through that fear.”

Although nervous before the shave, she found herself unexpectedly excited about the transformation. However, the real emotional test came later, when she revealed her bald head to friends and family, facing mixed reactions.

One particularly moving moment was when cancer patients reached out to Teo on social media, expressing how her act inspired them to embrace their own appearance more confidently.

For Teo, birthdays are no longer just about receiving.

“Why not make someone else smile on your birthday?” she says. “It doesn’t have to be extravagant. You can visit an orphanage, spend time with the elderly or even volunteer to help with environmental or other causes,” she says.