Italian-Chilean hair stylist Marcelo Avatte and his team are helping children in Santiago, Chile, regain their self-esteem and confidence during cancer treatment.

Renowned in Chile for making customised wigs, Avatte has donated more than 300 wigs since 2009.

He says he was motivated to begin the project by the pain he felt when his own son lost his hair during chemotherapy.

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Alexandra Munoz, 5, who lost her hair due to chemotherapy for a brain tumor, poses in the cancer ward of the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital in Santiago. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Oncologist Katherine Kopp (C) speaks with her patients Alexandra and Isidora Serrano, 14, who lost their hair due to chemotherapy to treat their cancers. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Marcela Reyes makes a natural hair wig to be donated to a girl undergoing chemotherapy. The wigs, handmade by Italian-Chilean hair stylist Marcelo Avatte and his team, have helped the children regain their self-esteem and confidence during cancer treatment. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Hair stylist Marcelo Avatte (L) prepares to fit a natural hair wig on Isidora, in the cancer ward of the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital in Santiago. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Isidora lost her hair due to chemotherapy to treat her bone cancer. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Avatte fits a natural hair wig on Alexandra, who lost her hair due to chemotherapy for a brain tumor, in the cancer ward of the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital in Santiago. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Isidora walks on the street for the first time after receiving a natural hair wig. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters
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Alexandra plays with her new natural hair wig after it was fitted to her for the first time. Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters