Head wear for chemo hair loss / baldness

[Mithrellas]

Not sure if this should be in Style & Beauty.

What are your recommendations for nice hats/scarves/headwear for hair loss during or following chemotherapy? Any links to online shops or brands to look for would be great.

Not wigs please.

I’ve had two out of six sessions of epirubicin + cyclophosphamide for breast cancer and I’m rapidly losing a lot of hair.

I didn’t wear wigs either as they made me too hot!
I ordered some thin cotton beanie style hats from Amazon to wear at home, then usually shoved a woolly hat on when I went out and about as my hair loss was around autumn/winter. To be honest after I got used to the baldness I just used to walk around with nothing on, most people are very accepting.
I did watch some tutorials online about how to use scarves and bought some nice ones from Oliver Bonas but didn’t end up wearing them!

After buying loads of scarves it turned out I hated tying them and always felt paranoid they weren’t sitting right but didn’t want to constantly readjust.
My fave headgear has been indira de Paris Cuban style, so easy to put on and can wear the whole work day. Always get compliments on them too! Now that I’ve got (crap) regrowth I’m ready to take them off once home. Amassing quite a collection!!

A woman in town and my dsis wear Buffs. Lots of colours, easy to put on and wash and can wear in different ways. Dsis said scarves were a pita, but they were simple and didn't slip.

I asked friends and family to send me a variety of headgear. So many people had asked 'what can I do to help' and this was helping!

I was sent, scarves, buffs, hats. Allsorts. I liked the scarf look and tried a variety of ways of tying them. Sometimes they got a bit painful behind the ears if I tied them too tight as I also wear specs.

Charity shops are your friend for scarves. Cheap and plentiful.

Best of luck.

Thanks all for the helpful replies!

I bought a buff from the Maggie’s at my hospital (photo attached) and will see how it goes.

@Mithrellas I found some cute scarves from handouts at my dr’s office but then found these thin stretchy cap like head coverings from CVS pharmacy (not sure if they have those in UK). I’ve read through all the messages and think that the suggestions sound great. I also bought a wig and found them tight and headache producing. I wish you the best on this cancer journey. It can be more than rough but there will be lots of support ,info, hugs and hand holds should you want to follow some of the threads.

The lady who runs this charity does brilliant Instagram videos on headwear: https://prelovedreloved.org.uk/ and also provides a great resource for passing on items including scarves, wigs etc.

I didn't wear wigs as they felt too hot. I bought a headwrap before starting (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1042095732/uk-rustic-browns-turban-wrap-alopecia) but didn't end up wearing it much - I mostly wore beanies (which I already owned) during the cooler weather then bought some fun bandana cotton scarves from Vinted when it got warm.

It’s probably still too warm but I’ve known a couple of people who felt the cold more acutely as they got older. Both took great comfort in cashmere turbans from Rosie Sugden, worn inside and outside the house. (They’re not cheap but are often on sale.)

https://rosiesugden.com/collections/turbans

There are usually more colours!

Another lovely but luxury winter option might be a beanie from Jo Gordon:

https://www.jogordon.com/products/fine-knit-plain-hat-turmeric-2026

Or, for something less extravagant but equally nice, Community Clothing often has cashmere beanies, in addition to wool, in the run-up to Christmas.

I had a few, like this

https://www.simplywigs.co.uk/madeleine-turban-nj-creations.html

I also had a wig, but I lost my hair in January and it was freezing so I didn't mind it being hot. By April I was sick of it, and I abandoned it as soon as I had 3mm of regrowth. 😊 Good luck OP x

Thanks all, these are great suggestions! I’m finding my head gets cold really easily now that I’ve lost nearly all of my hair (come back, please 😅).

I just learned that I can have a wig reimbursed for up to £400 on my private health insurance through AXA, and there’s a good salon that specialises in wigs close to where I am.

So although I know I said no wigs at the start, I might look into one, just to try.

It might be worth trying a wig, OP, to see what you think.

I am not a fan of hats or things on my head (the irony! I now have three wigs and some head coverings. Hair is back now 😁). I didn't get on at all with scarves, didn't like the lack of volume with the beanie type hats, and I had an expensive turban type thing that apparently you could tie in different ways, but it just didn't stay tied, so that was a waste of money! I eventually got some from Amazon, that had an extra tie bit on which was acceptable to me. Will look for a link.

These, from Amazon

https://amzn.eu/d/0jjWj0ac

And I had some like this from this company https://www.annabandana.co.uk/products/soft-comfortable-chemo-hat-and-removable-twist-headband-tina-black-plum-zebra

And this was the turban thingy https://www.chemoheadwear.co.uk/product/amber-cancer-hair-care-charity-collaboration-copy/ I still have it and can post it to you, if you'd like? You might have better luck with it than me!

Also ask your breastcare nurse for the form to claim money from the govt towards a wig. I think I got £180 which helped with the cost of wig, various liners, turbans etc.

Hi Op. I found an amazing hair oil that made my hair grow so quickly after chemo. I know it's not what you were originally asking! PM if you like. I'm in Ireland but they have an online shop. Wishing you the best in your journey. X

Thanks for the links and kind offer to post the turban @BatshitCrazyWoman!

Unfortunately my head (which I have now measured) is the size of a teenager’s at 20.5 inches so it may just slip off me, so I’ll have to decline, but thank you.

The Anna Bandana one is pretty, I’m liking the mix and match headbands.

A friend of mine wears baseball caps - sun hats in better weather - and only wears her wig when going out for dinner or giving a lecture. Another friend wore turbans with big earrings.

Hi @Mithrellas. I think you have sent me a message but I can't access it for some reason.

Weird! Anyway I asked about the name of the hair oil. You can send it to me as a PM or happy if you post it on this thread 😊

This should be it. Densifying Remedy | 100ml | Oway https://share.google/k7v2uxoXIBYAavWjE

I also have a small head, which may explain my issues! If you are looking into wigs and are near enough to London, I can recommend Raoul Wigmakers - they have loads you can try on (in a private room, I took a friend), and they can alter, adapt and cut the wigs too. Most wigs were too big for me, and had too much hair, so I had alterations done.

Thanks so much for the recommendations @Kottontail and @BatshitCrazyWoman!

On to chemotherapy number three… It was a bit of a shock to lose nearly all my hair in a week. I feel like I’m ready now with all the head cover options, thanks everyone.

I hope it gets easier, @Mithrellas…

Wishing you all the best with your treatment @Mithrellas