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Life-limiting illness

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Original poster

How did you cope with your hair loss after chemo?

21 replies

mckenzie · 29/05/2012 20:21

I have to call this person X as they have decided to keep this very quiet and I obviously will respect that decision. So, X is starting chemo and is very concerned about hair loss. We are looking at all options ie,
Wigs, Hats, scarves etc. is there anything else we should consider please? The best wigs? How to stop the scarf falling off? Anything that might be helpful to know will be very gratefully received.

TIA

OP posts:

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/05/2012 20:29

How about shave it all off? Can look really good...

Original poster

mckenzie · 29/05/2012 20:33

X is finding the very thought of hair loss that hardest thing right now so I think shaving is not an option.

OP posts:

Original poster

mckenzie · 29/05/2012 20:34

Sorry, I forgot to say thanks for replying

OP posts:

topsyturner · 29/05/2012 20:41

Hi there

The hair loss thing never really bothered me , but it does distress a lot of people .

At your friends chemo unit there would normally be a wig fitting service . She should be able to get a wig for free or subsidised on the nhs .

Other than that if it's wigs she wants I have a friend who swears by the Rene Amore range . Not sure of prices though .

I used head gear called Buffs . They were basically tubes of fabric that you just pull onto your head and tuck the ends in . You can get them online or from most sports/outdoor pursuits shops .

She will also lose her eye lashes and eye brows . A good beautician will be able to henna on temp eyebrows .(I tried drawing mine on but I looked like a startled drag queen !)

Hope this helps .

oohermrs · 29/05/2012 20:43

Before I started chemo I went to www.trendco.co.uk/ in Kensington church st London. They were amazing my wig looks just like my hair did! I'm having chemo 4 tomorrow. It started falling out 2 weeks after the first one and in the end I shaved it all off. I won't lie loosing my hair was worse than my mastectomy. Wig does look great and it saves so much time in the morning - I call it slap on & go!!! In this weather it has been a bit warm . Tell your friend to keep smiling and have a positive attitude to chemo. X

TheFidgetySheep · 29/05/2012 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

mckenzie · 29/05/2012 20:50

Thanks very much everybody. Great idea about choosing a wig while hair is still natural. We hadn't thought of that.
I've added Buffs to my shopping list and fringes and I'll get on the case tomorrow about henna eyebrows. Thanks again

OP posts:

oohermrs · 29/05/2012 20:52

I haven't lost my eyebrows. It does all depend on what chemo treatment she will be on Nurses or her oncologist can give the specifics. I was advised that c

CMOTDibbler · 29/05/2012 20:53

There are loads of options - most ladies choose to wear a cap/scarf most of the time, with a wig for 'best' as they can be hot and itchy.

Wigs are one of those things you need to try a few on - the nurses on the chemo unit will have the contact details for the local shop. X can then have her wig trimmed by a hairdresser to suit her.

The secret of keeping a scarf on is the undercap - like a little lycra skull cap that grips on. You can get stick on fringes to wear too. There are lots of ways to tie scarves in different ways for more looks

Some nice websites are Surburban, and Bohemia, though there are loads out there. The shops selling Hijab also obv have a huge range of scarves and caps. Again, the chemo unit will usually be able to tell X about local suppliers, and often they are available in the hospital if it is an Oncology centre. She might want to ask about 'Look Good, Feel Better' which is a scheme where you get a makeover while on treatment

oohermrs · 29/05/2012 20:54

Sorry posted too soon ...

I wax advised that having a cold cap wouldn't work with my chemo drugs. But I've met 2 people who it's worked for and they've still got their hair. One after 5 treatments and another after 6. So could be worth her asking. Some hospitals aren't too forward about offering it. Persistence works!

Panzee · 29/05/2012 20:55

Has she been offered the ice cap? My mum had that, she said it was pretty awful but she did not lose her hair.

It did thin however, but when it grew back it was thicker than ever and the colours were much more vibrant.

suzikettles · 29/05/2012 21:04

When my mum got her wig she got an appointment with her hairdresser just after closing time. Her hairdresser shaved her remaining hair and then styled her wig which made it look just like her hair had.

It wasn't the most expensive wig, acrylic not real hair, but the shop was really helpful and said that artificial wigs were much easier to take care of. Wigs are waaaay better than they used to be.

I hope your friend's treatment goes as smoothly as possible.

oohermrs · 29/05/2012 21:29

I've updated my profile with a picture of me & my wig! Not the most glamorous of photos but as suzikettles says they are soooo much better these days.

suzikettles · 29/05/2012 21:46

oohermrs, you look great!

My mum was the same - you wouldn't have known it was a wig, she just looked like she was having a really good hair day every day.

oohermrs · 29/05/2012 21:51

Thanks Suzi it feels great when people say that. I may feel like crap a lot of the time but I look ok. My kids said to me when I told them I had BC if I was going to be different. And I thought nope I'm going to be me thoughout if I can! Hope your mum is doing ok. OP hope you show your friend this thread x

Original poster

mckenzie · 30/05/2012 09:10

thanks for the extra posts. Turns out she had already discussed the cold cap thing but it is not suitable for her type of cancer/treatment. And yes, I'm passing on all you comments and feedback so thank you very much. She really appreciates it. We both do

OP posts:

dwpanxt · 30/05/2012 09:40

I wore Buffs for most of my bald time. I found them to be much kinder to my sore scalp. This is an often overlooked part of losing your hair through some chemos-it actually hurts .I also wore a buff under my wig as the base is so scratchy with nothing to cushion it.

Before it falls out though,the hair thats left often doesnt feel like your own any more - it goes dry and nasty.So although you may think its easy to just brush whats left into a new style , in reality it feels so dreadful you just want rid anyway.Well it did in my case anyway. Maybe your friends chemo isnt so harsh .

I thoroughly recommend Look good feel better charity as referred to by CMOT ^^

This is a fantastic initiative which really helps women at any stage of cancer treatment. Its easy to apply for a place on a workshop and you can usually take a friend if space allows.

slipperandpjsmum · 30/05/2012 14:06

ooheermrs I agree with Suzi you look really good!!

Winkcat · 30/05/2012 15:57

Wigs were too much effort for me and just confused my kids. I've lost my hair through chemo twice now and just used a hat or scarf. Mac eye pencils for eyebrows and eyeliner when I felt like it. It's growing back now, very curly and all my greys have gone - an upside :)

Nelleh · 30/05/2012 17:35

A friend of mine wore the most beautiful (and trendy) silk scarves that we always felt under dressed by comparison! She also found them cooler than a wig. Every best wish to your friend.

IamtheZombie · 06/06/2012 16:59

Zombie got two wigs - one short and one shoulder length. She's never worn either one and only wore a hat a couple of times in really cold weather. Her last chemo treatment was 5 weeks ago so regrowth should be starting soon.

She misses her eyelashes and nose hair most of all.

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