1. < Breast Cancer

Wigs! Hair loss with TC chemo

Posted by brighterdays @brighterdays, Apr 30, 2023

Two weeks after first round of chemo, my hair is starting to shed. Needing all your input on wigs. Is it worth getting one with real human hair? What are the must haves to keep your scalp comfortable? What materials are the softest? Any other pointers?

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | May 2, 2023
In reply to @dlmdinia "Short answer, No! Not only is real hair more expensive, it is harder to maintain and..." + (show)
@dlmdinia

Short answer, No! Not only is real hair more expensive, it is harder to maintain and doesn't wear as long. Synthetic wigs these days can be just as real looking as real hair as long as you don't go too cheap. Go to a wig store with a licensed stylist who can fit you with the proper size. When I wore a wig pretty much no one who knew me could tell. There are three types to consider and I wore all three. I lived in my ball cap with hair. Easy on, easy off and the style and color matched so well that even those around who knew it wasn't my hair were amazed. They run $80-$90. A halo is synthetic hair on elastic that's just bangs and fringe. Imagine the stereotypical monk with hair all around with a big bald spot up top. These are also easy on, easy off, cool to wear with any kind of hat you might have from casual to Sunday best. The wig shop I frequented catered to cancer patients and had sales which allowed me to play with colors. Think purple, hot pink, teal. Losing hair is not fun (I was so traumatized that I covered my mirrors until it grew back), but I had fun wearing the colors. I even wore a tiara on my last day of chemo and radiation. I admire those who go bald proudly, but I was very, very private about my cancer so would not advertise it. I'm happy it's over, but I still have my wigs and intend to keep wearing them on occasion. Great for a bad hair day. Good luck.

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It definitely seem like everyone finds what works for them. I played with the pink in my hair after I cut it short, because I was forewarned it would all come out.
I had wigs, I had 2 fitted, ordered and styled. I was just extremely uncomfortable wearing them, they didn’t stay straight, they felt scratchy, and they were hot and I was dealing with the onset of the forced menopause and hot flashes so all of that meant I just couldn’t do it.
Luckily I owned my own pet store, and if someone was uncomfortable with me being bald it was not me.
I might have felt differently if I worked in a corporate office.
@marciapell you guys look great and you still have eyelashes! You rock the bald look♥️.
Old picture 2004.
REPLY
raebaby | @raebaby | May 2, 2023

i bought lots of wigs an scarves and hated wearingthem.My hair grew back in fast so they were a waste of time. The cancer society will pay for a nice wig that you can get from a beautician.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 2, 2023

I'm adding a link to this related discussion for further ideas
- Wigs: Prepping for hair loss due to chemo: Where to start? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wigs/

REPLY
brighterdays | @brighterdays | May 2, 2023
In reply to @bpknitter53 "I had long curly/frizzy hair before TC; about 2 weeks after starting treatment it became very..." + (show)
@bpknitter53

I had long curly/frizzy hair before TC; about 2 weeks after starting treatment it became very matted at the back of my head and was coming out while showering. I called my niece and had her shave my head. I never actually went bald - so my hair was probably thinning ALOT. Fortunately I was working from home and it was winter so I just wore warm polar fleece caps day and night to keep my head warm. I looked at my hair situation as a "Do Over" and was interested in how it would return.

After TC was completed my hair started coming in, it is slightly different - the curl is looser and my hair actually feels softer. Its still growing slowly and it will be a year come this July when all chemo treatments were completed. Its not long enough to anything with but to wash and let air dry - it was slow growing before chemo so I'm not surprised that it is still slow growing.

Best of luck in your journey with treatment.

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I have curly/frizzy hair too! I wonder if I’ll have looser and softer curls when it grows back. That would be nice!

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1 reply
littlebit71 | @littlebit71 | May 3, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "Some people can pull off bald-not me. I purchased a synthetic wig after I learned that..." + (show)
@cmdw2600

Some people can pull off bald-not me. I purchased a synthetic wig after I learned that human hair reacts to the weather, which makes sense. I went to a shop that specializes in assisting women who will be suddenly losing their hair. I’m glad I did as my wig had to be ordered since I have a small head.

I found the wig to be comfortable even in hot weather because it had holes about the size of a dime in the mesh. I could do a half up and even a ponytail. It was not cheap and my insurance did not cover, but it was worth it to me.

Do what works for you!

Best wishes, Cindy

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It’s beautiful and looks great on you. Where did you order it?

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1 reply
cmdw2600 | @cmdw2600 | May 4, 2023
In reply to @littlebit71 "It’s beautiful and looks great on you. Where did you order it?" + (show)
@littlebit71

It’s beautiful and looks great on you. Where did you order it?

Jump to this post

I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it would have been difficult for me to get one online. One, I have a small head so my wig is sized “petite”. Two, I have thin, fine hair and I didn’t want a wig that was too thick or dense. Some, like mine, have what looks like scalp where it parts-so more natural.

My synthetic wig had curve permanently-I could not change that which was fine with me. Since I figured my hair would come in gray, I also purchased a second wig that I thought might be my new color. It is also synthetic and more sleek.

The woman at the first wig shop actually was the one who shaved my head. She turned me away from the mirror and buzzed my shoulder length brunette hair.

First wig was $800, second $500. I know this is not as inexpensive as what you may find online but I was also paying for the service. I no longer spend much on clothing so could justify this expense. I have loaned them to friends in need and will eventually donate if I ever feel I may not need again.

Photos below.

Good luck! Cindy
REPLY
5 replies
marciapell | @marciapell | May 4, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it..." + (show)
@cmdw2600

I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it would have been difficult for me to get one online. One, I have a small head so my wig is sized “petite”. Two, I have thin, fine hair and I didn’t want a wig that was too thick or dense. Some, like mine, have what looks like scalp where it parts-so more natural.

My synthetic wig had curve permanently-I could not change that which was fine with me. Since I figured my hair would come in gray, I also purchased a second wig that I thought might be my new color. It is also synthetic and more sleek.

The woman at the first wig shop actually was the one who shaved my head. She turned me away from the mirror and buzzed my shoulder length brunette hair.

First wig was $800, second $500. I know this is not as inexpensive as what you may find online but I was also paying for the service. I no longer spend much on clothing so could justify this expense. I have loaned them to friends in need and will eventually donate if I ever feel I may not need again.

Photos below.

Good luck! Cindy

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Both are really cute on you!

REPLY
bmasters01 | @bmasters01 | May 4, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it..." + (show)
@cmdw2600

I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it would have been difficult for me to get one online. One, I have a small head so my wig is sized “petite”. Two, I have thin, fine hair and I didn’t want a wig that was too thick or dense. Some, like mine, have what looks like scalp where it parts-so more natural.

My synthetic wig had curve permanently-I could not change that which was fine with me. Since I figured my hair would come in gray, I also purchased a second wig that I thought might be my new color. It is also synthetic and more sleek.

The woman at the first wig shop actually was the one who shaved my head. She turned me away from the mirror and buzzed my shoulder length brunette hair.

First wig was $800, second $500. I know this is not as inexpensive as what you may find online but I was also paying for the service. I no longer spend much on clothing so could justify this expense. I have loaned them to friends in need and will eventually donate if I ever feel I may not need again.

Photos below.

Good luck! Cindy

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Thanks for giving a price - I am new to all of this and wondered about wigs and the cost. I will be going to a specialist too - to fit and purchase at least one wig.
Thanks for the info.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | May 4, 2023

We have a local salon that provides this service at a modest price. They cut my hair down to one inch since they said it would be itchy if they shaved it. It was easy to pull out the one inch hair once it started falling out. They braided my long hair and donated it to “wigs for kids”. They did all of this for no charge as I was purchasing two wigs, in 2004, these wigs were 150.00 ea.
My hair did indeed come in gray even though it was auburn going in, also it came in very curly but only in some places. Some is really curly, and some is dead straight. Lol
Anybody else use a local hair salon?

REPLY
brighterdays | @brighterdays | May 4, 2023
In reply to @cmdw2600 "I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it..." + (show)
@cmdw2600

I went to a wig shop and tried many on and was measured. I think it would have been difficult for me to get one online. One, I have a small head so my wig is sized “petite”. Two, I have thin, fine hair and I didn’t want a wig that was too thick or dense. Some, like mine, have what looks like scalp where it parts-so more natural.

My synthetic wig had curve permanently-I could not change that which was fine with me. Since I figured my hair would come in gray, I also purchased a second wig that I thought might be my new color. It is also synthetic and more sleek.

The woman at the first wig shop actually was the one who shaved my head. She turned me away from the mirror and buzzed my shoulder length brunette hair.

First wig was $800, second $500. I know this is not as inexpensive as what you may find online but I was also paying for the service. I no longer spend much on clothing so could justify this expense. I have loaned them to friends in need and will eventually donate if I ever feel I may not need again.

Photos below.

Good luck! Cindy

Jump to this post

You rocked the wigs! Especially the grey one!

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