Headcoverings: What did you use?

Anonymous

My hair has started to grow back.  Will it just fall out again?

MNGirlyGirl

I bought a very nice wig and some cute scarves.  Found out in the long run that I preferred the scarves.  I started in January and being in Minnesota they kept my head warm.  However, I am now going through chemo-induced menopause and get hot flashes often.  I find that I don't want ANYTHING on my head during those times.  Now that it's summer I have opted for light-weight hats.  My hair has started growing back now (still very, very short) and I find that I am opting for no headwear at all.  Will still put a hat on when I don't feel like being stared at in crowds.  (Okay, no one is actually staring but I feel less self-conscious).

suzieq60

www.planetbuff.com

A couple of ladies already mentioned Buffs. 

Buffs were fabulous given the heat in my country - they are not special cancer headwear, so you can use them afterwards. I loved to do the Pirate method of tying it - lots of fun.

NWArtLady

I wore hats! All kinds of hats to match my outfits. My hair is starting to return, but I got such cute hats, I still wear them.

Also, I got myself a few fun wigs.  My oncologist's favorite is a blue one that I will wear tomorrow when I go in for my Herceptin infusion.

I also rocked the bald look - and this is from a lady who had long blond hair down to my waist! I looked damn good bald.

Hope you find what works for you ElleBee!! 

Tweetyb422

I have been wearing mainly hats, I have a huge hat collection lol. I have ordered from Headcovers.com and topsy turbans.com, I love the cool and comfy wear it around the house, kinda like a scarf but padded a little, I like the height it gives, also ordered some looped turbans and they have a 40% of code on the website even better.

rn4babies

I have been wearing the Chemobeanies.com  ruffled scarves every day. I now have 5 of them. I did notice that after a while, the first 2 I ordered, the ruffle wasn't laying quite right and I was paranoid that you could see through it and my scalp was showing. The 3 new ones lay beautifully, however. I contacted the company today and she explained to me that they are now using a longer ruffle to camoflouge the scalp and she was mailing out 2 new ones to replace the original, free of charge, today. She also is sending me a differant non-ruffled style to try. That is $75 worth of merchandise for free! I get many compliments on the Chemobeanies and 3 women at the treatment center asked me for the web address yesterday. The customer service is awesome! Normally when I place an order, they are in my mailbox within 3 days. From CA to PA!

Ellendou

I am having a hard time deciding on what type of headware I should order.   I live in a small community and there is nothing here, so have to order online---would love some suggestions please.  I do not work out of the home, but don't think I can go out without anything....I do have a couple of ladies peak hats so far and that is all...I was thinking of ordering from Topsy Turban as they ship to Canada.

ElleBee

RN4babies: Thanks so much for the product review! I have been looking at those online and they look so cute! Just going to go ahead and order some!

ElleBee 

ElleBee

Ellendou: Did you check the above websites I listed in the beginning thread? Not sure if those ship to canada, but some are pretty cute, although not all are very affordable in mass quantities.

mumito

Baseball caps for casual wear and pretty scarves to match my dressier outfits.Could not of stood the heat wearing a wig.My hair all fell out while on a cruise so I would buy a new scarf at each port of call.

financegirl

I used a pre-tied scarf from a local store run by a cancer survivor and it has nothing but cancer stuff in it.  My chemo began in the hottest time of the summer and I well remember a friend who bought and never wore a wig during summer b/c she said it was so hot.  Scarves worked okay for me.

Anonymous

I would appreicate feedback please.

I would like to switch from wigs, to scarves to hats, to buffs, etc. troughout the week - just as I might if I had hair and was usig ahir accessories.  I am working and don't want to startle my co-workers but frankly by wearing the wig every day I feel that I have been "in the closet" and have told almost no one.  That makes me feel uncomfortable but on the other hand perhaps I would feel uncomfortable sharing the news with everyone as well and risking their expressions or judgments of pity and assessment of my skills not being top notch.  Suggestions?

Thank you!  

VVH 

Marcia1111

VVH - I have been very open with everyone about what I'm going through.  I have received such an outpouring of love, help, and support that I can't believe it sometimes.  I do wonder if people are shocked when they see me in anything other than a wig, but that's their problem, not mine.  You are going through so much right now.  There is nothing to be ashamed of!  I have been wearing mostly scarves and buffs and I've worn a wig twice.  My hair loss started about 10 days ago.  I work with preschool aged children in a school and am not sure what I'm going to do when school begins in August.  If I only worked with adults, I don't think I would wear the wig, but I am wondering if the scarves will be upsetting to my students or their parents.  I actually think it will not bother the children, only their parents.

Anonymous

Marcia: Thank you.  I am going to do it.  I have been too focused on making others comfortable even in the face of 100 degree wig prohibitive heat waves.  I have worn the wig and smiled.  That will now come to an end.

 Thank you! This is such a new experience that making decisions around this issue is harder than my usual process.  

VVH

Marcia1111

VVH - I'm so glad I could help.   Be strong and let everyone else worry about their own fears.  You are the one who needs support, not them!!!!!

Marcia1111

Several weeks ago, I ordered a headscarf from www.goodwishesscarves.org.  You choose 3 fabrics that you like and they send you one.  It is very pretty and came with a swarovski angel on one of the tails, as well as a card of well wishes from the entire staff.  It is amazing that there are so many good people out there.

spicedlife

Hi all, I just had to chime in.  I work for a Credit Union and wear my wig occasionally.  I love wearing my scarves though, they are much cooler and very cute!.  I also got a couple of chemobeanies and they are cute too.  I was worried about anything other than a wig because scarves are not in our dress code but I have only had support and compliments.

Anonymous

Hello/Saludos,

I am a Latina with breast cancer, born and raised in the US and fluent in Spanish.  I have found this online community to be very helpful and full of resources as I navigate this unfortunate new terrain.  That said I was surprised by my lack of luck in using the search feature to uncover more than 2 other Latinas.  I have many identities: NY'er, educator, lawyer, feminist, formerly, "great head of hair"  ; >  -  and, Latina, and I'd like to connect to others with these backgrounds.

In repsonse the Moderators were good enough to create this brand new forum.  It is not necessarily a Spanish language forum.  I am, as are most Latinas residing in the US, most comfortable in English.  I was seeking a space for all Latinas, where conversations can happen in the many languages that we speak certainly but where the focus is our common culture rather than a language that some of us use.   

So, if you'd like to join us, Bienvenida!  Come find the new Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer forum.  I am glad to connect.  Perhaps like me you had been searching for a space to drop into occassionally where discussing issues that might arise more commonly for Latinas/Hispanics is possible without too long an explanation.  I truly appreciate the community I have found on this site and want to also discuss research that specifically addresses breast cancer risks for Latinas or the importance placed on femininity in some Latin cultures, or quizas/perhaps traditional resources/remedios, or the significance of hair loss for a Latina who comes, like I do, from a hair obsessed culture.  Any way, I'm sure you get it and that's the point.  I'd love to spread the word that this gret new forum exists. Please spread the word to yoru friends and forums that this new space exists so that they will cosndier joining us.

Mi nombre es Vielka. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone who will join us.

Vielka / VVH