Hair loss and what to look for in a wig?

I had a synthetic wig. Easy to care for.Mine was lace up & adjustable. After I got it I took it to the hair salon and someone cut the bangs and shaped it for me and didn't charge me. Guess she felt bad for the bald head I wore my wig every day to work. None of the patients knew I was going thru chemo. I wore head coverings at home to keep my head warm. I also wore a liner to keep it from shifting on my head. NOthing worse than looking in the mirror and see that it has slid sideways!

Hi!

I got a hand-sewn synthetic wig from a shop managed by a breast cancer survivor. It felt very light on my head and looked real because you could see my scalp through my part in my hair. My wig lady was licensed to style wigs and she also sold other "headgear." I wore it every day to work until my real hair grew back and got hard to hide under the wig. Then, I stopped wearing my wig and everyone began to compliment me on my short "haircut." Good luck!

I have a Racquel Welch lace front versa fiber synthetic wig. It is heat tolerant and can be blown dry and styled with a flat iron or curling iron up to a certain temp. It is easy to wash and dry. I purchased it in a wig shop that is in the NCI cancer center near me. I asked for a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis" from my oncologist and was reimbursed by my insurance company for most of the cost after providing them with a claim form, prescription and receipt for the wig. You might want to try on wigs in a shop and once you have determined what you like look online - it is often cheaper if you don't have an insurance benefit or if cost is an issue. I had very long hair prior to chemo which I cut before starting. I used that hair to make a hairpiece called an "under hair" by these folks www.hatswithhair.com

It was great. Even though I had to wear a hat with it, it was my hair and was super comfortable due to the fabric top. I wore ball caps and fedoras, I never wore scarves. At home I wore a bandana or fleece cap, but did not go out in those, which was just my personal preference.

Mine was a combination of real and synthetic hair. Was easy to wash and style. Looked great, I never got so many compliments about my haircut as when I was wearing that wig

My advice is to try on the wigs and look at color swatches before you buy, or make sure the wig is returnable. Also, TinyDancer, if you are tiny you might look at brands that offer a selection of petite sizes. Or at least find out which brands run small. After many phone calls, I found a well-stocked wig shop in a community that has a lot of retired/older people. I tried on many wigs, had a few laughs, and ended up choosing a different color and style than I had in mind at first. I picked a style that looked good, then ordered the same style in a different brand because they had the color I wanted. But that wig looked ridiculous on me until I had my hairdresser cut it, and even then I wished I had gone with the one I tried on. (I'm not an average size.) But I did get compliments. The wig shop lady recommended lace-front monofilament for comfort and realism. I chose synthetic for easy care and no styling needed, because I am not clever with hair. It was about $300, good quality with an adjustable cap, and it looked natural wherever I parted my "hair". I gave my business to the wig shop because they helped me.

also, unless you are committed to wig care, don't get a long one. I got three long ones, and they tangled more than normal hair and I had to comb them a lot. I wore my wig for three months, and when it got hot said forget it and went to work in a do rag. But they did help me get through chemo without anybody knowing, so I was able to say I was done with chemo before people even knew I was going through it. Lace front wigs are the best, I had a Raquel Welch and a Jean Renau

I bought a couple wigs from Amazon....One was great two were garbage....my sister bought two for me synthetic lace front THAT ARE AMAZING! She bought them from a wig store in Miami however they are Freetress brand and have natural parts. I cried the first time I had to wear one and the lady at the bank asked me if I did my hair myself because it looks amazing. I don't mind going out without anything on, do it more for my husband and girls (11 & 16)

My advice is start with a cheaper wig and make sure you are going to use it before making a big investment. Before my hair fell out, I got two free wigs from my cancer center, which were surprisingly cute. I also tried on several wigs at a salon ranging in price from $200 -$600. I took lots of pictures and went home to think about which one I would buy. Later that week my hair fell out and I wore my free wig. I didn't like it. I felt like I was being fake. I started wearing hats and scarves instead and loved the look, plus I found them more comfortable. I never wore the wig again, so I'm very happy I didn't waste a lot of money buying an expensive one. I stopped wearing a head cover about 6 weeks after chemo ended and got lots of compliments on my short spikey hair.

I have a problem with shopping at a local store and then purchasing on the internet. Yes, it may be less expensive but doing so basically is stealing the shop owner's time and resources. They invest a lot in providing stock, a retail location and trained staff and they don't earn anything if we use those resources, find what we like, and then don't purchase it from them.

(It's definitely a different situation if you don't get good service, etc., from a business.)

Given that insurance will generally cover at least a portion of the cost of a wig, couldn't we try to look beyond the dollar sign and treat these businesses as we'd want to be?

Good point, Debiann. I always check with my insurer about EVERYTHING anymore, well in advance of need.

Sometimes with wigs and specialty bras it's all in how it's requested. A nurse navigator can probably help with that.

Kickin, that is a gorgeous wig! You look beautiful

Very interesting information. I haven't been diagnosed, The radiologist wants me to come in for a biopsy he would have done it the day of diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound but I didn't want to do it so he went out and called my doctor. Waiting to get into a specialist but it's been almost 2 weeks so might have to let the radiologist do the biopsies. (Have a hypoechoic lobulated palpable solid mass roughly 2.6cm x 1.3 x 1.6cm and amorphous microcalcifications in same breast) BIRADS 4b

I am just Learning what I can to prepare myself incase this time my findings are cancer. I love your wigs Kickin! I figure I will try and find inexpensive wigs, I think it would be nice to be blonde one day and a red head the next. Have any of you who had long hair to begin with thought of having it made into a wig for yourself?my husband thinks I should have mine made into a wig if I have to do chemo but I think I'll just donate it like usual.

I have 2 Raquel Welch wigs that were less than $150'dollars.,they are wonderful. Wash and wear. My stylist did trim them to match how I usually wore my hair. At the beginning I purchased a $500 wig....don't like it much at all. I can't remember the brand. Good luck

Boyd, you asked about getting your own long hair made into a wig. I don't know what might be available where you live, but I looked into it, and it didn't seem do-able. Not only would it be expensive, it would take a long time to get it done--longer than I could wait for a wig.