Wig, Hat, or Scarves

You have my sympathy. Hair is a big deal to most women. Bald is not a look i wanted to rock, that's for sure. You will know when it's time to buzz it off. My hair started shedding around day 10 after 1st chemo. On day 17 it started falling on earnest, all over my clothes, in my cereal bowl, in the car, aaack! Disgusting. I went to Great Clips and had it buzzed. Incidentally, they have a program by which they provide a free buzz to anyone undergoing chemo and the lady who did mine was very professional.

I never did fully trust scarves. They always felt like they were going to tilt off my head. I'm not a hat person, but i did buy some soft beanies that matched my outfits. I dressed them up with ribbon and pins. I also bought a sleep beanie--you'd be surprised how cold your head gets.

Idid opt to buy a wig, though, and I really loved it. I chose a look that was about as far from my usual look as it could be--shoulder length strawberry blonde. And it looked HOT, let me tell you. My DH loved it! I figured those who knew me well knew i had lost my hair and would give me a pass. Those who weren't close to me could just bite my butt. I wore the wig to work and church, mostly, but also on date nights. People complimented me on my "hair"all the time, LOL

Your MO can write rx for a cranial prosthesis (wig). Your insurance will pay for it. MO or cancer center can direct you to wig shop.

Hi Upheld. I am so sorry about your diagnosis.

Scarves worn as women's headcoverings are not typically arranged for that ["Do Rag" ] look to which you refer.

I have generally hidden my hair under scarves for I think about ten years now. They are comfortable. One can find scarves in materials well suited for wear in any climate/s and season/s,

There is a lot of difference between Fashion (or what is called Fashionable, or in Trend) and Style. Style is setting your own Style, doing your own thing, with confidence.

My hair is was most to my waist when DXd. Have had long hair basically all my life. When DXd, I cut in a long Gypsy Shag before chemo. I went to the Look Good - Feel Better class before first Chemo and the Salon owner who was doing the class had just received a box of wogs from a manufacturer that had a frosted Gypsy Shag in it and she thought she'd never fond the right person for it +til she met me. I went to her Salon the next day and got it. It was 'me' - other than being frosted as my hair is still naturally as dark as it was as a child. Then VA approved my 'cranial prosthesis' (wig) so I got a frosted 'Pixie' wig. Still have them both and will occasionally wear them for 'fun'. But then 'fun' wigs are not 'strange' to me. I was a Master Cosmetologist and Salon owner in my younger years and had quite a few wigs -some just for 'fun' like my bright green one for St. Paddy's Day.

I mostly wore scarves as real easy. I made them so I could customize them for different uses. Some for 'dress' and to match the outfit I was wearing. Some just 'fun' patterns. Some out of flannel or fleece for warmth (I did Chemo when it was cold). Hubby and Son would stop by the Fabric Store in town and if they saw material they liked, they'd get it and bring it to me to make a new scarf. Were easy to make and modify for different 'look'.

Hats - never wore any - I hate hats.

I would suggest if you get a wig to get one of the higher quality synthetic wigs. They look natural and are quite easy to maintain. Human hair wigs are much harder to maintain unless you have experience with human hair wigs. It can also be a bit pricey if you have to send them to a Salon for maintained.

just looked online- you can have a full wig made from your own hair, if that's the option you choose. Good luck to you

I purchased many hats and scarves from a website called Hats, Scarves, and More. I wore a wig at work and "out". Around the house and town I wore hats. Wigs can be cut and styled to match your natural hair as closely as possible

My hair was my identity my whole life too. Sadly, 5 years after Taxotere, I am still in hats and scarves, as it never returned. Devastated beyond. You might want to check into using cold caps with Taxotere to avoid being one of the 10% this happens. to.

Similar to other stories here, my hair began to fall out about 10 days after the first chemo.  I had to buzz it by day 17.  The mess in the shower was unbearable by that point.

My preference for headwear is a "buff".  You can find lots of choices on Amazon by searching Buff Headwear.  These are easy to put on and they stay put throughout the day.  I like to wear them tucked up and under in the back.  That way, there's a little dimension to the look without it hitting on my shirt collar.  Amazon has lots of color choices so I can easily coordinate them with my clothes for work and home. 

I never wore a 'headband' under any of my scarves and never had any problems with them moving/shifting'. Even out in the wind. As I said I made mine and had somewhat different 'sizes/shapes' - some were shorter 'tailed' and some quite long.

Talk to the Nurse Navigator at your Facility. They may have wigs to give to patients. I was given one that was a really nice wig but I never thought it was 'right' for me but Party thought it was great. I took it home and put it on and when I put it on for Huuby and Son to see it - they all but fell out of their chairs. So when I went to the Feel Good - Look Better' class I took it to give back. Well - there was a lady there that it was absolutely perfect for. So she went home with a wig that was perfect for her - looked just like her hair. The next day I got my gypsy shag that the Instructor thought she'd never find anyone for it.

The Facility also had a lot of donated hats (knitted/crocheted) and scarves that had been made by volunteers/survivors who made them and donated for anyone who wanted/could use them. I still make some to be passed on.

Hi Upheld --

Thank you for posting. I, like you, have been identified by my hair and am struggling with the idea of losing my hair; it's going to be so strange to not be "that red-head" after 3 decades (for awhile, at least). I have no suggestions about wigs, hats, scarves, because I don't know for myself, either. I just wanted to commiserate with you.

oh I'm so sorry you're facing this. Hair is a big deal. I hated losing mine. I told hubby I'm not doing chemo because my hair will never be the same again. Of course I did 🙄 My hair fell out about 10 days after my first treatment. I had hubby shave the rest. I cried. I hated being bald. I never liked scarves or hats. I wore wigs and I have to tell you they were the bomb lol. Mine were synthetic - you wash them once a week in the sink, towel dry them and then let them air dry. They went right back to their beautiful shape. I was able to find wigs very similar to my own hair. The only thing I hated was when the weather was hot. That was not fun.

It's not fun losing your hair. I'm 3 years out and finally like my hair again. Hang in there.

Nancy

The American Cancer Society will give you one wig. They didn't have choices for my gray hair, so I ended up buying one. I am a Realtor and wanted to look as much like my photos as possible when working. I didn't really like it. I wore scarves also. I hated trying to "match" scarves to my outfit. I never completely lost all of my hair and never shaved it. I got it cut before chemo and was able to donate 10-12" to an out-of-state non-profit that takes gray hair. I remember being SO excited when I started feeling stubbles come in! I finished chemo in Feb and I think by August I had enough hair to feel comfortable going in public without anything. I took photos of my "progress" and for some reason, that made me feel better! Then, there are those who rock the bald look and good for them! Wishing you the best.

I spent a lot of money for a quality wig and hated wearing it. It was unco,fortsble and hard to keep styled. I ended up buying a baseball cap with built in hair that came down to my neck. It looked and felt normal and I never felt self conscientious on it except in places where wearing a hat wasn't acceptable. It was so natural looking, I kid you not, my oncologist asked me if it was my hair! Really, I'd just finished chemo two months earlier. He is a kind but serious guy so I think he was really wondering.

MexicoHeather, your climate should have your hair growing back at an unusually fast rate for most of the year -- for as long as your warmer season lasts. The silk scarves are great for wicking away perspiration and readily drying by evaporation, so they can keep you cooler and more comfortable than you would be otherwise.