Wigs

I got mine from https://www.raoulwigmakers.co.uk/. I think you need real hair ones to use heat on them but not sure, real hair was way out of my price range though. I got a free wig as we get a voucher here so see what support you can get x I’ve never actually worn it though!! I live in my beanie hats x

I started losing my hair 10 days in to chemotherapy so asked my husband to clip it all off for me.  My hair was shoulder length but quite fine so didn't bother with the cool cap as I didn't think it would make much of a difference. 

I got a referral from my oncologist to see a wig specialist that they can recommend for you and got a lovely wig, it is synthetic but good quality so looks quite like real hair.  The referral includes a voucher towards purchase so definitely worth looking into.  There are also workshops that Macmillan offer which I am going to sign up to that include hair care and scarf tying. 

I tend to mix it up with beanies, scarves and my wig 

Everyone feels differently about hair but I just wanted to add my experience. I had always had very long, non-coloured hair and losing hair that I'd taken care of for so long did feel a little depressing.

To help me, I took charge of the situation as it was the one thing I could actually control. I cut it off ahead of chemo and donated it to a charity that made wigs for children. That felt great. 

At the same time, my husband got the clippers out and gave me a buzz cut. Taking control ahead of time felt good, and the buzz cut really suited me! By the time my hair fell out during chemo, I was completely used to the look and going bald was no big deal on top.

I did get a wig but never wore it, it just didn't feel like me. I had chemo during winter too, and just got loads of hats and scarves (the scarves that are already pre-done into a scarf are goo - they go on like a hat).

 was able to work from home throughout which obviously helped.

My hair falling out ended up being the least troublesome of my side effects - it wasn't sore, I had already got used to the look, and I knew it would happen.

My hair has come back in really well and the same colour. 

I will be growing it back to long but the way I look at it, I never would have experienced short hair without chemo, and definitely not a buzz cut! It was fun and felt empowering.

Whether you wear a wig or not will be up to you (great idea to get one that you can style!), but I would really recommend cutting the lot off before chemo.

I made myself a fringe using my own hair. See my profile pic.

Hi strawberry4, I used cold cap so I just had my hair cut shorter before I started but I don’t think you need to do this. Unfortunately cold cap didn’t really work for me in the end but I think I kept my hair for a lot longer and I didn’t really need to wear a wig until around chemo session 4. I went to a local  shop by me  and tried wigs on which was really helpful and bought a fab wig which is a Raquel Welch brand - it was @£350 so not cheap but even though synthetic you can style it with hairdryer and straightners / not that you really need to.  I also went to a hairdresser who is trained to cut wigs and just had it styled a little more. I was also recommended a company called Trendco which do some fab styles. 
I think it may depend where you live but my nhs wig consultation was over the phone partly due to COVID so sadly I didn’t get much choice and chance to see what it would look like so couldn’t really wear the one they sent. However in some areas you get a voucher so I wish I had known about that and I could have asked if this was an option. 
Good luck with your treatment and whatever you decide to do re your hair. I would just say go with whatever makes you feel good Xxx

Thankyou i will take a look at the company. I am also going to use the cold cap but I just want to be prepared for the worst an I think it will comfort me to have one ready. X

Looks fantastic vixsix! I dont have a fringe anyway but great idea! X

Yes I was the same. It definitely helps especially when you have everything else to deal with. It helped me to feel like I had some control still. Good luck with it all and fingers crossed you may not need to wear it - cold cap works brilliantly for so many people - I’m glad I tried it as even though I lost about 80% of my hair by the end, when it started growing back I could just have the remaining cut in with new growth and hair looks thick already xx

the fringe Looks great Vixsix xx

Hi Strawberry 4, I didn’t use a cold cap as there was no guarantee it would work but also had my lovely red hair cut to within a centimetre of my scalp - I was in control!! Having been told that it would come back grey or white I was devastated as at 74 had never before coloured my hair. I bought rusty auburn Raquel Welch wigs from simply wigs (they were fantastic) and they were heat defensive so I can use heat on them.  They were quite expensive but as we get one free wig in Scotland to buy a second wasn’t too painful. 

I’m now almost 3 weeks post chemo and my hair is growing back - gingery blonde!! 

Although I didn’t use cold cap I did use cold mitts and slippers and so far still have all my nails intact and only the very slightest hint of neuropathy at ball of my feet, when I run fingers over them they are ever so slightly numb. Otherwise ok! 

I’m sure whatever you decide you won’t be disappointed and with all the advice you get on this site you can’t go wrong!

Keep positive! Xx