A common side-effect of chemotherapy is hair loss. If you have been noticing excessive hair thinning or bald patches on your scalp, you can try out the wigs. While it won’t return your old, voluminous hair, it can boost your confidence and help you achieve your desired look.
Women undergoing cancer treatment struggle with many physical and mental health challenges. The regular chemotherapies combined with the surgical removal of the malignant tumor and radiation therapies can exhaust you. Fatigue, weight loss, infections, anemia, bruising, and sore mouth are some common side effects of chemo. The worst of all is your hair loss.
Below we’ve mentioned five interesting things about wigs for cancer patients. Let’s take a look.
- Be Prepared for Hair Thinning
Your hair starts to fall out within 1-3 weeks of starting chemotherapy. For some patients, it takes a month or two for their scalp to be noticeable. Those hair strands falling all over your pillows, floor, and sheets can be irritating.
Preparing for hair loss is the first step to accepting hair loss as part of your treatment. Talk to your oncologist to know whether you will lose hair and how soon you can have them back. Usually, hair loss in cancer patients is temporary. The hair will regrow once your treatment is over, although the length, texture, and color of your hair might vary after the treatment. Note that these changes in your hair aren’t permanent either.
So, how do you prepare for hair loss? You can cut your hair short or shave your head. If you are considering neither, wear a cap to avoid your hair from falling out everywhere. Before shaving, click a few photos of your hair. This way you can show your hairstylist your hair color, texture, and density and have a similar wig prepared.
Preparing for hair thinning isn’t just about getting ready for a bald scalp mentally. During the chemotherapy, your scalp tends to dry out, making it difficult for the new hair to grow. Because of the lack of nature oils, your scalp feels extremely tender, dry, and sensitive. So, make sure you cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize your scalp with the right conditioner.
- Buying a Wig
Your best option is to visit your hairstylist to discuss your options. Since they might know your hair color and density, they might be able to recommend a wig that suits your previous hair type and fits your look. Shopping online is also a good choice.
However, the store must offer a return policy, in case you are not satisfied with the wig size, color, or measurements. It’s advisable to buy wigs from local stores, as they offer privacy and can design a wig that fits your head and requirements. You can also have it redesigned or re-fitted. Some insurance plans cover the cost of wigs, especially those with a cranial prosthesis prescription.
If your insurance policy doesn’t cover wigs or you are not financially in a state to pay for them, you can find a charity or hair donation center that can offer human hair wigs for women at a reasonable price or free. Look for a non-profit organization offering free wigs to cancer patients in your area.
- Selecting From Synthetic and Human Hair Wigs
The next big question is which kind of wig you want. You can choose from synthetic and human hair wigs. The former is comparatively cheaper and is made of fiber found in Japan. Human hair wigs, on the other hand, can cost between $600 and $800 (higher) depending on the style, texture, color, and customization you want.
Human hair wigs look natural and give you a feeling of normalcy, but they require a lot of care, regular washing, conditioning, and exfoliation. Synthetic wigs do not require much care. Just keep them away from the stove, heating & drying tools, and they will last for up to 5 months easily.
- Machine-Made or Hand-made: Which One Is Suitable?
Wigs are either machine-made or hand-made. The machine-made counterpart is affordable, as it’s produced in bulk in factories. You can get them for $200 or less. The downside, however, is that machine-made wigs feel extremely uncomfortable on your already-sensitive scalp and can cause itching. Besides, machine-sewed hair doesn’t give a natural look. The patient also needs to wear a cap beneath the wig to ensure it fits correctly and is comfortable.
Hand-tied wigs are more comfortable and natural. Each hair strand is individually hand-tied to the mesh cap. The biggest perk of these wigs is you can style and part them in different ways. They can cost $600 and higher, though. If you want an affordable option that feels natural but costs less, monofilament wigs are your best bet. The back and sides of these wigs are machine-sewed, while the top and front portions are hand-made. Monofilament human hair wigs can last longer and handle all haircare treatments, like dying, heating appliances, etc.
- Taking Care of Your Wig
Ideally, your wigs must be washed after 14-18 wearings and less often as cancer patients have dry scalps. However, if you indulge in outdoor activities or have an oily hair type, you might have to wash it more frequently. Note that this doesn’t apply to synthetic wigs.
For human hair wigs, a general shampoo that you use for your normal hair will suffice. A synthetic wig doesn’t require that amount of maintenance, but protecting them from fire and heating appliances is crucial. You can’t use heating and drying tools on these wigs, as they might melt. Some synthetic wigs are machine and heat friendly, but those can cost you a fortune.
Check with your stylist to learn more about taking care of your synthetic or human hair wigs. While washing, make sure you use cold water, as hot water can melt the glue.
Conclusion
Undergoing chemotherapy can be mentally and physically challenging for you. Preparing for hair loss requires choosing the right hair type and material. Talk to your hairstyle or book an online consultation to discuss your hair goals with a professional and find the best wig for your scalp.