Welcome to my Website and my first Blog post ever!
It seemed the best place for me to start here because if you do decide to come for a treatment, I’m very likely to have different hair to my photo! After losing my hair during chemotherapy, these are my top tips for buying a wig.
Cancer takes so much from you and although I thought I was prepared for the possibility of losing my hair when it happened, I was much more devasted than I ever imagined. I need to stress that for me it was the process of losing my hair that was disturbing once it was gone, I felt some relief. I did try the cold cap and this didn’t work for me but it did for other women I’ve met. Every one of us is different.*
My local Oncology team gave me an NHS voucher to use at a local hair replacement specialist, but I was against wigs. I believed they’d look fake. Especially cheaper synthetic options (which I only have the budget for). But in the new year I saw a woman with an amazing immaculate bob -she was a patient just like me on Oncology Day Care. She inspired me. My only regret was- I never told her. I looked at the wigs at Aderans UK (formerly known as Trenco) and started to change my mind. I made an appointment in the new year with the attitude of Lets have some Fun with this! I invited my hairdresser and my sister, and we made a day of it with lovely lunch out after. I came home with quite a few! That day I was in a lift wearing one of my new wigs and a woman asked me where I got my hair done! I was quite overwhelmed and tempted to lie but I told her, and I felt great!
MY TOP TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH WIGS
- Make an appointment with a hair replacement specialist (your oncology team will give you a voucher towards your purchase and a list of local services)
- Look through their stock online first and have an open mind and tick off any you like!
- Take a friend you trust and make it a day out.
- Have an attitude of fun and try on different styles, lengths, and colours.
- Avoid only going for something close to your original hair. Other women I’ve spoken to bought one close to their own original hair and said they never wore it. I’m not saying don’t buy it if it’s like the you before chemotherapy, but I am saying have fun with this.
- Use the four-finger technique to get your wig in the correct position. Place your hand horizontally above your eyebrows and count 4 fingers up this should give you a guid of where the wig should start at the hairline.
- Take it to your hairdresser- they’ll be happy to help you if you need a slight alteration to the fringe or length. My hairdresser has saved some of my wigs from the bin by cutting off the frizzled bits. Hairdressers also have the knack of using thinning scissors on your wig which in the long term reduces tangles.
- Get a wig stand to keep your wig on. Yes, it’s a bit creepy but it will keep it in better condition. I think my first purchase came with a wig stand and wig cap.
- Do you need glue? I’ve only really needed this with lace front wigs. Lace front wigs usually come on a fine mesh at the front and mine have always been on the ones without a fringe.
- Try a wig attached to a headband. These are no fuss options!
- If you’re going to buy something in region of £20-£40 online look at the reviews with photos and one with a fringe is a much more natural look to achieve (hairlines can be tricky to look natural)
- If you can afford it buy some shampoo, conditioner and spray for synthetic hair, if that’s what you’ve bought. I don’t own a natural hair one so I cant advise on this. Some people advise washing your wig in fabric softener but it didn’t work for me.
Since my first experience with wigs, I’ve become quite addicted, and here’s why…
- They give you a confidence boost almost immediately.
- I can go from long to short, a different style or colour in the same day
- I think of them as an item of clothing and love the choice of what to wear on different days or occasions.
- Some of the wigs available are as little as £20-£25!
- My hair is growing but its quite badly behaved so if im having a bad hair day I can fix it with a wig
- I can change my hair to match my mood and usually a different look changes my mood for the positive
- If it rains- no problem the wig dries naturally in the style it was made with no need for special attention.
- I take a lot less time to get ready
- Have you ever wondered what you’d look like with a different style or colour? With a wig that’s an option and you can scratch that itch
- I’ve lost count of the number of complements I’ve had on my hair but NOT my hair (even on my last cycle for chemotherapy a new nurse started to prepare the cold cap as they thought my not my own hair was my own hair!)
- If its windy I can wear a hat on top
The future for me and wigs? Who knows! I’m planning on embracing my natural steely grey to grow into a longer style but I’ll always have wigs for bad hair days and mood changes. And remember, a wig should make you feel more confident and make you smile. If it doesn’t don’t buy it!
If you’re not sure how to style you new wig, then take a look at these two videos to get you started:
Wig Installation for Beginners
Sending you healing vibes! Annette x
PS: I didn’t lose my eyebrows and eye lashes until I’d finished chemotherapy, after 6 cycles. Each of us is different-for some people it starts to come back before you’ve finished. If you need help drawing your eyebrows book a workshop with Look Good Feel Better Charity. They’ll show you how. https://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/virtual-workshops/