Hair loss can be one of the most devastating side effects of cancer treatment. Some types of chemotherapy target rapidly growing cancer cells. Since hair cells are the fastest growing cells in the body, chemotherapy drugs also destroy hair cells, causing hair to fall out.
Wigs are the most popular option for covering up hair loss. Many women, however, fear the idea of choosing a wig, imagining that they have to wear the hot, itchy and unnatural looking wigs of yore. The good news is that wig making technology has come a long way in recent years, resulting in lighter, more comfortable wigs that look completely natural. Most chemotherapy patients i tip extensions choose to wear a wig that matches their hair style and color. Of course, there is nothing wrong with experimenting with a new style or color if you wish.
Where to buy a wig?
It is easier to buy the wig before you lose your hair. Wigs are available in many different places. A shop or salon that allows you to touch, feel and try on wigs before buying them is always the best choice. If you don’t have a local wig shop, you can search catalogs or online. If you can’t afford a wig, many hospitals and the American Cancer Society often offer free boutiques where you can find donated wigs.
Before you visit a wig shop, you may want to call ahead and get information: How many wigs they have in stock, can you try on wigs, do they work with your insurance company, do they cut and style? the wigs for you, so you need a quote and so on.
Human or synthetic hair
It is always best to inquire about the types of wigs available. Wigs can be made with human hair or synthetic fibers. Human hair wigs have the advantage of versatility: they can be colored, permanent, curled with a curling iron or straightened with a flat iron. They also offer smoother, more natural movement and texture. Buying human hair can be confusing. It is available in a wide variety of qualities and price ranges. Like many other things in life, with wigs you usually get what you pay for. Chinese hair is thick, straight and a little coarse. Indian hair is the most popular type of hair, softer and more wavy. European hair has the finest and smoothest texture.
The debarked hair cuticle has been removed to prevent tangling. Remy’s hair still has the cuticle in place, but it has been tied tightly so that all of the hair runs in the same direction. She is stronger than unkempt hair. Human hair is generally sold by the inch, so longer wigs will be considerably more expensive. Another thing to keep in mind is that human hair requires some skill to style. Like our hair, it needs to be combed and styled regularly to look its best. Synthetic hair is by far the most popular option among chemotherapy patients. Less expensive and less maintenance than human hair, synthetic wigs offer a great alternative. The style is “baked” so it stays in place, even when you wash it. Synthetics can be washed, brushed and styled, but cannot be curled or flattened with hot tools or chemicals. Like human hair, synthetic hair comes in different qualities. The cheapest synthetic fibers are thick and similar to plastic, with an unnatural sheen. The best quality synthetics vary in denier (or thickness), so they look and feel like the real thing.