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Some women experience hair loss
(alopecia) while undergoing chemotherapy. With recent advances in hair replacement
technology, women have a variety of choices to help make themselves look and feel better
during treatment. Some wigs are now made to allow a woman’s scalp to show through to
give the impression that hair is growing from the scalp. This article offers tips to women
who are considering wearing a wig during chemotherapy.
Visit a wig specialist before hair loss
begins.
Most women do not experience hair
loss until after their second chemotherapy treatment. But some women will start
to lose their hair as soon as seven days after treatment has begun. Hair loss occurs
because hair follicles are weakened by chemotherapy, causing hair to fall out at a much
faster rate than normal. Some women also lose their eyelashes and eyebrows during
chemotherapy.
Women should consider visiting a wig
salon before they begin losing their hair so that the specialist may become familiar with
her present hairstyle and color. Some wig salons specialize in hair loss from chemotherapy
and are able to offer women specific advice. A wig specialist may also wish to measure the
woman’s head size to make sure an average wig will fit. Custom-made wigs sometimes
take several weeks to have made.
Choose a wig establishment that
provides quality and advice.
Most reputable wig establishments will
provide women with advice about how to take care of their wigs. This advice includes what
type of shampoos, conditioners, and brushes to use on the wig. Most wigs, regardless of
whether they are synthetic or made from natural human hair, require shampoo and
conditioning every one to two weeks. Quality wig establishments will clean and re-style
wigs when needed. Wigs made from natural hair can be styled, curled, or treated with
hairspray or mousse.
Note: Many hospitals and cancer support
groups can provide women with a list of quality wig establishments in the area.
Consider a wig with tape tabs.
Many wigs have tape tab materials
(also called "stickies") inside the cap of the wig. These tape tabs allow women
to use double-sided tape that holds the wig cap to the scalp, keeping it in place for an
extended period of time. Tape tabs allow women to comb and style the wig without worrying
about it sliding. Most wig specialists recommend that after a woman loses 50% to 60% of
her hair due to chemotherapy, she should cut off their remaining hair at the points where
the tape tab materials within the wig cap touch their scalps so that she may begin using
the tape tabs. Many women prefer to shave off their remaining hair after large portions
begin to fall out.
Consider getting two wigs.
After chemotherapy ends, it usually
takes about a month for a woman’s hair to begin growing again. Hair typically grows
one-fourth inch to one-half inch per month. Even after finishing chemotherapy, a woman
will need to wear her wig for several months. Most wig specialists recommend getting two
wigs for alternate use during and after chemotherapy. Since wigs need to be cleaned and
re-styled from time to time, having two wigs will prevent a woman from having to go
without a wig for any period of time.
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