There are now many options for head covers if you’re coping withhair loss due to chemotherapy. Also referred to as alopecia, hair loss can be a stressful, heart-wrenching experience, and many people do not realize how much their image is tied to their hair until they face its loss.Thankfully, if you wish to cover your head before your own (often more delightful) head of hair grows back, there are many options available today. Some people even look back at the adventure of trying new head covers and styles fondly!
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The best time to shop for head covers isbeforeyou start to lose your hair. Check with your cancer center to see what resources are available in your area. Many online companies offer wigs and caps as well. The American Cancer Society offers a non-profit service for women calledTender Loving Care, that offers a catalog featuring a variety of products. While many other resources are available, this may help you start thinking about what you want.
Head Cover Options
Many people initially think of a wig to disguise their hair loss, or at least to keep their head warm duringchemotherapy, but there are many options.
Wigs and Hairpieces
Several types of wigs and hairpieces are available depending on your budget and individual preference. Options include:
It is often recommended that you choose a wig in a similar or slightly lighter color than you are accustomed to, but this is also a time when you can express yourself in a unique way.
Hats, Caps, Scarves, and Turbans
Caps, scarves, and turbans are becoming more popular as a head covering during chemotherapy. A wide variety of products are available, and they are considerably less expensive than most wigs. These can be more comfortable, especially in the summer and warmer climates, and allow for more diversity day-to-day. They are also less itchy, easier to care for, and less expensive so that you can purchase a variety of products.
Bald Is Beautiful
Some people prefer to go natural and skip head covers altogether. This can be a very comfortable option, especially in warm weather. If you go this route, make sure to protect your head from the sun and cold weather, as significant heat loss occurs through the head.
Tips for Covering Your Head
Many survivors have shared tips on chemotherapy-induced hair loss and head covers that may reduce some of the sadness and add energy to your life at a time whencancer fatigueoften reigns. Some of these include:
Make It Fun
Try Funky
Going bald and selecting wigs or other head coverings can be freeing. Not only can you be free of bad hair days (since you can leave your wig on a wig rack where it won’t get “bed head”), but you are free to try whatever style you may have simply imagined in the past. Have you always wanted to be a redhead? One very conservative (but with an underlying wicked sense of humor) woman opted for a cap and dreadlocks. Again, there are many ideas online that might get you started, but find a way to make your experience unique, especially if you’ve always hesitated to lean towards the funky side of things.
Don’t Go It Alone
From choosing head coverings to shaving your head if you do so, sharing the experience with another not only reduces the distress, but can also turn a sad and frightening time into a moment of joy. When choosing people to share the experience, think of friends who are comfortable with change and illness. You don’t want to find yourself supporting your friend’s distress over your hair loss. Often times, people who have experienced cancer themselves or through another loved one can recognize the need for joy and humor, and understand that a person can be joyful and sad at the same time. In fact, learning to live in contradiction in this way may have longstanding benefits to your life after your infusions are done.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
The costs of head covers can vary tremendously, depending on whether you go for an inexpensive scarf, or would rather have a natural wig (or both).
Insurance
Insurance companies oftencover a portion or all the cost of a wig(but not other types of hair covers). In order for a wig to be covered, however, you will need to have your oncologist write out a prescription for a “hair prosthesis” rather than a wig.
Options for Free Head Covers
From wigs to scarves, there are many organizations that provide free or lost cost head covers. Many cancer centers and chemotherapy infusion centers offer freebies as well.
How to Get Free Head Covers During Chemotherapy
Don’t be afraid to accept these offerings. After all, cancer is expensive. When you are through with chemotherapy, you may wish to donate your hair covers to someone else. When your beautiful hair grows back, you may even wish to donate hair.
Tips on Coping With Hair Loss During Chemotherapy
Most importantly, it’s an important reminder that everyone with cancer responds to the various side effects in different ways. For one person, the fear of having nausea is the worst adverse effect, while for others, losing their hair is considered the greatest downfall. It may be of some comfort to you to hear that while cancer leaves us with many side effects, researchers are learning that people who must cope with cancer experience positive changes as well. In other words, living with cancer can change people for the better.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Cancer Treatment.Breastcancer.org.Charitable Resources for People Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Hair loss.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Cancer Treatment.Breastcancer.org.Charitable Resources for People Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Hair loss.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Cancer Treatment.Breastcancer.org.Charitable Resources for People Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Hair Loss (Alopecia) and Cancer Treatment.
Breastcancer.org.Charitable Resources for People Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.
American Cancer Society.Hair loss.
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