Hi all
starting chemo next week so trying to get myself prepared. Not sure i want a wig but have been looking at websites for nice bandannas etc and they all look shocking!! Anyone got any good sites that have nice trendy head wear that wont make me look like a mad old women or aging rocker!
thanks Jane
Personally, I have found buffs the best thing to use for everyday. I wear them out shopping, to chemo, and when I feel up to a bit of gardening. They wash out easily and dry quickly. I have one really nice silk headscarf that my daughter brought me back from a trip to the US called a Beaubeau. Don’t know if you can get them here. There is some nice stuff on suburban turban. I have one of their hats.
PS Good luck with the chemo next week.
Hi Jane. Google Annabandana. Cheap as chips and do the job, but I hate them. The ooze ‘chemo’.
I’d rather wear a hat, much nicer.
HI Jane
I had chemo in 2005/6 and developed a “factsheet” for friends in the wake of my experience - reporduced below if it helps!
K x
First - just to prove that the hair really does grow back - this is an artist who took photos as her hair grew again - I think they are great!
karinstack.com/hs/hair.html
The two sites I bought most from are these. The first one is from USA but they were very good about shipping to the UK
headcovers.com/
The second is a bit wacky as it is a rabbinical Jewish site.
The women have to cover their heads but I really liked some of the scarves. - they were large and easy to tie. I also found that the all purpose cotton cap was great for wearing under scarves - it stopped them slipping. It was also good around the house if you didn’t want to be bothered with anything else but didn’t want to go commando!
modestworld.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SN0004&cat=7
Here are some tips re tying scarves. The one I used all the time was the crown - can look quite elegant!
Buffs are intended as sports wear. But they are also good as cover ups. There are many ways of tying them. I still use mine as a neckerchief when i am running - very soft material - warm in winter;cool in summer.
buffwear.co.uk/index.php
The rest of these sites were ones which I found but didn’t use - but you may be more interested in them than me.
bcforum.org/scarves.html
cjhats.com/index.php
domadesigns.com/hats1.htm
hats4heads.co.uk/
chemosavvy.com/?sc=store
softops.org/about.html
Hi Jane - I got a coupla nice baker boy hats at tie rack - I look shocking in scarfes , and i would get a wig if i was you for when we want to just blend in as normal.
x
Defo get a wig and a halo wig for hot days under your bandana. I also have quite a few hats, trilbys are very fashionable … and they’re great for holding the wig in place!
also suburban turban is great , bw
I’ve found Annabandana.co.uk to be the best for me as I like plain colours and not patterned which a lot are.
They are REALLY resaonably priced, you can get short headscarfs or long ones to cover your neck if you want.
They are pre-formed as well so you dont have to faff tying them or worry that they’ll come loose.
Also, it’d be handy for you to have sleep caps, these can be worn under scarfs if cold or you want some bulk, or around the house if your bonce is nippy.
I can’t recommend Anna Bandana highly enough for very fast delivery, prices from £3-£6 and if you’ve any queries then the lady that runs it is lovely.
Sorry if I sound like an advert but I spent ages looking for plain long headscarves and got v fruatrated until I found this site. And some places charge a fortune. I like to have lots of colours, choice to match everything.
Do you want a couple more El Katrano?
I have two Pre tied bandanas, and two baker boy jobbies. I’m just keeping a couple of sleep hats and i’m nearly ready to go commando. Drop me a note if you can use them :o)
Kmans, thanks for the site for tying scarves. Given me a few new ones. I have a ‘Hairy Mary’ for special occasions, but I find her very scratchy to wear for long and really only wear her when I’m with old family members who get a bit upset at the scarves and hats. Soft hats are great for speed and comfort, but I look terrible in them, not enough height. I’ve found scarves the best bet as they don’t scream ‘cancer’ and can be twisted to get a bit of height. Amazing how small a head ccan look without hair to give the height. I found most of my scarves in T K Max at a reasonable price. I am the opposite and like pattered scarves in multi-colours. I try and avoid the ‘fortune teller’ look and wear small earrings. Charity shops can be a good source of scarves too, just keep popping in them all when you go past.
Great idea about the big earrings, hipchick. I use that trick, also.
Try using a bright lipstick, too, janeruth. It takes the focus off your head and puts it back on your face.
Hi Elttiks - thanks 
I have every colour I want now, so maybe offer to someone else? I’m a few months off not needing them now I hope, I have dandelion fluff and Alpecin so I’m hoping I get coverage without scalp then it’s no scarves for me - Yay. May use wig over Winter as it’ll probably feel great in the cold - ha ha.
No worries. They too good to freecycle to someonw who really doesn’t need them.
Anyone want some head wear??
thank-you ladies as usual you have all been very informative and generally brill. I’ve ordered a couple of scarves and hats to get me going, then I’ll see how I go.
jane
I used Annabandana too - and the Scarf Hut. BB
What a great thread! I didn’t realise how much I needed this advice until I read it. I’ve just bought myself some very sedate bandanas from Anna Bandana, but might get some brighter ones once I get used to wearing them. Thanks Everyone.
Another thought about hair loss,when did the clippers come into play. People have said that i should just shave my hair off before chemo starts ( these are people who have not had cancer!)but i’m not sure.I don’t want to shave all my hair then find that I don’t loose it all, alternatively I don’t want to have big bald patches with fairly long hair.
Chemo starts on 15th Aug so guess I need to make my mind up soon
jane
Hi Jane,
It’s up to you. Some people like to take matters into their own hands and clipper it off before it starts falling out. Some prefer to hold onto it as long as possible and clipper it when it feels right.
It shouldn’t start falling out for a couple of weeks after starting chemo - your scalp will suddenly feel a bit sore…like your hair’s been scraped back in a really, REALLY tight ponytail. Don’t worry - not painful as such - just a bit sore.
You could always compromise and cut it shorter now so you get used to seeing yourself with shorter hair?
xx
Hi Jane
My hair was shorter than yours and as Sandytoes says that might help you get used to it?
I was told 18 days after chemo 1 - and that was when it happened to the day! Clumps started falling out. I spent a happy afternoon wandering around the garden running my hands through my hair and throwing it it to the wind! It was so staggly by that stage and causing major shower blockages that I went to my hairdresser who took the clippers to it for me (discretely in an otherwise deserted upstairs section)!
Good luck on 15th
K