I second what Tina46 has said about My New Hair and Look Good Feel Better. I went to their salon at Long Melford, Suffolk and they are absolutely brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble for them.
lookinggoodfeelingbetter.co.uk/my-new-hair.html
So many people have commented on my wig and say how realistic it is, and that they would never know that it is not my own hair.
On the recommendation of my Chemo Nurse at the West Suffolk Hospital, I paid them a visit with a friend whilst I still had my own hair before I started my chemo at the beginning of June 2011. I was going to try the cold-cap treatment and try to retain my own hair, but the wig was going to be my ‘contigency plan’ and with their help I picked out the wig that I was secretly hoping I didn’t really need to come and collect, but it was there ‘just in case’
However, by the time I had had my 2nd chemo and cold cap session in early July I decided to call it a day, as it was obvious that my own hair was suffering – it was so dry on top and splitting badly. At least I was given the opportunity to try the cold-cap though, but unless your hair looks good in the meantime there is not a lot of fun retaining it if you always look as if you are having a bad hair day. You are only supposed to wash your hair no more than twice a week whilst undergoing the cold cap treatment, not to colour or use heat on it – in fact do nothing that might give your hair stress. Well, I’m afraid that my hair style was coloured with hi-lights and designed to be washed and blasted everyday so to look unwashed and flat is not the look I wanted. Every time I looked in the mirror it was seeing my mother looking back at me on a bad-hair day, and believe me, that was bad!
I picked up the phone and booked my appointment at My New Hair for the very next day to come in and have my wig styled and fitted. My husband and daughter came with me for support, and my sister arrived there before we did, and she was pleasantly surprised to be offered refreshments whilst she waited our arrival. With an audience watching her the hairdresser set to work on my wig and by the time she had finished, if you will pardon the pun it was a definite case of ‘hair today, gone tomorrow’ and the best thing I did. At least I was looking at myself in the mirror now, and not seeing my mother instead! My audience voiced their approval, once they had downed their tea, kit-kats and penguin biscuits.
What could have been a very traumatic experience for me was in actual fact a wonderful afternoon’s treat, and morale boosting too!
Even my chemo nurse looked at me quizzically before asking if I was wearing a wig, as did my GP and the attendees at the ‘Looking Good, Feeling Better’ pamper session I attended at the Big C Centre to mention but a few. If those who regularly come into contact with women such as me who are undergoing chemo can not tell I am wearing a wig then what better testimony to their good work than that.
I had to pay for my wig, but I think that it was money well spent compared to the amount I have saved in hairdressing costs and hair products in the interim.
If you can visit My New Hair in Long Melford, but they have lots of salons across the country.
Good luck
Mazzalou xx
