I haven’t started chemo yet but i’m already stressing about losing my hair. I think it’s cos it just screams out ‘i have cancer’,whereas at the moment nobody would look at me & know. Just wondered how others felt about it, do u get to the stage where u just don’t care if u lose it, what are hospital wigs like? I’ve read on here that they get too hot to wear comfortably. I’m having another op next week so chemo will probably be in a few weeks time. At the moment i feel like i will want to wear a wig but did u all feel like that at first as i know a lot of u lovely ladies don’t bother with wigs or wear headbands etc instead? Thanks Heather x
Hi Heather
So sorry that you are having to start on this journey. However, I can assure you despite thinking I would not and could not get thruogh it I did. With regards the wig, I wore mine all the time in public and found it fine to wear. I had plenty of comments on how nice my ‘hair’ was from people who did not know i was getting chemo. I am now on my second wig and feel very comfortable in it. My hair is now back and I could go without it, so likely to have its unveiling in September! During chemo your head may become a little sensitive and at those times I wore a tiny towelling cap as it was so comfy, but only in the house! Outside, it was wig on! The NHS wigs are really the same as what you can buy and it might be worth your while looking at them on line to get an idea of what might be you. Take care during your treatment, focus on you and what you need and take control when your hair starts to fall out. I cut mine all off at that point and felt I had control and that power was a good feeling. I hope all goes well with your treatment. J.
I’ve worn my wig throughout and am only now going without occasionally as my hair is about 1cm long. Only close friends and family have seen me without so far.
Mine is quite comfortable although it took me a while to have confidence that it wasn’t going to fall off, since then I have worn it everywhere and have even ridden my horse in it, putting my hat on top. Take time to chose one you are happy in and I’m sure you will be fine.
I’ve not worn my wig. OH couldn’t get his head around it. I’m told the NHS wigs are horrid, but each to their own. Mine belonged to my friend, and it’s got a scalp so it can have a parting etc.
I thought I would be OK when my hair came out and planned to go commando, but until it happened I didn’t know it would be so bad. I’m quite a tough old boot, but still couldn’t work that bit out.
At work, with friends and family and at home, I don’t wear anything except a hat if I’m in the sun.
In public places, where I might get the ‘behind the back pity looks’ I wear my wig, or a hat.
I like my wig (got on the NHS) - I just find it a bit hot sometimes. However it’s great round the chiller cabinets in the supermarket!
Dx
HI there,
Like yourself I was petrified at the though of losing my hair, but bit by bit Im getting used to the idea. I havent started chemo yet - 2 weeks to go. I got my wig yesterday on the NHS. It is a monafilament wig and I am really impressed with the quality. I have worn it a couple of times for a few hours just to get used to it. If you can pluck up the courage to go to a place that specialises in wigs, the assistants are trained to appreciate what we are going through. I felt physically sick the first visit but am a lot better about it now.
Hi I had a Nhs wig, my hospital gave me a voucher for a wig up to the cost of £200 I think, and I had my wig from Debenhams.I got mine before I lost my hair so I was ready. Debenhams had two ladies working there that helped me pick which one I liked, I tried loads on. A lot of people didn’t know it was a wig I was wearing. I hated it when I lost my hair, but when I got used to wearing the wig I loved it. I got ready in half the time, just had to do my face and slip on my hair brilliant. I think the wigs are so much better now, they don’t look so false, mine was a blonde bob.
Good luck I am sure you will be fine 
Heather xx
I felt like that too. Personally I thought I’d wear the wig all the time and it is really nice.
But I wear headscarfes now if I go out or should I say off our street, other than that I go bald unless I’m cold.
I found the wig too itchy, hot and I’d get paranoid about it moving as I dont have a deep crease at the back of my head.
I wear it sometimes but rarely, just too irritating for me.
Other people at the chemo unit have said it’s fine for them.
Perhaps cos I had fine hair I wasn’t used to the heat of thick hair? I don’t know.
It’s not as bad as you think - but I have to admit to missing it now it’s been 4 months!
Hi Heather, I’m 5 months post chemo and my hair is looking good now. I bought a wig just before I started chemo and I’m really glad i did. I wore it everytime I went out and it made me feel more confident. I didn’t want people staring at me. Most people didn’t know it was a wig and I had lots of compliments about my lovely hair!! Most of my neighbours didn’t know I’d been through chemo untill I stopped wearing my wig and suddenly had very short, white hair!! I have to say though lots of the lovely ladies on here look fabulous without hair,but not me. I found a lovely wig lady through a site called ‘Long for hair’.
I found it very cold not having hair, so wore a scarf or jersey cap around the house. Wearing a wig on top of hair is very warm, but I found okay once I’d lost my hair, about 5 weeks into chemo. But it was winter then.
Good luck with it all, hope everything goes well for you. You will come through it. Karen xx
Hi Heather, I got my wig early on even though I was doing the cold cap.I was lucky as my chemo happened over winter butni still found my wig hot especially when the hot flushes arrived! I eventually found that wearing multi coloured buffs were more comfy. I had a few in different clouts and wore them tied as a bandana. There were good demonstrations on how to tie them on bandanashop.co.uk I tried scarves but they were a bit more fiddley than pulling on the old buff! X
Hello Heather
I have been wearing my wig since last Monday when I had my hair shaved off.That was after my second chemo. I had the wig ready. I got it from Trendco with my NHS voucher. I had an appointment at their Hove salon. The lady was very helpful,patient and understanding.
trendco.co.uk
So far I’ve worn mine when I’ve been out, with a cotton wig cap underneath, it’s quite comfortable.
bohemia-fashions.co.uk
That’s it in my picture.
I’ve worn it to a work meeting, out shopping with my Mum and sister and to the pub with OH. Nobody stared at me.I’ve also been out wearing a tied scarf. No problem with either. I have since bought another, longer wig from the internet, but I haven’t worn that one yet.
wigstoreuk.co.uk
I was glad I was prepared because when the hair starts coming out it is very quick!
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
For me, it was a process (in my head, rather than ON my head!) I got an NHS wig pre=chemo (it is as good as the ones you can buy in London stores). I found it comfy for a few hours only (under the nylon wig-cap) so I invested in scarves and bits to pin on the scarves and I colour co-ordinated and “made a statement” out of it. I bought Buffs (very comfy- sleep in them, keep one in my handbag) The hair came out… I carried on… then one day, I went somewher posh and decided I needed to feel good and wear the hair… so I did… and found that I was LESS aware of it being on my head than scarves (which used to end up lying around the house! where I’d pulled them off) So I wore the wig more than anything… local specialist lady at the hospital gets stuff made for her - got a few of those which are more comfy than other things, but the wig still gets worn most. I too get compliments on it, and no stares. HOt days, I put a sunhat on the bare egg… I have now had the courage to walk through the village with no hair, but it took months… it’s a journey/process…good luck!
Thanks so much for all ur help ladies, i really appreciate all ur comments. I’m going to have a good look through all the links you’ve posted, i’ve definately decided i’m going to buy a wig before i start chemo & go from there. It’s a bit like a security blanket,i know it’s there if i need it. Thanks again love Heather x
hi heather,
this weather you may not be able to wear it, its a bit like a woolly hat!! lol i havent got the nerve to go out without mine yet but boy I have struggled with the heat, best wishes Liz x