Hair loss

I don't have children but plenty of women on here do so they can advise. I couldn't deal with the stress of it coming out in chunks so my husband shaved it off and I was fine with it then never bothered me. I got a wig but hated it so didn't wear it much. I got good hats / turbans from the site www.wigs4you.com I liked their products. I also got hats for sleeping in as my head was freezing. I finished chemo end of December so I'm sitting here with a small head of pixie hair and I love it. I wish you well and welcome to the forum, you're with the best ladies xxxx

Thanks for that , I'm a outside sort of gal and could not see the wig surviving the Irish weather , the hay and straw ! Love my hats so thats why I would like to not go the wig route .it's nice to have someone to ask these questions who have been through it .

I think the little fringes look great with the hats, it makes the bald look less severe if you are not going the wig option. I found Roches good for hats and scarves and all their experience in invaluable. I waited and let mine fall out, day 17 after chemo the whole thing came loose, so I cut some chunks off and then got someone to shave off the spikey ends. As it all came out together it wasn't too distressing, but I can imagine patchy scalp could be traumatic. But you do get used to it, it's one less thing to worry about when ur feeling rotten.

I have found this forum absolutely brilliant for various things I've encountered along the way. Oh the wig will survive the weather and you're heading in to the summer. They are tight on your head and very realistic . People thought it was my own a lot of the time. I wore hats out all the time and my turban/bandanas the rest of the time. Best to get rid of the hair once it starts to depart. I got my wig in cabinteely but bought all hats etc on line

Hi Katy Katy
As soon as I knew what my treatment was & that it was likely I would lose my hair I got my hair cut up cute as a button. Then exactly two weeks after my first treatment a chunk of hair came away in my hand so I borrowed a razor and let my children play hairdresser; otherwise it was going to end up all over the house - bad enough with dog hairs but my hairs too?!?! They enjoyed cutting off my hair - my eldest didn't mind my baldness but my youngest hated me near her without a bandana or hat.
About the wig - if I had the choice, I wouldn't bother; it was hot and itchy and one of the teddies is getting more wear out of it than I did, which is a shame when I think of the cost of it. Or maybe I should have gone to the total extreme and got a long blonde one for the craic!
I hope it all goes well for you x

So cute, a teddy wearing your wig! I love it!

Katykaty, welcome, though of course I am sorry you ever had to join us. Good luck with your treatments and I can promise you will get amazing support here. The girls are truly wonderful!

Hugs

Kath

Thanks Everyone
I think a wig in this house might end up on the teddy aswell or maybe the dog playing with it , might go with the razor idea and maybe get my friend whose a hairdresser over and let them help .

Hi there!!

I shaved mine the day it began to come out. I just couldn't handle the thoughts of it falling out everywhere.

As for the wig thing.....I bought loads of scarves and a wig and a fringe. But I get most wear out of two hats I bought in Roches! Mind you with the summer the scarves may get a go. I've worn the wig on a weekend away, but to be honest it just isn't "me" and I hate myself in it. The fringe got sore around my head after a few hours and now is currently a hula skirt on one of my Teddy bears on my dresser.....my advice is don't go mad Internet shopping - you will find a look you'll like and will be comfortable with- personally hats were the way for me

Good luck xxxx

Hi Katykaty,
As has been said above it is a very personal choice, but its great to hear the experience of others to help you make your own decisions. I always had long thick hair, so was devastated to loose it i could not contemplate going without hair. The first wig I was fitted with was too short and just did not feel right so I found a couple on line from UK sites, same manufacturer but much cheaper (less than 100 euro delivered!) and I was delighted with them. the "Raquel Welsch" wigs from natural image can even be styled with curling tongs!

Good luck with your choice!

Karen!

Hi KatyKaty - welcome to the forum. Agree with a lot of the girls above - but remember you can be without hair for quite a while - I'm moving on to month 7 at this stage and still as bald as a billiard ball - so I used a combination of hats, turbans, wigs and fringes as you can get very bored with any one look. As regards the wig, I hated the first wig I bought - it was uncomfortable to wear and made me look like Mrs Doubtfire - so second time around I tried on a load of wigs at the Hair Club in Donnybrook - they have a brilliant selection of styles and colours - and I ended up buying two more wigs - which I interchange when I'm going out! Once you pay the excess on your health insurance for the first one you might as well get some more as you get any furhter expenses back....
Anyway agree at home that the hats and scarves are more comfortable - especially recommend ww.headscarves.com for great selection...
Good luck!

KatyKaty, whatever you decide to do, it is very much a personal choice. I did get mine shaved up really tight a week ago and it is now falling out and so much easier to manage the loss and its a less of a big issue as what I am loosing can't really be noticed. But I would suggest preparing your children. I also have two boys and gave them plenty of notice about the hair loss and why. They kept asking me when I was getting it shaved and told their friends about it. Mind you they still didn't like it when they saw it and wanted to know when it would grow back. However a a week later they have adjusted to the new look and dont pass any more comments. The wig is still in the box and I supect will stay there and I am using hats and scarfs or nothing when feeling really brave as I was today ! Annabandana is a good site for cheap and cheerful casual scarves and hats. Best of luck with it.
Leitrim Lady

Thanks everyone for your advice , will look at some of the sites and see what way I'll go .Need to get medical card sorted first proving very difficult!