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Wig Tips for Chemotherapy Patients

We understand and fully sympathize with the wide range of emotions that our customers experience who are undergoing chemotherapy. We consider it a privilege to make dealing with sudden hair loss an easier and less traumatic experience. Because we've worked through the process with many of our customers, we'd like to present our best tips on finding and selecting a wig for those who are undergoing medical hair loss.


Before You Buy a Wig

There are several things you can do to prepare yourself to not only choose the right wig, but feel better about wearing it. If you can brave it, go ahead and gradually cut your hair short. This lessens the pain of seeing large amounts of your hair falling out. Go ahead and take control of your hair before it's taken from you. The less hair you have, the easier it will be to get a good wig fit. Pretty soon you'll be used to your short hair and feel like yourself more quickly than if you were waiting for long hair after your chemotherapy. The less hair you have under your wig, the cooler and more comfortable it will be. Short hair wigs are also easier to care for and require less professional cleaning and styling to look great. Get a few hairstyle magazines and pick out some styles that you like, interview your hairdresser, and let them help you determine which style would be best for you.

Selecting a Wig

If at all possible, try to pick out your wig before your chemotherapy begins. This will allow you some time to get used to the look of your wig and help you to feel more "normal" while wearing it. You will also have more energy for the process and your stylist will be able to get a true feel for your coloring and complexion.


Go for the best quality wig you can afford. The higher the wig's cost, the more natural and discreet it's going to look, including an indistinguishable part line (called a monofilament part or top) and the ability to style it different ways. You'll probably be wearing the wig for long stretches of time, so you want to be comfortable in your choice. On the other hand, you don't need to purchase a wig that will last a decade.


Most wigs are designed for women who have hair underneath, so be careful to read and ask about what the underside of the cap feels like. Remember that you may require a smaller sized wig as your hair falls out. Caps with adjustable tabs can downsize as you need them to.


Color is hands down the most important issue in choosing a wig. We have always recommended selecting a shade slightly lighter than your own hair, for two reasons. First, your complexion may be off during chemotherapy. Often chemo patients develop a yellow, green, or gray undertone to their skin. The less contrast their is between your skin and your hair, the more flattering your wig will be and the less attention you will call to yourself. Generally people will tend to overlook a switch to a lighter shade. Thirdly, Synthetic hair is thicker than human hair. So while the shade may be the same as your hair color, the wig will appear darker. Remember that you can always use our complementary color analysis for our professional advice.


Volume is the second important consideration when you want to choose a wig that looks like your natural look. Try to choose the same volume of hair as you had before. No one can grow more hair than they have (despite the claims of shampoo commercials!). If the wig is three times thicker than your hair used to be, it's much too obvious. If in doubt, choose a wig with very slightly less hair than you had before. Our customers tend to forget that a wig can be cut and styled by your hairdresser to get a more tailored look.

However, if you have always wanted to try a different look, but haven't gone for it, this is the perfect opportunity to try something new. If you'd like to try a different color or shorter length, try it out on your natural hair before chemotherapy and before ordering a wig in that new color if at all possible.

And remember you can always call our professionals for further advice and specific answers about your needs.