Various studies show that many women fear losing their hair more than losing a breast, as breast loss can be concealed more easily than hair loss. However, there are ways to cope with hair loss, particularly through the use of wigs and head coverings.
• Ask your doctor to write a prescription for a wig, which may be covered by your health insurance. If you are covered, that can help to offset the cost of the wig.
• Start shopping for a wig early on even before hair loss occurs. As you get further along into treatment, you may feel fatigued and not up to shopping for wigs.
• Choose a color that is similar to your natural hair color. This will help the wig look more natural.
• If possible, purchase more than one wig so you have a backup or another style choice.
• Visit a wig store at least once for a proper fitting so you will know what to look for. Wigs come in different cap sizes. Once you know your size, you can consider shopping for wigs online.
• Human hair wigs are more expensive, but they can be more durable than synthetic wigs and offer more styling choices. However, synthetic wigs can usually be worn out of the box and require less daily styling.
• Head wraps and hats are an alternative when you need a break from wearing a wig. Choose a variety of options so you can coordinate with your clothing.
Losing hair due to cancer treatment is seldom easy. Being prepared for the transition by having a quality wig and comfortable head wraps at the ready can make dealing with hair loss easier.
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