How to Choose and Buy a Wig
A woman’s hair really is her crowning glory and may be integral to her self-esteem. It’s not until you lose it that you know the extent to which your hair matters to the way you feel about and see yourself. People lose their hair for a variety of reasons including natural hair loss from aging, alopecia, illness and from treatments used to cure diseases like cancer-related chemotherapy. If your hair loss is severe you may not want to wear a hat, scarf or turban. Many women choose, instead to wear a wig to address their hair loss problems. The idea may not sound all that appealing at first and you may choose only to wear it on special occasions but once you see how it can improve your sense of self esteem you may decide to wear it every day. Either way, here are some general guidelines on how to buy a wig and improve the way you feel about your hair loss.
General Tips
* Start to shop for your wig long before you lose a lot of hair. This way you can match it to your natural color, texture, and style.
* Specialty shops for cancer patients are a good source of hairpieces for women. If you aren’t comfortable going to your local retailer, a sales associate may be able to come to your home to help you fit your new wig.
* The American Cancer Society’s “tlc” catalog is another source of wigs and hairpieces.
* If your hair loss is likely to be temporary consider borrowing one instead of buying it. Call your local American Cancer Society or enquire at the social work department at your hospital.
* If you need to buy a wig due to hair loss from cancer treatment, it is a tax-deductible expense and may be (at least) partially covered by your health insurance. Do check your policy and ask your doctor to write out a prescription for a “hair prosthesis.”
Call Your Hairstylist
When you make an appointment ask for some extra time. Tell your stylist that you have a new wig that you would like trimmed and styled to suit your face. Most hairstylists deal with women who have hair loss problems from time to time so you need not feel shy or embarrassed. Your stylist just may be the best friend you could have right now!
Give Yourself Options
Wigs may be a little uncomfortable so you might not want to wear it all day or even every day and a hairpiece sticking out underneath a cap is far more comfortable than the bulk of a wig. Many wig stores and cancer specialty shops stock a range of side pieces, bangs, ponytails, curls and other aids designed to be Velcroed into a hat.
General Tips
* Start to shop for your wig long before you lose a lot of hair. This way you can match it to your natural color, texture, and style.
* Specialty shops for cancer patients are a good source of hairpieces for women. If you aren’t comfortable going to your local retailer, a sales associate may be able to come to your home to help you fit your new wig.
* The American Cancer Society’s “tlc” catalog is another source of wigs and hairpieces.
* If your hair loss is likely to be temporary consider borrowing one instead of buying it. Call your local American Cancer Society or enquire at the social work department at your hospital.
* If you need to buy a wig due to hair loss from cancer treatment, it is a tax-deductible expense and may be (at least) partially covered by your health insurance. Do check your policy and ask your doctor to write out a prescription for a “hair prosthesis.”
Call Your Hairstylist
When you make an appointment ask for some extra time. Tell your stylist that you have a new wig that you would like trimmed and styled to suit your face. Most hairstylists deal with women who have hair loss problems from time to time so you need not feel shy or embarrassed. Your stylist just may be the best friend you could have right now!
Give Yourself Options
Wigs may be a little uncomfortable so you might not want to wear it all day or even every day and a hairpiece sticking out underneath a cap is far more comfortable than the bulk of a wig. Many wig stores and cancer specialty shops stock a range of side pieces, bangs, ponytails, curls and other aids designed to be Velcroed into a hat.
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