Cancer and Hair Loss

Hair loss from cancer treatments can often affect people in a variety of different ways. Some treatments can cause only partial hair loss or thinning of the hair, whilst others cause people to lose hair from all over their body, including eyebrows and eyelashes.

Different types of chemotherapy drugs have varying effects. Radiotherapy causes hair loss only in the area where the treatment is focused.

Planning

If you think that you would like to wear a wig during treatment, you may find it helpful to visit a wig specialist like Crowning Glory at Simone Thomas Salon before your cancer treatment starts to discuss with hair loss consultants who can then help match your hair colour and style. They can even cut and style your wig to your specific requirements. A lot of our clients comment that people they meet don’t even realise they are wearing a wig.

Cold Caps

What is a Cold Cap? A cold cap is a hat that is worn during some chemotherapy treatments. Its cooling effect helps to reduce the blood flow to the scalp, which in turn reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches this area. This can help to prevent hair loss during treatment. It’s usually worn for about 15 minutes before undergoing each chemotherapy treatment.

Eyebrows and Eyelashes

With some chemotherapy treatments, some people experience the loss of their eyebrows and eyelashes. Make-up, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner or false eyelashes can help to minimise how noticeable this is. Here at Crowning Glory at Simone Thomas Salon we have specialist make-up artists who can help advise you on how to effectively apply make-up to disguise this hair loss.

Types of wig

There are two main types of wig: synthetic and real hair. Synthetic wigs are created from man-made fibres. They typically last for six to nine months and cost anywhere between £50 and £200. Wigs made from real hair last for up to three or four years, can be styled and treated as you would your own hair and cost between £200 and £2,000. These can be custom made by Crowning Glory at Simone Thomas Salon to your style and colour prerequisite.

Help with costs

You can get free synthetic wigs on the NHS if:

• You’re under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
• You’re a hospital inpatient
• You’re a war pensioner and the wig is for your accepted disablement and you have a valid war pension exemption certificate

You're entitled to help if you:

• Get Income Support
• Get Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Get Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Are named on or entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• Are named on a valid HC2 certificate

Crowning Glory at Simone Thomas Salon hold stock of different types of wigs and hairpieces that you can come and try in-salon in total privacy. Book a free consultation with a hair loss specialist for help and advice in choosing the right wig for you.