Marilyn Monroe or Garth ????

The silver lining during the anti-climactic non start to my chemo was, the impromptu meeting I had with the hairdresser…. yes hairdresser!

As hair loss is a side effect of Chemo the NHS kindly provide you with  hairpiece/wig. I simply enquired in passing as to whether I could arrange to see the hairdresser at some point, the nurse said “ok lets go”… She whisked me into a side room, 30 seconds later in walked the hairdresser, she asked me about my hair, then she suggested I try on some wigs. 

For those of you who don’t know me personally, you will be unaware that I have very thick, often frizzy and unruly blonde hair, so attempting to squeeze a wig on top of this was never going to present the most aesthetically pleasing outcome!!!

We battled on intrepidly, determined not to be beaten. I tried on a synthetic hair wig which looked ridiculous. The hair looked so fine and therefore so unlike mine that it exaggerated how aware I was of wearing a wig! A synthetic wig has its definite perks, it will stay straight and not get frizzy…imagine…. However it can’t be curled, heat styled or coloured. 

The alternative is a ‘real hair’ wig. These are made of real hair and will behave so, they can therefore go frizzy, and the ends will split with wear. They do offer more options to style them as they can be straightened or curled and also coloured!! Who knew!

Click on this link for more information on wigs during cancer treatment

 The ‘real hair’ wig looked much better on me, though it was incredibly long. It reached almost to my waist, I was thinking Marilyn Monroe, however I was brought crashing back down to earth with the comparison to Garth from Wayne’s World (thanks to my sister Claire!!!)

The hairdresser gave me all the wig care information, it needs to be washed and dried regularly with good quality hair products. It will also need a regular trim, to remove split ends and maintain the condition.

Craig and I left the hospital (after several bouts of laughter trying on wigs), aware we would be back the next day to begin the Chemo sessions. 

At least I was a fabulous blonde wig better off. 

This is my wig before colour and style

When I got back home I started to arrange appointments with a local hairdresser to have it coloured and styled and cut to suit me. It can be difficult to find someone to do this as it is a specialist skill.