Chemotherapy is a necessity for people that are dealing with cancer, and unfortunately one of the downsides of such a treatment is hair loss. In fact, this is the most visible problem that appears after chemotherapy, and it’s a challenge for both men and women. But how can you prepare for hair loss due to chemotherapy? It is a personal journey and we want to share some ideas to keep in mind.
1: Take good care of your scalp and hair
Make sure that you avoid heat, colouring or bleaching your hair, as that will weaken it. Ideally you want to air dry your hair and also avoid hairstyles like plaits or ponytails. What this does is it helps you keep the hair strong before the treatment. When it comes to the period during the treatment, you want to avoid lotions and shampoos, as those can have very strong fragrances. It’s recommended to use gentle shampoo, a hair brush with soft bristles and lotion that moisturises the scalp.
2: Shave or go short before the treatment
Since chemotherapy can lead to hair loss, it can make things a little easier if you either shave your hair or go with short hair before the treatment. It can give you a sense of power and control too.
It will be a good time to start trying on wigs so that if you do decide to wear a wig, the transition will be easier.
3: Scalp protection
We recommend you protect your scalp during the chemotherapy treatment. What you can do is to use a headscarf or maybe any type of headwear very useful. It helps you protect the hair and scalp, while also making chemotherapy possible. It’s the best of both worlds and it will work very nicely.
4: Buy a great wig
Wearing a wig can bring back some of your confidence. The best way to prepare for hair loss from chemotherapy is to buy a good wig. A lot of women wear wigs during their chemotherapy treatment because losing your hair from the treatment can feel really overwhelming.
You can experiment with a new style or you can choose a wig thats just like your hair now. There is a lot to choose from so take your time. Being prepared really helps to minimise the stress, we have a great blog that talks more about this.
We recommend using these tips if you want to prepare for hair loss that comes as a side effect of chemotherapy. There will always be challenges as you try to narrow down the best way to maintain a great look even if you’re undergoing chemotherapy. Contact our friendly team who will be more that happy to answer any questions you may have