Shopping for a wig the first time can be intimidating.  They can be costly & you’ll want to make an informed purchase that will get you the best looking wig for your money.  Here I’ll share with you what I’ve learned along the way about the different types of wigs to consider when making your purchase, as well as how to wear them, care for them & wash them.

Because wigs can be so costly, my recommendation is to invest in at least one good wig & take good care of it.  You can opt to get a couple of others that are less expensive that you can wear more frequently & to add some variety & preserve the more expensive wig if needed.

All cancer patients who lose their hair as a side effect of chemotherapy are eligible to receive a free wig through the American Cancer Society.  For more information check with your medical team or contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Choosing your hair type (there are two types of hair):

 Synthetic hair – which is artificial hair.

Real hair – which is pretty self-explanatory, its real human hair.

There are pros & cons to each type:

Synthetic Hair                         versus                           Real Hair
More affordable	More expensive (usually $700+)
Less upkeep (wash weekly, dry, shake)	More upkeep (wash more, condition, straighten)
Not usually heat resistant (NO hot styling tools)	Heat resistant (blow dry, curl, straighten, etc)
Can’t be colored or permed	Can be colored or permed
Don’t last as long (average 4-6 months)	Last longer (average 1 year+ with proper care)
Looks & feels less natural	Looks & feels natural because it IS natural!
Maintains shape & style no matter weather	Behaves like real hair (it is..)can get flat or frizzy

Additional Considerations (Wig variations):

Lace front – Gives the appearance of a really natural hairline along the forehead.

Monofilament – Refers to the breathable nylon or silk mesh used where the hairs are individually knotted by hand.  This allows your scalp to show through slightly giving the wig a more much more natural appearance.  Some monofilament wigs will even allow you to move the part wherever you like!

Bangs – If you can’t find an affordable lace front, opt for something with bangs to prevent a “wig” looking part in the front which is the telltale giveaway to a wig that’s not lace front.

Color – Some wigs have shaded roots that appear slightly darker than the rest of the hair also adding to the natural look of the hair.  This isn’t a necessity but if you normally dye your natural hair & have some roots showing on your own, it would be something to consider.  Also take into consideration that your skin may become pale & washed out looking through chemo, so try to choose a color that will help brighten your tone.

Length – I find longer wigs tend to tangle more easily & most likely won’t last as long compared to a shorter more manageable length.  But also remember that your longer wigs & any wig for that matter, can be trimmed by a stylist to eliminate any fraying ends or breakage.

 

Caring for your Wig:

Get a wig stand  – I ordered a 3 pack from amazon.com for less than $10.  Don’t use a mannequin head which can stretch out your wig.  In a pinch toss your wig over a door knob (be careful of your placement if you have pets!).

Use a wig brush or comb – Do not use a standard brush!!  Also, always start from the bottom of the hair making short downward stokes & work your way up to minimize breakage from tangles by brushing them out as you go up.

Have your wig trimmed & styled by a professional – Many salons even offer free services to cancer patients, call around to your local salons to see if they offer any complimentary services & utilize them!

Wash your wig regularly – For synthetic hair every 15-20 wears, more if you live in a humid climate, wear a lot of styling products, your scalp is greasy or if your wig is not breathable causing sweat to build up.  Real hair should be washed typically every 10 wears, but this also depends on where you are wearing it, the humidity level, how much you’re sweating, etc.

 

Putting on your Wig:

Mark your size setting – Most wigs are adjustable by either Velcro tabs or small hooks.  I like to find the setting I like best & mark your settings with a permanent marker, use silver or gold if the wig lining is too dark to show black marker.  That way you know exactly where to set it each time if it works its way out on you, which it often will when it’s not on your head.   Be sure to wear the wig at the setting for a while to be sure before marking the wig.

Always brush your wig before it’s on your head – When you try to brush on your head, it can pull around on you & you’ll tug it all over, this way & that. Some light additional brushing may be needed once it’s on just to get the hairs into place, but the majority of your brushing is best done before putting the wig on.

If you wear glasses remove them – Take them off before putting on the wig & put them back on once the wig is properly in place.  You can slide the temple tips (part of the glasses that goes behind your ear) either under the wig or on top of it, I prefer to place them atop the wig for a more natural look.

Give the wig a good shake – Before putting it on, give it a good 2-3 shakes to loosen the hairs & allow them to fall nicely when you put it on.   Do this after the wig has been combed or brushed, your size has been set as needed & you have your grip ready to put the wig on.

Put the wig on front (forehead) to back – Get a good hold on the wig, looking down into it lined up so the forehead portion which is usually marked with a half circle shape inside.  Line that forehead portion up to yours & pull it on down over your head.  It will look funny at first.

Line the wig up using the ear section – Feel along the edges of the wig near the ear section to find the part that sticks out just a bit & should be sitting just above your ear where your natural “side burn” portion would come down from if you had side burns.  Use that to line the wig up in the proper location & to reposition the hairline along the forehead to match your natural hairline if needed.

Style with products as needed, preferably those made for wigs of your type specifically – Hair spray can be used, both standard & wig specific.  I also have used spray shampoo to dull a synthetic wig that arrived very shiny & remained shiny even after washing (over time washing will dull some shininess).

Accessorize – Use with pins, berets, headbands, etc.  You can tie most wigs back into a low or low side ponytail.  Wear a hat, scarf or bandana atop your wig.  If you don’t like the way the wig looks solo you can play around with things to make it work I assure you.

 

Washing a synthetic wig

This is how I’ve washed my synthetic wigs & it’s worked great for me thus far.

1)      Comb wig thoroughly with a wide toothed comb (regular wide tooth comb) to remove all tangles.  As always, start working tangles out from the bottom & work your way up to minimize breakage.

2)      Fill your sink or large container with water & add wig shampoo per wig shampoo instructions, typically 3 capfuls per gallon of water.

3)      Immerse the wig fully & leave to soak at least 15 minutes to overnight.

4)      Drain the sink or container (be sure to pull wig out first so the hair doesn’t get sucked down the drain at all).

5)      Rinse the wig under cool running water at least 3 times to fully remove all soap.

6)      Shake dry (do not squeeze), then wrap towel around the wig & gently press to dry more.

7)      Spray the wig with leave in conditioner thoroughly.

8)      Comb through hair again, starting from the bottom & working up to the top.

9)      Leave on wig stand to dry, if you need it to dry faster place it in a room with a ceiling fan.  Under my ceiling fan my wigs will dry as quickly as two hours.

 

Wigs can be a great way to help boost confidence during cancer treatment, the most important thing is to have fun with it.  Embrace having great hair in minutes while you can!