There are two main types of wigs:
Synthetic Hair Wig – generally less expensive than real human hair. You CAN NOT use hot styling tools on a synthetic wig unless it is a heat safe version. There is no styling necessary for synthetic wigs, since they come already styled. When wearing a synthetic wig be very careful to stay away from BBQ grills, ovens, stoves, and fireplaces!
Real Human Hair Wig – generally more expensive than synthetic wigs and has a higher quality texture of hair. This type of wig will allow you to be able to change the hairstyle and use hot styling tools on it.
It is recommended that you wash your wig after wearing it every 8-12 times. Don’t brush your wig when it is wet. The fibers in wigs are fragile and should only be brushed with a wig brush and only when the wig is dry. There is special wig shampoo that you can purchase at any wig shop.
Here are some items that I used during treatment:
Wig caps (goes under the wig to keep it secure on your head and helps wig be more comfortable and not so scratchy).
Wig brush….you have to use a special gentle wig brush so you don’t damage your wig.
Head scarfs…..super comfortable and lightweight.
Sleeping beanies……super soft and comfortable to sleep in (your head will get cold at night.
Winter beanies….your heads gets cold easily with no hair on it.
Wigs….I purchased a couple different styles just for the heck of it.
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The bangs on wigs are purposely left long so that each person can have them trimmed how they would like, since some people wear their bangs longer than others. After you purchase your wig you can take it to a hairdresser that has experience in cutting wigs and have the bangs trimmed how you would like. I also put hair clips in my wigs to make them look more like how I actually wear my hair.
The biggest tip I can give you in the “wig” department is….. “don’t open the oven door with your wig on!” Both of the wigs I purchased were synthetic. I had no idea that synthetic wigs are HEAT SENSITIVE and I was just going about my business pulling dinner out of the oven and then I noticed when I walked past a mirror that my bangs were standing on end! Never to look the same again! The heat from the oven scorched my bangs 🙁 So then, I was on to wig number two.
Your health insurance may also offer an allowance that can be used towards wigs and other head covering items. Mine offered a one time lifetime benefit of $350, so I used every penny of it toward my two wigs, several head scarfs, sleeping beanies (your hairless head will be very cold at night, especially in winter months), and outside winter beanies.
If your insurance offers a benefit for “Head Prosthesis” due to medical hair loss then you can bill the wigs to your insurance. You would request a claim form from your health insurance company and then note on the claim “Hair loss due to chemotherapy”, the billing code I used was #561.
If you are lucky enough to be receiving your cancer treatment in Santa Maria, CA then you may be able to take advantage of a great program that is offered through the Santa Maria Central Coast Oncology, that will give you $100 toward the purchase of a wig! The gift certificates for this program are generously donated by the WONDERFUL Santa Maria Red Hat Ladies.