Coping With Chemotherapy-Related Hair Loss: 8 Tips For Choosing The Right Wig For You

If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy , you will certainly have many questions about what to expect and undoubtedly one of your biggest concerns will be whether you will lose your hair.

The likelihood of this happening depends on the drug regimen you are taking. You may have heard that not everyone who undergoes chemotherapy loses their hair . In fact, a very large percentage do, and although some people cope with hair loss quite easily, it is not uncommon for many to feel deep sadness or anxiety .

At MACO Wig Shop , due to the nature of our work, to manufacture invisible and natural wigs tailored to each woman, we have met hundreds of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and most of them have confided in us that losing their hair was the biggest challenge they had to face from the beginning to the end of their treatment.

The good news is that wig making techniques have evolved a lot in recent years and at MACO we managed, for the first time in Greece , to manufacture 100% natural wigs where the hair appears to come from the head and not from a foreign body, with the aim of helping women deal with the problem of hair loss related to chemotherapy.

Below you will find 8 tips from the experts at MACO natural wig store to help you choose a wig that you will wear and not be ashamed of losing your hair.

1. Choose a wig that matches your hair style

The safest option is to choose a wig made of natural hair that fits exactly with your current style. At MACO with 5 stores in Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Serres and Nicosia we can create for you an invisible natural wig within 1 to 2 days, in the same color as your hair, even if you want highlights , balayage or any other dyeing technique.

While some women take their wig shopping to the next level and choose to completely change their appearance, we wouldn't recommend this at this stage in your life. Choosing to have a natural women's wig made for you in the exact style of your hair will allow you to feel like almost nothing has changed and will boost your confidence.

If you want to experiment with different styles or colors, at MACO you can find a wide range of ready-to-wear wigs , from blondes to brunettes and from very short to very long.

2. Do you want to keep the same hair style on the wig ? Show us a photo of you loving your hair. 

If you finally decided to keep the same hair style in your wig, share with us a photo in which you loved your hair. Specifically, at MACO, we ask women who are interested in purchasing a custom wig to send us a photo in which they loved the color , texture and length of their hair. This way, our experts will try to make an exactly the same natural wig .

If you don't have photos, that's okay. Book a consultation appointment and through our sample , we will help you choose the color, length and texture of the hair you desire.

3. Shave your hair and wear the wig right after hair loss starts

Most women who lose their hair find that it begins to fall out two to four weeks after the first chemotherapy treatment.

At MACO, we generally advise you to cut your hair short enough before you start losing it, as it is "horrible" for a woman to see strands of hair left in her hands, especially when she has long hair.

If you have long hair, we would recommend getting a long natural wig , and applying it as soon as the hair starts to fall out.

It is important that you immediately visit one of the MACO wig stores in Athens, Thessaloniki or Crete , order your wig and leave it with us until you feel the first hairs falling out. Once this happens, you call us, we make an appointment for a fitting, cut your hair very short and we fit the invisible wig you have chosen. In this way, we want to help you not see any change in your appearance and start using the wig exactly at the right time.

4. Never shave your head with a razor .

When it's time to put on your wig, you'll need to shave your head. The proper way to do this is to use a clipper. Don't use a regular razor as it can cause irritation .

At MACO Hair Systems - Wigs - Hair Extensions we insist that you stay away from standard razors. It's amazing how many doctors tell women undergoing chemotherapy not to shave their legs, but forget to tell them not to shave their heads. Regularly shaving your head can cause irritation and itching of the scalp.

5. Buy a natural wig from a Wig Store and not online

A wig can cost from 50€ to several thousand euros. What you should keep in mind is that an expensive wig often means a better quality wig with human natural hair. This category of wigs costs in Greece approximately from 1000€ to 2000€ and is the only category of wigs that can give a very natural result .

A cheaper category of wigs are synthetic wigs . These are wigs that are not made from natural hair and which in Greece cost up to €500 . If you choose synthetic wigs you should be very careful as although they may look quite good on the shelf, when using them you will face problems such as tangling of the hair , inability to dry with a hairdryer and you will definitely not have the hair you had before chemotherapy.

To buy the right wig for you, try to visit a wig store , as it is difficult to choose the right size and color online. If you still can't get to a store and have to order your wig online, make sure the online store has a good return policy.

6. Check if you are entitled to compensation for the purchase of a wig from EOPYY

Before you reach for your wallet, check if you are eligible to get a wig at a reduced cost . Most women in Greece are eligiblefor wig compensation from EOPYY and the process of submitting the supporting documents is very easy. For more information on wig compensation from EOPYY, read thedetailed article we have written on this topic.

7. Weigh the pros and cons of wearing a synthetic wig versus a natural wig​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Unlike natural wigs (human hair) , synthetic wigs do not last as long, the hair often tangles and have less flexibility when it comes to styling. If you choose a synthetic wig , be sure to consider how long you plan to wear it and plan to buy more than one and change them over time.

If you are interested in naturalness in the wig then you should choose MACO natural hair net wigs , which help your front hairline look completely natural . These wigs can be dyed to your hair color and with the right application and guidance no one will know the difference. Although natural hair wigs require more maintenance than synthetic ones, they last longer and can be styled, cut or dyed just like your natural hair.

8. Learn how to wear , style and care for your wig​

Wearing a wig is not complicated if it is the right size . Women who have never worn wigs before tend to wear them too low , thus hiding their forehead . For a wig to look natural, it must be the right size and the front part must fit exactly where your original hairline was.

If you choose a wig from MACO Stores , after the application we will give you all the care tips and show you how to take care of your new wig. Also, in our stores you will find special maintenance products that will make the care process even easier and extend the life of your wig.

Conclusion

Cancer has certainly brought many changes to your life , but if you choose the right wig at one of MACO stores and wear it properly, then your self-confidence will be boosted and you will have more strength to emerge victorious from this battle. Often women enter our stores shaking and crying, being so afraid of what will happen next, but in the end they leave knowing that the wig they chose looks even better than their own hair.

Call us immediately and book an appointment at our locations in Athens, Thessaloniki and Rethymno.