How to Use My Hair for My Wig After Chemo

Chemotherapy can result in many undesirable side effects such as hair loss. According to Chemo Care, your hair follicles can be sensitive to chemo since your hair follicle cells multiply just as fast as cancer cells. As a result, fast growing cells much like cancer cells are sought about by the chemo and destroyed. Until your hair grows back, you may choose to wear a wig. It is possible to use your own hair to make a wig, but you should cut your hair at least two months in advance of your initial chemo treatment.

Things You'll Need

• Licensed stylist
• 10 inches of hair
• Professional wig maker
• Hair pins
• Measuring tape

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Instructions

Preparations

• 1

  Ask your family to donate hair if your hair is not at least 10 inches long. Many wig makers need a sufficient amount of hair in order to make a wig.

• 2

  Take a measurement of your head to provide a wig maker with an accurate measurement of your head. You should use hair pins to tightly pin your hair to the sides of your head in order to accurately measure around your skull.

• 3

  Either have a family member or yourself measure the circumference of your skull. Then measure from the start of your hairline (the top of your head) to the nape of your neck (the point where your head meets your neck). Finally, measure your head from ear to ear.

• 4

  Write down your measurements to provide for a wig maker. A wig maker will then be able to use these measurements to make you a better fitting wig.

Making Your Wig

• 5

  Put your hair into a ponytail. Have your stylist cut your hair just above the ponytail. If you want to give your wig volume, you can place multiple hair ties throughout your hair, and have your stylist cut above the ties.

• 6

  Mail the measurements you made of your head and your hair to a wig maker such as Caring and Comfort; a service that provides wigs for chemo patients). You may want to include photos of how your hair looked prior to your hair being cut. You can also provide the wig maker hair style photos of how you would like your wig to look.

• 7

  Ask your physician or your insurance company if the cost of making a wig can be provided for you. According to Caring and Comfort, you can ask your physician for an Extra-cranial Prosthesis (wig) prescription. Some insurance companies may provide the cost for either part of your wig, or coverage for all the costs of your wig.