If your doctor has prescribed a chemotherapy drug that is known to cause hair loss, prepare yourself for hair loss before treatment begins. Early preparation can help you cope when you hair begins to fall out.
1. Buy a Wig
If you plan on wearing a wig after you lose your hair to chemotherapy, try to buy one before your hair begins to fall out. Purchasing a wig before hair loss is ideal because it allows you to choose a wig that matches your hair color best, and you will have it on hand when hair loss starts. You may want to consider buying at least two wigs, so one can be worn while another is being washed or styled.2. Opt for a Short Haircut Before Treatment Begins
Many women choose to cut hair short or shave their heads before hair starts to fall out. It is much less shocking to have short clumps of hair fall out in the shower or in your hands than a handful of long strands. Plus, hair often comes out in uneven patches, and short hair can help temporarily mask this.3. Go Hat Shopping
Even if you buy a wig, you will need some type of head covering for when you are not wearing your wig, especially in chilly weather. Your scalp will most likely be sensitive when not covered, not to mention cold. Hats also provide excellent protect protection against the sun and wind when outdoors.4. Stock Up on Sunscreen
If you venture outdoors without covering your head and you hair has fallen out, you will absolutely need to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn. An already-sensitive scalp, combined with a sunburn, can be extremely uncomfortable.5. See a Cosmetologist
Because chemotherapy can cause hair loss all over the body, some people consult with a cosmetologist about what to do when eyebrows and eyelashes are lost. A cosmetologist can teach you how to draw in eyebrows with makeup and use false eyelashes.6. Find a Support Group
Most people are not as emotionally prepared to lose their hair as they thought they were prior to chemotherapy. This is why having someone to turn to who has experienced chemotherapy-induced hair loss is helpful. Support groups for those undergoing chemotherapy are ideal places to learn how to cope with hair loss during chemotherapy.Resources:
"Hair Loss." Treatment Topics and Resources. American Cancer Society. 30 Jan 2007.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_7_2X_Hair_Loss.asp
