Wigs for hair loss (alopecia, chemo etc.)

spurious

Yesterday I accompanied a very nervous friend (who has suffered with alopecia for decades) to a wig fitting consultation. She, like I, had visions of either hugely expensive 'natural looking' wigs, or cheap synthetics that would look like doll's hair. We could not have been more wrong.

We were both really surprised at the range and quality of the wigs and they were not as expensive as she had been led to believe by people's stories. It turns out that even if she does not get the grant from the HSE towards the wig, it is affordable for her with a bit of saving.

She spent thirty years of her life being socially restricted due to anxiety about people noticing her patches and didn't give the wigs a chance.

One hour and less than 400 euro later and her quality of life is going to be so much better. Her only regret now is that she didn't do it earlier. Her daughter remarked to me that the photo we took of her in the shop in the wig is one of the few recent ones she's seen where her mam really looks happy.

I'm posting this in case there is anyone like her out there. Go, have a look at what is available. It may surprise you.

Dizzyblonde

My mother had the same problem and put off getting a wig for decades, although her hair was extremely thin and she was very self-conscious about it. In her late 70s she finally went for a wig and it changed her life. She gets the grant once a year, but in the past year there have been huge delays in the system so she can waiting for months. Luckily for her she can afford to buy the wig first and wait for the grant to come through, but it's hard on chemo patients who need it quickly and may not be able to afford to pay up front.

When you see the difference it makes you just want to tell every woman with thinning hair to go out and get a wig don't you?

Cicilulu

I know this thread is a little old but could you say which wig shop it is? I am interested in finding a good value wig shop for a chemo patient. PM me if you can't post specific shop recommendations.

mvron

I'd also be very appreciative of any recommendations via PM or otherwise (soon to be chemo patient)

Dizzyblonde

If you zoom in on the map in THIS link there are quite a few wig suppliers but they all seem to be in Dublin. As far as I know, if you have a medical card and use a HSE approved supplier you get an annual allowance of €700 for a wig. In recent years there has been a delay of a few months in getting the money from the HSE after you order the wig, something to be prepared for in case you need it quickly. Some suppliers will let you pay for it yourself, then give you back the money once payment comes through.

Snips in Middle Abbey Street has been around for decades and has a great reputation. My mother gets her wigs from Jennifer Foley's salon in Clontarf, she's really good and has a little room set apart from the hair salon for fittings. I'd imagine the others are excellent too but I have no experience of them.

mvron

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply DizzyBlonde. In the interim I called the Irish Cancer Society and they gave me a few other leads. We ended up in Roches in Kimmage where I found a wig so close to my own hair it was spooky (thanks to Claire who works there and helped us no end!). No affiliation or anything but they were so easy to deal with and I didn't cry at all, even when I found out that they do the crew cut for free once you start losing your own hair!! Just info for anyone else out there in my situation (pre chemo).

spurious

I can't remember the exact name, but the one I went to with my friend was just up from Kiely's in Donnybrook.

**edit
Hair Club Ireland.

Funny how you always remember AFTER posting.

CathyMoran

I needed a wig when I was loosing my hair from chemo in 2006, I mostly used hats as it was winter but I wanted moments to forget that I had cancer temporarily, I was getting married 2 weeks post chemo and Snips were the ones that I used. I got a long hair one and my real hair is long now, like my daughter's hair who we had post treatment (we also had a lovely son post treatment).

Dizzyblonde

mvron wrote: »

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply DizzyBlonde. In the interim I called the Irish Cancer Society and they gave me a few other leads. We ended up in Roches in Kimmage where I found a wig so close to my own hair it was spooky (thanks to Claire who works there and helped us no end!). No affiliation or anything but they were so easy to deal with and I didn't cry at all, even when I found out that they do the crew cut for free once you start losing your own hair!! Just info for anyone else out there in my situation (pre chemo).

I'm glad you got sorted, and very best of luck with the treatment

Cicilulu

Thank you for all the updates and info. Much appreciated.

Shuttle666

If anyone is looking for someone in the South East, Joyce at http://www.wigworld.ie/ is very good - my own mother went through cancer treatment twice and feeling comfortable with the people you deal with very important.