Wigs for hair loss

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Hi there
My hair is begining to thin and I found a lovely Lady on You Tube...search Sugar Puff and Fluff....Nuska(spelling?) often wears wigs including Marilyn Monroe glam ones.Nushka feels it's entirely normal and doesnt think twice about wearing one .
I would def think about wearing hair pieces that clip in all because of this ladies advice.

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narrowboatnan I use a velvet adjustable wig grip headband. You can tuck your hair up underneath as I do and it won't show. If you prefer, you can use a wig cap too, but my hair is so fine I don't need one. Lots of info on YouTube and also check out similywigs.co.uk. Hope this helps.

This thread seemed to go off topic quite quickly so I don't know if anyone attempted to answer the question. I simply went to a wig fitter and discussed possibilities before buying one.

narrowboatnan. toupe tape and oil silk fabric bought from simply wigs on line.

As Nagmad2016 said you can buy a colour powder to hide thinner places and partings where the scalp shows.
I colour my hair and use it in between colouring when the roots show through.
My sister has used a spray cover up but says that it made her hair sticky.
I use W7 cover up hair root camouflage kit It comes in a long case with a block of colour powder, a double edged brush and a long mirror on the lid.
It is brilliant. I highly recommend it and it really does make the hair look thicker. I but mine from either Ebay or Amazon. Costs vary but can range from £4.99 upwards. Usually free postage.
Colours include, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, blonde and black.
Make sure you buy the powder compact and not the Pen which they also make. I bought one once by mistake and didn't like it.
I have no connection with this company, This is my review of the product.

Sorry. Only just seen your comment directly above.

Just a thought but have you had your thyroid tested recently? Hair loss is one of the most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Hope you get the answers and treatment you need.

Crafty Granny, yes, Idohave regular full blood screenings done, including the Thyroxine levels as partofmy Diabetic check ups, but thankfully they appear normal. My new wig is from the online Uk based Simply Wigs store, and is made by Gisella Mayer. the old style wigs of years ago were indeed quite heavy and sweaty, and always had that tell tale circular stitch of hair at the crown, my own Mum bought one of these in the 1980s after having a mastectomy that left her struggling to style her own hair and lift her arms up propperly. The latest modern ones are much lighter, have better fitting types of caps, and now come in a choice of sizes, no longer a ' One size fits all! The company that I have bought mine from do an excellent detailed video of all the different features of each wig, including a view of the inside of the cap and all its features. The part that I did struggle with was choosing the correct colour, an actual swatch or sample of the hair shades would have been much more acurate and easy to choose from than rather taking 'pot luck' on a computer screen!

How do you stop them (the wigs) from moving on your head? Or coming off altogether at an inoportune moment?

Also, if you have your own hair still but fancy a wig to ring the changes, how do you stop it from showing around the edges?

Serious questions. I need to know these things.

My hair is genetically fine and thin then, when I started taking steroids for a medical condition a couple of years ago, it just got worse. It was affecting my life, so much so that I didn't like going out as I felt so embarrassed. A friend of mine mentioned that her sister wore a long wig since having chemo, and recommended a local lady who supplied and fitted them. After a free consultation, she ordered three wigs for me to try and I chose a petite synthetic one from Ellen Wille which I then had cut and styled. What a game changer. For the first time in years I felt confident and looked amazing (for me!!). I'm now on my third wig (all the same style) and wear it all and every day. Don't hesitate - go for it!

Have a look at YouTube - Look Fabulous Forever, Tricia did a video around a wig she purchased during lock down, lots of helpful, supportive tips

I have always had thick hair until I started on a daily cocktail of medication for my heart. Now it seems to come out alarmingly. I am assuming it is a side effect, though I don't know if it is just due to getting older.

I don't have any personal experience of wigs, except as a beholder, but my advice would be to get the very best you can afford. We have a very nice woman in our U3A who sometimes wears one and sometimes doesn't. I don't know why, as I can't see anything wrong with her own hair. Maybe she just wants a change. Unfortunately, it isn't a very good one and seems to perch stiffly on her head like a hat. I would definitely try to get the most natural-looking one possible. I know that this is obvious advice but the quality does seem to vary considerably.

Should say singed .

I lost my hair through chemo I got a Rachael Welch wig the shop I went to were brilliant and tried lots of wigs the one I settled with was similar style and colour to my hair it felt heavy they thinned it out for me but I must admit I did feel hot in it ,now my own hair as come back but it's a lot thinner .
Word of warning do be careful if you get synthetic wig when cooking I know someone who srynged hers .

It's lovely that this thread is so supportive. I was still working when my hair began to go. I got upset in the office one day and a woman (who had great hair) said to me 'For goodness sake. It's only hair. Be grateful you're not ill'. Comments like that made me ashamed of being upset.

My hair is very thin in places and the scalp shows through especially after colouring. I find some of the coloured powder products useful. You can brush them onto your scalp in the thinner areas and they put a subtle colour onto your scalp or around the face, making your hair look thicker. There are several on the market and in different colours, to help you match against your own colour.

JuliaM have you had a blood test for Thyroid function?

I ask this because as a child and young adult I used to have alopecia, which can be a sign of Thyroid problems. Then my thyroid became underactive. When I was prescribed levothyroxine the alopcea stopped. I now have a really good head of hair, despite having had an early menopause.
Just a thought.

My friend lost her hair to cancer and went to a wig maker to discuss her requirements.

Her real hair wig was almost exactly the same as her hair, only difference was the wig hair was a little bit thicker. It was the same colour and length and she could style it the same way. It cost her £650

She said it gave her so much confidence and she was able to return to work when she felt well enough and wore it everyday. You really wouldn’t have known it was a wig unless she told you.

She did make me laugh when she said one day she couldn’t be bothered to wash it properly, so had popped it in a net bag in the washing machine. She put it out on the garden table, on the polystyrene head to dry naturally. A little while later she could her someone talking in the garden, she peeped out and saw her elderly neighbour chatting away to her from his garden. From where he was it must have looked like she was sitting in the garden chair at the table.

She said she didn’t dare go out, but had to stifle her giggles when he said ‘well lovely to chat Sue, even if you’re not in the mood to talk today. I hope you’re feeling well otherwise.’ And off he went.

My Mum also lost her hair to cancer and the hospital offered her a wig. They gave her a catalogue to choose from and she made her choice. She wasn’t given any help or advice though to choose and my daughter and I weren’t at the hospital at that time so didn’t know anything about it. She was quite poorly and not quite with it at that time.

By the time it arrived, Mum had been discharged and the hospital sent it on to her at home. She was so excited when it came and asked us to go out of the room for 5 minutes, as she had a surprise for us.

We walked in to my Mum sporting a ginger wig and looking like Anne Robinson, usually she had salt n pepper hair! It was a lovely Racquel Welsh hairpiece but didn’t suit her at all. After we’d stopped giggling, she explained she thought she’d go back to her original colour from when she was younger - but realised it was a mistake as soon as she saw herself in the mirror.

We did have a giggle about it but must admit she wasn’t impressed when we told her she was the weakest link! Sadly, she’s passed now but we always remember that wig which ended up staying in its box forever more.

Afternoon Ellan x

Jocork. would you mind sending me a PM, please? I've had so many and I don't want to take over this thread! ( My Husband asked me this morning if I am thinking of opening a clinic ?! )
I've had lots of mails from lovely people wanting information or further details of my experience of overcoming hair loss. I am dealing with them, so if you've written already, please take this as an acknowledgement and know I am in the middle of replying.

This is such a supportive thread, but also quite sad. Brings home just how many women feel they just have to suffer or put up with a situation which is so depressing, when it's often not necessary. All we need is the right help! Reminds me of my Mum's time when Doctors would often say about too many things "oh, it's your age I'm afraid!"

The first and most important thing everyone needs is an Endocrinologist - or a referral to one. Find out exactly what makes you tick, what you might be lacking, what underlying problems you might have, etc. After that you'll be a good half way to knowing what to do.

Don't give up. But if it's too late or you do know that your problem is insoluble, buy a lovely wig and rediscover how great life can be again with a beautiful head of hair.

I won't be moaning about my thinning hair after reading these posts. Blimey, I should worry, at least I have some !

Yes, I had thick naturally curly/wavy hair before the menopause but the weight disappeared as did the curls and waves and ended up fine and straight. The only time it curls is when wet and I often feel like leaving it like that, but it's unruly and as soon as I get the brush through it it goes as straight as a bundle of candles. It would probably benefit from a heated curler but I can't be bothered.

That said, at least I have some hair even with most of it my natural colour of brown with a fair, sun-bleached and grey front so haven't even turned all over grey or white yet.

I have just ordered a wig after reading this thread. My hair is thin, frizzy and needs regular trimming to keep it looking reasonable. Since lockdown I haven't had a haircut since March and have decided to take the wig plunge. My hairdresser recommended Seryoxyl drops and I have used them for about six months now and my hair is no better. Can't wait for the wig to arrive!

I’m so sorry for anyone dealing with this, it’s every woman’s nightmare, I think.

I just wanted to say that some hairdressers offer a service to help women with hair loss. My own salon has a charitable arm that provide advice free of charge to women with hair loss, no matter the cause. They will help with making the most of any hair you do have and guide you though buying a wig, if you wish. Obviously wigs etc have to be paid for but the service itself is FOC.

It’s been much-praised in local media for helping women’s self-esteem and morale so it might be worth finding out if there’s anything similar in your own area. They work hand-in-hand with hospitals so that might be a good place to start.

I have scarring alopecia which appeared in my 50s. I found a hairdresser who supplies fits and cuts Belle Madame wigs. They are not real hair and cost about £300 for a short style. I am often told that people are amazed that this isn't my own hair. I can highly recommend them.