Getting Ready To Undergo Chemo? How To Prepare For The Hair Loss You May Experience

Without your hair, you may not feel like the same person. If you are preparing to undergo chemotherapy, you may be concerned about going bald as a result. Here are a few steps that can help you prepare for hair loss and cope with it. 

Find Out if the Chemo Will Affect Your Hair

First and foremost, talk to your doctor about the type of chemotherapy you will be obtaining and how it will affect your hair. Many people are under the assumption that all forms of chemotherapy are the same, and as such, they believe that all of them will cause hair loss. This is not the case. Not every type of chemo leads to hair loss. You may find that you are concerned about losing your hair when this is not something that will be a concern due to the type of treatment you will be undergoing. 

Consider Cutting or Shaving Your Hair

If you are undergoing a form of chemo that will affect your hair, consider cutting your hair shorter beforehand if you have long hair or shaving your hair altogether. Hair typically starts to fall out about two weeks after you start chemotherapy treatments. It may start to fall out in clumps or unevenly. This can leave a mess behind in your bed or in the shower if you have long hair. Cutting your hair short or shaving your head on your own terms helps you to avoid losing large clumps of hair. 

Purchase a Wig or Find a Company That Donates Them

Some choose to embrace hair loss as a sign of their personal strength and resilience. Other people want to hide hair loss. Either choice is right. If you wish to hide your hair loss, wearing a wig can help you to feel more like yourself until you are able to start growing your own hair back in. Visiting a wig shop prior to losing your hair can give the shop an idea as to what your natural hair looks like, which can help them to recommend a wig that looks natural. It also gives them time to make a custom wig for you, if needed. There are also companies that donate wigs to chemotherapy patients, so finding a company before your hair falls out allows you time to find these companies and put in your request prior to losing your hair. Contact a company like The Magic Yarn Project in order to learn more about buying chemo wigs.