Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maz on September 23, 2020 at 9:24pm

Hi Flowers,

You may be able to go a little longer without a hairpiece. Look seriously into how it may sit if you cut it, or grow it. If that isn't a possibility then you probably need a frontal hairpiece (one that includes the sides as well as the top). The most I have paid for one is $150 from a local hairdresser on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. And that was Russian hair, which is about the best. However, my daughter in Sydney pays about the amount you are looking at. I've just been fortunate to find the right person.

The hardest bit is matching your own hair colour and you do need help to do that. The clips are underneath and at the back of the hairpiece so you don't need to worry about covering them. It's the front, around your face, that you need to think about. I use hair glue there. Others use tape but I have found the glue easier to use. As my hair is usually in the way I just comb it back and wet it down. I learnt to do that in the early attempts to use tape. That was a bit of a disaster with some unnecessary hair loss.

I wish you luck with your journey. Personally, I wore a hairpiece every day for two years before I thought that all I needed to do was get used to having my hair around my face. So I cut it appropriately and got used to it. There are places I won't go without a hairpiece but generally I'm very happy not to wear one.

Good luck,

Maz

Permalink Reply by Afraid on November 3, 2020 at 12:04pm

Hi Maz

i was very interested in your posts about FFA. Looking at your timeline and first post in 2015, has there been much progression in terms of hair loss since then?  Are you still able to cover with your natural hair?

kind regards 

Permalink Reply by Maz on November 3, 2020 at 10:34pm

Hi Flowers,
It's strange but I don't seem to have lost very much at all during the last year and, yes, I can still cover with my natural hair as long as the wind doesn't blow. Before this year I had much slower loss than my daughter. She has lost so much now that she is thinking of just shaving what's left off and getting a full wig. I've come to the conclusion that it is not stress-related in my case at all because this year has been as stressful as any other and I've had a lot more stress than most people during my life. In my case I really think that there is a genetic component but I have no idea why I've now had an extended break from hair-loss. I can live with it as it is so, for now at least, I'm not concerned. Actually, given the blows I've had to deal with in my life, it is such a minor thing that I just don't worry about it. When I look in the mirror I say to myself "well, I'm fit and healthy and damned good for my age". That's enough for me. We all have flaws and it's good to accept them, work with them if necessary, but get on with life with a smile if we can.
Research it all and come to your own conclusions. I've got too many other concerns so I've put that right on the back burner but I wish you, and all dealing with hair loss, all the luck in the world. Self-confidence comes from within (but hair helps).
Cheers,
Maz

Permalink Reply by Maz on November 3, 2020 at 10:39pm

Well, edit doesn't work. That last comment was supposed to be addressed to Afraid (not Flowers). I couldn't get edit to work at all.
Maz

Permalink Reply by Nerida on November 4, 2020 at 5:18am

Hi flowers.  I'm rarely on this site anymore and when I do mum (Maz) is here too (Hi Mum).

Toppers will have a number of clips ( usually 4) and depending on the amount of hair loss you may find you need to remove a couple of them.  They are only held on by a couple of stitches.  If you are wearing a topper all the time the clips can at times cause some discomfort.  The clips don't need to be pulling tight on your head as the tape at the front will hold it down and the clips and the back will stop it flapping up in the wind.  I find that if I do get some irritation from the topper I just need to give it a rest for a couple of days.  On those days I wear full wigs.  It is useful to have options.  I've been wearing full wigs all year and just got a new topper yesterday as I thought it would be cooler for summer.  When the hairdresser first puts the topper on they will most likely have it clipped quite firmly.  As my hairdresser says "I can't feel what you're feeling".  You quickly learn how to adjust them.  You will get use to a topper and not even notice you're wearing it.  I suggest seeking out someone that has toppers in stock so that you can try before you buy.  Try to find where those going through chemo go.  It is unlikely that the clips will be visible through the topper as there is a netting or mesh that all the hair and clips are attached to. You usually can't actually see through the topper.  The clips aren't going to pull your hair out unless you are rough.  Just take your time attaching and in particularly removing it.  If the hair is dead already it will fall out and there isn't much you can do about it.  Unlike my mum I tried all the drugs under the sun (and some natural alternative medicine) and they didn't do anything. A good quality topper will cost approx. $400-500 AU.  Just go with standard synthetic to start with.  Try to match your the topper colour with your existing hair colour.  You can't dye synthetic hair.  You could dye your own if you wanted to match with a topper.  I find it best to go with my natural colour as I'm a sensitive kinda girl.  A topper will add a lot more hair than you think.  Long synthetic hair does knot easily so if you are going for a shorter do that would be a plus.  Synthetic toppers can be cut to any desired length but you need to have a hairdresser that is experienced in cutting them.  You don't cut it like normal hair, I think they do a razor cut but there is more to it.  Also I suggest getting some comfortable wide head bands or even some soft beanies or caps.  You can wear these to cover your missing hairline or to whip on when some comes knocking at the door.  Once again the chemo stuff is good.  In Australia there is a subsidy for wigs/toppers for medical conditions if you're income is lower than a certain amount or if it is above that we can claim them on our tax return.  Maybe there is something similar where you are.  Well that was a lot to information - hope it helps.  You've had the mother & daughter team. Night.

Permalink Reply by Afraid on November 5, 2020 at 10:28pm

Thanks so much to Max and Nerida for your replies.  Both brilliant and helpful.  Maz I’m sorry you’ve had a stressful time  - it’s sounds like you are using your inner core of  strength and resilience to see you through difficult times.  Best of luck to you both. Stay safe xx