Help with headwear
Cancer treatment affects everyone in different ways, and how your hair is affected depends on the type of treatment you have. Your health care team will explain any physical changes such as hair loss and what to expect from your personal treatment regime and we’re hear to help you with headwear.
Losing your hair
Some people may lose their hair, while others may experience hair ‘breakage,’ or hair thinning, and others may not lose their hair at all.
Learning that you may experience hair loss or thinning can be difficult to adjust to and cause a variety of emotions. We’re here to support you through this. Exploring the headwear options that are available and speaking to someone about how you are feeling can help you to gain a little sense of control around your hair loss.
For hair thinning you can use the same options as for hair loss but may also be able to speak to a hairdresser about cuts that can make the most of your hair and help it to appear thicker, try partial wigs or hair pieces, or use accessories and headbands to help disguise hair thinning.
How can Big C help?
Big C is here to listen to your thoughts and concerns, and help you work through any worries you may have about hair loss and provide you with support. You’re welcome to drop-in at any of our centres or hubs, where we have trained staff and volunteers who can spend some time with you to talk things through.
In our centres, we have an extensive range of headwear for everyone, which we update depending on the season and trends. Our headwear includes beanies, turbans, hats, scarves, long tie scarves and accessories, which are available to purchase. Alongside this, we also have free, or for a small donation, pre-used headwear to test out or take home with you.
Our support team is here to help you understand tying and styling your headwear. We can talk you through the different options and get a feel for your style. Our team can guide you on the most suitable headwear depending on your lifestyle and activity level.
Types of headwear
Hats, beanies and turbans
These can be a great option as they are ready to just place on your head and come in a large range of colours and styles that feel comfortable, look stylish and are super easy to wear.
Scarves
Scarves come in a wide variety of colours and patterns and can be worn alone or to layer over a beanie to add a splash of colour or individual flare.
Our team can show you how to tie scarves and how to add them to headwear to introduce your own personal style; this also gives you a wider choice of how to style your headwear.
Sleep caps and wig liners
Sleep caps are seam free soft beanies that can be worn at night to keep the head warm, they can also help to ease any sensitivity of the scalp whilst sleeping or offer a comfortable option for wearing around the home.
Wig liners are worn under wigs to help with comfort and to aid cooling of the scalp.
NHS wig clinic
You may decide that wearing a wig is the best option for you. We host NHS Wig Clinics at our NNUH Centre. These sessions are booked and arranged through the Weybourne Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (as they require an NHS referral) and are held in a private room in the Big C Centre.
In these sessions you will be able to try on a number of different wigs and test out styles to suit you.
If you are not being treated at the NNUH, speak to your Cancer Nurse Specialist to find out where your nearest Wig Clinic is held.
Support
At our centres across the region, we offer support to anyone affected by cancer.
About us
We are a local, people-first charity providing outstanding cancer support.
Research
We fund vital, world-class research to help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
Let’s keep in touch
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive news and updates from Big C.