We women view our hair as an integral part of our identity. From a young age, our hair serves as a resource for expressing our personal style and preferences, so when a medical condition or other influence causes our hair to fall out, it can be hard to get used to it.
However, chemo hair loss may just be an opportunity for us to explore a new side of our identity. Here are some ways we can embrace change and forge new hair paths.
(Wrap with Fashion)
One of the simplest ways to deal with hair loss is to experiment with different head coverings. This approach is ideal because it works whether you’re just starting to lose your keys or have lost most of them already.
Hijabs are very popular for adding a stylish look while keeping the head warm and covering the scalp. There are many fabrics and prints available for scarves, and that’s not even counting the different ways a scarf can be wrapped or tied.
Hats are another great option with a variety of styles available that almost rival scarves. Hats can be fitted, sassy, colorful, or customized for real personality play. From beanies to baseball caps and everything in between, headwear is an opportunity to express something of your personal style to the world.
(New Personas)
Many women with hair loss like to wear wigs. They don’t suit everyone, but most women enjoy the ability to project a new persona with a wig in a color or style they don’t usually wear. Wigs are made with human hair or synthetic hair, and each has its own selling points.
Plus, how many women have the convenience of being able to easily style their hair on the back of their heads? While we all struggle to create the hairstyle we want, wig wearers can pull it off quickly.
They also have the option to change their appearance from day to day or even from hour to hour. Women suffering from hair loss affecting their eyebrows and eyelashes can coordinate their penciled brows with the color of their wig.
(Own it)
Finally, many women are completely comfortable embracing their natural scalp, whether covered in hair or not. If super short hair is an option, there’s a way to do it care for thin and damaged hair, or style it accordingly. Others choose to take the plunge and wear shaved scalps out on the town. The bald pate look empowers many women and imparts a strength they find refreshing.
Still others have gone the route of getting scalp tattoos with tribal designs, inspirational sayings, or even artwork that looks like hair. Since hair is most likely to grow back in the case of chemo patients, the tattoo option is a powerful option that will eventually be covered back up.
Suffering from hair loss can be a huge challenge for us women, but with a little creativity and innovation, it can get easier over time. We can take a hat or a scarf or a wig to cover it up, or we can open it completely.
Whatever option we choose, it should be one that makes us feel good and happy with how we look. As Dolly Parton said in the movie “Steel Magnolias”, the hair we are born with is just a suggestion.
