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Hairloss/wigs/real v. synthetic
Started
by Dani A
on May 26, 2011
So my low-dose chemo that I've been on for about a month now is finally having some effects on my hair, unfortunately. My mom suggested clip-in extensions to cover up where my hair is falling out, or wigging it when enough falls out, which begs the question....how "kind" is real/synthetic hair? I know that many people whose hair becomes wigs or extensions have no idea where their hair is going (Most hair comes from India, where the women are lead to believe they are giving their hair in the name of their religion, but it ends up sold to Western countries...) and I have no idea what all goes into making synthetic hair. Does anybody have any input/experience with this? I'd have no problem going completely bald and all, but I have to keep my head covered, as I am VERY sensitive to the sun due to my Lupus...
Hi Dani,
I'm sorry you haven't received any responses yet. I don't personally have experience with wigs, but my Aunt is a breast cancer survivor, and she purchased a terrific wig when her hair began to fall out. It was called The Oprah, if you can believe that. lol It looked wonderful, I couldn't tell it was a wig.
If you want one, go get one, honey. I believe you can find plenty that are made of real hair, donated and not gotten illegally, and you don't want your head to burn, for sure.
*hugs*
Hi there Dani,
I did not know you had Cancer I'm so sorry. My hair broke off too because of overbleaching so I can relate to how you feel about your real hair and how it may be too short for your liking. While it's growing out beautifully it's still not long enough for me to feel comfortable in public because I am really feminine. I wear a couple different colored synthetic wigs because I feel a human hair wig is not vegan.
The only problem with synthetic wigs is they can get shiny so I bought a wig wand that has a powder that you tap on the wig to reduce shine.
They can get hot in the summertime so I either go without (which is rare but sometimes I will) or only wear it outdoors and take it off immediately once I'm indoors.
Wash them as often as you like, I use a squirt of mild unscented vegan shampoo by Organics in a sink filled with luke warm water and swirl it around with my hands. Rinse a couple times and then hang up to dry. Brush only when completely dry with a wide tooth comb.
I was skeptical about wigs because I didn't want them to look fakey but surprisingly they look really realistic these days. I have a Forever Young and there's a lady making me one from a shop on Etsy. If you want the link to the shop let me know, she has a lot of interesting colors to choose from.
Fortunately, I don't have cancer (my mom is battling it though, currently). My lupus has begun to attack my kidneys, and for that, they put me on a low dose chemo, but it's still caused hairloss. I ended up getting synthetic clip-ins, since I more than likely wont' lose all my hair like my mom, and I can clip these into the places that my hair has fallen out. Nobody even notices when I wear them, so they're great!
I honestly had never thought of this issue before. As I understood it, I thought most were donated human hair, but that is probably just an assumption. Thanks for bringing this up, as something to consider.
Hope you get better soon, Dani!
This is an interesting situation Dani. Hmm, maybe check with the organization Locks of Love. They recieve hair from people who knowingly donate it when they get 12 inches or more of their hair cut off. I think they primarily give the wigs to children with cancer, but they might have info on where you can get a wig that was made ethically. Good luck! Oh, I see that you already bought clip-ins, but maybe you can look into this if you need a whole wig.
I was on chemo for 18 months & I just bought head coverings. I thought wigs were itchy & really didnt care to fake that I had hair. My hair still doesnt grow right & its an inch long. I still dont want fake hair even if its human hair. Plus I dont wanna fake that im fine when Im not. People need to learn to be careful around us, so I find that showing I have cancer makes ppl care about coughing in my face, etc. otherwise they just treat me mainstream with no respect. strange, but thats what ive found over time. I wear pretty makeup and earrings. good enough for me. I know this thread was about it being ethical or vegan, so sorry if this comment is unuseful.
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