Well, summertime would be a great time to go hairless. Although your summers aren't all that bad, would a wig be too hot? I've always liked the looks of headwraps but if I had a nicely shaped head, I would not have a problem being bald. I think it will take some getting used to, but we women cope very well with making huge changes. It's just a guess but I don't think you'll notice people staring all that much.

For something that's lighter and not as hot, check out some of the cute do rags on Etsy. (My friend tried the headwraps and found them too hot in the summer. ) She wore wigs for short periods before her hair grew in a couple of inches.

I lost a lot of my hair because of a drug that's chemo. I started using retinol daily and it does work, got lots of new little hair.

I personally have tried wigs in the past and absolutely cannot wear them for long they itch plus the heat. Add that scratching to a bald head and I would be miserable. I unfortunately don't look that good in hats but I love hats and the look of hats on others same with wraps. So that would be my first choice and wigs only for special occasions and short term. I know there are wigs now that are more comfortable especially for bald heads and I would have to invest in one of those. I don't understand women who have a full head of pretty hair but always wear wigs.

Bald would not bother me at all but you can be sure it will get you the stares and questions. At home that would be how I would live.

Ihave a very good friend and neighbor thathhas severe alopecia she just has patches of thin hair here and there. I would shave it but she doesn't. She always has a wig on. She must have a closet full of various colors and styles. I never knew the problem till one day she was at my house and said I hope you don't mind but I just have to take my wig off and she whipped it off. I know I let out a gasp. I certainly didn't mean to but I was not prepared and she did it so fast. I apologized profusely and she was just laughing. She thought I had seen her before. I would have been much less shocked if she was just bald. Which is what I assumed.

I am so sorry you are having to face this type of decision for this reason! Hopefully you will have a fairly easy time. Praying for you.

First, I am so sorry you even have to deal with this problem. I've never had to deal with that and have always had long hair, but I did wear wigs at time when I was teaching and didn't have time to mess with my own hair. Nobody knew the difference as my wigs were the same color as my own hair. Now in my old age I will often put on a turban when I don't have time to mess with my hair. Turbans are really pretty. Maybe that is what some of you are calling headwraps. Do what you think is going to be most comfortable for you and don't worry about what anyone thinks. If you get strange looks, just put on a big smile.

Sorry you're going through this. When my mother had chemo, she got a wig before she lost all of her hair - while she still had an example of what her natural hair looked like. That could help reduce possible stares. Then when the hair started to fall out she had her head shaved and wore the wig.

I go along with my friend for her chemo appts some times and always check out how women deal with hair loss, in terms of head covers. I love the look of a head scarf with a hat. Very pretty and feminine. My sister always wore a wig. Honestly, it looked lie her own hair. I personally might just go bald and put a cute sticker on my head, maybe a bow. Big earrings look good with a bald head!

I'm sorry that you have to go through this, as well. I have been where you are. Once my hair starting to fall out, my husband cut most of it off for me, and eventually I became bald. I did not shave my head. I could not stand to wear my wig - too itchy and artificial to touch.

I went through chemo in the winter and spring, so for most of that time I wore cotton caps in the house to keep my head warm, and knit hats over a headband when I went out. When summer came, it was harder to find something comfortable so mostly I wore baseball caps or cotton scarves.

Try to put aside your concerns about the looks you might get. There are so many people in the same boat.,,Best wishes to you.

seagrass

I love my wigs. For inside and every day my hair is very very short and thin, but sometimes when I go somewhere I will pull on one of my inexpensive Paula Young wigs and it looks very nice.

Something I learned the hard way: I got a very short haircut and then a few days later worked outside in the garden and actually got a painful scalp sunburn. I now have several hats including a cotton garden hat.

I think what might be helpful and put you more at ease is to rehearse ahead of time answers to questions you think you might get. I have a hard time sometimes finding appropriate spontaneous answers to jerks. I had an Archie Bunker type say something to me just last month about my short hair. I replied that it was a 'medical situation' and he shut up.

There are a couple of women here that excel in great comebacks, we could start a 'situation' list with appropriate responses to idiots.

I wore wigs for public appearances and went bald at home. Wigs are hot. I couldn't wait to take mine off when I would get home, but I just couldn't embrace baldness or headwraps. I'm sure you will find the right combination of coverings to fit your lifestyle. Blessings to you.

You guys are great and you've brought up some real good ideas.

Lucille, I am kidding but do you mean to say that the all purpose Universal finger salute would not be appropriate? Hehe.

So sorry you're dealing with this. Several of my friends lost their hair due to chemo and a few of them tried to wear wigs, one even went with an expensive human hair wig. Every single one of them complained about the heat and itch associated with wigs and seldom wore them instead they wore turbans, headscarves and hats.

Great Big (((((HUGS))))) to all of you who have been thru this "situation" and have reminded me of your strength and courage!!! I'm betting that you, "Lizzybetties" are gonna SHINE!

Hi justlinda, wow!! I like that a lot!! It's direct, honest and not wordy. Cuts right to the chase. Sometimes people (me especially!) need to be reminded that as far as strangers and other random people go, their opinion is their own business and nobody elses.

I like that so much I will memorize that, if you don't mind.

How about, "Why EVER are you saying that to me?" ??

I think you have a great attitude. Given what you have said I would shave my head sooner rather than later. Why subject yourself to the angst of watching your hair continue to fall out?

Another benefit is low maintenance. Take that time spend fussing with hair doing the things you love best. I vote for do rags and cotton scarves during the hot weather also.

I have no personal experience but I have known others who have had fun with the growing out process later also. Quirky colors and spiky styles etc. Some have discovered their straight hair comes back curly and some previously curly heads find themselves with straight hair.

Screw the rude ones with the questions. It's their problem not yours. Justlinda has given great advice.

Good luck with your therapy and sending wishes for an excellent outcome.

Aw, this is a good question. The saying Look Good Feel Good that the Cancer Society uses at their wig and makeup workshops for cancer patients has truth in it. Try some on. Your insurance may pay for one. I looked best in the shortest hair wigs and not the glamorous ones. Too phony. I haven't seen the Etsy site someone spook of with the little beanies but I did finally resort to a beanie type hat and found myself in that look. It was years ago and everyone stared at me as if I was in a cult. I think it is so much better now. Everyone said the same thing when they saw my bald head ---- Oh, you have a nice shaped head. It's a classic. Hope you will get some exercise while you are going thru this. It helps a lot. And, good luck dear woman.

https://www.google.com/#q=etsy+do+rags&tbm=shop. The first do rag is cute.

You are all so awesome and you will never know what your kindnesses mean to me today, especially!

Maggie200, agree about the first do rag. I can sew, if DH is willing to come up and lift my sewing machine. Also had the thought that maybe some cool musicians sell some on their sites. Will have to check-up on that possibility.

Must find turbans. My stepmom gave me a black cashmere turban and I felt like a moviestar! Step, hlll she was the best Mom ever.

Wendy Williams and Sherri Shepherd have good (one hears) and reasonably priced wigs.

And I need to start walking anyway.

I just checked ebay for surgeon caps and do rags and they have a lot of pretty cool ones. I hope you find something you like. It can be your signature look!!

Sorry you have to go through with this. I assume you are getting chemotherapy and hair loss is often an affect. Often the hair grows back after the chemo is stopped, but that is a lengthy process. For a guy, I'd say shave or get a very close crop; For a gal, wigs and head wraps can save the day.

First of all, blessings on you and the best of luck for a full recovery. Do rags can be very attractive and used for color coordination. However, if you have a nice shaped head, I would flaunt it. There is always someone who doesn't know any better and will stare or look askance, but I would make sure not to look around too much to see how others are acting. Just hold your pretty head high and maybe even wear a tiny smile to yourself to make them wonder even more.

When Mom had her radiation, it was winter and she was always cold, so I knit her a "hairy" cap in brown which was her natural hair color. I was surprised at how good it look...

head huggers

But for work, I would think a wig would be better. I'd not be out in the sun though without any head covering. My hair has gotten sparser over the years and even with the hair I have, the sun can burn my scalp. Ouch.

Do a google search on "chemo caps" and you'll see lots of ideas from scarves and do rags to baseball caps, turbans and head huggers.

I love the head hugger Annie linked to above! It is adorably quirky, although it may be too warm for the hotter months.

I truly admire women who go bald. They'll often wear colourful neck scarves and funky jewelery. When I see a bald woman, I certainly notice her, but would never ever say anything stupid. It's automatically assumed that she's going thru chemo so why bring it up?

How asinine and immature and beyond rude that someone would say something to you Justlinda.

I wear a do rag, scuba diving. I like them! I'm very comfortable in mine. Walmart sells them. I also wear a bandana headband with a baseball cap for running. The bandana would make me look hairless if I didn't have a ponytail sticking out. I think these looks would just make you look athletic....around here you'd blend right in.

Hi from a fellow cancer fighter! Sorry you're going through this. I am 8 weeks post chemo and my hair is filling in pretty good. It's mostly grey but hey, it's hair. I had 12 weekly treatments and my hair started coming out after the 3rd. When I saw how much hair I was sweeping up and cleaning out of the shower I cut it off as close as I could myself. I never shaved, so it was patchy for a bit til the rest fell out. I tried on wigs but decided not to buy one, it really just didn't look like me. So, I wore knit caps since it was cold anyway. I had a couple Chemo Beanies, that I wore when it wasn't as cold. They'd probably be too hot for me now. I had already told my family that I'd be going bald when it got warm enough and I would have. But, my hair started growing again before I finished chemo. It's a little less than an inch long now. I haven't worn anything for a month, I enjoy the freedom of short, short hair. So I say put on some hoops or dangly earrings, hold your head up and rock the bald!

I haven't heard any negative comments but I was/am prepared with something like "yes, I had my hair done at the chemo salon but I can't recommend it" or depending on how rude/obnoxious something ugly could come out of my mouth. I have noticed that usually women will look and then quickly look away. Men tend to look a little longer. Don't know exactly what that means. I'm single so maybe I should put on a little lipstick? lol

Don't know if you're aware of this or not, but I received one and so did my niece. I don't see mine but she got the trelliage wisteria pattern. It's really pretty. She ties a small bow with the tails. http://www.goodwishesscarves.org/request-a-wrap/

FIRST, just have to say how much I admire your "attitude" about the whole situation!?! Personally, have NO experience with this kind of decision. When SILs hair was falling out after chemo/radiation, she said it actually kinda hurt as she combed/brushed thru. That was a deciding factor for her to buzz the rest off. Good friend from college days went thru losing hair after (SUCCESSFUL) treatments for breast cancer. She commented that her head got COLD sitting INSIDE... in winter time.

I think you should shave it off now. I know that sounds harsh but, this way, you have the control. Two of my sisters had cancer and both asked me to shave them at my salon which I did. They were relieved to be able to forget about it and go on to the next step. Both of them got Raquel Welch wigs which are the most realistic to the point that people asked them where they got their haircuts. I wish you didn't have cancer but I'm happy you can speak about it and share. It's so important. Both of them are living happy lives and you will do the same. We took joke books to chemo and laughed so much, both had the other four sisters for support and love. I wish you the very best that life can offer.

Thank you all so very much!! Tips were wonderful, from links to darling headgear to the reminder to use sunscreen.

You have sufficiently confirmed my desire to shave my head PDQ and get out those great earrings and hats and rock the La Balderino!

Gong low batt here...I will be taking your good thoughts with me to appt w radiation oncologist later today.

As my dh used to say, "De Nile is not just a river in Egypt." As I leave that area I will need to access that sure to be helpful site.

Thank you all sooo much!

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en-US&ie=UTF-8&source=android-browser&q=cap+with+attached+ponytail&gws_rd=ssl

Check those out. Some are very cute. You can get hats with hair attached to just Google that.

https://www.headcovers.com/wigs/hats-with-hair/

https://www.tlcdirect.org/Hats-with-Hair-for-Cancer-and-Chemotherapy-Patients-Hair-for-Hats-American-Cancer-Society-TLC-Direct

Those kinds are much more comfortable than the wigs! Lots of options remember Google is your friend!

http://www.mcwigs.com/adorna-hairstrip-by-milano.html

This collection is awesome and they do send out free ones for reviews and opinions, contact them! The hair velcros in

ravencajun, with all that you have going on yourself you are beyond awesome to even read this section let alone respond so thoroughly about anything. Thank Y.o.u. sooo much!!!

You are very welcome. I have lost a lot of my hair too so I am interested. My sister is now on a chemo drug and I warned her she better start buying hats. These are very cool and lest painful.

Ihave been online so much researching cabinets and granite and countertops I enjoy a break from that!

It might be a little late, but have you heard of using Cold Caps to reduce hair loss ? These chill the head , and less hair falls out. Might be worth investigating thru google.