Helping Friends Through Chemo Hair Loss — What I’ve Learned

This post contains open conversations about hair loss, body image, and medical treatment. It is not medical advice — just friendly, practical ideas that may help.

Lately, I’ve had several conversations with women facing chemotherapy. One thing became very clear: many feel at a bit of a loss when it comes to preparing for the hair loss that often comes with treatment.

“What the fuck am I going to look like with no hair?”

As my lovely friend Danielle told me honestly, she laughed through it — but hated every second. People told her she could pull it off, but she never wanted to. It was a conflicting experience for her, and as she put it:

“For me, the biggest part was losing my hair, and I struggled so much – and no one gets it. You’re like, ‘What the fuck am I going to look like with no hair?’ You just can’t picture it.

“I remember my twin sister telling me to check this girl out who she thought looked amazing with a shaved head. I looked at her, with her shaved head, and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m actually alright with that. I think I can do this.’ And that sort of helped me in going for the head shave.

“My friend closed off her hairdressers, and I just had a beer and we had a laugh doing it and I laughed all the way through. But it wasn’t easy either.

“Once the hair’s gone, it’s gone. You’re not worrying about it. And when people used to say that to me, I’d be going, ‘Shut the fuck up — I really don’t know what I’m going to look like here.’

“I remember showing my daughter, and she loved it. I thought, okay, I can deal with this.

“People would tell me it suited me, but it’s not a choice, is it? I didn’t want that look for myself. But when you lose it, you can still rock it. I hated every moment of it – but I did learn to live with it at that time.”

Recommendations That May Help 

Over the years — both professionally and personally — I’ve spent time with females going through hair loss during chemotherapy. Along the way, I’ve gathered a list of genuinely helpful contacts and specialists who regularly work with clients affected by cancer. They cover areas like:

• Hair

• Eyebrows

• Lashes

• Nails

• Nipples

So I’m going to share what I know. If it helps take even a small amount of worry, admin, or mental load off someone going through this, then it’s worth it. This article ended up a little longer than I first intended — but my hope is that everything here is meaningful, so I’ve kept it all in.

For many, hair loss isn’t just about appearance — it’s about identity, confidence, and a sense of self. And while we can’t take that experience away, the right support can make a meaningful difference.

Hair Recommendations

Hair Replacement Systems

If you’d like an option that feels more secure and natural than a standard wig, a hair system might be worth exploring. These are custom-made pieces designed to blend seamlessly with your scalp or any existing hair, giving the appearance of a full head of hair. They can be worn continuously for several weeks at a time and styled just like your own.

Many people find that this gives them back a sense of normality and confidence during treatment. A specialist can help you choose the right type — whether that’s what is known as a partial system to add volume, or a full system if you experience complete hair loss.

Trusted recommendations

Alison Morris at the Cotswolds Lab

Alison is the founder of the Cotswolds Lab and a specialist in hair replacement systems. She’s worked with many people experiencing hair loss and is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. You can contact her at alison.w@thecotswoldslab.com. She’s always happy to answer questions or simply have a chat about your options. Alison also wears a hair replacement system herself. In fact, one of the first things I noticed when I met her was how great her hair looked — I honestly had no idea it wasn’t her own. It looked amazing.

Other specialists. The following names were suggested via ChatGPT — I recommend contacting them directly to check suitability and experience working with clients undergoing chemotherapy.

Mark Glenn, London

Jennifer Effie, London

Hair Solved, Manchester

House of Hair Replacement, Birmingham

New U Hair, Durham

Some of these specialists also provide wig services, so it’s worth asking if you’re exploring that route too.

Costs to expect

As you might expect, hair replacement systems can be on the more spennier side. Estimated costs range from £1,000 up to £4,000 (for a full head of long hair) for an initial system. There may also be charges for your fitting appointment and for ongoing maintenance visits. But a well-cared-for system with the right specialist should definitely last 12 months. If this isn’t an option for you right now, there are some excellent wigs and headwear choices available at lower price points — I’ve listed a few further down.

Wigs 

How frequently do people going through cancer wear wigs? It varies a lot — depends on personal comfort, lifestyle, treatment stage, and emotional experience of hair loss.

Some people wear wigs every day as part of maintaining a sense of their “normal” appearance — especially if working, parenting, or socialising. I’ve learnt about ‘hat wigs’ and ‘gym wigs’ along the way, and I’m told gym wigs are usually the most comfortable.

Others wear wigs only occasionally — for certain outings or moments when they want a ‘confidence boost’. Some try a wig but prefer hats, scarves (see later), or simply go without. Many switch between all of the above, depending on how they feel on any given day.

Wearing a wig is a very personal decision. For some, the feeling of wearing one during chemotherapy can be uncomfortable (heat, fit, sensory issues). Many say it helps psychologically just to have a good wig available — even if they don’t wear it all the time. It can offer a feeling of agency and choice.

Decent, mid-tier wigs are relatively easy to access — through reputable online retailers and some good local salons. High-quality, specialist wig fitting is easier to find in cities like London, Manchester, or Birmingham, where there’s more choice and a higher likelihood of finding salons experienced in post-chemo hair loss. As you might expect, smaller towns and rural areas can be a bit more hit-and-miss — many people travel to a trusted specialist or order from a recommended online source.

Not all salons advertising “wigs” are experienced in dealing with cancer-related hair loss, scalp sensitivity, or the emotional side of the experience — which is why personal recommendations really help.

Cancer charities (e.g. Macmillan, Cancer Hair Care, Look Good Feel Better) can provide vetted lists of trusted specialists. 

Here are some wig specialists that have been personally recommended to me

Wonderful Wig Company, Newcastle and online

Sacha Grace Hair Solution, Liverpool  

If you’re going through cancer treatment, some charities and NHS trusts may offer funding support for wigs — though this usually doesn’t cover high-end hair systems. Many specialists do offer flexible payment plans, so it’s always worth asking.

NHS wig provision exists, but quality can be variable — some choose to supplement this with a private purchase.

You don’t have to choose right away of course. For some, waiting until hair loss actually begins helps them make a decision based on how they feel at the time.

Hair Scarves

Many women recommend hair scarves — as one friend put it, she wanted to “style my way through cancer”, matching scarves to her wardrobe, makeup, or seasonal look.

I found a few useful videos on YouTube that offer styling ideas — especially if it’s your first time wearing a scarf and you want something that doesn’t feel ageing or too medical. They’re not the most glamorous tutorials in the world, but they’re practical and might give you a helpful place to start

@HeadcoversUnlimited

@Mags Bujalski

Let me know where you buy your head scarves in the comments — I’ll reach out to the most-mentioned retailers and see if we can get a discount code for future purchases.

Brows and Lashes 

Brows and lashes can also thin or fall out during cancer treatment, because they’re made of hair follicles just like the ones on our head. How much this happens varies from person to person — it depends on the type of treatment, the body’s response, and even the timing of your treatment.

Some people lose all their lashes and brows, while others notice only light thinning. It’s also quite common for brows and lashes to take longer to fall out (often a few weeks or months into treatment), and they can be a little slower to grow back afterwards. 

For those who feel their brows and lashes are their superpower, the good news is there are some simple options to help you feel more like yourself while your brows and lashes do their thing — here are a few that come recommended:

www.cancerpal.co.uk

CancerPal is a cool website that stocks everything from specialist lashes by C-Lash, to affordable eyebrow tattoos and even magnetic liner for false lashes. 

@amyburkeofficial

Amy Burke is a prominent Liverpool-based lash expert. Beyond her professional achievements, Amy is a breast cancer survivor who has openly shared her journey through treatment and recovery — making her recommendations feel all the more relatable and trusted.

The Royal Free London Hospital 

The Royal Free London Hospital is the first NHS trust to provide in-house microblading for cancer patients, which is awesome, thanks to funding from the Royal Free Charity. Currently, the service is available exclusively to patients receiving chemotherapy at the Royal Free Hospital's breast clinic, but hopefully this could be a sign of things to come.

My personal go-to: Hollie Parkes

My personal go-to for brows and lashes is Hollie Parkes (@hollieparkes on Instagram). Hollie is based in the Cotswolds but also holds residencies in London.  She’s a renowned brow and lash specialist, celebrated for her meticulous, natural-looking results and bespoke treatments. With over a decade of experience, Hollie has become a sought-after expert in the beauty industry, working with a diverse clientele that includes high-net-worth individuals, celebrities — and me. 

Hollie offers a comprehensive range of services, including microblading, brow lamination, tinting, and lash lifts. I caught up with her to talk specifically about her experience working with clients going through cancer treatment. One really useful takeaway: there is a timing aspect to lash and brow treatments, as they need to dovetail with your treatment cycle — something many women wouldn’t instinctively know. Here’s her advice:

“It’s best to have microblading done before chemotherapy starts as the chemo can slow the healing – but, depending on your treatment timings and advice from your medical team, you can have it done in between cycles. Even if you only manage to get your first appointment before your chemo starts, this will give you 70-90% of the full result. 

“Other advice would be to avoid chemical processes on the lashes or brows of any kind once your chemotherapy starts as the hair will become very delicate. Oils and serums can help to keep the hair as healthy and conditioned as possible. I really recommend Revitalash and Revitabrow and Champo haircare.”

If you don’t feel like doing anything right now — that’s valid too. This is all about options.

Nails

You can experience changes to your nails during chemotherapy — though this depends on the type of treatment (Taxanes and Anthracyclines are more commonly linked to nail changes) and how your body responds.

Treatment can cause discolouration, brittleness, lifting, nail loss, or sometimes infection.

How likely is it? Not everyone experiences nail loss — it’s a possible side effect, not a certainty. Mild to moderate changes (like ridges or brittleness) are quite common. Full nail loss is much less common, but can happen, especially with repeated cycles of certain drugs.

There are a few simple ways to help reduce the risk:

• Keep nails short and filed smoothly

• Use non-acetone polish remover (if using polish at all)

• Apply moisturiser or oil to cuticles and nails daily

• Wear gloves when doing housework or gardening

• Cold cap / cold gloves — some people use frozen gloves during infusions (check with your care team first)

The idea of changes to your nails can feel just as distressing as hair loss for some — but the good news is this is usually temporary. Nails typically grow back after treatment ends, though it may take a few months.

Tips from friends who’ve been through it

Friends who completed treatment recommend wearing gel polish as a way to help support and protect the nails. Darker polishes can also help disguise discolouration if it occurs.

Nipples 

When chatting to friends about their experience of hair loss during cancer treatment, a few also brought up nipples — and how that part of the journey doesn’t always get talked about. So I’m including it here too.

What is areola tattooing — and why might it be done after cancer?

Areola tattooing (sometimes called nipple tattooing or areola micropigmentation) is a specialised form of tattooing that helps recreate the look of a natural nipple and areola (the darker skin around the nipple).

It’s often used as part of the recovery process after breast cancer surgery — especially if someone has had a mastectomy or breast reconstruction. These surgeries can sometimes result in the loss of the natural nipple and areola, or cause changes in appearance.

Areola tattooing can help restore a more natural-looking breast shape — but it’s not just cosmetic. For many people, it also plays an important emotional role in helping rebuild body image, confidence, and that sense of ‘feeling like yourself again’ after treatment.

There are different options available:

• Some women choose 3D tattooing, where the artist uses shading to create the illusion of a raised nipple

• Others use it to recolour an existing nipple or to even out changes caused by surgery

When can you have areola tattooing? Again timing matters. You usually need to wait until your breast area has fully healed after surgery and treatment — this is something your care team will advise on. Many women are ready around 6–12 months after surgery, but I am told it does vary. A good specialist will always guide you on when it’s safe and appropriate to go ahead.

Trusted recommendations

If you’ve had a good experience with an areola tattoo specialist, feel free to share it in the comments — if we can build a list of trusted names, all the better for anyone reading this.

Wigs for children

One organisation that came highly recommended to me is the Little Princess Trust. They provide real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

Of course, wigs aren’t for everyone — and with children especially, it’s important to approach this with care. For some children, a wig can help restore confidence and provide a sense of ‘normality’ during a difficult time. For others, not wearing a wig is the choice that feels most comfortable.

Either way, the key is that it’s the child’s choice — supported by their family and care team. The Little Princess Trust understands this well and works with families to ensure that any wig is provided as an empowering option, not an expectation.

As their Chief Executive Phil Brace told me: “Our aim is to offer a free, real hair wig to every child and young person experiencing hair loss.

“We know from speaking to the children we support the positive impact a wig can have at what can be a very challenging and changing time. Thanks to the incredible support we receive from the public we also fund childhood cancer research as part of our joint mission to give hair and hope to children and young people with cancer.”

A quick word on emotional wellbeing. 

None of this is about vanity. And equally — if you do want to take steps to maintain your appearance, that’s not vain either (I’d be in this camp too, for sure). Hair loss, changes to brows, lashes, nails, and your body can affect confidence and sense of self in all kinds of ways. For some, leaning into these tips and treatments helps them feel more themselves. For others, embracing the changes is what feels right. There’s no one correct way to handle it — it’s about doing whatever brings you the most comfort. Obviously.

If you find yourself needing support or chatting this through with people in areas like these, don’t hesitate to lean on the people around you — or on some of the brilliant organisations that offer resources, workshops, and safe spaces to help with confidence and body image. Three to know:

• Look Good Feel Better and Macmillan Cancer Support get another shout here, and 

• Maggie’s

If you do decide to give any of these a try, a bit of forward planning can really help — here’s a rough guide to when things usually fit in.

Summary of timings

To help with the admin — which can be hard to keep track of at the best of times — I’ve put together a simple summary timetable below. I’m not saying it’s about prioritising cosmetic treatments, but if you are considering anything supportive like a wig fitting, brow appointment, or nail care, this might help you think about when it could fit in around your treatment.

If you can, a good friend or family member might be able to help with this too.

Here’s a rough guide to timing — always check with your care team first, as everyone’s treatment journey is different.

The timetable is best viewed on desktop. If viewing on your phone, scroll left to right.

Area	Treatment or Service	Recommended Timing	Notes
Hair	Hair Replacement System	Before treatment starts, or early in treatment	Best to be fitted before hair hair loss for best blending and comfort
Hair	Wig Fitting and/or Purchase	Before or early in treatment	Gives time to choose comfortably; allows time to get used to wearing one
Hair	Scarves, Headwear	Any time	Good to explore alongside wigs for comfort and style flexibility
Brows & Lashes	Microblading (semi-permanent brow tattooing)	Before chemo starts, or in between cycles if approved	Healing is better pre-treatment; one appointment can give 70–90% result
Brows & Lashes	Lash lifts, Brow lamination	Avoid once chemo starts	Hair becomes fragile — best avoided after treatment begins
Brows & Lashes	Brow and lash serums (e.g. Revitalash)	Before, during, and after treatment, with care	Helps condition remaining hair and support regrowth
Brows & Lashes	Temporary cosmetics (e.g. C-Lash, tattoos)	During treatment, as needed	Can provide a confidence boost while hair is thinning
Nails	Nail preparation	Before treatment	Proactive nail care can reduce risk early
Nails	Nail care (moisture, oils, short trims)	Throughout treatment	Helps maintain nail health and reduce discomfort
Nails	Gel Polish	During treatment, with care	Can help protect nails and disguise discolouration
Nails	Avoid harsh chemicals and removers	Throughout treatment	Use non-acetone removers; keep nails protected
Areola Tattooing	Nipple, Areola Tattoo	Usually 6–12 months post-surgery	Only when fully healed — timing varies by individual
Children's Wigs	Little Princess Trust	Any time during treatment	Based on the child’s comfort and readiness

A final note. I’m not an ambassador for any of these brands or services, and I haven’t been paid or gifted to mention them. Most of the recommendations here have come via trusted friends — so while I’ve done my best to share helpful options, I can’t personally vouch for the experience or results with all of them.

The two people I’ve worked with directly and trust implicitly are Alison and Hollie. The other recommendations come from friends whose judgement I trust.

So just go with your gut. We’re pretty good at that, after all.

If this post helps even one person feel a little more prepared — or gives them a place to start — then it’s done its job. If you know someone who might find it useful, feel free to pass it on. And if you have other great recommendations or tips, please, please do share them below — this is very much a living list, and the more we can crowdsource good advice, the better!

– Mel

Acknowledgements. Big thank you to friends, contacts, and experts who shared their time and wisdom —  I couldn’t have pulled this together without you.