Headwear and Wigs
You will find information below about head coverings and wigs that may be useful if you expect to experience hair loss or thinning as a result of your cancer treatment. Follow this link to our page about hair loss or hair thinning.
Head Coverings
This video gives an introduction to the types of head coverings (hats, scarves, turbans, etc) that you may wish to consider if you expect to experience hair loss or thinning as a result of cancer treatment.
Macmillan: Headwear options for hair loss
To accompany headwear, you may wish to consider fringes or hair pieces to give the impression that you have hair under the hat or scarf.
A selection of handmade jersey beanie hats are available at the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre. They come in a range of sizes and are beautiful, stylish and comfortable to wear. A £7.50 donation would be appreciated.
You will find below some examples of other suppliers of headwear that people undergoing treatment at Ipswich Hospital have said that they have used. All these suppliers cater for people experiencing hair loss. Many other suppliers are available: please consider options and make decisions based on your preferences:
If you decide to use scarves, turbans etc in preference to hats, these videos provide a range of guidance on scarf-tying:
Wigs
If you think that you would like to obtain a wig, it can be a good idea to consider your choices before you lose your hair. If you wish to match your usual style and colour, it can be worthwhile taking a photo before treatment to help you choose something that matches your natural appearance. You may want to consider taking someone along with you for support and to help you choose a wig.
In this video, Amanda visits TrendCo to choose a wig and has it styled for her by the founder of My New Hair, Trevor Sorbie MBE.
For many people, hair loss or hair thinning is temporary and hair will grow back after treatment. The Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre has a stock of wigs that have been returned by people after treatment and these can be purchased for a donation of your choosing. Please visit the Centre to see the range and see if there may be one that would suit you.
Obtaining a new wig from Frobishers via the Ipswich Hospital wig referral scheme
If you are being treated at the Ipswich Hospital and wish to purchase a new wig, you can ask your Nurse Specialist or visit the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre to ask for a referral to Frobishers in Ipswich. Frobishers is the only company that has a contract with Ipswich Hospital to accept NHS prescriptions that subsidise the cost of new wigs. The Centre will provide your contact details to Frobishers and confirm you are being treated at the Ipswich Hospital. Frobishers will call you within a couple of days to make an appointment for you to have a consultation. If you confirm that you would like to obtain a wig from the company, Frobishers will request payment for the NHS prescription from you of around £75. This will give you a choice of any wig up to the cost of £200. If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may not need to pay. Please discuss this with Frobishers to see if you may be eligible and, if so, ask what proof may be required. If you are concerned that you have not had a call from Frobishers to arrange an appointment please phone the company on 01473 254 156. Frobishers can offer both synthetic and real hair wigs.
Cancer Hair UK has a range of information about wigs, including guidance on washing and styling.
Headcovers website contains much information about hair loss, headcovers and wigs. In particular, there is a page giving a comparison between synthetic wigs and those made from real hair.
Other providers of new wigs in Suffolk
For the providers listed below, please note that you would have to pay the full price of a new wig: no subsidy/ NHS prescription is available for people undergoing treatment at Ipswich Hospital.
Revelation Hair and Beauty (Ipswich). If you are require an Afro-Caribbean wig, please contact this company at 33 Norwich Road, Ipswich tel: 01473 225 555
Cancer Campaign in Suffolk (Ipswich). This local charity can provide human hair wigs at their premises in central Ipswich. Tel: 01473 211 884 to request further details or to book a consultation. Information on other support provided by the charity is available on their website.
Lookingood Hair (Long Melford). The salon provides a professional service in a fully stocked private wig room. There is no charge for wig styling providing they supply and fit your wig. Tel: 01787 881146. The salon is also part of Look Good Feel Better, a cancer support charity helping boost the physical and emotional wellbeing of people undergoing cancer treatment. Information on other support provided by the charity is available on their website.
Styling and trimming wigs
John Olivers Hairdressing Group salon in the centre of Ipswich can style and trim wigs for cancer patients. For further details, please contact the salon at 6-8 Great Colman Street, Ipswich, IP4 2AD. Please note this service is only available at the Great Colman Street salon.
Tel: 01473 214244, e-mail: gtcolmanst@johnolivers.com
Donating your hair: Little Princess Trust
If you have long hair you may wish to donate your hair to a charity who makes wigs free of charge for children and young adults who have lost their hair because of cancer treatment. For details, please follow this link.