This Workplace guide is dedicated to supportive ideas for males experiencing cancer treatment related hair loss. The suggestions and ideas focus on managing changes to your image and dealing with colleagues and the general public in relation to this change. The idea is to provide you with the confidence to make choices around how you deal with hair loss and maintain your privacy.
5 top tips for males to manage hair loss at work
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Keeping cancer treatment private
Many males say that they would not have a conversation with colleagues about their cancer diagnosis but because hair loss is an obvious change to their appearance, they feel it is necessary. It may be helpful to think in advance about your wishes in relation to whom you choose to tell or not about your cancer treatment, rather than be put on the spot and have to react with an instant reply. Think in advance how you might respond to comments about your change from having a hairstyle to becoming hair free – bald.
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Preventing hair loss
Scalp cooling, wearing a cold cap, is the only known way to try and reduce hair loss on the scalp as a side effect to chemotherapy. Unfortunately, men are often overlooked and not offered the opportunity to try it. To find more information read our Men’s Scalp Cooling Guide.
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Talking with clients and colleagues
Over the years many men have told us, at Cancer Hair Care, that they wish to keep their cancer treatment private and the only thing that reveals this is hair loss. The best piece of advice we can give you is to perhaps consider doing a charity head shave (and if applicable beard shave), including your eyebrows. Perhaps choose a non-cancer related charity to create a sponsored head shave. Many hairdressers will be happy to help you and in turn you can raise money for charity and keep your privacy. This way whenever your lack of hair on your head and face is a talking issue, you can say that you had a sponsored head shave. So many men have told us that they did this and it really worked! Helping them to have a conversion at work with clients that keeps their cancer diagnosis private.
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Be prepared for loss of facial hair
Males who have had (remove ‘a’) hair loss as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment have said that they were shocked to lose their facial and body hair. They had assumed that they would only lose their scalp hair. Take a look at our men’s guide to be fully prepared.
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Uniforms and dress codes
It may be a good idea to consider any headwear or hats you may need to purchase to keep warm or for style. If you have a dress code at work, or a uniform, your employer should make reasonable adjustments to accommodate any requests you may have about wearing headwear.
Jai has made a video all about his hair loss experience. Take a look for some information and inspiration.
“My hair has always been a feature of mine. I have had lots of different styles but I knew that having no hair and no eyebrows and lashes would be very revealing at work. I wasn’t sure what approach I would take but in the end, as my hair fell out, I tried lots of different styles and this became the focus. When it became obvious that I had lost my hair on my scalp and facial hair, I actually got a fun blonde wig and me and my colleagues all wore wigs at work. I found this fun and it helped me to not feel alone”. Jai
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Content created: 27.02.24 next planned review in 2025