“Fringes that you pop into a scarf or hat can be a real benefit when the weather gets hot. My offices are really warm in the summer and I easily overheat whilst wearing a wig. I had lots of wigs but hats and caps became my go to. The good thing about a fringe is that you can jazz up any headwear and it just looks like the rest of your own hair is tucked underneath”. Lucy
“It was really important to me to give scalp cooling a go. I knew that it was unlikely to save all my hair, but it did mean that I held onto my hair for longer than I would have if I didn’t try it. It did mean that, at work, people were unaware that I was having treatment. In a way, this was a bit strange, as when my hair thinned a lot I started to wear a turban and then of course people noticed. In a way, when it became more obvious by wearing my turban, this did mean that people gave me more support and noticed when I had fatigue or needed a hand with work. As they say, it’s different strokes for different folks and so my tip is; if you feel open minded to scalp cooling, give it a go”. Helen
“My job sees me talking to the general public. I have a uniform and so it was important to me to make sure that, when I had hair loss due to chemo, I could still look professional. My uniform colours were navy and black and so I found headwear that was in suitable colours. I also used a velcro fringe that you just attach to the inside of headwear. I made sure that my wig and fringe were the same colour so that I could alternate between the two. This made me blend in at work and not stand out. Ultimately, this gave me confidence and privacy”. Jaya
“I went for being hair free sometimes. This does spark conversation and interest from others. Especially as some days I wore a wig and on other days not. My tip to you is that if you are hair free, you should be prepared for questions. You don’t have to answer them, but be aware that people may ask. I liked to wear lots of jewellery and would turn conversations about my wig or lack of hair onto my earnings and bold accessories. If you want to be bald, be bold, that’s my motto”. Christie
“I worked during a lot of my treatment. At the time, I was involved in public facing jobs, demonstrating and hosting cooking events within people’s homes. I didn’t want my hair loss and cancer treatment to be obvious or a talking point. I started to wear hats and scarves before I lost my hair so that people recognised this as a part of my fashion style. I wore scarves and hats and caps and was open to trying different looks. I did wear a wig sometimes but found it hot and uncomfortable to wear for longer than 4 hours. One of the biggest challenges that Cancer Hair Care made easier, was having to talk to my little girl about hair loss. The Cancer Hair Care Hair Loss Dolls really made a difference. The dolls turned inside out with hair on one side and then, ‘just like me’, had no hair on the other side. My daughter enjoyed putting little hats and wigs on them that matched my outfits. I would encourage you to think about your working environment and make sure you have a range of options”. Emma
“Colouring my new hair growth was a really important turning point for me. It made me feel less like a cancer patient and more like a new version of me. There are so many myths around when you can and can’t colour hair, so chatting to the Cancer Hair Care specialist hairdressers made a big difference to me. I felt confident and clear about my colour choices. Stepping back into the office with a full head of coloured hair (although it was short) was empowering”. Helen
“I had to go into the office often during treatment. I choose to tell some, but not all of my team, about my cancer treatment. One of my colleagues had experienced chemo and came along to my first and last chemo session to support me. I chose scalp cooling and although I lost over 60-70% of my overall hair, I managed to have my hair cut and wear a headscarf over the top. This helped to disguise the loss on the top of my head. We also had a fun Wigs at Work day as an awareness and fundraising event for Cancer Hair Care. This helped other people in my workplace to gain support. It’s good to think about how your look is going to change at work. I was known for my very long, red hair and so when I needed to cut it into a shorter bob, I discussed with Cancer Hair Care having a response to people’s questions about my hair change. They call it ‘the script’ – a way of planning what you might say so that you don’t feel obliged to share your cancer diagnosis. For example: in response to questions about why I had had my long hair cut I would say; “I fancied a change.” Julie
“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
Would you like to share your Workplace inspiration tips and stories? Please get in touch with the Cancer Hair Care team. We would be delighted to hear from you.
More helpful information:
Content created: 27.02.24 next planned review in 2025