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HAIRLOSS... and what you need to know about your alternatives

An Informative and Educational Outline brought to you by Look of Love®

EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS It is important to remember that there is no reason for anyone to feel inhibited or to change their life style because of hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss, the most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. The cause for hair loss can vary widely by individual. Possible causes of hair loss can be heredity, stress, nutritional deficiency, hormonal changes, oral medications and certain skin conditions. An article published by the American Academy of Dermatology (07/31/01) points out just how common hair loss is among women: "Hereditary hair loss, the most common form of hair loss, affects nearly 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States alone. Hair loss, especially in women, can have devastating effects on one’s self-esteem and self-image. Studies have shown that women 50 and under experiencing hair loss report feeling unattractive, embarrassed, and helpless."Chemotherapy is also a common cause of hair loss. With some anti-cancer drugs, it is inevitable, however not all forms will cause hair loss. The amount of hair loss with chemotherapy may also vary by person and treatment. It is important for you to discuss with your doctor how your treatment will most likely affect you so that you can be prepared for it. Today's technical advancements made in hair replacements (wigs) are far beyond what they use to be years ago. Being open minded and seeing for yourself the new possibilities that can change how you feel about yourself in this situation is important.(For example) Did you know there are wigs made today with a shear silk material (almost nylon stocking like) which have hairs crocheted one at a time, duplicating how hair grows? Your own scalp shows right through as if the hairs were growing right from your scalp. Being able to see the many alternatives all under one roof is quite the experience; everything from basic inexpensive wigs to innovative hair replacements with totally undetectable illusion front hairlines made of 100% human hair with a soft European texture. Hair loss due to medication can be easier to deal with if you are aware of what is available in today's technology of hair replacements and what's right for you. The transition can be easier and more natural than you realize if you go about it correctly. Here are some important tips to help you understand how best to plan your transition into a hair replacement.
1. ln cases of chemotherapy treatment, hair loss usually starts after the 2nd treatment (depending on the type of medication used). This gives you several weeks before you will really need a hair replacement or a wig. During this time it is advisable to seek advice from organizations such as "Look Good-Feel Better" chapters who have alot of experience and knowledge in such matters. Secondly, visit one or two wig specialists who specialize in hair replacements. Remember the best time to visit a hair replacement specialist is before you lose your hair. Why? It will afford the stylist who helps you to see your present hair style, your own hair color, and to possibly measure your head size to be sure your head will fit within an average size wig. If your head is exceptionally large or small a custom wig may have to be made for you, and this can take a number of weeks to make. 2. Look for an establishment I that can really support your needs and is knowledgeable in hair replacements. Why is this important to you? For Example, trying on a wig before you lose your hair will force you to stuff all your hair under the cap of the wig; but after you lose your hair the bulk of your hair is gone and the cap may feel looser and the establishment should know this and must be able to alter the cap should this happen down the road. 3. The establishment you buy from should also offer you some education on the care and maintenance of your wig, as well as what type of support products (such as shampoos, conditioners, brushes) to use. This can effect the longevity of your hair replacement.
	4. Maintenance and re-styling of your hair replacement is another quality to look for because this is a specialized craft and it takes special training and education to be good at it. There will be times you will have to have your wig cleaned and re-styled to look like new again, and it can make quite a difference when done professionally. Be sure the establishment you purchase from offers this service.
5. The fit of your wig should be snug, but not really tight on the head. Be sure to look for what is called tape tab material inside the cap of the wig (see illustration). The tape tab areas inside the wig cap allows you to use little pieces of double faced tape that really clings the wig cap to your scalp keeping it in place hour after hour, all day, all night long. You can even brush and style your hair replacement without any movement or sliding. This is a wonderful feature to have and only by experience can you appreciate the feature. 6. Once your hair loss is beyond the point of wearing it on it's own, it will be advisable to do what you need to in order to make your experience of living in your new hair alternative (wig) a better and more secure experience. Remember, if you are active in your daily life, you will be living in your new wig every day. Anything you can do to make it more pleasurable is what should be done. (For example) When your own hair loss is about 50 to 60% the stylist should suggest cutting off the remaining hair at the points where the tape tab material within the wig cap touch your scalp; thereby enabling you to start using double faced tape to secure the wig to your scalp. This will eliminate the fear of the wig slipping or coming off while brushing or pulling on the hair itself. 7. How long will I need to wear the hair replacement after my treatment ends? From the time your treatment stops, it usually takes about one month or so for your own hair to start growing in. Even at this point hair usually grows at a rate of about 1/4" to 1/2" per month, and will still take several more months to have enough hair to wear on it's own; even in a new short hair style. In most cases, from the time your hair loss starts to the time it grows back (long enough to wear on it's own) it may take up to 10 to 12 months time, depending on how you want your hair to look before you no longer wear the wig. During this time of using your hair replacement, you will be living in it day and night, seven days a week. Therefore, you may want to consider owning two of them so you can alternate, or leaving one to be cleaned and re-styled while wearing the other. It's a good thing to have a backup.
	YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE Many insurance companies will cover 80% or more of the cost of a wig if it is needed for medical reasons. If your insurance covers hair prosthesis, the first step will be to obtain a prescription for hair replacements from a physician. When you purchase your hair replacements, have the wig supplier write, "Hair prosthesis as prescribed by doctor" on a duplicate invoice or statement. Submit your insurance claim with copies of the prescription and invoice. It is important to follow their submission procedures to get your claim approved and paid. It is important however to remember that some insurance companies (or some coverage plans) do not consider a hair replacement to be a medical treatment and may reject it. Be sure to check your coverage and exclusions. If in doubt, call your insurance company. The purchase of a wig for a medical reason is tax deductible. Be sure to save all receipts from wig establishments.
8. Will my hospitalization insurance pay for my hair replacement? Most insurance companies today will pay up to 80% of the cost of the new hair replacement. But there is an educated process in so far as how you prepare the paperwork to submit your claim. If you follow these couple of procedures you should have no trouble: A. Ask your doctor for a prescription written as follows: "Hair prosthesis due to the effects of chemotherapy". B. When purchasing your hair replacement (wig) ask the establishment to make out your invoice stating: "Hair prosthesis as prescribed by doctor", then the amount. Submit your insurance claim and copies of both doctors prescription and invoice from the establishment your purchased it from and it should work well. Remember, insurance companies do not consider a hair replacement as a medical treatment and there are some who will turn the claim down if not done in a correct manner as outlined above; even then some still may reject it. Tax Note: It is important to remember that a wig for medical reasons is also tax deductible when you file your federal income taxes. You can also legally deduct any state sales tax you may pay from your state income tax relurn at the end of the year. So it is important to save your receipts and copies of doctors prescription. We sincerely hope you find this helpful and educational. If you like, you may call us if you have other questions or concerns about your hairloss and what alternatives are available.

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We hope that the information that we have provided is helpful to you in deciding if hair replacements are right for you. We pride ourselves on helping every woman to look and feel her absolute best. If you have questions or would like assistance with selecting a wig or hairpiece, please feel free to call us:
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