My Final Word on Wigs

I probably should have wrote this post a long time ago but life keeps flying by so quickly it's hard to keep track of it all.
I haven't really worn a wig at all since the end of October {almost 4 months ago}. Looking back at pictures of when I stopped wearing one, I can't believe I ever left the house like that. It was SOOO short! But I do remember that as it was growing back and  I was still wearing the wig, it was smashing the new fuss and stunting the growth in some places. Brett kept encouraging me to let it do it's thing and go natural. At least that was the mentality behind the abrupt stop to the fake do.

A few things that I did learn about wigs from my experience. Take it for what it's worth!---
* Get one really great wig! You'll end up spending a few bucks but it's worth it. It doesn't necessarily have to be made of real hair (and in fact I enjoyed NOT having to fuss with styling it. "Slip it on, smooth it down and go" was the best for me!) But get at least one you really LOVE! Getting more than that would purely be for fun!
* Make sure you try it on before you buy it. Best advice ever! Wish someone would have told me that! I bought a couple online but neither of those are my favorite. Such a bummer! So... Try before you buy! My two cents from first hand experience.
* I would spend the extra money and get a monofilament cap (and possibly with a lace front). That way it looks like the hair is coming from your scalp. Have no idea what I am talking about? LOL Well, while I was researching for wigs at the beginning, I came across this WIG GUIDE on wigs.com. It's really helpful!
* Buy yourself a soft "Cancer Turban". This 3 seam cotton one was my favorite. Cuz let's face reality. Wearing a wig ALL the time is a pain (and itchy)! I wore this a lot!!!

* Take a deep breath. Hair grows back. Maybe not as fast as one would like but you won't be wearing a wig forever!

Twinners

I have always thought that my family and I look very similar. You know the saying- "You look just like your Mother". Yes, well.... for us, more than you think. LOL Over the last 7 months, I have taken turns looking very similar to all of my little family members! It makes us laugh (ok and some days cry) but it's been an adventure for sure!
Check me out with all my cute Twinners:

Wife #11: One last wig! The Jenny Wig

This is one that my friend/Visiting Teaching Companion borrowed to me. 

After seeing the pictures, I think it's one of my favorites. Thanks Jenny!

Wife #10- GI Jane or Baldy

Not everyday is a Wig Day especially when I am at home. Sometimes I wish I could have an out of body experience just to see what it was like to pass me in the hallway or in the kitchen. I think it would probably be weird. LOL But my family is very sweet and doesn't say anything. Unless you count little Glory's "I see your boring hair, Mom!" as a dig but I don't think she means it that way.

As far as Wife #10 is concerned--Not many Hubbies can say that they have been married to someone bald. I really appreciate Brett's patience through this Beauty Disaster of mine. Every once in a while, he will rub my head before we go to bed. I think it's sweet. Since I can't see myself unless I look in a mirror, I forget sometimes that I am folically challenged. I have enjoyed the time saved in my morning get-ready-for the-day routine but I do miss my hair sometimes. Oh well! One more Chemo then we'll be back on the road to hair. Hallelujah! Wigs are for sure fun to try BUT to everything there is a season and I am grateful that this season won't last forever!

Here's the many looks of the Bald Wife:

All Natural

The shaved GI Jane look

Sporting the scarf

The Night Cap:
What I wear most around the House

Wife #9: Blonde Barbie

This wig was supposed to have some lowlights in it but NO! That's what I get for buying from China! LOL

Oh well! It's kind of fun anyways even if I looks like I stuck my head in a Clorox bottle! ;)

 Just call me Barbie!

Wife #8: Short Brown Bob

This is my Short Brown  (halo) Bob Look! So fun!

Breast Cancer Hat Collection

I have acquired quite an extensive Breast Cancer Hat Collection over the last couple months. Thanks to all my friends who have donated to my cause! LOL I love them! (And I am totally having way too much fun with my camera and my little fleet of bloomin' photographers. Thanks to my kids for helping!) 

How cute am I?

Wife #7: The Short-haired Blonde

The Short-haired Blonde Chick (halo). Cute is me!

Wife #6 The Long, Dark Red Head

This is one of my Halo Wigs. It's my long, dark redhead look!  I just love the variety and the chance to try out my all my different hats without looking bald. Plus bonuses of having a couple halos are 1-getting to add to my Wife # count! LOL! 2- I get to stay a little cooler on warm days without a head full of hair under a hat. 3- at $30- they cost nothing in comparison to a real wig! My budget can handle that! ;)

For the my non-wig wearing friends:
A Halo is an affordable Hair for Hats that solves the problem of what to wear when you want the look of hair under a hat or scarf but don't feel like wearing a wig. It is open at the top, so your head can "breathe" which keeps you cool on the hottest days. It has Velcro tabs that adhere to your head for a secure fit. -from American Cancer Society

Wife #5: Dark Brunette with Bangs

This is the real hair wig that Michelle let me borrow. Thanks lady!

I curled it up and I love it! I haven't tried out bangs for forever. It was a fun change!

Wife #4: The Dirty Blonde (curly)

I did a lot of research on the web and finally found a great price on a "real" hair wig. I just couldn't make myself pay $1000 for the one I liked here in town. Ouch! Unfortunately this one was made and sent from China and took over a month to get here. Slow boat or something?? But now that it's here, it's kind of fun. (It's definitely not the kind of quality of the ones that Violet sells but I just like the variety and really wanted one I could style without spending a fortune) Here's with it all curled. After I wash it again I'll style it straight and get pictures of that up.

Wife #3 :The Curly Redhead

I wouldn't say that wigs are the most comfortable thing in the world but I am an OPTIONS girl so I'm loving the variety! One of my friends got me this cute red hat and along with my red curly halo [Halos are very inexpensive wigs that have no top to them. They are designed to let you wear hats without getting too warm. And with my new hat collection, they are perfect! LOL] wig, I look really cute! I'm thinking I need one of these wigs in blonde. Oh the options available to me. Who knew? I'm in heaven!

Wife #2: The Blonde Chick

Introducing Wife #2 all decked out in PINK. This is my cute free BLONDEY wig from the American Cancer Society. So fun!

Wife #1: The Brunette

Today I went to pick up my wig from Violet at the Centre of Hair and Wellness in Moorhead. When I first went out to her, I had decided to buy one of the least expensive ones right on the spot just so I would for sure have one. But I decided to buy it in a blonde color so they had to order it. It was kinda an impulse buy- the cheapest and  it was fine, I thought. Well then I did my research! I was a little bummed that she hadn't tried to talk me into waiting or at least made me go with a nicer cap. Betcha didn't even know there were standard caps, monofilament, lace fronts, full lace, and hand-tied wigs. Did ya? Neither did I. But now I do and the one I had bought was just a standard cap. Bummer! Anywho- when I got there she said she wasn't able to get the exact wig in but she had found one she thought I'd like. Fortunately for me, I didn't. It totally looked like I was wearing a wig. Shoot! I told her that I knew I'd already bought the other one (not the one she actually had for me though, remember?) but was wondering if she'd let me use what I paid for that one towards a more expensive one. She agreed. I went in a totally different direction. And I LOVE it! She's gonna bill my insurance so with what I already paid, I actually will be getting money back. (Let's pretend we didn't even already pay some towards it that way I feel like I got a really good deal! LOL)
I still have to decide if I'm gonna swallow the big lump in my throat (they start at $1000) and buy a "human hair" wig but for now... the benefits of a synthetic wig I've read about are pretty appealing. 1-I can get several of them for a fraction of the price. Options, baby! I love it! 2-I never have to do my hair again. Just put it on, smooth it down and go. Wahoo! Simplify is my new favorite word so yeah for me! And look how cute I am: Bonus!

I also made a stop at the American Cancer Society. They offer one free wig to cancer patients. I decided to go blonde for this one. ;) They had to order it for me so I didn't get to try it on. I hope I look OK in it but the picture is pretty so we'll just hope for the best. They also let me pick out a hat and a wig cap. They were very kind. I'm glad I stopped by. I'll take a picture of me in that one when it comes. So stay tuned for the Wife #2: The Blondie LOL

Like I said I may get a fancy human hair wig after my hair falls out. or maybe I just wanna be a redhead, a brunette, sport a little black and perhaps some curls? We'll see! LOL

TEAM SHAY: My Wig Lady

My Plastic Surgeon suggested that I go see Violet Deilke, the Hair Loss Specialist (or as I lovingly call her- My Wig lady) before the "craziness of chemo" sets in. Since, Katie & I usually go out of Fridays anyways and Violet had an opening, we decided to make it a date. Thanks Katie for going with me!

After dropping Glory off at Preschool (on time I might add), I picked up Katie and we headed to Minnesota. Violet's place is at the Centre for Hair & Wellness at the Moorhead Center Mall. While we waited (We were early. Can u believe that? Maybe that's a side effect of cancer?), we tried on hats. I've never been a hat person. But they had some really cute stuff there. Lucky for me Katie is a master at seeing something and making up a pattern. [She gets that from her mother. ;)] She has big plans to make me some hats and save me the $30 a pop! Yeah for talented friends! The ladies were very kind and offered us water bottles and everything. Pamper City, here we come! LOL

Then we met with Violet. She is a Breast Cancer Survivor that went through chemo 8 years ago. She got a little emotional as we talked about her hair loss/cancer experience. I know it will be a total shocker but it's kind of exciting! This is my chance to re-live all my hair colors of the past couple years. I'm so excited! Are you ready for me? One thing I learned was that trying on wigs is the FUNest thing ever! How come no one ever told me??? Seriously! Girls- you should grab a girlfriend and go! So much fun! (Do they sell wigs somewhere else here so I can try some on again? LOL) Prepare yourself for the new Shay possibilities! If they didn't cost a fortune, I think I'd buy one of each!