How to Choose Your Headscarves with Cancer Hair Loss

     After my first round of Adriamycin & Cytoxin, I was expecting to feel a lot worse than I did so I decided I would go to the gym with my best friend to workout.  I vividly remember taking a shower at the gym and glanced down at the shower drain where I saw what looked like a little dark brown furry animal. The little animal was about 30% of my hair that had fallen out!  I called my best friend and she stared at the shower floor, horrified by the amount of hair that came out.  I left the gym to head home, feeling a bit numb from shock. My parents were at my apartment at the time we arrived home and saw the bald patches on my head. My stepfather then said calmly, "I think it's time to shave your head."  I sat in the chair and watched what I called "Texan pelo" land on the ground as the razor buzzed away against my scalp.
     Cancer patients hair loss can come early or later during chemotherapy.  Some patients never have hair loss because they do not undergo chemotherapy or are on targeted regimens. We see so many commercials and ads on products for women to have long, healthy tresses.  Losing it all in one day is a very odd feeling; women may feel less feminine looking thus less attractive. Losing my hair was especially hard for me because I was always known to have what my friends and family called "big hair."  I used to complain about how long and thick it was and how my arms would be sore from drying and styling it.  I quickly learned to be careful what you wish for.
     After all the hair came out, I received many handmade hats and scarves from friends and family.  I had silk and a small number of polyester scarves.  I found unique ways to tie the scarves to make them appear stylish.  Here is a helpful link on different ways to tie head scarves: http://www.scarves.net/how-to-tie-a-scarf/head-scarves.htm
      I found that the silk and polyester scarves slipped off frequently and so I decided to go to the fabric store and purchase a yard each of my favorite colors and prints of a lighter cotton material.  I then went to my tailor and had my fabrics sized, cut and sewed just like the head scarves I already had.  My tailor didn't charge me a dime (she was nice enough to do it for free because I think she felt bad for me) otherwise it is pretty inexpensive for them to do. I found that these cotton scarves were not only inexpensive, they were easy to wash (I recommend a lighter, cotton fabric that doesn't wrinkle.)  Because they were easy to wash, I liked wearing them to the gym.  I always had issues with the silk and polyester scarves slipping off my bald head however the cotton fabric scarves stayed put and could be tied more tightly.
     Here is a pic of a head scarf I wore a lot during treatment and surgeries.  I used to hate the color pink, however after getting diagnosed with breast cancer, I have more of an affinity to the color.  From a yard of material, I had 3 pink scarves made that were slip free, easy to wash, inexpensive and easy to tie!