Cancer and hair loss

Some cancer treatments can make your hair fall out, but wigs, cold caps and other products are available to help you cope.

Hair loss from cancer treatment can affect people in different ways. Some treatments cause only partial hair loss or thinning, while others cause people to lose hair from all over their body.

Different types of chemotherapy drugs have varying effects, while radiotherapy causes hair loss only in the area where treatment is focused. Your doctor can advise you about what to expect.

Planning for hair loss

If you would like to wear a wig, you may find it helpful to visit a wig specialist before your cancer treatment to help match your hair colour and style.

Cutting your hair

Some people are more comfortable cutting their hair very short before undergoing therapy. This means that hair loss will not seem as dramatic when it happens.

Cold caps during chemotherapy

A cold cap is a hat that is worn during some chemotherapy treatments. Its cooling effect reduces blood flow to the scalp, which also reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication that reaches this area. This helps to prevent hair loss.

It's usually worn for 15 minutes before each chemotherapy treatment. You can find out about scalp cooling caps on the Macmillan website.

Eyebrows, eyelashes and make-up

With some chemotherapies, people might also lose their eyebrows and eyelashes. Make-up, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner or false eyelashes can help, and many cancer support groups have workshops to help patients learn these techniques.

For example, the charity Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) holds free skincare and make-up workshops and masterclasses across the UK for women undergoing treatment for cancer.

Find cancer support services near you.

Types of wig

There are two main types of wig – synthetic and real hair. Synthetic wigs are created from man-made fibres, last for 6 to 9 months and cost from around £50 to several hundred pounds.

Wigs made from real hair last for up to 3 or 4 years and are more expensive.

Help with the cost of wigs

You can get free synthetic wigs on the NHS if:

• you're under 16, or you are 19 or under and in full-time education
• you're a hospital inpatient
• you are getting Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or the guarantee credit of Pension Credit
• you have an NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• you are named on a valid HC2 certificate

Read more about help with the cost of wigs and the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Cancer Research UK has more information on getting a wig on the NHS.

Cancer and hair loss if you're black or from an ethnic minority

If you're a black or minority ethnic patient with hair loss, you may need to find a wig that suits you from a specialist wig store.

Hair loss in children

A charity called The Little Princess Trust provides free real-hair wigs to children and young adults in the UK up to the age of 24.

For more information visit the The Little Princess Trust website or phone 01432 760060.

Other cancer hair loss options

Alternatives to wigs include hairpieces and fringes that work alongside headwear, such as scarves. Breast Cancer Care has a page on headwear, wig and eyelash suppliers.

Download a Breast Cancer Care leaflet about breast cancer and hair loss.

Find out about other side effects of chemotherapy.