Watching your friend go through cancer or any similar major health issue can be difficult. You want to help, to be there and be the support they need, but it’s easy to misstep and make them feel uncomfortable or forced into doing something that you believe will cheer them up. We see this regularly at Starkles in the form of well-meaning, loving friends and family who want to help their friend feel better about their hair loss so we’ve compiled some ways to know your friend is ready so that their experience at a wig salon is enjoyable and not traumatic.

When you suggest it
Sometimes it’s not something that a person has thought of and it takes a friend to bring it up. However, while it’s fine to suggest the idea of seeking out a wig or head covering, it’s essential that you step back if they say no. It might be that they’re still processing what they’re going through and aren’t ready to accept it or they may never be ready. Give them some time and bring up the idea again at a later date, perhaps when they’re feeling better about the entire situation.

When they tell you they’re ready
Everyone reacts to hair loss differently. Some people embrace their new look and walk proudly down the street without any hair while others find the process traumatic and shy away from friends and family during this time. While you may think you’d react differently, this time isn’t about what you’d do, so put yourself in their shoes and let them take the lead with their appearance during this time. They may wake up randomly one day and just know they want a wig. All you need to do is be there when that happens.

When they’re past the initial shock
Looking in the mirror and seeing something you’re not used to can leave a patient feeling overwhelmed, especially when they’re trying to deal with everything else going on with their health. It cements what they’re going through, rather than being specifically about their vanity. Try helping them feel beautiful in other ways before you approach the topic of wigs, perhaps starting with a manicure or something that isn’t related to their face and hair. It can take baby steps for someone to feel confident in their appearance again, so help the get there by starting small.

When they don’t feel the pressure
The last thing anyone wants to hear while they lose their hair is that “things could be worse” or that “their hair will grow back”, as it can make someone feel pressure to stop feeling sad, making them more upset. Undermining someone’s trauma may find your well meaning efforts ditched for the kind of support they need from others. It’s ok to be upset, so let your friend know that you’re there to lend an ear while they cry over their hair loss, as silly as they might think they seem. It can relieve some of the pressure and help them come around to the idea of a wig.

Listen for cues from your friend and remember that any time that they say is the time is the right time for them. When they’re ready, offer to drive and make a day of it. Wig shopping should be an enjoyable experience, but it won’t be until they’re ready for it.

A lot of women and men are hesitant about wearing a wig, they are worried it might fall off or that it will be difficult to look after, but more than that, they’re concerned about it looking like a wig and not natural hair. A wig that looks like a wig kind of defeats the purpose of wearing one in the first place for most wearers, unless of course you’ve chosen a neon pink beehive, at which point you may be out of luck. But with a little smart, forward thinking, you can ensure your wig looks healthy, natural and full bodied in the way your dream hair should be. If you want your wig to feel and act like real hair, follow our tips below:

Position it carefully
Where you position your wig is crucial to making it look more natural. Start by placing the front of the wig low on your forehead, close to your eyebrows, then pull it back over your head, adjusting it as you go until the base sits at the nape of your neck. The two tabs with flexi-craft wire should sit on your temples and mould in towards the face, which will happen if you have your wig on straight. Finally, slide the hairline of the wig back to your natural hairline. If it’s sitting too low or too far back on your forehead, it will not only look awkward, it’s also more likely to shift out of place during the day, which is not what we want! You also need to adjust the wig’s cap to be firm but not too tight, as this can cause headaches or force the wig to ride up, revealing your secret. All Starkles wigs have adjustable straps to provide a tailored fit.

Check your brushing technique
Combing or brushing your wig flat will quickly make it look fake. You want your wig to look natural and real hair never looks like it does on TV, it has texture and movement. Hold your wig in your hand and shake it upside down, then put it on and use a wire brush (as this prevents any static electricity and prolongs the life of synthetic fibre) to style it. Remembering to brush gently, as a wig cannot take the same pressure that natural hair can.

Don’t be afraid of your fingers
Running your fingers through your wig can help create body and movement which will mimic that of natural hair. Giving it a little rustle with your fingers, in the way women often do when trying to fan out their fringe to give it an instant lift when you’re out and about. Often you can style a synthetic wig with your fingers alone.

Give it a little TLC
Keeping your wig in its best condition doesn’t take much effort, and if cared for correctly will look brand new for a long time. Ensure you always brush synthetic wigs with a wig-friendly wire brush and wash it every 20-25 wears with products specially formulated for synthetic hair. We also recommend spraying your wig with the Starkles sheen spray every six wears to maintain shine and healthy looking fibres. Synthetic wigs must be hand washed in cold water, as hot water can damage them.

Store it correctly
Proper storage is essential to keep your wig looking beautiful. Sleeping with your wig on is not something we recommend at Starkles, as this will damage the fibre. When you first put a wig on you may find a small pocket of air at the base of the crown. This will settle down with the heat from your scalp after about 10 minutes. Store your wig on a collapsible wig stand to help it maintain your head shape, stop that pesky pocket of air coming back and allow it to aerate. Be sure to keep your synthetic wig away from heaters and lamps and ovens as heat will singe the fibres. We recommend keeping it somewhere cool and dry, like your closet or dressing table for longer term storage.

Sitting in the Drs Surgery and being told your chemotherapy/radiation treatment will cause hair loss can be emotionally overwhelming, but it’s the time after you leave, that can often be the most confusing. For some, the days roll by and the hair doesn’t look like it’s going to fall out. This can leave many women with a glimmer of hope, did the Dr get it wrong? Am I one of the exceptions? Whether it falls out quickly or takes some time, we are often asked the same questions: Is it best to choose a wig and headwear before or after I lose my hair? Will a wig fit as well if I chose one while I still have my hair?

Searching for hair loss solutions while you still have your hair can feel rather confronting but in our experience we have found being equipped is far more favourable than waking up one morning with just a bald head and nothing to put on it. A ‘back up plan’ can help to put your mind at ease, knowing when that day comes you are prepared.

The majority of us are unaware that 80% of women wear wigs for fashion not medical purposes. This means, they can be worn when you have hair and when you don’t. Naturally, they will fit slightly different when you lose your hair, as the volume under your wig will be lost, but all wigs come with adjustable caps making it easy to achieve a comfortable fit throughout your transition.

Chemotherapy and radiation may cause scalp sensitivity and wearing a wig can feel a little scratchy on a bald head. This is where a medical cap is a true lifesaver. Designed especially for hair loss from cancer, this small cap is worn under a wig for added comfort. Suitable only for those with complete hair loss these caps can also be wet down with water, wrung out and placed under a wig to help keep you cool. On really hot days you can even place them in the freezer for twenty minutes prior to wearing them.

Throughout your hair loss journey one thing is for sure, the Starkles professionals are here to help make the transition as smooth as possible by giving you the tools you need to take back the confidence cancer has taken away.

When first diagnosed with the dreaded ‘’C’’ word, it can be incredibly overwhelming both physically and emotionally. Chemotherapy, radiation, hair loss, eyebrow loss, this treatment, that treatment, the list is endless, with so many things to think about. Many women say they can handle losing a breast but not their hair and when it comes to finding the ideal head covering it seems the choices are limited as not everyone wants to wear a wig. For this reason we have made it our mission to not only source but design & develop some of the most stylish & innovative turbans, hats & headwear designed especially for hair loss with full head coverage and comfort our main priority.         

As women, our hair forms a huge part of our identity and when it’s gone, we can be left feeling less of a women. Take back the confidence cancer has taken away with beautiful headwear by Starkles. Much of our range is Australian made on the Gold Coast & Brisbane and fashioned from the finest materials such as bamboo. This hyper allogenic fibre is as soft as silk and will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. We at Starkles believe it’s equally as important to offer affordable headwear and for this reason all of our turbans and head coverings are under $49.95 with the majority only $39.95 enabling you to look good and feel better.

Not into fancy, fiddly, time consuming scarf tying techniques? No problem, as many of the turbans come as two piece sets with the turban and an accent band that’s already pre tied and simply gets placed over the turban to give a more stylish look. Many of these are headbands and some attach with velcro. If you are feeling really adventurous you can always tie a scarf over your turban or add a big broach to create numerous different looks. The possibilities are endless and whether you’re creative or not you will be able to find the perfect head covering at compliment any wardrobe.

 

Hi, I’m Abby Andrew Shaffer, and I have alopecia. I host a YouTube channel that focuses on topics related to my hair loss and wearing wigs.
I began to lose my hair when I was two. For the first few years, I hardly thought about it.  But, as I got older, I became increasingly self-conscious about my condition. I was fortunate that there were such great, stylish wigs available, so that only my closest friends were aware that I had alopecia.  But, it was still a struggle.  As a teenager, I worried about people figuring out I wore wigs and how I would be perceived.
In our culture, hair is such an important part of our identity, especially in our perceptions of femininity.  What did it mean to be bald as a woman?  As I approached the time I would go away to college, I fretted constantly over how I would handle this in a new environment where I lived with strangers and met new people on a daily basis.
Of course, once there, I made new friends and it all worked out.  But, I began to notice the stifling effect that hiding my condition had on my confidence.  So, I made the decision to go public.  I started by posting about my alopecia on Facebook—there was no going back after that.   And then I created my YouTube channel to talk about my experiences, both negative and, surprisingly, positive.  After all, I get to choose on a daily basis whether I’m blonde or brunette, have a short pixie cut or long curls.
You can find my YouTube channel “Abby Andrew” at http://youtube.com/abbyshafferScan

Starkles have been helping women worldwide fighting the courageous battle with cancer for over 15 years.

Every week, Starkles facilitates the wig, turban, scarf & headwear section at workshops throughout Brisbane, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast & northern NSW in conjunction with Look Good Feel Better. ‘’We are honoured to serve as volunteers for the Look Good, Feel Better program. Volunteers in this program offer cancer patients free, personalized help in meeting their unique appearance needs. We find these workshops to be wonderful morale boosters and would recommend them to anyone facing cancer.”

Starkles Managing Director, Julie Butler says, “It feels so good to support women during these difficult times. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident. Women can visit our store at The Myer Centre or on the Gold Coast to discover how to live life vibrantly during and beyond their cancer journey. Our professional wig & headwear consultants are on hand with a large range of hair loss solutions.”

Starkles have a private fitting room and wig/headwear consultations are complimentary with no appointments necessary. Furthermore, the team even offer courtesy home and hospital visits for an extra touch of privacy and one-on-one service.

“It’s so satisfying to see the smile on our customers’ faces after they visit us and we are looking forward to helping many more brave women.’’

Women facing hair loss as a result of cancer or alopecia receive up to 3 hours complimentary parking in The Myer Centre car park or a free sheen and brush kit with the purchase of any medical wig.