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One of the most common worries that people have about wearing a wig is how to keep it in place. There are various ways of making sure that your wig is secure.
Although a well-fitting wig should stay in place on its own, you may feel happier using an extra type of attachment, such as double-sided tape. Wig specialists have hypoallergenic tape which doesn’t irritate the skin. The tape is attached to the underside of the wig and gives a secure but comfortable bond. Surgical spirit can be used to remove any leftover adhesive. If your skin is very sensitive due to your cancer treatment, you can ask your doctor or specialist nurse which tape you can use and whether it’s ok to use surgical spirit.
The wig specialist can also tell you about other ways to help keep your wig in place, so that you can decide which method you prefer.
If you have a hairpiece, such as a toupee, it may be possible to keep this in place by using special clips that match the colour of your hair and the hairpiece. You need to have some of your own hair remaining as the clips are used to attach the toupee to your remaining hair.
A simple way to check your wig or hairpiece is securely in place is to bend over and shake your head.
If you’re going outside on a windy day, you may want to wear a hat or scarf as well. If you’re shopping and know that you will be trying on clothes or if you’re going to see the doctor, it’s a good idea to wear something that is easy to slip off, such as a cardigan or shirt, rather than something that goes over your head and may pull your wig off.
When you wear your wig in public for the first time you may want to wear it when you’re with people you know well. This can help you feel more confident and gives you the chance to gradually prepare yourself for wearing the wig with people you don’t know.
The lining of the wig can irritate the scalp, so it may be helpful to wear a thin cotton wig liner underneath. These are usually available from wig suppliers. However, they can make a wig slip so you may need to experiment to find out what works best for you. Remember that your scalp may be more sweaty when you wear a wig so you’ll need to wash it regularly.
Take care not to expose your wig to a flame, for example from a candle or gas cooker, as real hair will frizz and synthetic hair can melt. Even the heat released when opening an oven door can make the hair frizzy. Don’t use the highest heat setting on your hair dryer as this can also melt the hair.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.