When you’re navigating through something as big as a cancer diagnosis, hearing that you should expect hair loss as a side effect of treatment can be overwhelming. You may worry that having concerns about your appearance makes you vain, but this is far from the truth. Our hair reflects our personal style, culture and wellbeing. When we lose this piece of ourselves, even if it’s only for a “season,” it is a very real loss.
One way to cope with cancer treatment-related hair loss is to consider selecting a wig or head covering. At Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, compassionate staff and volunteers at the Elevate Salon can help you through this process. We encourage you to request an appointment at a convenient time when perhaps a friend or family member can come with you. Together, we can find styles that suit you and make you smile.
When to start looking for your wig
As soon as you learn from your doctor that you will experience hair loss because of your treatment, you can schedule an appointment with the Elevate Salon. At the salon, we have samples of all the styles we carry, allowing you to try them on to find your perfect fit. Wigs are custom ordered and take about two weeks to arrive. Another benefit of coming in before you’ve started to lose your hair is that our team can match your current hair style, texture and color – although you may choose to use this time as an opportunity to experiment with different looks, lengths and colors.
Synthetic vs. human hair
All the styles offered through our complimentary Wig & Head Covering Program* are made from high-quality synthetic fibers. Rest assured, you won’t have to compromise on quality when choosing a wig from us. Our synthetic wigs are incredibly realistic, lightweight, adjustable and designed for maximum comfort. In the Elevate Salon, we offer wigs for men, women and children. All of these styles can be customized by our New York State-licensed hair stylists who can thin, trim and add bangs, for example.
Cap style
When wigs are made, there are a variety of ways they are constructed. When selecting your wig, you may want to consider if you’d like it to have a traditional, lace front, monofilament part or monofilament top.
- Traditional cap construction features a fine net material in the top area with an open cap in the back area. Weftings attached to stretchy elastic lace create an open back, providing better ventilation to keep the head cool.
- Lace front means the wig has a hairline made of a fine lace mesh in which each hair is individually hand knotted. The benefit of a lace front wig is an amazingly realistic hairline that appears as if the hair is growing directly out of the scalp and allows the fiber in front to be styled off the face in any direction.
- Monofilament (mono) uses an extremely sheer mesh to make a transparent base that creates a realistic looking scalp area. A monofilament part contains a wide mono part area.
- Monofilament top (mono top) is produced with an extremely sheer mesh used to make a transparent base that creates a realistic looking scalp area and is then hand knotted with individual fibers to simulate the appearance of natural hair growth.
Cap size
Wigs come in a variety of sizes from ultra-petite, for kids, to large for both men and women. Most wigs we carry are an average size, which fits most patients who visit the Elevate Salon. We do also carry petite and petite average sized wigs.
Hair types
In the Elevate Salon we strive to help you find a wig that looks like the hair you’ve lost. We carry styles in Types 1-4 (see graphic). We also carry head coverings with braids, locs and twists.
Color
We carry a variety of hair colors in blondes, brunettes, reds, blacks and greys. We also carry rooted colors that are darker at the root resulting in a naturally highlighted color with dark roots that appear to grow directly out of the scalp. Last but not least, we have bright & bold colors, including hot pink, electric blue, deep purple and cherry red.
Elevate Salon at Roswell Park
“At Elevate Salon, we provide a respite for patients where they can feel comfortable and understood in an uplifting environment.” Visit us on the first floor of the Clinical Sciences Center, next to the Breast Oncology Center.
How to care for your wig
Synthetic hair wigs offer an option that requires minimal upkeep. You should brush your wig to remove all tangles after each wear. You only need to wash your wig every 15 days, where a day equals a full 8 hours of wear. When washing, use a mild shampoo and conditioner in cool water, pat dry and hang to dry overnight. To keep your wig looking great, be sure to follow these precautions:
- Do not brush your wig while it is wet.
- Do not use heat to style — no curling irons or hairdryers.
- Do not wear your wig while cooking or near an open oven or gas stove, hot dishwasher, as the fabric could frizz or melt.
The Elevate Salon is a specialty salon for cancer patients experiencing hair loss due to treatment. From the moment you step into our spa-like salon, you will feel the warmth and knowledge of our compassionate staff and volunteers. We invite you to take time to relax as we guide you through navigating hair loss during treatment. We’re here for you every step of the way – we’ve got you covered!
We are located on the first floor of the Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center, near the Breast Center. You can reach us by phone at 716-845-8659 (option 2).
*Thanks to generous donations to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, we are pleased to offer patients experiencing hair loss due to their treatment one complimentary wig and one complimentary head covering.
