Cancer, hair loss and how to deal with it.
	Read this article if: You’re affected by cancer You someone who is Hair loss is a problem “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  Winston Churchill   Feminine Zone reader Ann Overton kindly agreed to tell us about her recent visit to award-winning hairdresser Anita Cox, who told her about the special work she is doing with women who have experienced hair loss after chemotherapy.  A fascinating and inspiring article.   I recently met a remarkable woman.  She is award-winning hairdresser Anita Cox and I met her in her wonderful new trendy salon in Clapham Common.  Whilst she transformed my untidy mane into a much more stylish affair, she told me of ‘special days’ that she organises for those affected by cancer.   We all know that hair is a very important part of our identity regardless of our degree of vanity and it is also true than a large proportion of women in a crisis go for a radical image change, especially hair.   So how cruel it is that cancer can have such a profound effect on hair.   Hair loss can be one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy. It is important that patients know in advance that there is a real potential of hair loss. Hair loss usually happens gradually and begins within two to three weeks of starting treatment, though it may be much more sudden. Some patients lose all their body hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. But, their hair will grow back between 4 – 6 months after treatment.  However, the texture and colour may not be the same as before.   Anita told me that she had many clients very distressed about the problems associated with hair loss due to cancer treatments and in response she decided to get involved in a special Breast Cancer Masterclass.    The Anita Cox salon teamed up with Maggie’s cancer charity and celebrity columnist Caroline Monk, who used to be engaged to chat show host Matthew Wright and who has famously herself recovered from breast cancer.       In speaking with Caroline one of the big things I discovered was that hair loss was possibly the most traumatic thing about cancer treatment.  Once you have got over the shock of having the disease and the process involved in recovering from it the biggest thing you have to face is losing your hair (not only on your head but also sometimes your eyebrows aswell) meaning you feel very awkward, not very attractive and very depressed.  Anita has had a lot of experience working with women who are facing cancer treatment or recovering from treatment and has been asked several times to cut off a client’s hair as they start chemo (a really distressing occasion) but also to style wigs and new hair as it grows back.   Interestingly when your hair grows back it can often be the complete opposite to the hair you had before treatment, If you had straight fine hair before it can come back thick and curly and Anita can show women how to style their new hair.       We closed the salon to the public for a day and invited 20 women from Maggie’s in varying stages of treatment and recovery to bring their wigs or themselves for a day of makeover.  We also had 2 Champneys therapists on hand offering make up makeovers and tips.  It was a fantastic success with so many of the women saying they hadn’t laughed and chatted and relaxed like this in a long time and all begged us to do it again.  These special days were very moving and were a very positive action for these clients.  Whilst it might be hard to understand the importance of such sessions from the outside, to those experiencing these issues, to have a chance to do something positive with others in the same boat, is both empowering and comforting.   She pointed out that it is often easier for her clients to talk to someone like her who is, to all intents and purposes, a stranger.  It can be difficult to convey their distress and concerns to those close to them.  She says she feels it is important to be positive.  They can have makeovers at these sessions including make up, manicures and pedicures all of which help to provide them with much need pampering and also a chance to feel like a woman and bolster their self-esteem.   According to the National Cancer Institute, many cancer patients who experience chemotherapy hair loss choose to use wigs, hair pieces, scarves, hats, and turbans. Some cancer patients who experience chemotherapy hair loss leave their heads uncovered. While other patients experiencing chemotherapy hair loss use something to cover their head in public and leave it uncovered at home. The important thing is to be as comfortable as possible when dealing with chemotherapy hair loss.   If you plan to use a wig for chemotherapy hair loss, the National Cancer Institute recommends purchasing a wig before you lose a lot of hair. That way you can find a wig that most closely matches your hair. Also, the wig will be ready to wear if you experience sudden chemotherapy hair loss.   Apart from the practical advice that Anita and her staff offer her clients on these days, she is very aware that her clients’ visits to the salon mean much more.  To that end she has created a very relaxing and airy salon and has a very strong team. Anita pointed out that it is important to have a happy team in her salons and to have staff  who are personable and interested in their clients, as she is well aware that their role is far more than just that of hair technicians.  As we all know, visits to the hairdresser can be a very therapeutic exercise with the right hairdresser.     Anita is planning more ‘Special Days’ and we at Feminine Zone will keep you posted.   Twice British Colourist and stylist to the stars, now has a salon Clapham, London. The new salon, located in a prime spot on Battersea Rise, has been developed to encourage relaxation and refreshment with it's smooth cream tones and boutique feel.  However, if you need to keep in touch when being pampered by one of Anita’s talented team each styling station is equipped with a personal TV monitor.  There is also a beauty treatment room offering everything from waxing to massage.   Anita Cox is a lady with a reputation... Twice crowned British Colourist of the Year, Anita was also the first person ever to hold this title.  Anita is one of just a handful of young, female superstylists in the UK and numbers celebrities like Anna Friel and Kerry Katona amongst her clientele. A regular on TV (including programmes like GMTV, LK Today and The Salon) Anita is frequently sought out for her expert advice on colouring and styling.     Anita also has a salon in Chelsea as well as a new salon soon to open in Loughton, Essex.   Anita Cox Salons :- 55 Old Church Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5BS – Tel: +44 (0) 20 7751 4527 40 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1EE, Tel: (0) 20 7223 8888   www.anitacox.co.uk/   Cancer Research UK  Hair loss, hair Thinning due to Chemotherapy   Tell us about your experiences in our Forum