Dread Wig for cancer patient? Best type to use

[Evil_Locks]

I've been emailed to make a wig for a lady who is going to be undergoing chemotherapy and Im just looking for some advice. SO if this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it, sorry!

She already has dreadlocks, so i suggested using her dreads in the wig for a personal touch, but she isnt sure if she is ready to cut them off yet.

So, my question is, what type of wig base should I be looking for? I dont want anything too rough as im not sure how her scalp would cope with it. I was looking at the lace wigs, but I'm terrified that id order a wrong size, because im not their to measure her head properly. And im not suggesting that she cant measure her own head! lol! But i thought an adjustable cap might be better just incase?

I dont want it to be overly expensive for her and i was pricing real hair wigs and they are pretty costly.

She wants it to be realistic, so normal synth dreads are out. Would I be able to make it from a different type of man made fibre wig?

If i was using real hair, id dread it then stick a perm solution through them so they dont do "normal" new dread things, but i doubt i'd be able to do that with anything other than real hair.

Also, I know that most wigs need more hair attached to them, but ive never used a real hair wig before. Are they covered better or do you wreckon i'd still need to add more wefts to it? I dont want it to end up too heavy for her head, as I imagine her skin will be pretty fragile for a while.

I know that was alot of questions and probably pretty confusing, but any advice at all would be much appreciated!

[coma_dream]

Hiya sweets,
This is a bit of a tough one, as its a sensitive subject.
This site has some info...
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hairloss/Pag ... rloss.aspx
I know these sort of wigs are usually made by specialists.
I did wig making at university, and we knotted wigs hair by hair by hand, taking 100s of hours.
And I know some people on my course have gone in wig making for cancer patients.
The base would have to be compfortable and breathable for the scalp, as i expect she would be wearing it most of the day.
Most people want the wigs to look at natural as possible, so not sure how easy this would be with dreads.
One idea might be to buy a human hair wig and dread that? (maybe leave some hair loose?)

I'm sure others on here may have some advice, but hopefully i've helped you a little.
You might also be able to find more by seaching wigs on the nhs site?

Good luck with this,
I would love to see photos of the finished product.
hugs. xx

[Evil_Locks]

The base would have to be compfortable and breathable for the scalp, as i expect she would be wearing it most of the day.
Most people want the wigs to look at natural as possible, so not sure how easy this would be with dreads.
One idea might be to buy a human hair wig and dread that? (maybe leave some hair loose?)

My idea was to dread the hair on the wig, then treat that hair so it doesnt unravel (dread perm it). But i'm just not sure about the base, or if I will have to add more hair to the wig so gaps between the wefts dont show?

Im going to have a look at the website you mentioned and see if that clears anything up for me.

If she decides she wants the wig made, I will def post photo's of the finished product!

Thanks coma_dream!

[coma_dream]

Glad I could help sweets.
This sounds like such a rewarding project.
Hugs. xx

[rivetlicker_]

Oh this is so sad yet so sweet.
I know in the States (I think in the north east), that anybody who has enough hair cut off, the hair gets donated to a charity who make wigs for cancer patients. I'd check to see if there's anything in Scotland like this.
I do agree with the human hair wig though. You can probably attach her real dreads onto the HH that you make on the wig with the latch hook method.
Good luck with this. I wish her the best with her treatment and hope all goes well.


EDIT: I just found out the name of the chairty. It's called "Locks of Love".

[Evil_Locks]

She's decided that she cant afford to have a real hair dread wig as she is on benefits and a single mum.

So a synthetic wig is what she is now looking for. Does anyone know of somewhere that makes kanekalon wigs with a soft wig cap? I've been looking around and everything that says kanekalon seems to be on a mesh base and i think that might be a bit rough on her, or do you think it would be ok?

Normally i'd use cable ties to add extra hair, but I dont think that would be a good idea in this situation. Anyone got any advice?

Thanks you guys, you are being a big help here!

Claire x

[rivetlicker_]

The only thing I can suggest is buying a weaving cap and some human hair or synthetic wefts and sewing your own.
I know Doctored Locks have wigs and could probably suggest something better, maybe we should get her to give her two cents in this thread!
L.

[guest123]

*deleted*

[Evil_Locks]

I'm now hunting for cheap human hair wigs on ebay - dont know why i didn't think of that before! lol!

Edit: Ok, so they are all a bit too expensive for her so I'm contemplating buying this wig http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PW68-Straight-Bla ... m153.l1262

Its from PO. I need it longer so im just going to add more hair to it. Do you think that would work ok?

I was going to make some more wefts for it, but i dont own a sewing maching so I was going to try the tutorial for No Sew Bulk Weft at DoctoredLocks but im not sure how i would attach this to the wig.

Am I over thinking this? Should I just sew on invididual dreads instead of making them on a weft?

Sorry, if i'm sounding stupid about this, but i really want to make sure i get it right for her.

Edit: Oh, also, if i want to make them look more natural (ie, boiling water and washing machine method) would it be ok to dread the wig and stick that in the machine, or will that not work properly?

[VixenSingsBlack]

I was in a medical store and noted that they have specialty chemo-patient caps made from silicone. The silicone keeps the head warm, evidently a major problem for chemo patients. It also keeps scratchy wigs from annoying/inflaming scalp skin, a major plus for wig wearers. The organization Locks for Love individually inserts the hairs into a silicone cap, hence the expense (I've also heard about their bad practices), but also hence the regular use of silicone for sickly patients.

So, if she can get herself a silicone cap to go under the wig, then the wig itself need not be marvelously soft. One medical website suggested to wear the silicone caps even under hats to keep the natural warmness of the head available.

[Evil_Locks]

I was in a medical store and noted that they have specialty chemo-patient caps made from silicone. The silicone keeps the head warm, evidently a major problem for chemo patients. It also keeps scratchy wigs from annoying/inflaming scalp skin, a major plus for wig wearers. The organization Locks for Love individually inserts the hairs into a silicone cap, hence the expense (I've also heard about their bad practices), but also hence the regular use of silicone for sickly patients.

So, if she can get herself a silicone cap to go under the wig, then the wig itself need not be marvelously soft. One medical website suggested to wear the silicone caps even under hats to keep the natural warmness of the head available.

Excellent, thanks very much. I've been trawling through the cancer websites I can find and all the ones I looked at just said to wear a cap underneath it - but didnt specify which kind.

I'll email her and let her know!

I ordered a lace wig, which should arrive today, and I've made a start on the extra dreads to attach to it - just about to stick them in the washing machine!

I've decided to attach the dreads to the wig with weaving thread instead of anything bulkier or glue, so here's hoping everything goes to plan!

[rivetlicker_]

Good luck with it

Please do post pics when it's done. I'd like to see it.

[Evil_Locks]

Good luck with it

Please do post pics when it's done. I'd like to see it.

I will do. Should be finished it in the next day or two.

[rivetlicker_]

Good luck with it

Please do post pics when it's done. I'd like to see it.

I will do. Should be finished it in the next day or two.

Ooh even better!
So are you attaching the real dreads to it or synths?

[ScarletLady]

good luck with this...

this thread has just answered loads of questions for me. I was thinking if surprising my mum with a dread wig as she's currently undergoing chemo. I had laods of questions but this thread seems to have answered them all

THANKS

and good luck evil_locks

[Evil_Locks]

I finished it and posted pics here

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4143

And, Rivet Licker, no, i didn't attach any of her real dreads to it. She hasn't found the right moment to cut her dreads off yet, she's not reached that point at the moment.

[rivetlicker_]

*Sigh* Oh well
The wig looks great though!