Buying Tips
Make an appointment – it can take 45 minutes to an hour to discuss options, choose the right wig, and get fitted
Ask if the salon provides clients with nylon caps to wear when trying on wigs, which is important for hygienic reasons
Take a friend or family member for support and second opinions
Bring a photo of yourself with your favourite hairstyle and colour for reference
Keep hair short to ensure the best wig fit. Experts suggest that your own hair should only be ¼ inch or shorter
Try a variety of styles and colours – having choices is really empowering
Take your time making decisions
Let’s navigate this together
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Wig Care: What do you need?
A wire stand that allows air to circulate through the wig
If your wig is synthetic, special cleansers and leave-in conditioners (available at all wig salons), and a wide-tooth comb
If your wig is human hair, salon-quality shampoo and conditioner for chemically treated hair
About an hour for your first wig-cleaning experience
It will eventually take less time as you practice and gain experience caring for your wig
Cleaning Your Wig
Synthetic-Hair Wig:
- With a wide-tooth comb, gently but thoroughly brush or comb your wig before washing.
- Fill sink with cold water and thoroughly mix in 1 to 2 tbsp. (15–30 ml) of appropriate shampoo.
- Turn wig inside out, swish through water, and submerge a few times.
- Drain sink and refill with fresh cold water, then immerse wig a few times to rinse.
- Gently shake water from wig over the sink – do not squeeze or twist.
- Place on wire stand to dry – about eight to 12 hours.
- Never comb or brush a wig when it’s wet; wait until it’s completely dry.
Human-Hair Wig:
- Run wig under warm water.
- Place a small amount of shampoo on fingers and gently work into the hair, stroking downward from the weft (base) to the ends.
- Rinse thoroughly under warm running water until water runs clear.
- Place a small amount of conditioner in your hand; gently work into hair and let sit for three to five minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly in warm water.
- Gently comb wet hair with a wide-tooth comb from weft to ends.
- Place on wire stand to dry.
Let’s navigate this together
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Styling Tips
Taking the extra time and effort to style your wig will make you feel more confident.
Use your fingers to create a slightly tousled style which looks more natural
Avoid brushing your wig flat
Try a wig cap and a grip to help protect your natural hair and keep the wig in place
Be creative when styling your hair
If you have a long-hair wig, try a head band or put the hair in a ponytail
Synthetic wig fibers units can melt under too-hot temps, so use heatless styling options like pins, combs, or braids
Human-hair wigs can withstand heat styling, though applying a heat-protectant spray beforehand is a good rule
Putting on your Wig
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Determine the front and back of the wig; there should be a label at the back
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Once your hair has fallen out, you need to know where your hairline was and where the wig should sit
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Use the four-finger rule: place your pinky at your brow bone and your index finger will indicate where the wig should sit
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Put your wig on your head and find the side tabs on either side and align the tabs with your temples
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Expose your ears
Fitting your Wig
These are a few tips to help your wig fit and feel its best.
Have your wig fitted by a wig consultant once your hair has fallen out
If you bought a wig before hair loss, an adjustment may be needed later
Use the adjustment tabs to secure the wig for a snug fit
Grip bands or wig liners can provide added security and comfort
Some wig consultants have the expertise to make alterations for a better fit
You’re not alone in this.
Get styling advice and support in our Wigs & Scarves Workshop.
Let’s navigate this together
Join a community that understands. Receive expert advice, useful resources, and compassionate tips throughout your cancer journey in the LGFB newsletter
Newsletter Form
Skincare, Makeup, & Hair Workshop
Discover practical ways to manage the physical side effects of cancer treatment on your skin, hair, and face, including skincare, makeup, hair loss, wigs and other head coverings. Connect with a community who gets it.
About this workshop
What you will learn:
Counteract side effects such as discolouration and dry skin
Practice simple makeup steps to add colour back to your face
Makeup hygiene and sun safety
Find tips and techniques for managing the loss of brows and lashes
Caring for your scalp during and after treatment
What to consider if selecting a wig
All types of head coverings including wigs
Pros and cons between synthetic and human hair wigs
The information and dialogues are designed to help you:
Manage the physical side effects of cancer treatment with clear, practical guidance
Connect with others who may understand what you are going through
Understand what to expect during treatment
Prepare for treatment to help minimize potential side effects
Feel more like yourself again
This workshop is available IN-PERSON.
IN-PERSON
- The IN-PERSON workshop is 2 hours long.
- Called Skincare, Makeup & Hair, it combines both our Skincare & Makeup and our Wigs & Hair Alternatives workshops.
- In-person workshops are only available in select locations around Canada.
Who should attend this workshop?
This workshop is available to anyone who is about to start cancer treatment, is currently in treatment, or has completed treatment in the last 12 months and would like information about or support around this topic.
The Confidence Kit
Participants in the Skincare & Cosmetics workshop receive a free kit of skincare and makeup products.
These products are generously donated to Look Good Feel Better and meet the regulations set forth by Health Canada.
These products are for educational purposes, so you may practice the techniques explained in the workshop.
- You will receive the kit in the workshop.
What Our Participants Have to Say
“This workshop was so useful because it wasn’t just information. It ‘normalized’ the techniques to cope with cancer & treatment related challenges to appearance. Yes, wear makeup and take care of your skin not just in spite of cancer and treatments but here is how to do it well and safely!”
- Joan L., Workshop Participant
“The volunteers were excellent and so caring. It’s the first time I’ve laughed in awhile.”
- Joan M., Workshop Participant
Participating in our workshops
97%
of Workshop Participants
would recommend our workshops to another person facing cancer.
32%
of Our Participants
feel somewhat confident BEFORE our workshops.
89.1%
of Our Participants
reported feeling somewhat confident or confident about their appearance AFTER our workshops.
Let’s navigate this together
Join a community that understands. Receive expert advice, useful resources, and compassionate tips throughout your cancer journey in the LGFB newsletter
Newsletter Form
Wigs & Scarves Workshop
Learn about hair loss and caring for your scalp during treatment, all about wigs, and other hair alternatives, including scarf-tying techniques.
About this Workshop
What you will learn:
Caring for your scalp during and after cancer treatment
What to expect with hair regrowth
Discover all types of head coverings, including wigs
What to consider if selecting a wig
Pros and cons between synthetic and human hair
Easy scarf-tying techniques and more
The information and dialogues are designed to help you:
Manage the physical side effects of cancer treatment with simple, practical guidance
Connect with others who may understand what you are going through
Know what to expect during treatment
Prepare for treatment to help minimize potential side effects
Feel more like yourself
This workshop is available ONLINE and IN-PERSON
Online
- The ONLINE workshop is ONE HOUR long and is delivered via Zoom.
- Relax and join us from the comfort of your home.
IN-PERSON
- The IN-PERSON workshop is 2 HOURS long and is called Skincare, Makeup & Hair.
- It combines our Wigs & Scarves and our Skincare & Makeup Workshops into a single 2-hour session.
- The in-person workshop is only available in select locations around Canada.
Who should attend this workshop?
This workshop is available to anyone who is about to start cancer treatment, is currently in treatment or has completed treatment in the last 12 months and would like information about or support around this topic.
What are participants have to say
“The volunteers were excellent and so caring. It’s the first time I’ve laughed in awhile.”
- Workshop Participant
“This workshop exceeded my expectations. It helps to talk to an expert who is positive, fashionable and gives all the tips. One example – I had no idea how a chemo/sleep cap is such an important base layer!”
- Workshop Participant
Let’s navigate this together
Join a community that understands. Receive expert advice, useful resources, and compassionate tips throughout your cancer journey in the LGFB newsletter
Newsletter Form
When I think back to having cancer and going through treatment, a lot of it is a blur. It was almost like a four-month-long out-of-body experience. I was 15 and in grade 10 when I was diagnosed. I was in the culinary arts program at my school in Toronto, which I had wanted to do forever. And so much was already going on in my life. It was a tough year. My dog had recently died, which was really hard for my family, and my grandmother had also had a cancer scare. And, things were hard at school. I’d met someone who turned out to not be a very nice friend, so I stopped hanging out with him and then I found out a few months later that he’d been writing mean stuff about me online. And then he started threatening me and following me around school. He was friends with a lot of my friends and it was hard to get away from him. And I had also just parted ways with my entire friend group, because they were just not nice friends. One of them even told me she had hated me from the moment she met me. That was hard. I’d dealt with a lot that year, and so getting cancer just kind of felt like an extra bonus. It was the cherry on top of some terrible sundae.
Suddenly I was spending pretty much every single day, hours and hours of the day, in doctors’ offices trying to figure everything out. I started failing most of my classes at school because cancer was suddenly taking up most of my time.
I got through it, though. My school supported me with my class work when they heard what was going on. I was able to make some great new friends who were kind and supportive. And I got through my treatment.
Chemo was hard but it wasn’t as bad as movies would make it seem. In some ways it’s true that chemo can be very intense, but it wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be. My surgery went really well. Heading into it, my parents were super nervous, but I was just like, “OK cool, I’ll see you guys later!”
My hair did fall out, which was not fun. I had really long curly hair, and I was sad to lose it. And I had a lot of skin problems – sore skin, chemo blisters that turned dark purple on my feet, a lot of sensitivity in my hands, and red marks on my shoulders. Doing a Look Good Feel Better workshop helped me feel a lot better. I loved not just playing with makeup – I love getting to express myself in that way – but also getting to meet other people who had cancer. They told me about their experiences, which was really helpful for me. It made me feel less alone.
That’s all behind me now, and I get to focus on being a teenager and doing what I love. I still enjoy being creative in the kitchen. Baking is my favourite. I’m really good at making chocolate cake – I think I’ve perfected it. I also like to crochet, embroider, sew, and do crafts. I’m glad that this is my life again, and that cancer is in my past.