Head Coverings During Cancer Treatment
Being told your hair will fall out is often one of the hardest parts. This page is meant to make one practical piece of it easier: what you can wear on your head, when to sort it out, and what actually feels good against skin that has become sensitive.
When does hair usually fall out?
Not all treatments affect hair, and those that do affect it differently. With chemotherapy, hair often starts coming out around two to three weeks after the first treatment, but this varies from person to person. Your care team can tell you what applies to your particular treatment, and it's a good question to ask early.
Sort out a head covering before you need it
People who have been through it tend to say the same thing: get something before your hair starts falling out. That way you're not searching for it when you're tired, and you have time to get used to how it looks and feels while you still have your own hair.
What feels good on sensitive skin
- Flat or hidden seams. An ordinary seam resting against a bare head can chafe after a few hours.
- Soft fabrics that breathe. Cotton and viscose for everyday, silk or satin when your skin is especially tender.
- Coverage down into the neck. The neck and the area behind the ears are easy to forget, and they're exactly what shows when you turn around.
- No stiff elastic. Elastic that digs in leaves marks and becomes uncomfortable over a full day.
Will a turban stay on without hair underneath?
Yes. A turban is shaped to hold itself in place rather than relying on hair beneath it, and several styles adjust at the neck. You don't need pins, tape or clips.
At night
Your head gets cold easily without hair, and a cotton pillowcase can feel rough against bare skin. A soft sleep cap in silk or satin keeps you warm and glides against the pillow instead of catching.
Turban, scarf or wig?
It doesn't have to be one or the other. Many people wear a wig at work and for occasions where they want hair, and a turban at home, at appointments and when it's warm. A turban takes seconds to put on and weighs almost nothing, which matters on the days when your energy is short. A scarf with long ties lets you vary the look yourself.
See our wigs for hair loss and cancer treatment, or wigs with a fringe that sit right without styling.
Prescriptions in Sweden
Fair With Hair has been an approved supplier in all 21 Swedish regions for many years. If you have been given a prescription for a wig or head covering, get in touch and we'll help you work out what it covers where you live. You don't need to know the rules yourself.
Try things on, unhurried
You're welcome to visit us in Stockholm at Norrtullsgatan 26A or in Uppsala at Skolgatan 49. We see people by appointment, so you get privacy and as much time as you need. Bring someone with you if you'd like.
Frequently asked questions
How many do I need?
At least two is practical, so one can be in the wash. Many people pick a neutral one for everyday and a patterned or dressier one for everything else.
Can I wear a fringe under the turban?
Yes, it's common and gives the impression of your own hair around the face. Get in touch and we'll show you what works with the style you've chosen.
How do I wash it?
Cotton and viscose can go in the machine at 30°C. Silk and decorated styles should be hand washed in lukewarm water and dried flat.
Can I buy online and exchange later?
Yes. You order in the webshop and are just as welcome to come into the salon if something needs changing.