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When writing my book, Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide for Women with Cancer, I was struck by one thing I heard from almost every oncologist I interviewed – that the most common question patients asked after learning they would need chemotherapy was, “Will I lose my hair?”
There is no question that hair defines who we are. It not only helps showcase our looks but it helps chronicle the milestones of our lives. Just take a look at your prom picture and you’ll know exactly what I mean. It’s also a built-in security blanket. A certain cut or color can project to the world what we want it to see us as. It’s transformative.
I remember the first time I cried after my diagnosis was when I learned that I would lose my hair. I sobbed uncontrollably. It wasn’t that I was so concerned about my looks. It was that losing my hair made me grasp the magnitude of my diagnosis.
Facing hair loss during treatment is sad and scary. But it’s important to remember one thing: hair loss is temporary. I don’t say that to sound trite but it’s imperative to find the silver linings when battling cancer. One way to do that is to find a wig that makes you feel fabulous again.
But here’s the thing: there is a lot of information out there about wigs and a lot of different wigs to choose from. I’m going share the most important things to consider when shopping for your wig.
- Try to go shopping for your wig while you still have hair, if possible. This will allow the stylist to see your natural hair and help you find a wig that mimics it the closest.
- Bring only one or two close friends or family with you. And make sure they are the ones who will tell you the truth. If you bring an entourage of friends, you stand the chance of leaving with a blonde stripper wig.
- Know your budget before you go shopping. Insurance will throw a few bucks in – so know what that number is ahead of time as it will help steer your wig choice. My insurance gave me a budget of $200. Some insurance companies offer coverage or an allotment for something called “durable goods,” that includes items like oxygen, hospital beds and, in some cases, even wigs. Check your insurance plan to see if yours does too! A friend of mine was able to get reimbursed for a $5000 real hair wig. It took a year to get that reimbursement – but she got it!
- Determine how you plan on using your wig and how often you plan on wearing it. If, for example, you are an on-air TV host, you’ll probably need a wig made with real hair. But if you plan on being home most of your recovery or wearing turbans and headscarves often, a synthetic wig will work just fine. Knowing how you plan to use it will help determine exactly what type of wig you need.
- Know the Pros and Cons of Real Hair vs. Synthetic wigs. Here is a quick break-down:
REAL HAIR WIGS
Pros:
- It can be styled
- The part can be switched
- It can be cut and colored
Cons:
- It requires major upkeep
- It can be difficult to style
- It gets hot and heavy
- It is expensive
SYNTHETIC HAIR WIGS
Pros:
- It is easy to maintain
- No more bad hair days
- It is affordable
Cons:
- It can’t be styled
- It doesn’t last
- Longer length styles can tangle (opt for shoulder length)
- Opt for easy. While real-hair wigs are stunning and generally higher quality there is something to be said for starting with a synthetic wig. Real wigs are a lot of work and when you are sick and have depleted energy – it’s the last thing you are going to want to content with. Plus, there are some really gorgeous synthetic wigs that are also really affordable, so you’ll be able to get a few and have some fun. If you want to keep your life simple, synthetic is the way to go.
Good luck wig shopping!
XO
Caitlin
…Hello again! If you got all the way down here, then I’m assuming you liked what you read. Good news! There’s more where that came from – including snippets of Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide for Women with Cancer and news relevant to us Cancer Cuties. Go visit and (like!) the Pretty Sick Book FB page!
Pretty Sick is out September 19th, but you can order your copy now! Just click below on the retailer of your choice!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
iBooks
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There is no question that having surgery is overwhelming and scary situation. There is so much to take care of leading up to the big day that it can be all consuming. Before my surgery, I had a long “to do” list: getting insurance approvals; putting in my time-off forms; paying the bills; and scheduling the dog sitter – just to name a few things. It was a stressful time.
When it was time to leave the hospital, I realized that I had been so busy preparing for surgery that I didn’t even think what came after: the recovery. I was woefully unprepared. I want to save you from making the same mistake. Trust when I say that I don’t want to add to your ‘to do’ list but there are some key essentials you should have/do prior to surgery to ensure a cozy and comfortable recovery. They are:
Get Key Clothing Items:
It was only after my mastectomy when I was still in the hospital that the nurses told me I would need some button down shirts in order to change my bandages. It would have been helpful to have this Intel prior to surgery! The only button ups I owned were starchy oxfords for work. My neighbor Victoria gave me a few of her old shirts but if she hadn’t come to my rescue I’m not sure what I would have worn. My suggestion is to consider where your incisions are and make sure you have a few items that are easy to put on/take off and won’t rub the surgical site when being worn. Stick with breathable, easy-to-clean fabrics like modal, or cotton/acrylic blends. Here are the essentials:
- Pajamas: Get at least two pairs of pajamas that button up the front. I love PJ sets but if you’ve had a flap reconstruction, sleep shirts (like the one below) make it easy to access the chest, stomach and buttocks. Opt for dark colors so that stains aren’t obvious.
https://www.victoriassecret.com/sleepwear/sleepshirts-and-nighties/supersoft-sleepshirt-body-by-victoria?ProductID=338170&CatalogueType=OLS
- Robe: If you have post-operative drains, there is a robe that has interior pockets that hold them in place without pulling on the incision. It’s soft and can be worn after your recovery as well. Trust me when I say it’s a game-changer.
https://thebrobe.com/products/recovery-brobe
- Hoodies: Contrary to popular belief, not all hoodies are created equal. I love the ones from Alternative Apparel because they zip up the front, are super soft and sustainable. (I am wearing this camo one as I write this post!) On days you feel crappy, this hoodie will keep you cozy.
http://www.alternativeapparel.com/adrian-printed-eco-fleece-zip-hoodie-09573fb#183=1990
- Tank Tops: Having a few tank tops with shelf bras are ideal because they are light, easy to layer and provide support and coverage. My all-time favorite brand is Tender Tanks, which were created/designed by breast cancer survivor, Carol Largent. Tender Tanks come with handy Velcro straps so they are easy to adjust throughout the various stages of reconstruction and recovery.
http://www.tendertanks.com/
Stock up on Supplies:
At some point after you get home, you will need to change your bandages. If you have drains, you will want to clean up around them until you can take a real shower. Keeping your incisions clean has a major impact on how they heal and how good or bad the scarring will be. So, make sure you have the following items at home before you head to the hospital.
- Gauze
- Neosporin
- Alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Medical tape
- Scissors
- Cotton Rounds
- Band-Aids
Pack the Pantry:
Grocery shopping after surgery is a no-go. Standing for an extended period of time and lugging heavy bags can deplete your energy and cause incisions to tear. Before surgery day, check with your doctor to see if you will have any food restrictions, and then make your grocery list. If you don’t have time to go food shopping before surgery or will be in the hospital for more than 3 days, give the list to a friend or relative with instructions to do the shopping the day before you arrive home. Make sure to have a few yummy snacks in the mix. (Sometimes when you lose your appetite, you need something super scrumptious to help sustain your energy). I got a few boxes of frozen fruit pops, as they were easy to eat, yummy and helped soothe the mouth sores I had gotten from chemo.
Schedule a Blowout:
You won’t be able to shower for a few days – maybe even a week! – After you get home from surgery. So it’s only a matter of time before you start to feel (and smell) gnarly. Most doctors will suggest taking a sponge bath to freshen up so make sure you have a few clean hand towels ready. (Skip actual sponges as they can harbor bacteria.) If you have hair, that will be another matter. Hoda Kotb gave me great post-surgery tips (you can read more of them in my book) including her advice to schedule a wash-n-blow at your local hair salon. There is nothing that feels a good as cleaning your hair for the first time after surgery.
Hope this helps!
XO
Cait
P.S. Have any essentials to add to this list? Email and let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
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The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. There are the obvious reasons: celebrating with friends and family in the warm summer air; burgers and dogs hot off the grill; sweet buttered corn on the cob; excited children swirling sparklers in the dark; and the booming fireworks that remind me of the battles fought years ago so that I could live free today. It makes me feel truly blessed and grateful to be American.
As the night sky lit up with exploding colors, I started to think about the meaning of ‘Independence.’ This year, that word takes on a whole new meaning as the vote on the GOP Healthcare bill looms days away. Very early on in my life, I had to be independent. From the time I graduated from high school, I supported myself. Minus financial aid, I put myself through college, paid my own rent and bought my own clothes and food. I was always a hustler and never took a handout. This is the case to this day. Everything I have, I have because I worked for it. I am proud of this fact.
But I would not be able to be so independent if I didn’t have health coverage. When I had spinal fusion back surgery in 2011, the first bill I received from the hospital was $170,000. At the time, it was more than double my editor’s salary. I remember calling my father hysterical. Thank goodness my insurance covered most of that bill. A year later, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my medical coverage allowed me to go to the best surgeons and hospitals in New York. Because of this, I was able to focus on my recovery, continue working during treatment, and maintain a relatively ‘normal’ life. Two years later, while in the middle of breast cancer reconstruction and freelancing to earn a living, my surgeries were covered by the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Today, I am thriving because of the insurance I received. Good healthcare coverage was key to all of it.
But the GOP Healthcare bill will change all of this.
Under this new bill, my history of back surgery and cancer put me in the “pre-existing conditions” category. While the bill does preserve the pre-existing condition protections that exist in the ACA – insurance companies would have to offer a plan to people with medical problems – it has major pit falls. For example: If a state doesn’t include certain treatments or medicines in their benefits, then insurance companies can elect not to pay. Even if it means life or death to a patient. If the past is any indication, they won’t pay because your life isn’t more important than their profits.
Making matters more urgent and stressful for me, is that I am recently unemployed and find myself worrying about having health coverage. I am also recently engaged and I’ve had people suggest I elope so I can get on my fiancé’s insurance. What is this, 1950? I have to get married to ensure I have healthcare? That’s not what I want my wedding to be about. And I don’t want to be dependent on anybody. I want to be independent – the way I’ve been my entire life. Isn’t that what we should be striving for as a society? To empower people to take care of themselves – and when they get too sick they still have the resources to do so? That is what real independence is all about. It’s one of the things I love so much about America: that we care for each other and band together when in moments of crisis. That is what made America great in the first place.
As this majestic holiday comes to a close, I’m hoping that our elected officials also took a moment this July 4th to ponder the meaning of words like “freedom” and “independence.” I am also hoping they consider how the GOP healthcare bill will impact those basic American principles when they vote. My life, and many others, depend on it.
Xo,
Cait
PS: It isn’t too late to act! Making a call to a Senator – not just those in your state – can make all the difference. Below is the link to all the Senate Contact Directory. Let your voice and opinion be heard!
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/senators_cfm.cfm?State=DE
Blog
I love the heat. I think I’m in the minority on this one. Most of my friends and family prefer the crisp air of autumn. I like the fall (cuz it’s my birrrrfday!) but I really love the heat. What I don’t love is that my cancer medicine, Tamoxifen, makes me sweat through the easiest chores and it obviously gets worst in the hot weather. For example, when blow-drying my hair I get so sweaty that the hair that I just dried gets soaking wet all over again. Even my cheeks, chest and arms glisten with perspiration. It’s annoying – to say the least. And while I think I have it bad, I think about my fellow Cancer Cuties who have lost their eyebrows and are trying to keep their painted-on ones in place. The struggle is real.
For those of you who are experiencing this first-hand for the first time, I have some good news – there is an easy fix. Selecting the right brow products – specifically those that are made with a wax base – will keep your arches in place no matter what the weather. As my dear friend and makeup artist Ramy Gafni says, “You don’t want your brows coming off at brunch!” So true. The goal is to look hot – not like a hot mess.
There are three wax-based brow products that I think are the best especially for patients/survivors who don’t have actual hair to layer over. My favorites are:
Ramy Miracle Brow: This comes with two brow colors and a precision brush. The beauty of this is that the wax formula stays locked in place while you can blend the shades to customize your color. $28, ramy.com or Amazon.com
Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings Eyebrow Shaping Kit: Legendary newswoman and fellow cancer survivor, Joan Lunden, told me she loved using this kit while she was in treatment. “It comes with a pigmented wax and powder and two tiny brushes. You dip the little angled brush into the wax to create the shape, and then you use the other brush to apply the powder to set it in place. I like it because it really lasts.” Bonus: It comes in 6 shades. $32, benefitcosmetics.com
Nudestix Eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Gel: I love this dual-ended product because of the tri-angled pencil tip. It really allows you to mimic the look of individual eyebrow hairs for a really precise, feathery look. Both the wax formula and clear gel are waterproof (key) and vegan. You may not need the gel when you don’t have any hair of your own, but once they start growing back, you’ll love how the stronghold formula makes your brows last all day! $24, nudestix.com
Two key tips to follow when creating eyebrows from scratch:
- When you have no eyebrow hair, you need to use a darker shade then your normal hair color to have it show up against bare skin. This seems counter-intuitive because it is the opposite of what you do when you have eyebrow hair. But trust me on this. Going 1-2 shades darker does the trick
- If you are using a brow pencil or kit that doesn’t come with powder, use a little translucent powder to set it in place. This does a few things: it softens the color; nixes the waxy shine; and forms a seal over the wax so it adheres longer.
If you have any makeup tricks, product recommendations or questions – share them with me! I want to hear from you! Good luck!!!
XO
Cait
Blog
One of the things I mentioned in my first blog entry was that I have a book coming out on September 19th. Holla!!!! The book is titled, Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide for Women with Cancer. I’m very excited about it, as it’s been 3 years in the works.
Here it is (!!!!!!!)
For those of you who don’t know me, let me quickly explain what led me to write the book in the first place. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41, I was working as a beauty director for a magazine. Like many of my fellow cancer patients, I became glued to the web researching what was about to happen to my body. Naturally, I was very nervous about all the side effects because I had to continue working my full-time job to pay the bills. But no matter how much I searched, there wasn’t one site, one book, one resource that had all the answers I needed.
Luckily for me, as a beauty editor, I spent most of my days interviewing the top experts in the field – hair stylists, makeup artists, dermatologists, manicurists, etc. You get the gist. So, after I was diagnosed, I turned to these pros to get all the Intel I needed to keep me looking and feeling my best during surgery and treatment. While I was very concerned about getting healthy, the reality is that I also needed to look presentable in order to do my job. The last thing I wanted to deal with was the “Are you okay?” questions. They just made me feel worse.
The thing that’s so crazy about cancer is that it isn’t the disease that makes you look sick. It’s the treatment that does. Case in point: a bald head. This big telltale sign isn’t caused by the rogue cells in your body, it’s caused by the chemo that’s used to kill them.
I know I was lucky to have amazing pros giving me useful tips and tricks to help me through my illness. I also know there are a lot of women out there going through what I went through with less or no resources to help them. This makes me very sad because, in some cases, there are little things that can make a huge difference offsetting or lessening the harsh side effects of treatment. That’s why I decided to use my skills as a writer and put all the information I was blessed to receive in one little book. Pretty Sick is my way of paying it forward to help empower other women with cancer.
It is my wish that if you come across this blog or the book’s Facebook page that you share it with someone who is fighting the battle and could use a little help. As I always say: when you look good, you feel better. I would also love to hear from you. If there are any topics or tips you’d like me to share or if you have anything that could help other patients and survivors – email me! My email is [email protected].
Until next time,
XO
Cait
Blog
Hello there!
Thanks for taking the time to visit my site! I’m new to this blogger game so please be patient as I get my skills up to speed. This is just a way for me to share what’s swirling around my orbit and in my brain. Here, you will find beauty tips and tricks, things I find inspirational and aspirational, news about my life and yes, even the occasional rant.
The biggest news I have to share at the moment is that my book, Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide for Women with Cancer, will be hitting shelves on September 19th. This has been a long time in the works and I can’t wait to share it with you! I will get into more detail about it in a later post but for now I just want to say “hi” and encourage you to stay in touch. I look forward to hearing from you!
Until next time…
Cait
