Free Wig Giveaway Provides Help to Women with Cancer

For women battling breast cancer losing their hair can often be more frightening than losing a breast.

"That's because you can conceal the loss of a breast, but hair loss is so obvious and apparent,” writes Dr. Marisa Weiss on www.breastcancer.org, the website for her organization.

Breastcancer.org is a non profit organization dedicated to providing information, research and outreach to those battling the disease.

 Hair loss caused by cancer treatments usually is temporary, reversing itself once treatments stop. But that’s little comfort to the woman who experiences it.

Hair Therapy for Women, a hair restoration center, is hoping to help those women in need.

On June 12, Hair Therapy for Women is giving away 100 cranial prosthetic wigs during an all-day wig giveaway event. Women can schedule appointments to take advantage of the wig giveaway from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“My mission is to restore elegance to women who are suffering hair loss – whether through chemotherapy, radiation, other medical causes or heredity – and I want to provide a feminine, compassionate and private atmosphere,” said Bobbi Russell, a certified hair replacement specialist and owner of Hair Therapy for Women.

The studio will have all of the wigs – which include human hair and synthetic hair – in a variety of styles and colors available for recipients to choose from, and will provide customized fitting, cutting and styling.

The specailized wigs are better suited for cancer patients than fashion wigs.

“Women who lose their hair through chemotherapy or radiation generally have very tender, sensitive scalps that can be irritated by the harsh materials in fashion wigs," Russell said. "Also, fashion wigs purchased through a catalog or online retailer may not fit properly, and can be loose or may shift."

A recipient, who asked to be unidentified, from last year's wig giveaway said the hair made her feel normal again. 

“I could never have afforded a wig on my own, and so I felt blessed to have the support of Bobbi and her team," she said. "Even though it wasn’t my natural hair, I felt better."

To schedule an appointment for the Hair Therapy for Women Recover with Confidence giveaway on June 12, call 813-269-HAIR (4247).