I remember back in the late 1980s, during my interview to sign up for beauty school, the school owner told me that I had chosen a great profession. He explained that given our world of growing technology, computers could aid me in this profession but could never replace me.

Hair is always something that will need to be done. As hairdressers, we will always have enough hair to take care of.

As women, hair is very important to us. It is our crowning glory. I always tease and say "If I am having a good hair day, all is right with the world. If I am having a bad hair day, watch out!"

Cancer, Your Client, and Wigs

I believe that most women feel this way. I watched the amazing transformations that took place in my chair time and time again over my 30-year career. A woman would come into my salon feeling down. In 90 minutes, I could create a new and improved her with a fresh cut and color, and I would watch her come alive. What an amazing gift our profession is!

I also watched the devastation in the eyes of the female salon guests who had come into the salon to share with me that she had just been diagnosed with cancer. It seemed that more times than not she was more concerned with the loss of her hair than the loss of her life.

A wig is a great choice for hair substitution during a cancer diagnosis but where do you begin to find the right one?

Here are THREE GREAT QUESTIONS to start the conversation with your salon guest who has been diagnosed with cancer and may need a wig.

What to Ask Your Salon Guest

Question #1: "How much maintenance do you want with your wig?"

There is a difference in caring for a wig. As her beauty adviser, you need to educate her on the differences. Remember this may be her first experience with a wig.

If your salon guest is looking for a low-maintenance wig option then a synthetic wig may be the way to go. This wig can be shampooed and air-dried, and the style pops right back into shape with just some light brushing. These wigs last approximately 6-9 months.

If your salon guest doesn’t mind working with her wig, then a human hair wig may be a good option for her. A human hair wig needs to be styled much like the hair on her head each time it is shampooed. These wigs can be blowndried, curled with a curling iron, or flat ironed. These wigs last approximately 9-12 months.

Question #2: "Do you want a wig that will match your current style or something different?"

This question is essential. I remember a salon guest who was diagnosed with lung cancer. Once she found out that she was going to lose her hair, she wanted a wig that was EXACTLY like the hair that she had. It took some looking, but we found a human hair wig that was exactly like her hair before her cancer treatment.

As hairdressers, we want to please our salon guests with hair that they love whether it is theirs or a substitution. Asking this question at the beginning of your search will help guide you to the perfect result.

Question #3: "Do you want a wig at all?"

I have told each of the women that I have had the opportunity to serve during their cancer journey, "This is your battle and you get to fight it any way you want to!" Some women are like the story I just shared with you. Some women want to embrace the bald head and just roll with it.

Give your salon guest permission to do what's comfortable for her! It's important to find out if she is even considering a wig before you put in the work to find one for her.

The most important thing is to let your salon guest know you're here to support their hair journey, every step of the way.