Chemo wig and pretty scarves

I bought a wig. Now, maybe a girl shouldn’t admit to using tricks –  but a wig is a wig is a wig, and if you know me, or you read this blog, or if you look really close – there is no hiding that fact.

It’s golden blond, not too light and cropped to fall and few inches below my chin. Putting it on feels similar to putting on a hat. Except that unlike a hat, I need to spend about fifteen minutes patting and playing and rearranging the scattered synthetic hairs into place. And also unlike a hat, it looks ridiculous when messy.

Another thing, with this wig my head has gained at least an inch of height. Oh the incredible volume. All my life I’ve battled (when I could be bothered) against my fine hair. I’d tried curling, blow drying, spraying . . . all to have the style flatten within an hour. But stick on this wig and I’m ‘news anchor ready’. I feel, with hair this large, that I ought to host a morning show where me and my charming male co-host (Zsolt, of course) review the latest books and drink from large mugs of fresh brewed, fair trade coffee.

Going into the wig shop was an uncomfortable experience, made more uncomfortable by the completely apathetic sales girls who were on the floor ‘helping’ customers. If alone I would have booted it outta there,  but my mom was behind me with a prodding stick, saying – we just need to find the right one, Catherine.

I guess she was right, we did find one. The next day I took Zsolt to the shop and he gave his stamp of approval. No doubt this look is different, but at least it is a look.

So it’s an option, and I’m very glad to have it. On a more adventurous note  – I’ve totally hooked myself up with several colourful scarves and under scarves. There is this girl on youtube who explains ways to tie scarves and what pins are best, etc. She’s striking, so knows her style, and easy to follow – and while I don’t exactly copy her methods (e.g.  I don’t need to cover my neck), it’s a great source of inspiration.

And that means I have another option. A funky option.

Finally, next Tuesday I’m getting my hair chopped off. It seems that there is a better chance of keeping my hair during treatment if it’s short.

But no matter what I’ll be ready with the accessories, and will try to be daring. The last time I cut my hair extremely short was in grade seven, and some child jackass followed me around saying “are you a boy or a girl?” It’s funny the sort of crap that kids accept, amazing really. But bullying is another topic, and thankfully I didn’t have too much of it.

Anyhow – yes. I bought a wig this past weekend. I also bought some lovely scarves. And finally, to be written about later – I went to a gorgeous hotel and had an incredible Sunday night retreat.

Pretty productive, if I do say so myself.

5 thoughts on “Chemo wig and pretty scarves

  1. Very cool! I’m glad you found a wig you like. You are also going to become very fashionable with your scarf-tying skills.

    There is a nice scarf-tying style I used to use when I was a tour guide for the city of Montreal, when tour guides couldn’t show any hair.

    1) Take two square scarves.
    2) Fold one square into a triangle and wrap it around your head, tucking in all the loose ends of the scarf until none of your head is showing. You can choose to cover your ears or not.
    3) With the second square, take diagonally opposite corners of the scarf, and twirl it into a rope. Place the centre of the “rope” above your forehead and tie the two ends at the base of your neck, and tuck them in. You can choose to cover your ears with the “rope” or not.

    The result is a sort of exotic, Moroccan look. The trick is that it takes 2 scarves to get that look. If you use light cotton scarves, you can wear the look all day without feeling hot.

    I hope my suggestion is useful.

    • Hey- great suggestion. I’ll give it a try sometime (but first need 2 square scares). I had no idea tour guides couldn’t show their hair. That’s a bizzare regulation.

      • Oh it wasn’t any Big Brother, societal type regulation 🙂

        It was because we wore uniforms. Our function was to meet diplomats and celebrities, and take them on tours arranged by the city. Our rules for decorum and dress code were very strict. I remember the day at my first reception when I was poured a glass of champagne, I was about to drink it when it was snatched from my hand by my boss. Eight of us tour guides sat at our table with the champagne bubbling gaily away in our glasses, and we couldn’t touch them. What a waste! I bet it was good quality champagne too.

  2. Catherine,

    As I continue to follow you through this journey, I am continually amazed at your strength. I am so glad that you have a support group that is absolutely amazing. From your family to the many friends I read about, I know that you are being helped through this journey.

    I am disappointed with myself, that I have never taken the time to get to know you the way a cousin should. However, I am praying that today we can begin knowing eachother, something that should have happened long ago.

    I am praying for you and Zsolt.

    Your cousin,

    Carolyn

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