Topic: wig-dar

LOL I couldn't figure out what you were saying until the last line.  I must really be losing it  LOL  But to answer your questions, YES I can tell!

I'm so oblivious to everything I have no kind of -dar at all!

I can spot a wig a mile away, then I try not to stare.  I never liked any of my wigs.  The first one I bought;  I tried to match my own hair and style.  It was very obvious it was not mine, so I decided to have some fun and bought a couple wigs that were different colors and styles and I wore a different wig to work each day.  My coworkers got a kick out of it and we had some fun (although it was truly not fun for me because I was the one who had to wear the wigs).  With my first chemo back in 06, I really felt uncomfortable in my wig, so I bought some stylish hats (I had a professional job and had to dress appropriately), fancy earrings, and scarves.  Again... my coworkers got a kick out of it.... me.... not so much.  I am glad to be on a chemo now that does not take away my hair, and dread the day I will have to go back to using the wigs. 

My entire family has "toupee-dar" and when I was younger, it was sport to sit in a restaurant and spot men's bad toupees.  We would say softly.... toupee alert toupee alert and we would have a good laugh.

Many women have such good wigs that I find it hard to tell but the ones that are bad just have a huge imaginary red arrow following them around that says, "wig alert wig alert".  I had my share of cheap wigs and then one extremely expensive one (that I have gotten two chemo experiences out of) and I have to say, most people did not know.  In fact, I went to a BC get together in NYC two years ago where I was the only Stage IV and when I revealed that I was wearing a wig, everyone was shocked until I proved it by lifting it up to reveal my brown fuzz.

So, I really think if you take the time (providing you care enough... it's not vital to be vain during chemo), to purchase a quality wig, and keep up with the styling, most people will not notice.

But, when you see a bad wig, worn off center... it makes me want to whisper quietly in that woman's ear... you need to adjust your wig, which clearly I have never done.  

Robin 

I, too, hate the way my wig feels on my head, especially in the Florida heat.  My collection of baseball caps stays in the back seat of my car for commuting.  I have been "practicing" with various semi-permanent hair colors on my short fuzzy hair so I can get rid of the wig (and the gray hair) some day. It beats crying...

Yes I too have wigdar. I often see women and notice their wig right away.

I wore my wig for seven months. My friends said I never looked so good. Men said I looked glamorous. But boy was I relieved to get rid of it.

I now have short curly hair and am enjoying it.

During my treatment days I always went out with my wig or maybe a hat.. never a scarf. I did not want to look like I had cancer. Was that foolish?

Francine

Yes I too notice wigs and usually check for the telltale missing eyebrows and/or eyelashes and the unnatural neckline  But it depresses me too because I realize how close I am to wearing my wig again.  I absolutely hated the feel of the wig.  It was itchy, scratchy, got really sweaty in hot weather and I was constantly feeling it to make sure it hadn't moved or adjusting the tabs by the ears to even it.  I always ripped it off at the first opportunity. I was not comfortable wearing the telltale hat or scarf (in public) because I didn't want a lot of people to know. I hated the incessant questions like "how are you doing," or "I didn't know," or "how much longer do you have on chemo," or "my cousin's sister's neighbor's wife had a really nice wig" etc. etc.  I also detested the pitying stares. 

I'm not the best at noticing if they are wigs or not.  I do make a game out of it while in the Oncology waiting room trying to guess who does, who doesn't.  So far I haven't needed one since I became Stage IV.  I too hated my wig and often tore it off my head, especially when a hot flash happened.  I teach pre-school so I pretty much needed to wear one back then.  Now I think I might not if I do lose my hair again.  My hair is pretty thin now, but it's still mine!