CANCER: THE JOY OF WEARING WIGS + MY TOP FOUR

Every time I go into my cancer center or my surgeon's office, I try to wear something fun, clothing-wise and wig-wise. It helps to lighten the mood and remind me not to take life too seriously. Like me today, at 54 years old, in pigtails! I haven't worn pigtails for 30 years, or if ever, come to think of it. But having a light-hearted approach to fashion, as well as my attitude, makes all the difference.

Which brings me to my love of wigs.

And, after wearing wigs for a few years now, I can confidently say that even if my hair grew back in perfectly, I'd still wear wigs.

There are no trips to the salon, no damage from bleaching my hair, and no more taking an hour to style my hair. I have perfect hair every time in under five minutes flat, and more typically, under two.

So, what led me to wear wigs? First, it was my mother. She had thinning hair as she aged and always wore the cutest white pixie wigs, along with her blue-rimmed glasses with tiny dragonflies on the sides. My mom was the epitome of fashion, and while she admitted she felt insecure at times when needing to wear wigs, she found ways to use them to her advantage, elevating her signature style.

(From left to right from the top down: 1. Nola by Ellen Wille in Champagne Shaded 2. Riley by Henry Margu in 10/613GR 3. Robin by Noriko in Nutmeg F 4. Tabu by Ellen Wille in Champagne Rooted 5. Kendall by Henry Margu in 10/613GR 6. Night by Ellen Wille in Light Champagne Rooted) All wigs can be purchase here.

And then, when my own hair started thinning due to my colon cancer, I pulled out her catalogs and gave some of the wigs a try. Mostly mid-length and mainly blonde. I was born with dark brown hair but had dyed it blonde throughout the years, even opting for hair extensions through much of my 30s, which did more damage than they were worth.

Imagine my surprise when I could put on a wig that offered all the options I longed for while being easy to wear and more affordable than what I was accustomed to spending in hair salons.

And the possibilities.

I can wear pink, lavender, blonde, brunette. Long, short, curly, or straight. Whatever the mood or outfit, there is a wig for that. And I've tried more than I'd like to admit. You see, once you get past the initial shock of all that hair on your head and discover the styles, density and features (like more realistic parts) that work the best for you, it becomes great fun trying out styles you'd never imagine, nor would your hair do, even with the help of a master stylist.

(From left to right from the top down: 1. Simmer Elite by Raquel Welch in Shaded Cappuccino 2. Flip the Script by Raquel Welch in Shaded Cappuccino 3. Verona by Belle Tress in Beige Linen Blonde Rooted 4. Kate by Envy in Sparkling Champagne 5. Single Origin by Belle Tress in Rose Gold 6. Emilia by Jon Renau in 12FS8) All wigs can be purchased here.

I'm hooked.

In this post, you'll see many of my favorite wigs. And yes, I have more wigs than I need and even more styles and colors tucked away in my closet. But they make me happy, and they've added some joy to my cancer journey.

I don't understand why there is a stigma against wigs when just about every celebrity, TV anchor, model, and pretty much anyone else we look up to in print or film wears wigs or at least has extensions. It's not much different than wearing fake eyelashes, nails, or Spanx; they are all tools that can help us feel our best. And for the cancer patient, they can restore confidence and make you feel like you are more chic than sick.

Because the last thing we need to do while we're continually worrying about cancer markers, getting drips, giving blood, visiting the hospital for Echos and CT Scans, and feeling tired, plus all the other things that come along with the medicine's side effects, is our hair. And if we look good on the outside, it can help boost our confidence and make us feel better overall, which can actually give us a better outlook on life. And leave us with one less thing to worry about. Plus one less time that our appearance screams out to the world that we have cancer.

When I went to the hospital the second time, I was horrified to have to go wigless, with only a cute headband around my thinning hair, to check in. The minute I was able to, in my hospital bed after my surgery, a wig went back on, and my spirits were immediately elevated. I felt normal again.

Wigs are the perfect accessory to match any outfit or mood.

So, how does one go about getting a wig? First, do research. The only shop that I buy wigs from now is Frannie's Hair. She has an online shop with an amazing return/exchange policy. She has a private Facebook group where all of us post photos of our wigs to inspire others and show how they look on real women, not just models. Frannie even has a resident stylist named V who offers free consultations to help find your perfect style and color. She is a lovely lady and I am happy to support her.

(From left to right from the top down: 1. Unfiltered by Raquel Welch in Shaded Iced Latte Macchiato 2. Califia by Belle Tress in British Milk Tea 3. Star Quality by Raquel Welch in Shaded Vanilla 4. Delight by Ellen Wille in Pearl Blonde Rooted 5. Flirt Alert by Raquel Welch in Shaded Biscuit 6. Goddess by Raquel Welch in Shaded Biscuit) All wigs can be purchased here.

And don't forget YouTube videos. Frannie has many videos that explain the different brands, colors, and maintenance, such as how to care for them and keep them lasting as long as possible.

So, what are my favorite brands? I love Raquel Welch, Henry Margu, and Belle Tress the most. The quality of these wigs is really impressive, and I feel they offer the widest range of color choices and the most realistic fibers. Raquel Welch and Henry Margu wigs are my favorites as far as longevity.

And why do I have so many photos of myself in wigs? I learned early on that before I remove the tag from a new wig, I should take a photo. The camera never lies, and you can get a more honest feel for how the style and color look on you. This is also why, in some of the photos, you'll see a zig-zag part, as I haven't "broken" the part yet in case I wanted to return her.

So, which wigs would I consider my top four? It's tough to pick, but here are the ones that I reach for the most and that make me the happiest when I wear them.

Hannah by Henry Margu in 10/613GR

I love this wig! Hannah is an everyday favorite and I'm wearing her right now as I type. She is easy to wear and I love her bangs. I go back and forth between a center part and a side part, but either way, she is a winner!

Candace by Henry Margu in 10/613GR

Another favorite and one of my most reached-for wigs when I go out. She is a bit of a face-flopper, so I've opted to wear a hair clip to hold back one side. She is super low in density and a perfect length. She gives me girl-next-door vibes and works with pretty much any outfit and occasion. She is also a great pick for a first wig since she has such a nice lace front and part and is very lightweight and comfortable. You hardly know you're wearing a wig.

Amaretto by Belle Tress in Butterbeer Blonde

This is the hair of my dreams. It's the perfect length and color, plus the one I get the most compliments on. Here I am wearing her for my first treatment at the Cancer Center since she's such a confidence booster. She tops the list when it comes to low-density, realistic-looking, easy-to-wear, and perfect color. It's probably my favorite blonde across all the brands. One can't go wrong with this wig.

London High Tea by Belle Tress in British Milk Tea

This is my sleeper wig, as she spent almost a year in her box until I brought her out and tried her again. I'm not sure why I love her so much more the second time around, but I will say that her long length and her bangs make me feel young again. She is no longer available in British Milk Tea, but I couldn't resist showcasing her as she would classify as my most perfect hair ever. A nice neutral brown with blond highlights reminding me of my natural hair and the most perfect weight and curl pattern. This girl has everything I could have hoped for in a wig and more.

Again, to purchase any of these wigs, visit Frannie at Frannie's Hair. I am not connected with her in any way, but I respect her and her employees so much. They provide such great customer service and are a company that truly cares about the challenges that we go through with thinning hair or the absence of hair.

What are some of your favorite brands of wigs and styles? I'd love to learn more in the comments!