Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Shedding Light on the Impact of Hair Health

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As many of us have come to know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.You may be thinking ‘who still hasn’t heard about breast cancer?’ Well while most of us have heard of or know someone that has been affected by this horrible disease yet there are still many facts that a lot of people don’t know of such as; breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally, with approximately 2.3 million new cases diagnosed each year according to the World Cancer Research Fund. 

While the focus during this month is primarily on early detection and treatment, it’s also essential to shed light on the often-overlooked aspect of breast cancer: its impact on hair health.

One of the biggest reasons we focus on hair is, because for a lot of people their hair is  a fundamental aspect of their identity and self-esteem. For many individuals, and especially women hair loss can be emotionally distressing, affecting their self-confidence and body image. Breast cancer and its treatments can have a significant effect on a person’s hair. The most well-known side effect is hair loss, medically referred to as alopecia. There can be many factors as to why someone would lose their hair during their treatment, such as;

  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a common treatment for breast cancer, but it affects not only cancer cells but also rapidly dividing healthy cells, including those responsible for hair growth. This can result in significant hair thinning or complete hair loss.
  • Hormone Therapy: Some breast cancer treatments, like hormone therapy, can lead to changes in hair texture and even hair thinning.
  • Stress: A breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment journey can be incredibly stressful. Stress is a known factor in hair loss, and it can exacerbate hair-thinning issues.

While the journey can be exhausting and strenuous there can be some glimmers of something fun. That’s where we hope to help you get there with hair!  Whether it’s helping someone choose a wig that makes you feel like the you of yesteryear or a brand new you. We love seeing a smile brought back to a client’s (new friend’s) face when they get to try on a wig and be whoever they choose to be. They’re no longer a ‘cancer patient’ ; they’re now ‘Mary with the fun bob cut’, or ‘Shannon with perfectly framed bangs!’ The feeling of restoring someone’s confidence is the reason we do what we do. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to educate, support, and honor those impacted by breast cancer. By understanding the effects of breast cancer treatments on hair health and the journey that individuals go through, we can empower them to face this challenge with greater confidence and resilience.

This October we’ll be showing our support, through education on our social platforms and by wearing our pink hair! As you show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, remember that the journey for individuals affected by breast cancer extends beyond October. Let’s continue to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for better solutions for those facing this diagnosis. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of breast cancer survivors and fighters, one strand at a time. Wear pink hair and show you care.