Name: Tymeless Hair & Wigs
Price range: $

One of the most common questions clients ask us is whether it’s possible to make a wig from your own hair? The good news is, yes!

Tymeless Necessity Hair is a proud partner of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). We’ve crafted hundreds of wigs for clients all over the world – many of which have been custom-made using the client’s own hair – and we’re confident we can help you too!

While losing your hair may seem trivial compared to fighting for one’s life, remaining focussed, proud, and self-assured plays a massive role in the recovery of cancer survivors. We help you along every step of your journey.

Many cancer treatments, including specific types of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, can cause hair loss or thinning. Hair usually grows back when treatment is completed. However, some people may have long-term or permanent hair thinning or loss.

Hair loss, whether slight or severe, can be distressing. Like many others, you may believe that your hair is essential to your identity. It can make you feel self-conscious and exposed if you lose it. You might believe that your thinning hair indicates that you’re a cancer patient.

Wearing a wig made from your own hair might help you feel more confident about your look and reduce the stress associated with hair loss.

Can You Get A Wig Made From Your Own Hair?

Knowing what to expect in terms of your cancer treatment can make hair loss go more smoothly. Inquire with your doctors about whether the treatments you’ll be undergoing are likely to induce hair loss, how severe it will be, and when it will happen. This way, before beginning treatment, you can plan the steps needed to make a wig from your own hair ahead of time.

Tymeless Necessity Hair specialise in tailored, undetectable, and high-quality wigs, hair prosthesis, and hair integrations specifically designed for those suffering from all types of hair loss. What makes Tymeless Necessity Hair unique is that each wig and hairpiece chosen is specifically customised according to your lifestyle, personality, and individual needs. No two wigs are ever the same. And every wig ordered to be made from the client’s own hair is 100% guaranteed to be the only hair used in the making of that wig.

Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of how Tymeless Necessity Hair can make you a wig from your own hair… Before we get there, however, let’s talk about how – and why – cancer treatments cause hair loss, impacts hair growth, and can change your own bio hair colour and texture.

Chemotherapy And Hair Loss

Certain types of chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer can cause your hair to thin or fall out altogether. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause hair loss in various areas of your body, including your brows and eyelashes, pubic hair, and hair on your legs, arms, and underarms.

Whether you lose hair – and how much hair you lose – is determined by a number of factors. These include the type, combination, and dose of chemotherapy drugs you get, as well as other medical issues (such as thyroid illness), nutritional state, and stress levels.

Hair loss is also affected by the timing of chemotherapy treatments. Some chemotherapy treatments are delivered weekly and in tiny dosages, which may help to reduce hair loss. Other kinds of chemotherapy are given every three to four weeks in larger dosages and are more likely to induce hair loss.

Before you start chemotherapy, talk to your doctor, so you know what to expect in your specific case. Suppose you learn that you’ll be receiving chemotherapy drugs that are likely to cause hair loss. In that case, you can book an appointment with Tymeless Necessity Hair, who will guide you through the process of cutting, and collecting your natural hair to make a wig before your hair starts thinning and falling out.

Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Hair Loss?

Chemotherapy can cause hair loss because it targets all rapidly dividing cells, including healthy and malignant cells. Hair follicles, the skin structures from which hair grows, include some of the body’s fastest-growing cells. Hair follicle cells divide every 23 to 72 hours if you aren’t receiving cancer therapy. Chemotherapy, however, destroys hair follicle cells while it works against cancer cells. You may lose part or all of your hair within a few weeks after starting certain chemotherapy medications. Hair loss can occur gradually or quickly.

When Does Hair Grow Back After Chemotherapy?

The time it takes for hair to regrow on your head (and other body hair, such as pubic hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows if you lost those as well) following chemotherapy varies significantly from person to person. The following is a typical hair renewal schedule for the head:

Three to four weeks following the last round of chemotherapy: gentle fuzziness
A month to six weeks following the last round of chemotherapy: half-inch of hair
Three to six months following the last round of chemotherapy: 2–3 inches of hair growth.
12 Months following the last round of chemotherapy: 4–6 inches of hair growth

Changes In Colour, Texture, And Volume

When your hair grows back, it may be a different colour, texture, or volume. You might be startled to see what your natural hair looks like when it grows back if you dyed or chemically treated it before starting chemotherapy.

After the effect of chemotherapy on the hair follicle wears off in many situations, hair returns to its previous state. However, some people’s hair regeneration is partial. Permanent baldness, as well as the loss of brows and eyelashes, can occur.

What Are The Best Wigs For Chemo Patients?

Because the permeable fabric is less abrasive on the scalp than cloth cap alternatives, monofilament wigs are one of the most pleasant wigs for chemo sufferers. Monofilament wigs for cancer sufferers are incredibly light wigs. Monofilament wigs are made of a softer material that feels nice against your head and keeps you cool and comfortable.

The monofilament wig base (a mesh fabric), is used in all our wigs. Each strand of hair is individually hand-tied to the material, stimulating natural hair growth.

The monofilament can be used for a parting, crown, or the entire top of the wig. Hair can also be pulled back into a sloppy bun or fastened in a ponytail. Our wigs are all breathable and won’t scratch your scalp. As a result, our wigs are appropriate for clients who are experiencing hair loss as a result of chemotherapy or radiation treatments and whose scalps are extremely sensitive, as well as those who suffer from Alopecia.

Our Wigs Can Be Worn Even With Hair Regrowth

Hand-tied wigs are gentle on the skin because they don’t have a weft or structural seams. Because the cap structure is easier on your scalp, hand-tied wigs are some of the best wigs for women with cancer and hair loss. They are also one of the most comfortable wigs for chemo patients. Hand-tied wigs are incredibly light and comfortable for cancer patients. Because of the lesser density created by the cap structure, the wig is lightweight, cool, and comfortable to wear.

How To Make A Wig With Your Real Hair

The Process

We begin the design process after obtaining a few reference images of the wig recipient before they lose their hair. These images are mimicked for the wig-making process.

The cut ponytails goes through various processes before being wefted. During this process about 20% of the hair is lost due to hackling – a process whereby damaged and dried out hair strands are removed and cuticles aligned.

The wefted (machine stitched) hair is then stitched onto a customised wig cap. The frontal part of the wig is hand-knotted by our highly skilled staff. Hand knotting is a process which makes the wig look very natural in a manner whereby it looks like each strand is growing out of your own scalp. This also allows the recipient to take their parting so that the wig looks completely natural and not wiggy at all.

The wig is then washed, deep conditioned and styled as per the recipient’s looks.

Measurements of the head

To make their custom-fitted wig cap, we’ll require the wig recipient’s head measurements in addition to the reference images. On our website, you can see an explanation of the measurement process or contact us to sign up for virtual assistance. We’ll go through each measurement with you so you can be confident that the wig will fit properly.

Weight of the wig

Any new bespoke wig order must meet a minimum weight requirement of 300 grams. This amount of hair is required to guarantee enough hair remains after the brushing process to complete the wig. The entire 300 g of hair will be brushed out to eliminate any damaged and useless strands, leaving just the longest and healthiest strands.

We recognise that gathering this much hair might be challenging. Therefore we recommend clients cut their hair well before it starts to fall due to cancer treatments.

The end result is being all the best strands being used and the wig not weighing more than 130g. This makes it light and breathable and easy for the client to handle.

Length of the wig

A wig made from donated hair must be at least 10 inches long. You can see examples of wigs made from various hair lengths on our website.

The Turnaround Time

Any new bespoke wig order requires a minimum of 8-10 days to make. This timeframe ensures that your custom wig is of the finest quality. Each strand of hair is hand-tied by a skilled wig manufacturer, allowing you the freedom to style and part your hair in any manner you want.

Can I Make A Wig From My Own Hair?