A Guide to Wigs

Buying a wig for the first time can be daunting. It can also be a major financial investment, so to minimise the risk of getting something you're not happy with, we've developed a wig guide to help with choosing the wig that's just right for you! You'll find some general pointers and tips too, to take the mystery out of wig wearing.

Download our Wig Guide PDF here

It includes areas such as:

Wig cap types
Synthetic vs Human hair
An introduction to synthetic hair
An introduction to human hair
Wash and care instructions
Wigs and the NHS
Wig FAQs
Buying wigs

NHS England Wig Report

Following lots of contact from those with alopecia struggling to access NHS assistance with wigs, we were prompted to look into the disparity surrounding NHS wigs focussing first on NHS England. To find out more please take a look at our page here.

My New Hair

mynewhair is the charity founded by and inspired by Trevor Sorbie MBE.

They provide public advice and support a national network of independent salons and professionals who provide a wig styling service for people suffering from cancer and medical hair loss. You can use their Salon Finder function here - http://www.mynewhair.org/salon-finder/

Each professional pledges their commitment to responsible training and provide a caring and sensitive service for their clients.

mynewhair has produced a booklet of advice and information on what happens when you lose your hair, choosing a wig, having your wig styled to suit you and aftercare/ hair re-growth in conjunction with the Department of Health and Institute of Trichologists.

mynewhair provides training seminars for hair professionals, following completion of which these professionals become part of mynewhair's salon network - 'Salons that Care'.

Website: http://www.mynewhair.org/

Email: [email protected]

Latest

Alopecia UK Attends 13th World Congress for Hair Research

Our Research & Liaison Manager Niels has returned from the biennial hair research event.
Could you be one of our Kingswood volunteers this Summer?

We are recruiting adults to volunteer at our fourth family residential weekend at Kingswood Activity Centre, South Yorkshire, this August.
Lisa Parkhurst's fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I have recently been diagnosed with alopecia areata and want to raise awareness and money for this wonderful charity that has given me advice and confidence in these early days.
Izzy’s fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I have been following this charity through my own alopecia journey. I think what they do is truly remarkable and I would love to be a part of that however small

Scalp Micropigmentation

Questions and answers on 'scalp tattooing'
Brows and Lashes

Tips on how to use make up to create eyebrows and eyelashes.
Head coverings

Information on scarves, bandanas, camouflage products and head tattoos.
Permanent make up

Questions and answers on medical tattooing
Surgery - Hair Transplants

A guide to how hair transplantation works for those with alopecia

Common Treatments for Alopecia Areata

Information about common treatments for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia and Covid-19 (New Coronavirus)

A statement from Alopecia UK regarding COVID-19 and vaccines.
Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out, usually in usually in round or oval patches on the scalp or other places on the body that grow hair, such as the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes. Types of Alopecia Areata include Patchy Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Barbae, Diffuse Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Ophiasis.
Responding to the events from the 2022 Oscars

We respond to the events from the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony and the actions of Will Smith
A Guide to Wigs

Links to our downloaded PDF wig guide, and information on the NHS England wig report.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss)

Male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. Hairs falls out in a well-defined pattern in men, whereas in women, the hair usually becomes thinner all over the head rather than receding from the temples.
Lichen Planopilaris (Scarring Alopecia)

Primary Scarring Alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias or scarring hair loss) are a group of conditions that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In Lichen Planopilaris, patches of scalp appear, most commonly on the sides, front and lower back of the scalp.
Can I dye my hair when I have alopecia?
Telogen Effluvium

With Telogen Effluvium more hairs than usual move into the telogen (resting) phase and shed, so you may notice more hair falling out than usual. Telogen Effluvium is often caused by a physical or psychological trigger and often resolves itself spontaneously.
Hair Loss After Illness, including Covid-19

We asked Alopecia UK Research Committee member Professor Andrew Messenger to answer some questions about hair loss after illness.