If you've just been told you're starting chemo, and someone mentioned you should "get fitted for a wig soon," I want to tell you something. I tell it to every woman who calls my showroom in that same shaken voice: you don't have to figure this out alone. It's not as clinical or as cold as it sounds on the phone.
Quick answer: A first wig fitting during chemo usually takes ninety minutes to two hours in my Fort Lauderdale showroom. We talk first. Then I measure your head, match your natural color while you still have hair to match, and let you try on a few options with zero pressure to decide that day. Most women leave with a plan, not necessarily a finished wig.
I've done this hundreds of times. For 25 years I've worked alongside Mount Sinai's oncology team on medical wig fittings. I can tell you almost exactly what your appointment will feel like, hour by hour, because the shape of it rarely changes, even though every woman who sits across from me is different.
The phone call, before you even walk in
Most fittings start with a call, not a walk-in. I ask a few gentle questions. When does your treatment start? Have you talked to your doctor about a prescription for a cranial prosthesis? Would you rather come alone or bring someone?
I had a client last month who called me in tears, two days after her diagnosis, apologizing for crying on the phone. I told her what I'll tell you: everyone cries on that first call. It's part of the job I take most seriously.
The first thirty minutes: just talking
When a woman comes in for a chemo fitting, we don't start with wigs. We start with a conversation, usually over coffee or water. Where is she in treatment? What does her hair look like right now? What is she most worried about?
Some clients want to talk through every detail of what's ahead. Others want to get straight to the practical part. I follow her lead, not a script.
This part matters more than people expect. A wig that's technically well-built, but chosen in a rush under stress, rarely gets worn the way it should. I'd rather spend thirty minutes here than have a client come back unhappy with a piece she picked too fast.
The next twenty minutes: measuring and matching
Once we're both ready, I measure your head, front to back and ear to ear. I photograph your natural color and part in good light. This is the step I push hardest for clients to do before hair loss starts, or as early into it as possible.
Matching color, density, and the way hair falls around your face is far more accurate when there's still natural hair to reference. Once hair is gone, I'm working from memory and photos instead of the real thing.
If you've already lost your hair by the time you reach me, that's completely fine too. We work from old photos, or from what feels most like "you" in the moment, and adjust as we go.
The middle stretch: trying pieces on
This is usually the longest part of the appointment, and often the part that surprises people most. I bring out several options in your color range and cap style. We try them on one at a time in front of the mirror, adjusting as we go. There's no pressure to choose in the moment.
I want a client to see herself in a few different options. She can even step outside the room and come back to a favorite before deciding on anything.
I had a client last month who expected to feel emotional the second a wig went on. Instead, she laughed, the first time in weeks. She said it was the first time since her diagnosis that she recognized herself in the mirror. That reaction, more than anything technical about the wig, is usually how I know we've found the right one.
The last part: insurance and next steps
Toward the end of the visit, I walk through what insurance may cover. Many plans reimburse part or all of a cranial prosthesis with the right documentation from your oncologist. I help clients understand exactly what that paperwork needs to say. If you haven't gotten a prescription yet, I'll tell you what to ask your doctor for.
We also talk timing. A custom, human hair piece can take several weeks to build, so the earlier we start, the more comfortably it lines up with your treatment schedule. If you need something sooner, we look at what's ready to fit today.
What to bring, and what not to worry about
You don't need to prepare much. A photo of your hair at its healthiest helps, if you have one. So does a friend or family member, if you'd like the company.
What you don't need is to have made any decisions in advance. I've had clients walk in dead set on one color and leave with something completely different, once they saw it on. That's normal. It's exactly why we don't rush this.
The bottom line
A first wig fitting during chemo isn't a quick, clinical transaction. In my showroom, it's ninety minutes to two hours of conversation, measuring, and trying things on. It's figuring out what actually feels like you, at a moment when very little else does. You won't leave with every decision made. You'll leave with a plan, and with someone in your corner who's done this hundreds of times before.
If you or someone you love is starting treatment soon, don't wait for hair loss to start before reaching out. Come sit with me in my Fort Lauderdale showroom, and we'll figure out the rest together.
You can read more about how I approach medical wig fittings before your visit, or go ahead and book your time with me directly.
Come sit with me in the showroom — book a free consultation.