North Bay Woman

F A L L 2 0 1 7 | NORTH BAY WOMAN 49 still have a lot of work to do." Wigs and scarves Jeanni Lang of A Lady's Touch offers wigs, turbans, scarves and pieces such as bangs at her San Rafael boutique. She advises women who are about to have ra- diation or chemotherapy that causes hair loss to be prepared. Lang recommends they watch California Pacific Medical Cen- ter's video on hair loss to find out what to expect and consider how they'll feel comfortable dealing with it, whether it's a wig, head covering or going bald. She suggests women think about wigs carefully. "Some people love them; other people can't stand them," she says, so it's best to start with just one and test-drive it. She cautions against choosing something unusual. "Most women are going through enough already. They want to look like themselves," she says. If a woman is hesitant, Lang explains that it takes five months for hair to grow 2 inches, which is longer than most people think. And if cost is an issue, she suggests comparing it to what she would normally spend on her hair over the same time period, and it's usually equitable. Wigs are either human hair or synthetic. Human hair is more expensive and requires significantly more upkeep than synthetic, which retains its style better. Lang sees women by appointment, and she's cre- ated an inviting environment where they can be comfortable. "This should not be the hard part," she says. Cold caps The goal of Penguin Cold Caps is to prevent hair loss. Developed in the United Kingdom more than 20 years ago, it freezes the hair follicles, protecting them from damage at the time they are most vulnerable. The caps are available for rent, and Northern California repre- sentative Theresa Daniels and her team provide personalized services on short notice, visiting with a woman and her helper for three hours to train them in the proper use of the caps so they'll provide optimal benefit. Kits include four caps, which contain a gel to keep them cold, and they're changed every 25 minutes so the head stays at a consistently low temperature. "It's not as cold as people think. It's extremely easy to use and tolerable," Daniels says. The process starts an hour before chemotherapy begins, continues during treatment and lasts for several hours after. "It really does work. I went through it myself," she says. A cancer survivor, she explains that women already feel as though they're losing their body and identity, so hair is important. "They need to have something left," she says. Helping women look their best makes a difference, and that understanding inspires Daniels, Husen and Lang to help them during one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. n Theresa Marie Daniels and a Penguin Cold Caps former patient go through the steps putting on and securing the cold cap. – Photos by Stuart Lirette Top left: Jeanni Lang of A Lady's Touch offers solutions, from wigs to turbans.

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