Written by Becca Guiller on 15th April, 2026
We explore the emotional toll of hair loss on people with cancer
At Cancer Card, we hear first-hand how physically and emotionally distressing it is for many losing their hair during treatment. It can have an impact on a person’s identity, confidence and outlook on life.
To offer support to those going through this, we have a dedicated “hair loss” category on our online support directory that lists several support services and businesses who can help improve the side effects of hair loss due to cancer treatment.
To understand this issue further, we spoke with Nik and Lorraine at CrownCouture here in Edinburgh about the hair systems they provide for cancer patients. They gave us a unique insight into the type of clients they work with and the results they can achieve, giving patients that bit of themselves back.
Co-founder of the business Nik explained that there has been a growing demand for hair loss solutions and over the years they have been receiving an increasing number of requests. As a small family run business, they trained and evolved their business to support cancer patients.
Nik expressed: “Customers often come to us feeling vulnerable and so we try our utmost to make them feel comfortable at what is a distressing time. We have private rooms and because we are a team of two we like to think we offer a more personal service in a private setting. The atmosphere in our studio is welcoming, light-hearted and without pressure."
Although the NHS provides a free wig service, CrownCouture understand the deeply emotional impact of hair loss and so want to provide their customers with a personalised service ensuring that each person is given plenty of time to try on the wigs before they decide.
When discussing the variety of options they have, Nik said: “We try to cater to different budgets and different requests.”
“Debbie is one of our customers who came to us just after she had finished chemo. She had been given wigs via the NHS but she came to us looking for a longer term, more bespoke solution. She hated having to take her wig off at night, so she wanted something that she could wear 24/7. We created an intralace system, which is essentially a wig that was always attached to her head and that really made her feel a lot more like herself again.”
Debbie was diagnosed in January 2021 for the first time, during Covid. It was triple negative stage 1 breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, partial lymp node removal, seven rounds of chemotherapy and then eight rounds of radiotherapy. The chemotherapy made her really ill and caused her hair to fall out. Debbie bravely shared her experience with us.
She expressed:
“Just before I went in for my second block of chemo, I was sitting out in the garden with my daughter and my hair was flying over the fence. I knew at that point it has to come off. I wanted to take control back and although it broke my heart, it was something I had to do”
“It was really emotional for me. My hair was very much my identity.”
“I just saw this old lady looking back at me. It wasnt wasn’t me.”
“My daughter found CrownCouture in Edinburgh and that is where my hair journey started and they were amazing. I never looked back”.
“I felt I had lost my identity and to get that back was monumental”.
We also spoke with Natalie, who powerfully shared her experience.
In early June she noticed a lump in her throat. She went to the doctors and straight away they identified that they thought it was a tumor. Following two biopsies, she quickly received a diagnosis of lymphoma. It was large, diffused B cell, high-grade meaning it was quite aggressive.
Natalie was on a 21-day cycle on her chemotherapy and by day 7 her hair was starting to fall out. Natalie shared: “It’s a huge thing. People see you and how you look and how you dress, your hair. On one hand it’s not important because it’s material but that’s how people recognise you.”
“My daughter was eight at the time and we had to tell her that I had cancer. The first thing she asked was if I would lose my hair.”
“From what she’s seen about cancer that’s what she really focused on – would I still look like her Mummy?”
Natalie’s daughter’s concern really prompted the search for a hair loss solution before she started treatment and that is what led to her finding CrownCouture.
“It was really daunting to come in but exciting as well. I can control this part and I can plan. I came in with my husband and we got a private room which was really professional”.
“The quality is fab. It feels like hair. It was really good to get something high quality”.
Reflecting on her hair loss experience, Natalie emphasised the importance in deciding what is important for you and involving the people around you. She expressed: “Do it at your own pace and get the support you need. There is a huge community so find support. Cancer Card have great resources.”
Our full conversation with these incredible women can be listened to on our podcast channel, which explains the process in how to get a wig fitting at CrownCouture.
