Support & Advice

We recommend that you try on different types of wigs to see what you prefer. Ask to see the “base” of the wig (turn it inside out) as these do vary, and normally the more you pay the better quality the base is; for example some wigs have additional fine padding or have fabric which is softer on the scalp.

It’s important to look at the weave on a wig as some wigs can be parted in different directions and others can be worn one way only. Some wigs have a natural lining which looks like the scalp, others don’t. It is important to find a wig within your price range that you are comfortable with, in terms of both how it looks and how it feels.

For more information regarding wearing a wig, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

There are various ways a wig can be secured onto the head. The most common method is a tightening belt which is built into the wig. This can be easily tightened or loosened by you according to the size of your head, and holds the wig firmly in place.

If your wig is covering hair then you may be advised to wear a wig cap which will cover your natural hair and allow a wig to be held in place without slipping.

A wig cap may also add an extra element of comfort when wearing the wig. Some wigs have areas where you can apply wig tape that will make you feel more secure when wearing your wig.

Don’t worry about your wig falling off, wig manufacturers understand that you want the wig to stay firmly on your head and design them with maximum staying power. A good wig supplier will be able to help you fit the wig properly and securely.

Click here to download our Patient Information Resource for further information.

It is extremely important to take good care of your wig. It is important to wash and clean your wig regularly and understand the types of products that you can and can’t use; for example, a synthetic wig is not real hair so you can’t use tongs or straightening irons on these as they may melt the hair!

Close proximity to heat sources in general should be avoided when wearing a synthetic wig, for example opening the oven door or sitting under an outdoor heater in the garden.

The more care you take in looking after your wig the longer it is likely to last.  Generally speaking each wig will come with a care and advice label to tell you how to maintain the condition. Our network of Salons that Care or wig supplier will be able to give you further care advice.

Click here to download our Patient Information Resource for further information.

It is important that you find a wig that is suitable for you and your circumstances, for example if you are having chemotherapy it may not be viable for you to wait for a custom made wig to be produced.

You can buy wigs that you can wear immediately but, in our experience, most wigs look more life-like when they have been trimmed and styled to suit your face shape. Many wigs have over 40% too much hair in them and need to be thinned down to look more natural.

When selecting a wig it is important to choose a wig as close to your desired style as possible. Wigs can be trimmed and tweeked, but shouldn't be cut drastically. Just as when cutting real hair, a wig should be customised to the individual, for example layering around the face or trimming a fringe – it really does make a big difference and with a wig this is what makes it look more realistic and personal to you.

Click here to access our database of salons that can advise you on choosing the right wig for you and will cut / style that wig to be as individual as you are.

For more information on different types of wigs, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

We wouldn't generally recommend these types to people undergoing cancer treatment, as a made-to-measure wig can take up to two months to make and will normally not be ready before your treatment begins.

Made-to-measure wigs are normally worn by people who suffer from alopecia or those who are unfortunate not to experience hair re-growth.

Made-to-measure wigs also tend to be substantially more expensive than other wigs.

For more information on different types of wigs, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

Many of the salons in our network are involved in the supply of wigs and can help you choose the one that is right for you. Click here to access our database.

Real hair wigs are made from 100% human hair  The hair is cleansed, chemically treated, coloured and made into a wig.

You need to take good care of a real hair wig and remember that, just like real hair, it needs to be blow-dried into style after each shampoo.This may make a real hair wig unsuitable for people who are unwell, as they require a great degree of looking after compared to a synthetic wig.

A real hair wig is more expensive than a synthetic hair wig and requires more care. Real hair wigs are, therefore, generally advised for people suffering hair loss on a more long term or permanent basis, such as due to alopecia. It is, of course, an entirely personal decision.

Prices start from around £250.00.

For more information, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

Access our database of mynewhair trained salons here who can advise you on what type of wig may be right for you.

Synthetic hair wigs are made from a fibre – much like clothing fabric. Once the wig has been customised and styling product added it looks incredibly real and is, in fact, Trevor's favourite choice for people with short term hair loss.

Synthetic wigs are easy to take care of and you can wash the wig in warm water, condition it (using a recommended conditioner for that wig), and then as it dries it will re-form its shape – this makes it very easy to take care of, especially if you are feeling unwell.

This is the least expensive choice, a good synthetic wig starts from £100.00.

For further information, click here to download our Patient Information Resource or click here to access our database of salons who can also offer you advice on choosing a wig.

For a wig to look as natural as possible it is essential that it fits snugly - as close to the scalp as possible.

A wig can look more natural when customised to suit your face shape. It’s about getting the right advice and having the wig cut and shaped to suit your face. Also, you don’t need to pay a fortune. Most wig suppliers can fit and customise a wig from around £100.00.

Technology is advancing constantly and the quality and variety of wigs that are available is increasing all of the time. Whether you are someone who simply wishes to match their hair colour as closely as possible or you would like a complete change, there is something that will be just right for you.

If you walk into a wig shop and try on a wig it will normally not suit you immediately. This is because colour choice, customising of the wig, and correct product usage are essential for the most effective finished result.

Click here to download our Patient Information Resource for further information or access our database of trained salons here  for advice.

Click on 'Salon Finder' at the top of this page or click here and enter your postcode to search through of network of salons.

We have a wonderful network of salons throughout the UK who can help you or your loved one buy or fit and style your new wig.

Just type in your postcode and we'll show you all the salons near to you, and how they can help.

If you require any assistance, please contact us.

We understand that losing your hair can be a daunting and stressful experience and that it can be difficult to know what to do first in terms of getting advice.

We suggest that you download and read our Patient Information Resource. This is a booklet that we have produced with the Department of Health and Institute of Trichologists. It provides advice and information on hair loss, different types of wigs, choosing and caring for a wig, hair re-growth and aftercare.

Our network of Salons that Care can advise you and help you choose a suitable wig for the style that you want to achieve. Many of our salons are involved in the supply of wigs. Access our database of salon details here.

If you have any questions or require further information that you cannot find on our website you can contact us directly.

Of course, you can contact / visit wig suppliers directly.

Once you have chosen a wig, if you haven't already done so, you may wish to contact one of our network of trained salons to cut and style your wig to suit you. Your wig will then be individual to you.

Our network of salons can advise you on how to care for your wig. you can also find further information in our Patient Information Resource.

If you require support and would like to talk to someone about the impact that hair loss is having on you, contact Macmillan Cancer Support who we work in partnership with.

If you have experienced hair loss and your hair is now growing back, man of our network of salons are trained to Advanced Aftercare level. This means that they have received additional training from mynewhair on aftercare of your wig, hair re-growth and technical wig cutting.

"If you are a hairdresser who is interested enough to be reading this then you are obviously someone who cares a great deal about your customers. I feel that it is extremely important to give something back to the industry that I love and this is a guide written by me for you, the hairdresser"

Trevor Sorbie MBE

Salons are the vital ingredient which allows us to offer this much needed service to people nationwide. You, the professionals, play a vital role in helping mynewhair support people with medical hair loss by cutting and styling their new wigs.

We already have a number of fabulous salons that have pledged their support – but we need more!

Becoming a mynewhair stylist is a rewarding but challenging experience. Although it will have it’s personal rewards for all involved, you will also be faced with some difficult experiences. For this reason, our training not only covers styling and maintaining wigs, but also how to manage difficult and emotional situations that you may find yourself in.

Your training will cover everything from communicating with the client to PR techniques of how to promote the service in your area.

The three steps to support us are really simple:

• Register your salon’s interest in one of the many mynewhair training seminars throughout the UK.
  
  
• Select your mynewhair specialist stylist (or number of stylists if applicable) from your team.
  
  
• Your stylist will then receive training from our dedicated team, headed by our founder, Trevor Sorbie MBE.

Once your training has been completed you become a certified Level 1 mynewhair salon and are added to our national database.

After you have gained some experience as a Level 1 mynewhair salon you may wish to consider undertaking our Level 2 Advanced Aftercare Training. Click here for further information

With mynewhair being a registered charity we do need to charge a fee for this unique training.

Without this valuable support from you, the salons, it is impossible for us to offer this training, guidance and support.

So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Over the years I have worked with many wig suppliers, your local supplier will I am sure be able to offer you advice and support. We have also detailed in other sections within this website things to take into account when advising your client

I have been cutting wigs for years – using them on photographic shoots and hair shows and it really is a different way of cutting. It’s really important that you don’t try to cut a wig like a normal head of hair as it’s not!

At our training seminars we will teach you how to cut a wig and answer any questions that you may have.

I nearly always use a razor because I feel that sculpting a shape and reducing bulk is much easier using this tool. Also, you get a more natural look with a razor as the edges of the hair are not as blunt as when cut with scissors. In my experience, most wigs have about 40% too much hair in them and I normally concentrate on first removing the bulk and then customising the shape to suit the face. I do also use my scissors and thinning scissors – it’s a combination of the tools that you feel most comfortable with.

Click here to find out more about becoming a mynewhair trained professional,

The single most important thing about making a wig look as natural as possible is to ensure that the wig is customised to suit the face shape – in my experience you don’t need to have a real hair wig to make it look real. It’s about getting the right advice and having the wig cut and shaped to suit the individual.

Also, you don’t need to pay a fortune. Most wig suppliers can fit and customise a wig from around £100.00.

Technology is advancing and the quality and variety of wigs that are available is increasing all the time.

Colour choice, customising of the wig, and correct product usage are essential for the most effective finished result. 

Please click here for more information on how to become a mynewhair trained professional.

For more information on different types of wigs, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

Synthetic hair wigs are made from a fibre – much like clothing fabric; but believe me, once the wig has been customised and styling product added it looks incredibly realistic and is, in fact, my favourite choice.

Synthetic wigs are easy to take care of. You can wash the wig in warm water, condition it (using a fabric conditioner), and then as it dries it will re-form its shape.

This is the least expensive choice, a good synthetic wig starts from £100.00.

For more information on different types of wigs, click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

Made-to-measure wigs are normally worn by people who suffer from alopecia or those who do not experience hair re-growth. They can take up to two months to make and, therefore, will not normally be suitable for those undergoing cancer treatment.

Real hair wigs are made from 100% human hair  The hair is cleansed, chemically treated, coloured and made into a wig.

You need to take good care of a real hair wig and remember that, just like real hair, it needs to be blow-dried into style after each shampoo.This may make a real hair wig unsuitable for people who are unwell, as they require a great degree of looking after compared to a synthetic wig.

A real hair wig is more expensive than a synthetic hair wig and requires more care. Real hair wigs are, therefore, generally advised for people suffering hair loss on a more long term or permanent basis, such as due to alopecia. It is, of course, an entirely personal decision.

Prices start from around £250.00.

For more information on how to become a mynewhair trained professional, please click here.

Click here to download our Patient Information Resource.

As with all skills, the more you practice, the better you will become. 

At our training seminars we will teach you all about technical wig cutting techniques. You will be provided with a wig to practice your technique and will be able to ask questions of the experienced professionals supervising you.

For more information on our training seminars, click here.

One of the most important things is to have good communication skills. As a hairdresser you are used to having a consultation and communicating with customers; but there is a big difference with a client who is going to lose, or has already lost, their hair. 

We strongly recommend attending one of our training seminars, as communication is a key part of the training.

Click here for more information on our training seminars.

I am often asked what my thoughts are about charging for a service to someone who is ill. I personally don’t charge for the cutting of wigs but just charge for the actual price of the wig. However, in my salons, my staff do charge.

We book around one and a half hours to cut a wig and give advice; we charge the same price as we would for a cut and blow dry. The consultation is free and all of my staff have joined our “pro bono” project which means that they will each offer two free services a year (this means that when someone comes in who really can’t afford the service we are able to offer the cutting and styling free of charge - they just pay for the basic wig).

Click here for more information on becoming a mynewhair trained professional.

mynewhair is dedicated to supporting individuals with medical hair loss and making the public aware of the services available to them related to their hair loss. It is through our network of trained hair professionals that we are able to provide much of this support.

We welcome hair professionals new to this area, and those who may already have a degree of experience, that are dedicated and committed to providing a caring advice and wig cutting service to clients.

We respectfully require all hair professionals who have trained with, and wish to be part of the mynewhair network to pledge their commitment to our Guiding Principles.

Offering support in this area requires care, commitment, integrity and the genuine desire to always offer a responsible service to clients.

Before committing to becoming a mynewhair professional we ask that you click here to download our Guiding Principles to familiarise yourself with our expectations.

If you would like to become part of our network of trained hair professionals, please click here for more information.

We are a national, independent registered charity and rely solely upon donations to continue our work. Our ability to continue to support, train, and provide information relies upon fundraising and sponsorship to support this programme.

Without your help we would be unable to continue developing our network of salons that care, who provide such an important service to people suffering from hair loss.

Fundraising supports us to provide valuable patient information.  It also helps us to support and respond to patients and hairdressers queries.

Through fundraising we are able to train and support a network of hair professionals across the country to provide a wig cutting and styling service. 

Every time you shop online... Raise money for mynewhair every time you shop online. Visit www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/mynewhair for more information.

Make a on-off donation or become a regular donor. Please click here.

Send a text message from your mobile phone... For a quick and easy way to support mynewhair text HAIR44 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 to our charity.

We would love for you to organise your own event to raise money for mynewhair. From coffee mornings to raffles, from sponsored walks to sports events...anything does! If you are thinking of organising your own event please contact us to see how we can help.

If you are thinking of organising a fundraising event for mynewhair please contact us to see how we can help.

We have produced a booklet full of useful information on hair loss, wigs, aftercare and hair re-growth - our Patient Information Resource.

Our Patient Information Resource was produced in conjunction with the Department of Health and Institute of Trichologists.

Click here to download a copy now. Alternatively, please contact us and we will send you a hard copy in the post.

Feedback on a mynewhair salon

All salons / wig suppliers in our mynewhair network of salons that care, sign up to our Guiding Principles.

Our Guiding Principles exist to ensure that every member of our salon network provides the same high quality, sensitively delivered service to everyone.

If you have any feedback regarding any of our mynewhair salons, and the service that they provide, we would love to hear from you.

Contact us here.

You can also view our Feedback and Complaints Procedure here.

We always love to hear your thoughts and feedback on our charity.

If you have any feedback regarding mynewhair then please contact us here.

You can also access our Feedback and Complaints Procedure here.