thin female hair

Nurses Stress 101

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  1. What is the best working nurse option for covering up thinning female hair?

    • 7
      bandannas
    • 1
      shave bald
    • 11
      wigs
    • 3
      other hair coverings (please suggest)
    • 0
      other (no hair coverings, please suggest)

9 members have participated

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

When I was 30, I was diagnosed with PCOS. My appearance is related primarily in 3 ways: obesity, facial hair growth and thinning hair. Obesity is a hard challenge to fight, though I try to eat healthier foods and exercise. I had laser hair removal for much of my facial hair growth (I was shaving almost every day and felt like I had a 5o'clock shadow much of the time on my chin). But, for my hair on my head, I am at a loss.

I became self-conscious of my hair (which was leaving thick deposits on my shower floor, every shower, for a long time), after noticing that my head basically reflected the flash of cameras, in every photo. My scalp is visible all over the top of my head. At first I wore headbands over the top (but, the thinning is apparent if the front of my hairline is visible, and visible behind the headband). Then I got wider headbands, and saw the thinning even from the back of my head. So, now, I tend to wear a lot of bandannas and a few hair wraps that cover most of my head. If I feel the need to be 'professional', I wear a wig. I wore a wig to my wedding.

I just don't know what is appropriate for nursing. I haven't started working. I expect to wear a wig during interviews. But, if I ever do get that elusive first job, I'm not sure what to do. I feel too self-conscious to have my thinning hair visible. I don't think "short" hair would help, either. I think I'd feel fine shaving it all off, but I don't think society accepts bald women. What is an appropriate hair-covering for a nurse to wear? I'd love bandannas as they come in lots of color variations and are easily washable/replaceable. Wigs are more of a challenge to keep "hygienic". Suggestions?

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i understand how you feel i have thinning hair as well. i use make up on my thinner areas, i haven't quite got to the point to where i feel the need to cover my head, i know it's on its way and i have two options, accept it and not do anything or get some sort of hair extensions or maybe even a wig. my mother wears wigs now and they look real nice. i figure getting two or three of them and rotating them would work and it is fun picking them out. wigs have come a long ways with quality and some look so real you can't even tell. i see this is a problem with many women now days. i have a friend who has about 20 wigs and they are really nice, she calls it her showcase of wigs. you really can have fun with them (getting different styles). they are a pricey investment but worthy of it. my moms are anywhere from $150 to $400. she finds real nice ones in specialty boutiques. one other thing i have noticed is a lot of african american women i work with have wigs and extensions. i have worked with one caucasian nurse that wears wigs occasionally and it's beautiful. that would by my choice when it comes to that time for me. funny how this morning i found your thread because just yesterday i was talking with our unit secretary at lunch about my thinning hair and the garbage that in our foods. what about a short haircut with some spikiness and some make up to it to help conceal it? i am happy that laser worked for you facial hair, there are women out there such as myself that wouldn't benefit from it because my hair is strawberry blond. i know that there are other types of hair removal such as the no!no! or electrolysis (which is expensive). well good luck to you on your search.

when i was 30, i was diagnosed with pcos. my appearance is related primarily in 3 ways: obesity, facial hair growth and thinning hair. obesity is a hard challenge to fight, though i try to eat healthier foods and exercise. i had laser hair removal for much of my facial hair growth (i was shaving almost every day and felt like i had a 5o'clock shadow much of the time on my chin). but, for my hair on my head, i am at a loss.

i became self-conscious of my hair (which was leaving thick deposits on my shower floor, every shower, for a long time), after noticing that my head basically reflected the flash of cameras, in every photo. my scalp is visible all over the top of my head. at first i wore headbands over the top (but, the thinning is apparent if the front of my hairline is visible, and visible behind the headband). then i got wider headbands, and saw the thinning even from the back of my head. so, now, i tend to wear a lot of bandannas and a few hair wraps that cover most of my head. if i feel the need to be 'professional', i wear a wig. i wore a wig to my wedding.

i just don't know what is appropriate for nursing. i haven't started working. i expect to wear a wig during interviews. but, if i ever do get that elusive first job, i'm not sure what to do. i feel too self-conscious to have my thinning hair visible. i don't think "short" hair would help, either. i think i'd feel fine shaving it all off, but i don't think society accepts bald women. what is an appropriate hair-covering for a nurse to wear? i'd love bandannas as they come in lots of color variations and are easily washable/replaceable. wigs are more of a challenge to keep "hygienic". suggestions?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

Yeah, I have a small supply of wigs. My 'issues' with wearing them are having them stay on my head (some have combs inside, but they don't 'catch' on the top of my head since it is so thin). You can also use some tape stuff, but that can end up pulling out more hair when you remove it. I try for bobby pins, but I'm still pretty inexperienced with them. The other 'issue' with wigs is they can be hot and my head underneath can get itchy after wearing them for a while. I had thought about extensions, but from what I was told, you 'lose' a lot of hair when they come out.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you ever considered going to a salon and getting a professional hair weave? It will look more natural than a wig and create the appearance of fuller, healthier hair.

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I had a friend who lost almost all of her hair during her 20's. She shaved the rest of it off. Around friends, she would just go without any headwear and we were used to it, but in public she would usually wear a bandanna. On rare occasions she would wear a wig.

I'm sorry for what you're going through. Society is very critical of baldness in women.

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I have PCOS too. You might ask your endocrinologist whether or not low dose spironolactone might help. In addition to being a diuretic, it blocks testosterone at the level of the hair follicles. It does take about 6 months for effects to begin to show, but it might help both your facial hair and your thinning hair.

I am on it, as is another friend of mine. We've both had good results.

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