Rita

Rita is in her late fifties. Her children have left home, so it is just Rita and her husband. They both came in to me after Rita got confirmation that she was going to lose her hair due to chemotherapy.

Rita's hair was longer than I thought she should wear it, as with many years of experience in hairdressing, I could tell immediately what style would suit her features. I asked her what style she would like. Of course, she said she would like to look the same.

Rita's husband suggested that she might like to try something different, as she had worn the same hair style for many years. I had to be diplomatic; I had to find a way of saying that she would look so much more attractive with a short style. I asked if I could try a style that I thought would suit her. With the encouragement of her husband, she agreed.

Rita's own hair was tinted too dark for her complexion and the style was too long. I chose a lighter colour and a shorter, more up to date style. When Rita saw herself in the mirror she said she should have worn her hair like this years ago. Her husband thought she looked ten years younger. That was exactly what she wanted to hear. She looked amazing. I suggested that she should have her own hair styled the same way now, in order to get used to it.

I explained she would achieve this style, after her chemotherapy, by coming back to us every eight weeks. I reminded her that it would be a year or more before her own hair would be long enough to create this style.

Rita came back months later and allowed us to cut her new hair. I asked how she had coped over the past six months. She said it had not been easy, but her husband and her family had been a tower of strength for her.

I asked her about the reaction she got when she was wearing her hair piece. She said everyone thought she looked great and years younger.

When she was having her chemotherapy treatment in hospital one day, a lady next to her asked if this was her first treatment. "No" she answered, "this is my third. But you must be on a very mild chemo, as you have not lost your hair. This is a hair piece, I have no hair." Rita said that saying those words made her feel very good. The compliment was confirmation that she looked, to the outside world, normal and natural.