Wigs & Head Coverings

By: Eileen Coan

How do I go about finding a wig or head covering?


Meet with the wig supplier/stylist while you still have a full head of hair so they can better understand your current hairstyle, color and approach to grooming. As the time gets closer consider a shorter style. That way you get used to seeing yourself with shorter hair, and the hair that falls out won't be as dramatic.

Bring a friend who can be honest about what looks good and natural on you. Better to have them be blunt up front, than to wear something unflattering.

Some women find that shaving their head or getting a crewcut as the time approaches is more empowering and less traumatic than watching as clumps of hair fall out. Some women ask a girlfriend or partner to shave their head for them, to have the experience be more shared and intimate. Some families try to make an 'event' of shaving Mom's head, so that the children feel a part of things, and can see the humor amidst the sadness.

Don't let someone talk you into spending more than you are comfortable with or more than is necessary. You can buy a very attractive, easy to take care of, synthetic wig for around $200. There are some salons that will charge over $1,000 and insist you will 'want' a human hair wig that needs to be washed and styled frequently. This is not recommended.

Your doctor can write you a 'prescription' for a 'cranial prosthesis' that you can submit to your insurance after purchasing a wig. Most insurance companies do not cover wigs, or only give you a small amount towards the purchase.

The Regina Brett Wig Salon

The Regina Brett Wig Salon is a service offered by The Gathering Place that provides a synthetic wig free to those who experience hair loss due to cancer treatment. Click here for more information.

Salons Offering Wig Services

We have surveyed our participants and they have said the following salons were kind, helpful and had a good selection. This is not a complete list of all salons in our area, and is not in any way a judgment of salons not listed.

East Side

  • A Special Touch Boutique , 8252 Darrow Rd., Suite A, Twinsburg, 330-405-9533
  • A Woman's Place, Discount Drug, Mart, Highland Hts., 440-684-1142, Click here for details
  • Accents of Hair by Vincie, 25550 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, 216-831-8918
  • Advanced Hair Center, 24800 Chagrin Blvd., #212, Beachwood, 216-292-0224
  • Complete Image, 1450 SOM Ctr. Rd. #3 Mayfield Hts., 440-461-4247
  • Eve Loren Wigs, 252 Shoregate Mall, Willowick, 440-944-7600
  • Hair Care Designers, 5437 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, 440-449-4420
  • Hair Options, Jennifer Weber, 23850 Commerce Park, Beachwood, 216-382-5987
  • Hair There & Everywhere, 32801 Vine St, Willowick, 440-943-3511
  • Hairways, Mi Young, 28440 Chagrin, Woodmere, 216-464-6322
  • Just Your Style, Inc, 9311 Lorrich Dr., Mentor, 440-209-9730
  • Look of Elegance, Wigs by Peshi, 3583 Bendemeer, Cleveland Hts., 216-321-9321
  • Lowry's, 16650 Chagrin, Shaker Hts. ,216-751-9447
  • Ms. Jade's Closet (Janet), 1200 Melbourne, Cleveland, 216-268-1672
  • Mika's, 2199 S. Green Rd., University Hts., 216-382-2954
  • Nino's Hair Design, 4950 Riverside Dr., Willoughby, 216-261-2848
  • Wig Paradise, 4014 Mayfield Rd, South Euclid, (216) 382-9635 (for natural African-American styles)
  • Wigs & Things, Debbie Carter, 77 N. Miller Rd., Suite B, Fairlawn, 330-864-5251
  • Wigs On Wheels, Dee Curry, Akron 330-865-0716, Toll free 877-865-0716

West Side

  • Bob's Hair Center for Men, 21799 Lorain, Cleveland, 440-331-8838
  • Gina Salon & Wigs, 17303 Detroit, Lakewood, 216-226-6788
  • Hair Compliments, 14484 Pearl Rd., Strongsville, 440-238-9779
  • Hair Systems by Calabretta, 5714 Pearl Rd., Parma, 440-888-4540
  • Joey & Me, 576 N. Leavitt, Amherst, 440-985-9447
  • Wig Fashions, Inc. by Stephanie, 5466 Pearl Rd., Parma, 440-886-0777
  • Wigs Fashioned by Lois, 5360 Broadview, Parma, 216-741-3060

Hair Loss Prevention with Ice Caps

Arctic Cold Cap, www.arcticcoldcaps.com , 877-234-1688$379+/month

Dignicap, www.dignicap.com, 877-375-8070, Dignicap is a machine that a clinic can buy to offer their patients. You are attached to the machine by wires. Not available in Cleveland yet. $275+ per treatment

Penguin Cold Caps https://penguincoldcaps.com/ 810 359 5257, Penguin cold cap system can be purchased for personal use. They are freestanding caps that are kept cold and need to be refrigerated and swapped out as they warm. You buy them as a set.

Hair To Stay (https://hairtostay.org/ ) is a national organization to offers financial aid to purchase cold caps.

The Rapunzel Project (http://rapunzelproject.org/) has supplied many of our local hospitals with the ice cap option. Their website lists the following options. You may need to request this service, as it may not be offered as a matter of course.

  • UH Seidman Cancer Center – Avon, OH PAXMAN
  • UH Seidman Cancer Center - Minoff Health Center – Beachwood, OH PAXMAN
  • Soin Cancer Center Mansfield – Beavercreek, OH PAXMAN
  • Aultman Hospital Infusion Center – Canon, OH PAXMAN
  • OHC Blue Ash – Cincinnati, OH PAXMAN
  • OHC Eastgate – Cincinnati, OH PAXMAN
  • The Christ Hospital Cancer Center - Mt. Auburn – Cincinnati, OH DIGNICAP
  • Cleveland Clinic Fairview – Cleveland, OH PAXMAN
  • Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center – Cleveland, OH PAXMAN
  • Geauga Medical Center – Cleveland, OH PAXMAN
  • UH Hospitals Main Campus – Cleveland, OH PAXMAN
  • OhioHealth The Bing Cancer Center – Columbus, OH FREEZER
  • OSUMC Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center – Columbus, OH PAXMAN
  • The Ohio State University Mill Run – Columbus, OH PAXMAN
  • Zangmeister Cancer Center – Columbus, OH DIGNICAP
  • OhioHealth Dublin Cancer Center – Dublin, OH FREEZER
  • Kettering Health Hamilton – Hamilton,OH PAXMAN
  • The Ohio State University (OSUMC) – Hilliard,OH PAXMAN
  • Dayton Physicians – Kettering, OH PAXMAN
  • Kettering Health Renew Boutique and Spa – Kettering, OH PAXMAN
  • Madison Health – London, OH PAXMAN
  • Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Mansfield – Mansfield, OH PAXMAN
  • Licking Memorial Hospital – Newark, OH PAXMAN
  • UH Seidman Cancer Center - Parma Medical Center – Parma, OH PAXMAN
  • Promedica Healthcare System – Perrysburg, OH DIGNICAP
  • University Hospitals Portage Seidman Cancer Center – Ravenna, OH PAXMAN
  • Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Sandusky – Sandusky, OH PAXMAN
  • Promedica Healthcare System – Sylvania, OH DIGNICAP
  • Toledo Clinic Cancer Center – Toledo, OH DIGNICAP AND FREEZER
  • Kettering Health Troy Cancer Center – Troy, OH PAXMAN
  • UH Seidman Cancer Center - Sharon Health Center – Wadsworth, OH PAXMAN