when the wig helps women fight against cancer

Ghislaine Villemenot is a hair prosthetist approved by Social Security. She supports women with cancer in choosing their wig and other accessories to hide their hair loss. She reassures them, advises them and supports them during this ordeal. A saving gesture for Carole Laine.

Ghislaine Villemenot has worked in hairdressing for 40 years. A few years ago, when a member of her family was diagnosed with cancer, Ghislaine was faced with the obstacle course of finding a wig. “We had to go all the way to Gérardmer to find one, and at an exorbitant price.“, remembers the hairdresser, still indignant, even years later. “It moved me to see that. We are already deprived of work and therefore of salary when we are sick, and on top of that, we have to pay to have a wig“, she adds.

When the butcher shop next to her hair salon in Saint Sauveur (Haute-Saône) went bankrupt, Ghislaine decided to set up a private salon there to sell hair prostheses. “I created a cocooning lounge to welcome these women, away from the gaze of my clients.“, explains Ghislaine who has Social Security approval, which allows her to make third-party payments. “So, they don’t have to advance the money and can leave with beautiful hair that suits them.“, specifies the hairdresser who makes a point of honor on the subject.

I come from a family of workers and I never saw my parents rolling in gold. If we are still forced to pay when we are already sick… It’s unfair to me.

Ghislaine Villemot, hair prosthetist approved by Social Security

In addition to her private salon, Ghislaine is a hair prosthetist at Minjoz hospital in Besançon. She supports patients in their choice of prostheses: hat, scarf, bangs, wig…the choice is theirs. But she explains that targeting the needs and expectations of women is essential. “Seeing yourself without hair every day means being confronted with illness. Always being in front of the mirror without hair is complicatedunderlines Ghislaine. The wig allows you to forget the illness, for a moment.”

Ghislaine, with the experience she now has, realizes that “hair is self-image, femininity and our personality“Hair loss systematically refers to cancer and is the only external sign of the disease. For some women, losing your hair is inevitable.”For some women, losing your hair is worse than the treatment, worse than the disease and worse than losing a breast“, says Ghislaine, before insisting on her role. “My duty is to reassure them. On the fact that their hair will grow back, and that, even if the first year, they will not return to their hair type, it will come back over time“, underlines Ghislaine.

For Carole Laine, aged 56 when the diagnosis was made, the loss of her hair was “major trauma“. She confides having made a “big denial” about the loss of her hair. Despite the doctor’s warning, she hoped not to lose it all. Then, one morning, she noticed a mass of hair on her pillow. That day, she decided to go to Ghislaine’s house Villemenot, of whom she had contact via a taxi driver.When she cut my hair, it was a cold shower. It’s a feeling you can’t describe“, remembers Carole, very moved. Her hair was heridentify“, in “adornment“.

When I looked in the mirror and my hair was gone, I felt like it wasn’t me.

Carole Laine, wearing a Ghislaine Villemenot wig

“I had lost all physical identity. The loss of my hair… it’s terrible. A bald head tells the whole world that you are sick”, remembers Carole, crying.

So hair prostheses are a good alternative to deal with hair loss induced by treatment. But there are sometimes many apprehensions. Is it comfortable? Will I put up with it, especially in summer? Is it natural? So many questions cross the minds of these women. Faced with the choice of wig, Ghislaine identified different profiles. There is the one who takes advantage of this interlude to completely change her look, with a cut and a color that she has never dared to do. The one who wants it not to be seen, so that she can blend into the crowd without being noticed. And then there is the one who assumes and does not want a wig.

Questioned by my colleague Jeanne Casez, Rachel, diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, confides that she couldn’t stand the wig, because of the scratching. She preferred to turn to a bandana. Jennifer, on the other hand, couldn’t find a wig that best matched her beautiful curls. “I wore a bandana, more for people’s eyes than for myself“, she testifies. Marine, for her part, first cut her hair before shaving it.

I didn’t even consider the wig. In the end, I found it very practical to have a shaved head. It was summer, it was hot. We still have a lot of trouble in the morning with long hair

Marie, suffering from breast cancer

For Carole, the wig has it “saved“. “Getting a hair prosthesis helped me overcome my hair loss. It gave me back my self-confidence. When I put it on, it’s me. Without it, I don’t recognize myself.”

My loved ones think I’m fine like that, now that my hair has grown back a little, but not me. I want to go back to how I was before.

Carole Laine, wearing a Ghislaine Villemenot wig

Carole is very grateful to Ghislaine, whom she describes as “extraordinary person“, throat still very tight. ” It’s thanks to her that I was able to overcome this.“

According to the feedback that Ghislaine has received from women, those who opted for the scarf or the hat were more confronted with the gaze of others, while the wig allows “to blend in with the crowd“. A feeling that Carole Laine confirms: “with the blindfold, I saw the illness. But with the wig, I go out with it and it helps me move forward, it lifts my heart. “