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Hold Your Head High Despite Chemo
Beauty Fashion Hints by Marilyn Robinson

In 1993 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had many heart-wrenching issues to face. Much to my surprise while confronted with my own mortality, I was devastated at the thought of losing my hair to chemotherapy. My diagnosis: Ductal Cell Carcinoma, stage II; invasive, nuclear black grade 1 (most aggressive).

I underwent 10 months of chemotherapy after a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and lived 1 1/2 years without hair. Now after 6 years cancer free, I have been diagnosed again with breast cancer to the healthy breast, but that is another story. My first diagnosis was one year after my husband was diagnosed with renal cell cancer...we were both in treatment at the same time. Unfortunately, my husband was not a survivor and passed away one month after my last chemotherapy treatment.

When undergoing treatment, I could not find fashionable headwear that allowed me to feel comfortable with my family, friends, and professional associates, so with scarves, hats, and soft fabrics I designed my own. I realized the importance of looking good. I did not want people to feel sorry for me, so I was determined to look my best. I only told my closest friends what I was going through. As you know a patient's attitude has a powerful impact on his/her recovery.

I bought a video on tying scarves to add color and interest on my hairless head. I remember the evening well...it was one of the few times in many weeks my husband laughed. My mother, who used to own a millinery shop, and I were watching the video and having absolutely no success with the intricate directions. In frustration, we started giggling and soon were performing Carmen Miranda antics to gales of laughter. The silliness of it all broke through my husband's gloom and gave us a hilarious evening and a precious memory. If I could not follow the video, I was sure there were others equally frustrated but equally determined not to give in to a helpless patient mentality.

I then found out I had a marvelous gift for design and fashion and that scarves and hats had become a passion with me. I enlisted our housekeeper, our friend, who cared for my husband and me, a black woman, who learned as a child all the best ways to knot, tie, and wear scarves. We designed a basic head wrap I wore as an alternative to a wig. The folds gave shape to the back of the head, and the bun I twisted at the nape of the neck gave the illusion of hair. Topped with a colorful braid, scarf, or hat one would have to look carefully to realize I was not merely dressing in high style. The naturalness of the shape fooled the casual observer and boosted my morale immensely. I felt the skill was "God-given" coming directly out of my painful experience with cancer.

I would like to share my high fashion statement with you...Holding Head High Despite Chemo..

I attended my 30th high-school reunion wearing my chemo pack inside a glittery purse, a metallic scarf over my head wrap, and some dangling earrings. I was amused watching other former classmates who were self-consciously fussing with their hair in reaction to my high-fashion statement. If they had only known.....

I wore my head wraps each time I went for treatment and patients invariably pleaded with me to show them how to attain the look of hair with a simple cotton head wrap, and to teach them how to tie classy knots and bows. I graciously complied. I had so many requests for scarf tying and headwear instructions, that I started weekly headwear classes at MDAnderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

I made it my mission to educate patients how to maintain their self confidence and identity while undergoing treatment. When you are diagnosed with cancer, the professional world and your friends treat you as a sick person instead of the same person you were, who is trying to regain her health. I want to be supportive of the emotional well-being of patients so they can maintain their femininity and look their best. Doing something of service to others gives me deep satisfaction from the improvement in morale I make in the lives of fellow cancer survivors. My classes are still ongoing.

Follow me through one of my headwear classes, and I will show you how to tie scarves and accessorize your headwear wardrobe. With a little practice, you will soon be an expert!

The best fabrics to use for head wraps are cotton, rayon, challis, and cotton blends. Silk and polyester are elegant, but tend to slip and will not stay securely on your head. Use silky fabrics to accessorize your headwraps and caps. The same color scarf match is not necessary; a color and pattern that blends with your outfit makes the statement. Attention needs to focus on your accessories; such as, earrings with some movement, fun or elegant pins, and attractive scarves.

THE BASIC HEAD WRAP

Step 1. Lay a square scarf (36" x 36") flat; wrong side facing you. Fold scarf into a triangle and place the scarf fold just about 1 inch below your natural hairline. Tie the ends into a square knot behind your head over the triangle point. The flap should be beneath the knot.

Step 2. Pull any excess scarf from under the knot so you have fullness and the illusion of hair at the back of your head. (Avoid that flat head look). Wear the scarf with the ends loose or tie in a classy bow; fluff the bow for a soft feminine look. Great under hats for a casual look. No one will ever know...

Step 3. Twist the three ends together ( will look like a twisted rope) and tightly wrap around the knot for the look of a bun or rosette. Take the loose ends and tuck through the center of the bun to secure. You look fabulous!

Step 4. A different twist: Pull all three ends together (ok to twist) and tuck securely over and under the knot. This gives the illusion of a French hair roll. Now you look like Greta Garbo!

If you need to cover a wound or scar at the side of your face, place the knot over one ear instead of at the back of your head. Let the ends hang down loose or tie in a soft bow. For balance and movement add a dangling earring to the opposite ear.

SIDE LOOP AND SLIPKNOT

This is to be worn around your neck to cover surgery scars, discoloration and will cover your portacath. (wear in the summer when you want to wear sundresses oops did I say sun..be sure and use spf 15) and scooped or v-neck t-shirts.

Sideloop
Fold a 12" x 60" colorful scarf in half and place around your neck. Bring the two ends through the loop and pull in opposite directions until loop is snug and comfortable.

Slipknot
Place oblong scarf around your neck with one end longer than the other. On the longer end tie a loose slipknot and bring the shorter end through the knot. Adjust and tighten as desired.

For a final touch to your caps and wraps add a braid for fullness, a twisted scarf, add an elegant pin, and wear dangling earrings that are colorful and attract the eye. Everyone around you will wonder...hmmm why do you look so good and they don't. Surround yourself with people you love.

The best news is you don't have to be a patient to enjoy headwear. It makes a high-fashion statement anywhere, on anyone.

One consultation I remember well...
A lovely young woman came to see me with her head hanging and her eyes riveted on the floor. She had a high-level administrative position in a well-known university, and her face was disfigured from a recent surgery that removed her ear. I picked out a blue patterned scarf to match her eyes, showed her how to tie a large bow that obscured the wound, and added a dangling earring on the other side to balance the bow. She left with her head high and smiling. I knew then I had to continue this mission.

INSIDE HOUSTON wrote a story about my cancer experience which was titled, "Uncovering the Secrets of Beauty." An excerpt written by Heather Staible:

"Easily likened to a magician, Marilyn Robinson thrives on creating something out of nothing. Her slight of hand is so good that before a casual observer knows it, she has turned a beautiful yet basic scarf into a disguise, beautifully covering a head without hair. Her expertise is unknown to some, but for many women suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and other conditions, Robinson serves as a fashion alternative pulling tricks out of various hats, scarves, and head wraps".

You can continue your normal active lifestyle in style while undergoing treatment!

Hugs,

Marilyn Robinson,
breast cancer survivor
www.headwear-etc.com

Headwear consultant to patients facing the fears of losing their appearance to chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and other dermatological conditions. Regularly consults at major cancer centers and holds weekly headwear classes at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas