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Whether it be from medication, menopause or chemotherapy, hair loss can have a devastating effect on a woman. Thinning hair, bald spots or chunks of hair left behind in a hairbrush can be a source of panic and misery for anyone.

Six months into a regimen of the medication I needed to stay alive, I found myself considering stopping the medication because of what it was doing to my hair. Having to work every day, wearing a bandanna or hat was not an option, but I did find a few things that helped me get through.

The best remedy for me was matching hairpieces. Not wigs, which are hot and can look fake (unless they cost a fortune), but clip on hairpieces styled with braids, curls or medium length pony-tail locks. If your hair is thinning on top, a good idea is have it colored with the lightest shade possible to match your skin tone. If you can go blond, do it - and don't forget the streaks. Having your hair streaked allows you to use a variety of different colored hairpieces without having to deal with touch ups every few weeks.

If you're losing your hair altogether, cut it short - really short. Accessorize with fun and different big earrings, which draw attention to themselves and your face instead of your hair. If you're losing your hair completely, a shaved head nowadays can symbolize "uniqueness and fun".

This isn't the end of the world, I promise you. Chances are your hair will eventually come back and when it does, you'll be ready with thickening shampoo and everything out there. Meanwhile, like anything in life, when faced with lemons, make lemonade. I have a sign in my bathroom which reads, "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused". I can't tell you how often I smiled back looking at the woman in the mirror with the "big hair" and funky earrings.

Learn more about this author, Diane Winters.
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