A Little Control When it Matters Most
What Is Cold Cap Therapy?
Cold cap therapy uses a specially designed cooling cap to help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. By lowering scalp temperature, the cap reduces blood flow to hair follicles, helping protect them from the damaging effects of chemotherapy drugs. The result, for many patients, is the ability to retain a meaningful amount of their hair throughout treatment.
Over My Head Boutique is proud to offer cold cap therapy using the Penguin Cold Cap system, a trusted option used by patients across the country, as well as scalp cooling with Cooler Heads Amma machines.
Penguin Cold Cap System
Cooler Heads Amma Machine
What to Expect
We want you to come into this process with clear expectations. Cold cap therapy is not easy or comfortable. The caps must be worn at a very low temperature, and the sessions are long.
Prepare for your treatment by bringing cozy layers, downloading something to watch or listen to, or bringing something to read.
Results vary from person to person. Hair type, chemotherapy regimen, and individual biology all play a role. Some patients retain most of their hair; others experience partial loss. There are no guarantees, and our team will never promise an outcome we cannot deliver.
What we can promise is this: you will be fully informed, carefully supported, and never alone in the process. Our consultations are designed to help you decide whether cold capping is right for you. And if it is, we will be with you every step of the way.
The Cold Capping Process
Cold cap therapy is a commitment that spans your entire course of chemotherapy. Here is what the process generally looks like:
- Initial Consultation: Before anything begins, you will meet with our cold capping specialist to discuss your diagnosis, chemotherapy protocol, hair type, and goals. This consultation helps us determine whether cold cap therapy is a good fit for your specific situation. It is also your opportunity to ask every question you have; no question is too small.
- Preparation and First Treatment: We will walk you through everything you need to know, from how to care for your hair before chemo begins, to what to bring on treatment days, to how to prepare your cold capping partner (a friend or family member who will assist you through each session). For your first session, one of our staff members will be present to train you and ensure you feel comfortable with the process going forward.
- Subsequent Treatment Sessions: Cold capping takes place at the chemotherapy infusion location. With Penguin, caps are fitted to your head and have an inner layer with a malleable cold gel to cool the hair follicles. After 20-25 minutes, the cold layer is replaced to ensure your scalp stays at the correct temperature. If using the Cooler Heads Amma machine, the cap is fitted to your head and attached to the Amma machine, where a cold water and alcohol solution circulates, keeping a constant cold temperature against your scalp.
- Ongoing Hair Care: How you care for your hair between treatments matters enormously. We provide a detailed Hair Care Guide that outlines what to do and what to avoid before, during, and after treatment. Following these guidelines carefully is one of the most important things you can do to support the therapy’s success.
- Post-Treatment Support: Care does not stop when chemotherapy ends. Hair follicles continue to be vulnerable for several months after your last treatment. We will stay in contact with you during recovery and guide you through a safe transition back to your normal hair routine.
Let Us Be Someone You Lean On
Over My Head Boutique offers cold cap therapy at many infusion centers around Columbus. If you are navigating cancer treatment in central Ohio and want to explore whether cold capping is right for you, we are here.
The first step is a conversation. Contact us to schedule your cold cap therapy consultation. We will take the time to understand your situation, answer your questions honestly, and help you decide whether cold capping is the right path for you.