Look Good Feel Better is Canada’s only national charitable program dedicated to helping people manage the appearance-related effects of cancer and its treatment. At the heart of the program are our complimentary workshops which empower people to feel like themselves again. We provide tips, tools and techniques in Skincare and Cosmetics, Wigs & Hair Alternatives, Breast Forms & Garments as well as dedicated workshops for Teens and Men. Led by expert volunteers, in a small group setting, the workshops offer a supportive and welcoming environment. This vital programming in supportive care encourages positive mental health and well-being.
Workshops are offered in-person at more than 100 locations across Canada, as well as online. Visit our Workshop Finder to find the one nearest you. You can register online or by calling 1-800-914-5665.
The Look Good Feel Better workshop is open to all people facing all cancers and undergoing all types of treatment. We also have special workshops just for teens and men. People are welcome to attend within 1 year of diagnosis.
The in-person workshop is 2 hours in length, and covers skincare, cosmetics, wigs and hair alternatives. Participants will receive a complimentary kit of skincare and cosmetic products upon arrival.
The online workshops are each one-hour in length and cover four separate topics – Skincare & Cosmetics, Wigs & Hair Alternatives, Breast Prostheses, Bras & More and special workshops just for Teens and Men. Participants of the Skincare & Cosmetics, Teen and Men’s workshops will receive a complimentary kit of products.
Yes! You are welcome to attend any or all workshops. However, to ensure we have enough kits for everyone who join us, you will receive only one kit of complimentary products.
Space is limited for in-person workshops and the amount of seating for companions depends on your specific workshop location. Please note some locations may not allow companions due to social distancing.
Seating for companions is on a first come, first serve basis. Companions are seated around the perimeter of the room so they can observe the workshop. We ask for female companions only.
No, a Look Good Feel Better Workshop is complimentary, thanks to generous donations from the community and the volunteers who deliver our workshops.
You are welcome to attend as many online or in-person workshops as you would like. However, as we want to help as many people as we possibly can, each participant is entitled to only one complimentary workshop kit.
The Look Good Feel Better Workshops will teach you simple cosmetic tips and techniques to help you manage the effects that cancer and its treatment may have on your appearance. This includes nail and skin care tips, hair alternatives, breast forms & garments as well as important information on cosmetic application and hygiene.
The in-person workshop is 2 hours in length, and covers skincare, cosmetics, wigs and hair alternatives. Participants will receive a complimentary kit of skincare and cosmetic products upon arrival.
The online workshops are each one-hour in length and cover four separate topics – Skincare & Cosmetics, Wigs & Hair Alternatives, Breast Forms & Garments and special workshops just for teens and men. Participants of the Skincare & Cosmetics, Teen and Men’s workshops will receive a complimentary kit of products.
You can also expect an experience that goes beyond beauty, including the support of other participants, the sharing of empowering information, the support of compassionate volunteers and laughter that can help you gain confidence, lift your spirits and take back some of the control that cancer has taken from you.
Look Good Feel Better does not sell wigs and/or scarves.
There are many retailers across Canada which carry wigs and hair alternatives products. Consider asking for recommendations from your cancer care centre, friends or family members, or try doing an internet search to locate the nearest in your neighbourhood. Remember to call ahead to book an appointment and ask questions. Do they offer a range of products you can try? Do they seem knowledgeable? Can you book an appointment during a quiet time in the store?
The cost of a wig can range from $150 to $1,500, depending on whether it’s made from human hair or synthetic fibres, how the wig is constructed (machine-made, hand tied crown, hand tied all over, or custom) and if you’re buying from a trained wig centre, a department store, or from the Internet. Some prices may also include services such as wig adjustments and styling.
We suggest asking for a prescription from your oncologist stating that you require a hair prosthesis (wig) due to hair loss from chemotherapy or radiation and to bring the prescription with you when you purchase the wig. Be sure to keep a copy of the prescription, as you may be exempt from paying tax on your wig. You can also check with your insurance provider to determine if they will cover all or a portion. Consider doing your research first to help you select a wig within your budget.
Look Good Feel Better does not offer financial assistance for the purchase of a wig or any hair alternatives.
Visit the Canadian Cancer Society website to learn more about their wig bank.
In one convenient place at Facing Cancer Together. Here, we’ve created a community and compiled some of the most reliable and trusted online cancer resources and articles.
Thank you for your interest in joining more than 1,500 volunteers across the country. Visit our Volunteer page to learn how you can help those with cancer feel like themselves again.
There are many ways you can support us: you can volunteer, attend an event, host a fundraiser, become a sponsor, spread the word, or make a donation.
Since our inception in 1992, we’ve delivered our signature workshop to more than 225,000 women across the country. We need to continue providing this much-needed service– but we can’t do it alone.
While our workshop is complimentary, it still comes at a cost to deliver. We receive generous donations of product from our partners and sponsors in the beauty and retail industries, but we need funding to deliver the actual program and cover the costs of logistics, locations, training, travel and materials.
While we receive generous donations of product from the beauty and retail industries, we still need funding to keep our program running. A misperception exists in the minds of the public and among survivors that our workshop is complimentary. But it actually takes logistics, training, management, travel, locations, and volunteers. The bottom line is that there is a significant investment required to put a woman through a Look Good Feel Better workshop. With more than 115,000 women and teens expected to be diagnosed next year alone, our need for funding is skyrocketing.
We’re proud that more than 72 per cent of each dollar raised goes directly to our workshop and educational programs, allowing us to share empowering information with women affected by cancer. Our complimentary workshops are currently offered at 100 cancer care facilities and hospitals across the country as well as online.