Cooling caps reduce blood flow to the hair follicles during chemotherapy treatment. This minimizes the amount of chemotherapy that reaches the hair follicles, thereby reducing the risk of hair loss.

According to studies by the National Library of Medicine, controlled and randomized trials show that the use of cooling caps significantly reduces the risk of hair loss during chemotherapy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5410200/. At least 8 out of 10 people retain their hair satisfactorily. The result depends on the type of chemotherapy, the combination of chemotherapy, and other individual factors. For those who retain their hair, almost all will experience varying degrees of hair thinning. Most commonly, a loss of 10–50% of the hair, but evenly distributed, is seen in a successful course. Although 50% sounds like a lot, people around you usually won't notice a change in appearance, and the person won't need a wig or other head covering.

After 4–6 weeks, you will know if the cooling caps are having the desired effect on your hair.

Scalp cooling technology has been known since 1970 and is approved by health authorities worldwide. In 2015, the method received prestigious A++ FDA approval in the USA, which is an international testament to the quality and safety of the method. Rapunzel’s cooling caps are CE-marked and Rapunzel is registered with the Medicines Agency.

Cooling caps cannot be used for all types of cancer. It must fundamentally be a solid tumor. Examples include typically breast cancer, ovarian cancer, liver, lung, gastrointestinal cancers, and those treated with hair-loss-inducing chemotherapy types. If you are unsure whether you can use cooling caps, you are welcome to contact us for individual clarification.

The cooling caps are used for approximately 30–45 minutes before, during, and up to 120 minutes after the chemotherapy treatment. This means you should expect to wear the cooling caps for about 4–5 hours on the days you receive chemotherapy.

You can prepare in the waiting room or other suitable locations in the hospital. You can either continue post-cooling in the waiting room, in cancer counseling, or drive home with the cap on, with any planned changes en route. The cooling caps are portable, making you portable too, so you won't take up time from other patients in the outpatient clinic.

Some experience mild headaches or become drowsy while using it. Others experience brain freeze, similar to when we eat ice cream too quickly on a hot summer day. Brain freeze disappears after a few minutes and can be prevented by taking over-the-counter painkillers - discuss this with your treatment team.

Yes. The use of cold caps is a safe and proven hair-preserving method that has been known since the 1970s. Cold caps are used in private and public hospitals worldwide to prevent hair loss associated with chemotherapy. The effectiveness of cold cap use is continuously researched, and controlled, randomized studies show that the use of cold caps significantly reduces the risk of hair loss during chemotherapy, and that their use is not associated with an increased risk of scalp metastases. The method is approved by health authorities worldwide, and Rapunzel ApS is registered with the Danish Medicines Agency. Our cold caps are CE-marked.

Cooling caps work independently of hair type. If you have Asian hair, Afro hair or strong red hair, the pre-treatment is slightly different, but you will be informed about it when you rent.

No! It's an old myth that cold caps cause brain metastases. International, controlled, and randomized studies have refuted this hypothesis. The caps only cool the outermost layers of the hair-bearing part of the scalp. The brain is not frozen – that's simply not possible. Cold caps work using the exact same method as cooling gloves and cooling socks, which are offered to many in hospitals to protect hands and feet during certain chemotherapies. If you encounter healthcare personnel who are not up-to-date on this knowledge, we recommend that you seek insight yourself. Check, among other things, the latest studies from the National Library of Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5410200/, which the health authorities have also reviewed.

From January 2026, breast cancer patients will be offered mobile cooling caps as part of their chemotherapy treatment. This regulation is a pilot project within Cancer Package V, with the aim of assessing how the offer can be managed in practice before it is potentially extended to other cancer areas.

Yes, you have the right to bring any aid, including cooling caps, to the hospital as long as you are self-sufficient. We always recommend informing the staff in good time that you intend to use cooling caps.