Breast cancer accounts for 16 per cent of all cancers in females. The treatment regimen is complex and almost half of all women with breast cancer undergo alopecia-inducing chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and its effects on women with breast cancer. Five women who had experienced chemotherapy-induced alopecia in the past 12 months were interviewed, revealing four main and four sub-themes. The findings have implications for health professionals, patients and for oncology nursing practice. Chemotherapy-induced alopecia affects each individual differently. The provision of practical information to patients in a caring and sensitive manner is important, even following re-growth of hair.