Hair dye and Hydroxycarbamide

[Cakeface]

Hi, this question is more for members who have some grey hair, use a permanent hair colour and take Hydroxycarbamide.

Does your hair keep the colour?

I find that mine loses the colour/alters colour very quickly. I also found with my recent colour that it came off the grey within days.

I am taking an increased dose of Hydroxycarbamide, and I wondered if this was more than a coincidence, or is it just because I have more grey hair these days? 😬

[strangeland]

Hi, I'm a fellow hair colorer and hydroxy user. It does seem that my hair is not keeping the color as well these days, but to be honest, I've been assuming the greys are just coming in faster. I'm a few years older than you...I'll be interested to see if there are responses from any younger members.

Reminds me of a line from one of my favorite poems about cats: "The times are somehow breeding/a nimbler race of mice." (On a Cat, Ageing by Sir Alexander Gray--of course😀)

[Birdlady2021 in reply to strangeland]

I had been going grey long before taking hydroxy , but found it can be quite stub on to take dye unless I use permanent ! I am now totally silver but I put light blond on to soften the look I was maturely very dark brown , it stays on grey till grown out , hope this helps

[Joetcalr]

Could be that cos hydroxy causes hair thinning the grey is showing more? If you're ready to go vaguely blonde I'd recommend using henna as a natural alternative to chemical.

[Cakeface in reply to Joetcalr]

I'm extremely lucky in that my hair hasn't thinned but it's now curly/wirey. And I'm not sure if all the appearing grey is due to my age, hydroxy, or both! My natural colour is dark ash blonde but it ends up very quickly a golden blonde? I remember using henna in the 70's, a proper messy job but left my hair feeling like silk

[Daisy-May]

I'm 67 I colour my hair with L'Oréal excellence Creme triple care colour 100% grey coverage in natural brown I'm on 500 hydroxycarbamide and my colour seem to last longer since I've been on meds than it did before meds.. 🙋‍♀️

[ordinarypeople2 in reply to Daisy-May]

Hi Daisy-May, I’m on 500mg hydroxycarbamine and wondering if I have to switch to pure organic hair dye? I’m beginning to think, from reading other’s experience here, that my normal dye applied by my hairdresser should be ok? Woukd try a patch test first ofcourse

[lizzziep]

I find salon colours last longer than over the counter ones, but it does seem to come off the grey quicker. I’ve had blonde highlights which blend into the grey, plus red and brown streaks. I think the more grey you get the harder it is to maintain. I’m not ready to just go grey yet though. (I’m 69)

[Cakeface in reply to lizzziep]

I used to do a home colour but I do go to the salon now and I have highlights! I too am not ready to embrace the grey. I had a go during lockdown/shielding but it wasn't me 😁

[NedKel65]

Hello there 🥰I am 56 y young and book every 7-8 weeks to get top up colour then next visit I get tips/ foils to highlight mousy brown hair with lots of grey popping through ( uggh) !

I find i need to cover grey this frequent (7-8wks) to keep coverage

I’m also on 500mg daily HU have been for about approx 5 yrs now. Have ET/PV Jak2 pos and CALR too

Not sure if this info above is of any help but seems we are all have similar issues with grey/ hair dyes

[Cakeface in reply to NedKel65]

My last colour was full head with highlights and I had to return to the salon after a week😯

[lizzziep in reply to Cakeface]

I had to return to the salon after my last highlights didn’t take properly. The hairdresser admitted she hadn’t mixed the solution properly so she did them again without charge

[Cakeface in reply to lizzziep]

Mine was redone foc too but I just wondered if there may be a connection with the increased hydroxy

[lizzziep in reply to Cakeface]

It would probably only be the part of the hair that has grown since the increased dose. But often grey hair is very hard to colour and keep the colour. Mine always seems to come off nearest my face first.

[Cakeface in reply to lizzziep]

It actually was the roots and was so obvious on my hair parting but it had lifted off some of the grey too.

[lizzziep in reply to Cakeface]

Could be the hydroxy then. A little problem for the hairdresser to solve.

[Margo18]

Hi. I was on Hydrea for 12 years and had my hair dyed throughout that time with no issues I used a permanent colour rather than a wash out one maybe that’s the problem I hope you get it sorted looking after ourselves is all part of coping strategy I think 🧐

Best wishes

Margo

[Loobylou72]

Have been on Hydroxy for almost three years. My hair has changed completely as it is much more brittle and curly now!! I have permanent colour every 8 weeks and noticed that the grey is showing though more quickly, particularly in fringe! I keep thinking I should just go natural as my hair is very short pixie cut, but can’t bring myself to do it! Not quite ready to admit I am ageing on top of dealing with an MPN and waiting for a liver transplant! One small step at a time ☺️

[Cakeface in reply to Loobylou72]

Me neither! So sorry to hear that you're waiting for a liver transplant. MPN's are enough for anyone to deal with without further health problems.

I hope everything goes well when it happens and that you have a speedy recovery x

[Loobylou72 in reply to Cakeface]

😊 Thanks. Am well looked after by consultants at Royal Free as I wait on transplant, but hate fact I can’t work as medically unfit to and given current economic situation it’s just one more thing to worry about! Got to smile and stay positive!

[Cakeface]

Have you spoken with Macmillan regarding benefits that you may be entitled to? They're really helpful and you'll definitely be entitled to something that will at least offer you some financial supportIt's lovely that you are maintaining a positive attitude 😊

[Edgewalk]

Hi, I use Matrix, salon permanent hair dye for grey hair & it's been fine, was on 5g per wk now 7g ie 2 tabs x 7 days. I've also used L'Oréal excellence home dye & which isn't great

[Sheena2020]

Hi! I know everyone is different but my gray was showing up faster even before I started taking Hydroxyurea. I assumed it was just age and maybe the gray started to get resistant to color.

[Oscarsboy]

Hi, it is interesting you have raised this question as I too have my hair coloured, (usually highlights). However on the last colour a different brand was used and it seemed to change instantly from the first wash and I have been really unhappy with the colour that has resulted. I do not have a huge amount of grey, and of course the highlights are applied over a base colour, all of which seemed to change. I had not thought about the HU actually changing the colour pigmentation, but realise it is absolutely possible from other comments here. I will be reverting back to what we used before and see how it handles that. As mentioned below it quickly reverts back to golden blonde from whatever has been put on it. It is interesting to read everyone's experience with this.

[Cakeface]

I don't have loads of grey either tbh and I'm now even more convinced after the responses to my question that hydroxy had something to do with the colour change/lifting off the grey. I'm now in a quandary whether to try a lighter or darker colour 😳