Bit random...colouring hair on MTX?: This may sound odd... - NRAS

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Bit random...colouring hair on MTX?

hazelcats profile image
19 Replies

This may sound odd, but I read that it may not be a good idea to colour your hair whilst on methotrexate? Any one experience of this?I feel totally rubbish at the best of times and my hair needs a colour top up. I use a permanent dye and always do a patch test first.

Is it ok to try and boost myself a bit? Could do with it....

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hazelcats profile image
hazelcats
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19 Replies
Kags1068 profile image
Kags1068

Hi Hazel cats

I know just what you mean about trying to boost yourself a bit with a hair colour. I always feel like that too. This is only my experience, but I've been on Methotrexate for about 33 years now (since I was 22). I have had my hair coloured during the whole time I've been on it. I have not (as yet) had any problems connected to colouring my hair and Methotrexate. I also take Pred, Cyclosporin, and have been on 4 biologics. Have been ok with all of them and hair colouring. I did have problems with hair loss, but it turned out to be discoid lupus, so nothing to do with any drugs. Again, colouring had no effect on this either. I tend to have it done at the hairdressers a couple of times a year, but do root touch-ups at home in between. As you say, you do a patch test first, so that's always a good idea.

Good luck and I hope it cheers you up.

Best wishes 😊

hazelcats profile image
hazelcats in reply to Kags1068

Thanks Kags! It may sound a trivial thing, but with feeling crap all the time having happy hair is one thing that makes me happier too! 😀I always do mine at home ( well my husband always does it For me, nice to have a colourist at home haha) I tend to use Schwarzkopf Olea, seems a ' kind one ' .I've altered the colour (types of brunette shares ) as I have aged, to suit skin tone.

Touch wood I don't seem to have thinning or loss of hair. 7 weeks into mtx and still feel like I've been run over by a bus. But least I can have ok hair 😢

Kags1068 profile image
Kags1068 in reply to hazelcats

No, it doesn't sound trivial at all. Things like that can make a big difference to our mood. Glad to hear your hubby has been trained in the art of hairdressing too!😉 Mine has become very good at washing and conditioning (even asks me if I'm going on holiday); has learned how to apply colour at roots with a brush and through random strands with his fingers, and most importantly, has become a dab hand at drying my hair using a diffuser. Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks!😁

I'm glad you've found a brand of colour you like that suits you. To keep hair strong, I don't know if you've ever used any of the bond repair/strengthening hair products that are around nowadays?

I hope you adjust more to the MTX. I'm sure you will. It got easier for me over time. Especially once they started using folic acid. That wasn't prescribed in the early days. It definitely helps.

Hope the colour goes well and your hubby does a good job!! 😊

hazelcats profile image
hazelcats in reply to Kags1068

Yes Kags, 😂 good on your hubby acting the role play! Mins calls me madam as he faffs with my hair. He does a better job than I can, so he's got the full time position.He does wash mine roo,the fibro stiffness can make it hard for me some days. But if I sit I can use the ( gentler ) diffuser to dry my hair. Thanks for the top tip, I will look into the hair bond strengtheners just in case my hair throws a wobbly.

I take 6 folic acid a week,but for about 48 hours after the meds injection I still feel nauseous and even more tired. But will persevere or speak with nurses if time doesn't improve things.

Have booked my husband in for a full colour! Oh, and bless him he gives me a bit of a pedi too! 😍

helenlw7 profile image
helenlw7

I have been on methotrexate for about 15 years, and through all that time I’ve had my hair coloured.

MadBunny profile image
MadBunny

I've been on mtx for nearly 15 years. I've had my hair coloured for all that time and it's never been a problem . Having it done at the hairdressers is a real treat- something we all need , to cheer us up ☺️

KittyJ profile image
KittyJ

another one on mtx 25+ years and coloured my hair for most of that time, no problems.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone

Yes boost away but with caution.

I dyed away for 7 years whilst on Mtx…still do on Rtx. I did speak to my Rheumy nurse, and she gave me a list of bleach type substances that one should probably be careful about ..which I showed to my hairdresser, and I’ve still got a full head of hair. I now use John Frieda Mousse…..which is super quick and easy, and I have never had any problems with it over the last 10 years.

But do check with your Rheumy team.

BoneyC profile image
BoneyC

I've been on MTX for over 40 years and have hair coloured at hairdressers every 8 weeks or so. Never had any problems.

ruth_p profile image
ruth_p

I colour mine all the time, no problems at all.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

Well i colour my hair all the time and it does last a long time as well. xxxx

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal

Mines coloured within an inch of its life. Natural colour is almost black and it’s blonde highlights every five weeks. I have a ton of hair still

greynot profile image
greynot

Mtx has thinned my hair. But I put my own purple streaks in these days, and I feel much more like as a result. And get less patronised as a 'poor old thing'.

Sheila_G profile image
Sheila_G

I no longer have my hair coloured but did for about 15 years while on mxt. It didn't cause me any problems. We need all the boosting we can get. If it makes you feel better about yourself, improves your confidence and gives you a boost then go for it. All the best.

wilbertjellyfish profile image
wilbertjellyfish

I never coloured my hair.....I just don't have time to keep on top of it. So possibly not the best person to advise.However a friend had been on morphine tablets at a time and her hair turned green. Also my hair dresser once got all the trainee's in his salon over to feel my hair after id started on mtx because it changed the texture and I developed a weird curl in it. If you do a Patch test and wait 24 hrs can't see there being an issue. Hope it works and I'm sure you look fabulous anyway.

Vixen2 profile image
Vixen2

Hey hazelcats. I’ve had RA since my 20’s. (53 now). I think all women know how important it is to have ‘happy hair’. My normal hair colour is a boring mousey brown. I’ve been lightening it since i was about 15. I used to use that awful Sun In. I’ve just remembered how yellow it made it. (Just had a flashback!) Awful. For yrs i’ve used Nice n Easy. I only coloured mine last week. On the instructions, it said don’t leave on for more than 25 mins. But when i googled it. It said 45 mins was the most u can do. I did it for 25. Bit of a disappointing blondish colour. Still feel better being blonde. I don’t really have any grey hairs. Mentally. It makes u feel lighter being blonde. I’ve been on Infliximab infusions for the past 20yrs. Used to have Pred with it. I started to notice i was losing hair on the crown. Call me vain. I stopped using the Pred. I tried Methotrexate for a while. Took myself off it. I think it can thin the hair too. It’s important to boost ourselves mentally when we have a chronic condition. Streaking can help. (I mean hair streaking). I’m not advising streaking in the street. The Police have enough to do! 🤣🤣 x

hazelcats profile image
hazelcats in reply to Vixen2

Haha Vixen. Mind you streaking in the streets would liven things up a bit!Sun In? Am brunette so never used it but friends used lemon juice in the sun for highlights!

Luckily most dyes.are so much kinder ingredient wise 😁

hazelcats profile image
hazelcats

Thanks so much everyone. Huge sense of relief, that's me carrying on getting hubby into hairdresser mode and colouring. Carry On Colouring. Hey Sid James was in that one!😂

So even if we feel rotten at least decent hair, if we choose to colour, means we can have a little something to boost our moods.

Thanks all x

Durrell profile image
Durrell

I think it totally makes sense though personally not read it, it has a massive affect on how we feel in ourselves but what we put on our skin, chemicals, toxins etc should be considered I try to use natural products as much as I can. Take a look at gentle hair dyes if you want to use more natural products, possibly an option or find a natural hairdresser, if your lucky to find one near you 🌸 all the best 🪷

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