Seeking Hairdresser advice...

[SarahsJourney]

Happy Boxing Day! Hope everyone managed to have a good day yesterday.

I wanted to ask your advice. I've been lucky enough to hang onto my hair, thanks to the cold cap, and am now desperate for it to be cut, as I've not had it cut for months. Was due a cut just before I started chemo, and I waited just in case I lost it. Here I am 2 months later and it's looking very out of shape, and whilst I've not lost it, it has thinned out a fair bit, and seems quite dry.

Ideally I'd like it cut before I have my surgery on 9th Jan. Can anyone let me know if I need to find someone to cut it who knows about chemo, or can anyone do it, if I just ask them to be gentle with it (ie no vigorous washing and rinsing etc)

What are other people's experiences, those of you who haven't lost your hair?

Also has anyone risked having theirs coloured? xxx

[angelina]

Hi Sarah

Happy Boxing Day. Get your hair cut as soon as poss. It will help your hair to thicken and also you will feel much better. Think you find that most hairdressers have cut chemo hair before and there isn't really any different way to treat it. I would mention it when making your appointment and see what they advise

I lost all of my hair and was advised by my oncologist not to colour it for six months, but I think other ladies on the site have only waited a short time. BUT must say mine came back almost grey and after a few cuts it grew back dark brown which was my colour when small, and four yrs later I am still naturally dark brown with just the odd grey hair! So no more hair colouring for me.

Good luck with your surgery on the 9th

Let us know how you go with your hair

Best wishes

Lynda x🎄X

[SarahsJourney in reply to angelina]

Thank you Lynda, am pretty desperate to get it cut, had my hairdresser lined up a few weeks ago to come to my house and cut it, she said initially she was running late, and apologised, then 10 minutes before she was due to arrive she tells me she's had to pick her little boy up and drop with her mum, and then said he was being clingy so she didn't want to leave him, plus she didn't want to risk me catching anything! I have sympathy but would have preferred her to say straight away, as I obviously said in that case I didn't want her to come. It was the second time she's let me down at short notice though, and I don't think sometimes people realise the impact, as I was in tears because I wasn't able to find anyone able to fit me in pre-Christmas, and my self-esteem is a little low at the moment. Am glad your hair has come back now xxx

[Caroles1]

Totally agree with Linda,I am a qualified hairdresser and if you explain,most of them know the ins and outs of chemo.However, I would go with a graduate or above.

Take advice on the colouring,I too was told 6 months,but, was lucky my hair grew back silver/blonde so no more colouring for me.You may want to improve the condition of your hair and it's thickness first,or go with one of the many conditioning dyes that wash out on the market.

You will feel better,

Carole xxx

[SarahsJourney in reply to Caroles1]

Thank you Carole! I asked my friends and one has a brother who owns a salon in Marlow High Street near where I live, so am gonna call him tomorrow to see if he has a slot available. I feel very lucky to still have my hair, but as the condition of it looks so poor, and it has lost all it's shape, it's really affecting my self-esteem. I know to everyone else I look fine, but I don't feel it, especially as there have been lots of photos over the past few days... xxx

[Choski in reply to SarahsJourney]

It might sound weird to you however losing my hair has been amazing for me as I realised I look MUCH better with really short hair!!! I love it ! It's about 1.75 inches long now and is wavy and currently silver on top! I had shoulder length blonde highlighted hair before and I'll never go back to that again.

Interesting to read Lynda's reply about hers also coming back grey at first so I will watch what mine does with interest!

I hope you manage to get it cut and you soon feel fresh and are happy with it

Take care

Clare xx

[SarahsJourney in reply to Choski]

Thanks Clare, I'd thought to myself if the cold cap didn't work & I lost my hair I would do my best to embrace it. As I've managed to hang on to it, I just need it cut, so it has some shape in it, is in better condition & is more manageable.

So happy that it has brought about a positive change for you 😁

Sarah x

[Mommoo65 in reply to Choski]

I also like mine shorter. It was very long and snow white when I started chemo. It is growing back in a little more salt and peppery . Weird. But I do love it shorter!

[ANDE-Wales-UK]

Hi Sarah,

I was the same as you lost a lot of hair but managed to hang on to some of it, I had mine trimmed the day after my last chemo couldn't stand it any longer! My hairdresser was so kind and gentle, I was determined to have a few highlights put back in so I did about 4 weeks after, it was only a few strands and my hairdresser used a semi permanent blondish colour and it really made a difference, its probably not recommended to do it that quick but my hair was fine, and it was growing back by then as well just white fuzzy bits, i just kept having it trimmed then every few weeks until it went back to normalish. It makes such a difference to self esteem, especially as I had a moon face I was very conscious of from weekly steroids, no eyelashes and no eyebrows!

Hope you're having a lovely christmas,

Take Care

Andrea xx

[SarahsJourney in reply to ANDE-Wales-UK]

Thanks Andrea, I feel very lucky as I do still have eyebrows & lashes (although these are thinner am sure) and the hair on my head, but suddenly realised that I've lost most of my pubic hair! 😳 TMI?? Hadn't quite realised that would happen, & not told anyone that as such as it's a bit weird huh!

Won't get it coloured just yet I think as whilst I'm done with chemo for now it'll restart about 2-3 weeks after my op in Jan.

I'll chat to hairdresser xxx

[Jessica-DianeB]

Great that you got to keep your hair, cold cap didn't work for me, I was left with very few strands hence shaving it a week ago.

I too am due surgery 9/1 and wish you well for yours. Feeling quite nervous but also ready to start the new year with a big fight in me xxx

[SarahsJourney in reply to Jessica-DianeB]

Jessica, good luck with yours too! x

[Cropcrop]

You lucky girl keeping your hair, I lost every single hair on my body, some of this was a bonus (no shaving or waxing 😂) and some a pain (eyebrows & lashes 😢) but I knew I'd lose it all even before I started the chemo. Mine grew back dirty grey and made me look more ill than when I was having the chemo so after 3 months it was cut, treated and highlighted. A nice cut it really good for us, our hair is our crowning glory and if our hair is rubbish we feel rubbish too, ask if they can do a deep conditioning treatment and to be gentle with it. I'm sure you'll feel better. Most hairdressers will have had experience with chemo hair so if you're concerned ask when making your appointment. Enjoy the pampering and who knows, you may just find a fabulous new hairdresser for the future. Good luck with the surgery, let us know how you get on xxx ❤xx🎄Jane

[SarahsJourney in reply to Cropcrop]

Thanks Jane xxx

[Di16]

I lost some of my hair on weekly Taxol, & what was left looked pretty grim & out of condition. I went as usual to my nearest salon, & was given an appointment with a hairdresser who looks pretty young, but was very good, & seemed used to dealing with chemo patients. And I remember we joked about what my new hair would grow back like. I said I hoped brown & curly, but it just grew back grey & straight as usual. Di

[SCWI]

Hello Sarah

I was the same as you and managed to hang onto most of my hair using the cold cap. I have a lovely hairdresser who was very gentle and cut it fairly short for me during my chemo. Like you the condition wasn't great and I lost a bit on the crown of my head where you always get a bit of an air space however tightly the cold cap fits. I was so grateful for it however as I have a longish face that looks bad in most hats apart from huge ones! I just knew that I would be miserable looking at myself bald even if I wore a gorgeous wig most of the time. I have very thick hair so I guess that helped. I also had organic hair colour by Aveda whilst on chemo which tended to come out a bit on the dark side, but better than nothing. A year on my hair is totally back to its former self so take heart. Eyelashes great too as I use a brilliant conditioning thingy on them. Good luck and go for the cut, you will feel better for it. Sophia 😊

[SarahsJourney in reply to SCWI]

Thanks Sophia, interested in the conditioning thing you use on your eyelashes as I have noticed these going. I really must try & practice with false eyelashes as I'm pretty rubbish with stuff like that! x

[SCWI in reply to SarahsJourney]

Hi Sarah

The eyelash conditioner was actually formulated by someone whose wife underwent chemotherapy but when I read the package they recommend waiting until chemo treatment is finished before using. I used it while on Avastin with no problems. It is brilliant though, my lashes are really thick and long now. It is called Revitalash Advanced and is available from Athena Cosmetics Ltd : [e-mail] (I think Boots may do a less concentrated version of it). Mine cost about £67 from a friend in the Beauty trade. Expensive but lasts over a year and well worth it. I couldn't manage false eyelashes either but maybe you can get those ones they stick on in beauty salons while you are on chemo. Good luck! Sophia