Hair Extensions

[Sunshine0921]

Has anyone absolutely hated the hair growth process and opted for extensions? I cry everyday because I hate the way I look. I know this sounds petty but I cant shake it. I do the best I can with the curly mess on my head and I try to straighten it but I cant seem to style this short hair. I realize your hair only grows back a half an inch a month but this is unacceptable...lol...I need miracle grow for my head! 30 weeks post chemo hair.

[Lindaura]

Dear Sunshine,

I too was in curly hair shock when it started growing in, but luckily I have a sister with natural curly hair and she gave me ideas of products to use, really meant for black Women, to tame and Rock my new hair.

I found these products only at Superdrug.

These are Twisted Sistax: Curl activator cream, which actually has a moderately firm hold that allows you to style your curls.

I have now graduated to Creme Nature's Argan Oil “moisture and shine” curl activator cream, which again, really has a firm hold and allows you to style your hair.

I always add water and every morning I run my hands under water and run my fingers through my hair which always turns into a crown of fuzz when I sleep. Or I use water spray.

I also now use Creme Nature’s Argan Oil “Strength and Shine” Leave in Conditioner that I spray on liberally throughout the day.

Anyway, this worked for me.

Seems like it takes at least a year for your hair to begin to grow back to normal.

I spend half my day working on my hair, it is true, but it’s better than a wig.

Best wishes,

Laura

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Lindaura]

Thank you! I have a consult tomorrow to look into extension. I've always had hair down the middle of my back.

[Doglover1410]

Can’t really help as have always had short hair! But wanted to say you look amazing....rock the look for now!! xx

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Doglover1410]

Thank you! I appreciate it. I'm trying so hard to rock the look but. I'm seriously over this. I just want some hair in my eyes to trick my mind in to thinking I have long hair again 🙃

[Tesla_7US in reply to Sunshine0921]

Sunshine, You have all my sympathy. To not look like one's recognizable preferred best self is soul crushing. I don't know what you looked like before treatment but you're a very pretty woman right now! The short edgy look compliments you're very pretty face!😊

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Tesla_7US]

Thank you! My husband is starting to get aggravated over this. I cant help the way I feel. He says that ppl tell me all the time I look good with short hair. However, who is going to come out and say "your hair looks awful...lol 🤷‍♀️

[MostlyHarmless in reply to Sunshine0921]

I think your hair looks stunning but if that's not how you think of yourself then I do understand. I still can't get used to not having long hair.

I had waist length hair too. I got it cut short just before chemo. When it started to fall out my beloved gave me a no3 cut with his beard trimmers. We both cried both times. Mine was dead straight but has come back wavy - I always wanted curly hair so I'm quite pleased. I'm at the messy stage of growing the fringe out. Who would says "your hair looks awful" to me? My mother, that's who.

[Sunshine0921 in reply to MostlyHarmless]

Lol...Mom's and kids are the only brutal honesty you can get 🙃 dont get me wrong I'm thankful for what I got. I just hate it 🤷‍♀️

[Tesla_7US in reply to Sunshine0921]

There is also another issue in play. Chemo changes us cognitively. It makes us emotionally labile, magnifying an already traumatic situation.

[Katmal-UK]

Oh wow you look gorgeous! I totally get where you are coming from if you are used to long hair but I am sure others will agree that short suits you. Have you considered asking a hairdresser about extensions as they would be best suited to give advice? Big hug. Kathy xx

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Katmal-UK]

Thanks, Kathy. I have a consult tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'll do yet. I just know I'm tired of crying over something as petty as this. #hermonalmess

[Katmal-UK in reply to Sunshine0921]

I know...... we go through so much and how we look is important to us. With me it was the loss of my eyelashes! HATED having no eyelashes - or what I considered to be none. One or two doesn't count! I also confess that when my hair wasn't growing back as thick as I was used to (it's ok now) I used hair fibres! Be interesting to know what the hairdresser says tomorrow. Do let us know how you get on xx

[shortfriend]

wow, all that hair! You look stunning, I understand the loss of your long hair but you really suit that style and you have a lovely face to match it! Hope you get the result you like from the hairdresser, it's difficult to have confidence with what you have gone through but you will get there!

good luck

Pat x

[Sunshine0921 in reply to shortfriend]

Thank you! I'm thankful for what I have. I just wish it was more....lol...story of my life...🤪

[Caroles1]

Just go with the flow girl, you look lovely!

I’m a lot older than you and my hair grey back white(blonde) wouldn’t have been my choice, but I don’t have it coloured anymore.

I have it cut in a pixie cut and get loads of compliments.

You look lovely and my motto is work with what you have got, after all.......we are alive

😘

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Caroles1]

Thank you! I'm trying, I was okay up until a month or two ago and I fell apart 😔 I'm just at that stage where I cant stand it.

[Caroles1 in reply to Sunshine0921]

I’m a hairdresser too and agree with Claire robertsxxx

[claireRoberts76]

you look lovely!!! Im a hairdresser and trust me it will grow back fast... try lots of head massages with some warm hair oil ... xxx

[Sunshine0921 in reply to claireRoberts76]

Thank you! I have tried everything from, vitamins, oils, scalp treatments and daily head messages. If I was told to stand upside down in oil I would. Lol

[claireRoberts76 in reply to Sunshine0921]

I think it looks lovely on you 💜

[Madmarilyn]

You look amazing. I used to use my long hair as a shield, and it's now barely an inch and salt n pepper colour - but I've never had so many genuine compliments! Continue to rock your look, you have gorgeous eyes, don't cover them up ! Look out and be proud!

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Madmarilyn]

Thank you! 🤗 I've been trying to rock this look but it seems to get harder every day! #thestruggleisreal

[mrstadpole]

I hated curly hair too! I finished chemo in April 2018 and these past couple of months my hair has grown really quickly! I hope to have most of the curl cut out this week.

You look lovely but I think it is difficult if you have always had long hair. I'm sure your hairdresser will come up with something great.

Ann x

[Sunshine0921 in reply to mrstadpole]

Have you cut your hair any during the last year other than trimming it? How long is it now? I'm so over this!

[mrstadpole in reply to Sunshine0921]

Yes just had my hair trimmed, trying to remove curls.It has grown to the bottom of my neck but I need a greater length as in the winter my neck was always cold!!

[Sunshine0921 in reply to mrstadpole]

I'm trying to be patient but it seems like my patients is wearing thin.

[Cheryl4677]

I can really empathise with you here. I used the cold cap for my first chemo of carbo/Taxol and although my hair was thinner and weakened did manage to keep enough to make me feel I could style it and didn’t look awful. However my second round of chemo carbo and gem has destroyed my confidence as I was told my hair would likely thin I didn’t expect such dramatic hair loss. My scalp is visible and I look semi-bald at the back of my head. I have so little hair to do anything with and have finally resorted to using my wig. It looks like a wig and can be uncomfortable as it slips all the time and as my new hair had turned silvery grey and wispy it doesn’t feel like me. I have thinned the wig down by myself (using tips on u-tube) that’s helped and the shape suits me better but yesterday had a complete melt down as my grandson nearly pulled off the wig when I was strapping him I his buggy and exposed me to the world. I pushed it on asbest I could and ran back home and had a good cry. It seems so insignificant in the big scheme of things but I don’t want to look like a cancer victim and end up talking about nothing else. I wish I had been offered the cold cap again. I’d have put up with the discomfort rather than this.

You look lovely and trendy by the way. I look what I am. A 65 year old woman with grey hair. Thank goodness for make up and jewellery. I can at least paint a smile on my face!

Rant over. I will get over it!

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Cheryl4677]

Cheryl,

I was told the cold cap wouldn't work with the Carbo/Taxol and not to waste my money. I had my granddaughter shave my head for me on day 17 after first Chemo. My hair was coming out in clumps. I rocked the bald and never wore a wig the whole time. The regrowth process is harder then I thought. I have a mini afro on my head. Oh well, to better days 😊

[Barmycharm]

I haven’t started my chemo yet but I dread losing my hair and lashes so totally sympathise with how you feel. However you look fantastic!! You have a beautiful face, stunning eyes and you look very rock chick?! Very Pinkesque!!!! But what I imagine is that after all you’ve been through you just want to feel your old self again with your hair back as it was. Hope your hairdresser helps you out with some ideas for extensions and you get your confidence back again very soon. Although looking at your photo and not knowing what you looked like with longer hair, I’d say hold your head up with confidence and embrace your new look because you are really beautiful! But that’s far easier said than done I know.

Love and best wishes xxx

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Barmycharm]

Thank you! I'm not going to lie. It sucks. I did lose all my eyelashes (the 2 on each eye dont count) and most of my eyebrows. I did sign up for a look good feel good session to have them show me how to do my eyebrows (take your own brow kit as they didn't offer this) but the lady stayed after to give me a few tips. I recieved so much makeup and brushes. It totaled almost $800. I've been pretty positive with everything but the last month or so has been rough. 🤗

[SuziTench1]

Well.. I think you look pretty cool.. 😁😁. I know its not easy but it will grow .. not what you eant to hear .. you look fab x

[Sunshine0921 in reply to SuziTench1]

Thank you! I'm trying to rock this mess 🤪

[Roobarb1]

You look awesome! But I know what you mean, I finished chemo in October and I am so over this dodgy hair do, mines is all curly and looks like the fur of an old dog, the texture is horrid, tried everything and nothing looks right 😝......but then I remember this time last year, and it doesn’t seem so bad!

Good luck with the extensions, you will look beautiful I am sure 🌟 xxx

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Roobarb1]

Thank you!

Regrowth is a bitch! I'm not sure I'll do it but it's worth looking into

[Birdsong222]

Like everyone else l thought WOW when l saw your photo. Being older mine has grown back almost black and grey, not like my usual colour of brown with a hint of red. Additionally it is unbelievably curly. I decided not to waste time and money on colouring and my fab hairdresser has been trimming it into a pixie shape, which seems to suit my face. Hair extensions are costly, have you thought about those lovely real hair on a head band? I believe they also do add in fringes. They clip onto your own hair and you could then rock more than one look. Just my suggestion. Sylvia x

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Birdsong222]

Thanks, Sylvia

My hair grew back so grey...lol..I color it every 6 weeks. I'm not ready for grey hair yet. I'll look into the headbands. I've never seen them.

[grammeejill]

I LOVED being bald despite the fact I had long, beautiful, gray hair I treasured and was compliments on constantly. I also loved the little boy look of my growing in hair. I have never had such short hair. I even had short again about 18 months post chemo. I am trying to grow it out again, now. I can't afford to go to the salon every 3 months to maintain it! (maybe I should try a barber?) It's a LOT curlier and is no longer all grey. It's weird but I now have salt and pepper hair. ??? But I saw my baldness and growing out process as part of the process. So enjoy. It looks really cute right now! On the other hand, you need to feel good about yourself. So look into extensions or wigs. It WILL grow out!! Hugs!!

[Sunshine0921]

Thank you! I bought 4 expensive wigs but I've never worn any of them. I think they look like wigs...lol. I will get over it. I guess. I'm just glad it's coming back. I need to get off my self pity party 🙄

[Maus123]

First: Grats on NED!!

Re: hair....Same problem here. No matter how often I hear 'oh but you look good with short hair', I hate it every time I walk past a mirror. That said, I've recently considered extensions, but in the end decided against getting them. Too much maintenance, for my taste. I'd rather put on my long wig again for a party, if needed (did that for my bday party too).

But you have my full sympathy. May it grow fast!

Xx. Maus

[Sunshine0921 in reply to Maus123]

Thanks, Maus

I should have known this would hit me at one point. I was strong when I buzzed it all off and even when I was a cue ball but now I'm a hot mess 😊

[Maus123]

I hear ya. Am beginning to think I should have tried harder to find a clinic which offers the coldcap. But you know what? It's a first world complaint we are uttering here.

Fact is, you look gorgeous as you are right now. And NED was worth it. Here's to you, and to a steady hair growth (and/or extensions).

Hugs, Maus