What to do about my hair???

[dryden1]

HI All, I know this might sound trivial but I am wondering what to do about my hair. Do I dye or not ?? I am on the 3rd course of chemo having Carboplatin monthly thought it would be easy but it has really knocked me for 6 no energy at all.Good news is I am not loosingmy hair bad news is that new growth is white. FOR the last 20 years I have always dyed my hair I know what the advice is but have any of you dyed your hair whilst on chemo.Love Chris

[Marycha]

I am currently on Carbo/Caelyx chemo. Five down,one to go. I have been told my hair will probably thin but I will not loose. WRONG. I lost about 70%. I looked like a witch with long strands of grey hair with brown ends. Although I have absolutely no energy left I had to do something with it.

Yesterday I had it cut (really short )and coloured. It looks so much better. I was on chemo before when I did not loose my hair and coloured it before. I had no problems, just feeling so much better.

[Katiebairdie]

When I was on taxol I lost my hair and when it started coming back I went to Holland & Barrett and got some hair dye. It was fine .

[Flamingobeef18]

Hi

Currently I am on my last but one Caelyx out of a course of eight. This is my third line of chemo my previous ones being Carboplatin and Taxol which is the only one which caused me to loose my hair, followed by Carboplatin for my second line.

I have always dyed my hair and have continued to do so through both the last two chemo courses. Mostly I do it myself and just choose a good quality hair dye. I have not had any problems and my hair seems the same as always.

My brother who happens to be a hair stylist did do a lot of research for me as to why we are all told not to dye during chemo but could find no reliable evidence.Being cynical I suspect it’s something of an urban myth which has been repeated over and over but has little factual basis. However I am certainly not an expert on the subject and would not presume to advise anyone.

Best wishes

Juliax

[Tesla_7US in reply to Flamingobeef18]

FYI, sometimes chemo causes rashes on the scalp and hair dye makes it worse.

[Maus123]

Hm I've no dyed in mid chemo (had Carb/Tax so no hair left to dye), but a couple of weeks after. Used a "free from xyz... " dye and that did no seem to do any harm to my then supershort baby elephant fluff.

I guess it's difficult to predict what will happen... and it could maybe go wrong.

but the colour made me feel better for sure.

Good luck, if you decide to take your chances. And best of success with the chemo. xx. Maus

[LittleSan]

I had my hair bleached at a reputable hairdressers 4 months after chemo and the bleach wouldn't take, my hair remained orange. Had to put a strong ash colour over the top which was OK. It may just be my hair though, my friend had no problem at all.

I'd have thought a natural dye (not bleach) would be no problem as long as you do the patch test. Xx

[Lucidalil]

I have dyed my hair since I was 11 years old so continued through my chemo of carbo caelyx, weekly taxol with coldcap, carbo gemcitibine and cisplatin/ gemcitibine. I only used crazy colours as I use blues and greens and did have my hair cut shorter. It was fine for me I just thought what is the worst that can happen- my hair falls out 😆. I certainly felt better than when I had lost my hair on 3 other occasions xx

[Colman]

I am on weekly taxol and my hair is really short. I have put a silver wash colour on mine. It was fine. I don't use permant colour tho. Have a go I say.

Claire xx

[Ge0rg1na]

No, I never did but I didn't have white growth at the time. My hair is now pretty grey and I just live with it so I think you shouldn't do it!

I'm sorry to hear the carboplatin has totally sapped your energy. Addenbrooke's is deliberating give it to me now so my question is, is it doing any good? I'm carbo intolerant so they might just give me taxol instead. Anything but the Rotterdam regimen which they're not keen on after their trial of it. I shall think of you on Sat if you make it to A's memorial Gx

[mrstadpole]

I haven't dyed my hair whilst on chemo but I did when on Avastin. My hairdresser suggested a patch test first which was fine.It came out really well and I was really pleased.x

Ann

[Trathi]

Unfortunately my hair came back grey after my first cycle and is still grey. I used to spray colour it which my grandchildren loved as it used to be pink, teal, red, they used to think i5 was cool. I often think of dying it blonde again but worry something will happen to it now back on chemo 🤣😂 think carefully before you do xxxx

[TudorPurr68]

Hello Chris. I hear you!! My hair did come out, eventually completely shaved by a friend. It used to be a lovely auburn but has grown back curly, fluffy and white!!! I toyed with the idea of dying to get my old colour back but then I thought no. This white hair is my badge of survival so I'll keep it. Whatever you decide, you will be beautiful what ever colour your hair is. All the best - Jayne

[tutti]

I lost my hair and when it came back was white,coarse and wavy after 48 years of fine mousy hair so I had it dyed blonde for several years until Inoticed that the regrow then was getting finer and mousy again so I had highlights for several years instead which looked much better and more natural.

Vivx

[bamboo89]

The reason they say don't use hair dye when having chemo isn't because it might damage your hair; they are concerned you may react to it in an allergy type fashion because your immune system is is compromised whilst on chemo, but its also about the chemical load on your system. There are hospitals which recommend you don't use normal cleaning products (sticking to vinegar and bicarb instead) no air fresheners, eco washing up liquid only, no perfumes, no fancy skin creams, perfumed soaps and shampoos, everything as natural as possible to reduce the chemical load/strain on the body. Where these protocols are insisted upon and employed, there does appear to be a delayed/reduced relapse rate after treatment, though those stats were compiled from breast cancer sufferers. Maybe you should ask your own oncology department precisely why they say no hair dye, see what their response is... and whether there's a 'safer' type of dye you could use.

Miriam

[Caroles1]

Hi Chris,

I am a qualified hairdresser and personally I wouldn’t dye.

I lost all my hair, wore wigs and hats and my hair has grown back white.

I have it cut in a pixie cut and still don’t dye it 4 years after.

People mistake it for blonde(I will go with that) and the condition is the best ever,

Carole xx

[lynn6156]

I had carboplatin only and continued to dye my hair

Lynn

x

[dryden1]

Sorry I have been so long in replying and thanking you for all your thoughts. I have been mulling over all the replys and I know some of you may not agree with my decision but I took the plunge 10 days ago and had my roots dye with organic dye . I have to say with no side effects , no headache ,no thinning of hair. Psychological effects It has made me feel happier.

Magnesium still low, still on supplements, still feeling cream crackered.The good news is that my CA125 was 12 yes 12 before my third line of Carboplatin today. FAntastic.