Hair Dye????!!!! Or Not!!!!

[HopeP]

How soon, and is it safe, to dye or highlight your hair when it starts growing after chemo?

Do you have to use 'natural' hair colorants as opposed to the stuff you get at the hairdresser??!!!!

[doreenharwood]

Hi,

I have just finished reading about dyeing hair after chemo. It says to wait at least 6 months from the last chemo and only to use natural hair dye. They sell a natural one at Holland and Barrett or you can get it on line. My hair is beginning to grow and its white , It used to be dark brown, its still not long enough to go without a wig but as soon as it is I will be dyeing mine.

Love Babs x x

[angelina]

Hi Ladies.

My oncologist told me to wait at least six months after chemo and if possible

twelve months as new hair after chemo is very delicate and could break off

when applying any hair colourants. But I guess it is up to the individual....

my new hair is completely different...black and grey now.....don't think I will be

colouring my hair anymore as this is the new me from now on....New style

and new natural colour.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Angie xx

[HopeP]

Thank you for the advice, I have a way to go before I get enough hair to show the world anyway!!

Just thinking ahead!!!

[HopeP]

PS

Sorry for the pun!

[Whippit in reply to HopeP]

a head - very good! lol. I think it's always worth taking stock and thinking about whether we're more beautiful as we are and whether we need to worry about dye. I do think it's worth looking after your hair until it's growing back strong and shining before applying dye - though Bab's suggestion is better than the chemically produced dyes. Are tints less damaging to the hair than dye?

Sounds like you're well-organised in planning ahead. Good luck with the hair project. We'll be looking forward to a photo in due course.

love Annie

[Archiebanana]

Haha very good!

I dyed mine for the first time last week, 8 months after my last chemo. It didn't bother me at all at first that it was grey, but I suddenly felt old and frumpy as it was so curly. My daughter did it for me as I felt more in control than going to the hairdresserl. I used a natural dye from LOreal after looking it up on their website.

Good luck when you decided to do it!

Love Linda xx

[Hidden]

I have been wondering exactly this as am covered in white fuzz already ... Thanks for posting this. Not sure I can wait 6 months... May go with Babs on this one - as soon as its long enough to bother I am dyeing.... Def no pun intended there!

Love

Sue xxx

[Hidden]

Hi

I dyed my hair after chemo not sure how long after but I suppose when it had grown to a decent length. I used Holland and Barrett's non peroxide. I thought it may not be as good but it lasted just as long. My hairdresser put it on for me. A limited number of colours, but there was one for me.

Good luck

Barbara.

[jan50]

Hello there,

The advice I have given is the same as above, to wait at least 6 months. I dyed my hair blonde since the age of 17, so had no idea what my natural colour really was after all these years!! I thought I would be desperate to dye it when it started growing back, however I have found, to my great surprise, that I actually like it short and grey!!! It is also very dark amongst the grey so it is a radical change for me, I have had lots of compliments on my new look so I think I will keep it that way for a while, so my advice would be " wait and see" , you may be pleasantly surprised,

Love

Jan

[angelina in reply to jan50]

Hi Jan

I'm so with you on this...I have highlighted my hair for years and did get

quite fed up with having to colour and blow dry a bob haircut.

I now look so different with my almost black/grey short pixie hair cut.....

and the fab comments I get from everyone is so uplifting..so I too have

decided to stay as I am...i'm just so thankful to have my own hair again.

Angie x

[sarem]

Hello,

This site is so good it always seems to have topics that are going through my mind but not asked about yet. I am about to have my last chemo and was thinking ahead about when I can start to dye my hair to hide the grey bits.. I had a 10 wk break between 3 lots of chemo and surgery and was suprised how much hair grew back. Not enough to show the world but enough to be encouraging.( bald to looking like a convict). Having had 2 more lots of chemo all the dark bits have dropped out leaving grey fuzzy bits.I am looking forward to trying new short hair styles (eventually). I had a medium length bob before and always fancied having a short hair cut but never had the guts to do it. An extreme way of getting a short hair do I must admit, but its one of my list of the positive things to come out of having chemo. Its good to know how long to wait and I guess after all that we have been through the hair is not going to be in the best condition at first while the chemo is getting out of our system.

I came across an article the other day about a product called FAST which is coming onto the market in the uk soon.It is supposed to boost hair growth. Anyone else read about it and are they going to give it a try. I asked my oncologist if he thought it would be safe to use and he had not heard of it yet so have got info for him to look at to see what he thinks about it. Its not something I fancy yet but in a few months I may consider it.

when I first started to loose my hair my husband volunteered to shave his hair off to support me. I refused to let him as at 55 his may not of grown back. He has short badger grey hair and I pointed out that at some point in my recovery we ARE going to have matching hair do's. One thing that does annoy me is how come men look attractive with grey hair and I just look old!!

Good luck to anyone in the throws of growing their hair back.

Best wishes

Lorraine

xx

[elainebuchi]

During my first round of chemo (carboplatin/taxol) I did not dare to use any hair dye. During my second round though (gemcitibane/carboplatin/avastin), I threw the gloves out of the ring and dyed my hair with a product called HERBATINT which I bought from my health shop. It is a herbal hair colour gel that contains less chemicals than the others, ie No parabens/ammonia/resorcinol. It made me feel one million times better about myself!

Elaine x

[HopeP]

Ooh thank you for all your feedback. When I get some more hair I shall try some of your ideas and let you know how I get on!!

[tiffbrown80]

Ahead, haha! Punny.

Hmm I don't have firsthand advice, but looks like you got some good responses! Have you ever tried asking here: bit.ly/VmZkTj

Quick responses to any question just like these forums, but from docs - could be another point of help.

Hugs!