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  • thisisme
    thisisme Member Posts: 45
    edited November 2009

    yeah, what is up with the lashes.  All other hair seems fine, but the lashes are sparse and short.  WIll they ever go back to normal?  Also, how long do chemo-curls last?  I had wavy hair before and prefer my chemo curls.

  • Warrior517
    Warrior517 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2009

    Hi Cristl! How are you, my friend? I understand the struggles with the curly hair look. As you know, this pic is me now. I finished chemo last July so ladies..it WILL grow back!

    When it was curly like that, I used to wear a cute head scarf like a bandana. The thin scarfs, not the large ones that we used to cover our whole heads. Its just a thought...and as with everything you all have endured...This too shall pass!!Kiss

  • marie111
    marie111 Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2009

    Hello All,

    I am new here but have been following your thread ever since my hair feel out, it is very inspirational !! I finished 4XTC 4 weeks ago. My question is this: I never lost all my hair. When my hair started falling out I buzzed it with a #4 and what fell out fell out and a few stands stayed for the duration of my treatment. There is not much hair, it is VERY sparse and about 1/4 inch long. At this point - 4 weeks out - I am not really seeing any re growth. Should I shave my head right down ? Will this help it grow ? When it starts growing back is it a uniform growth ?

     Also I am not taking anything for it any recommendations ?

    Thanks  !

    Marie

  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 50
    edited November 2009

    Dear marie111:

    I lost all my hair and didn't see much happening until weeks 4-5 PFC. 

    Hang in there.  You will likely see some growth in the next week or so.

    Be good to you -

  • LittleRed
    LittleRed Member Posts: 50
    edited November 2009

    Warrior 517:

    You look great!  What an inspiration!

    Be good to you -

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited November 2009

    Nadine, hi there!!!  Haven't seen you much - how are you? 

    The lashes do eventually grow in - if you look at your lash line with a magnifying mirror, you can see the little dots where they will come in.

    Yes, the hair does start to really get started about 4-5 weeks pfc - lots of clear sprouts.

  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2009

    Marie1111 - I am about 1 to 2 weeks ahead of you. I am 5-1/2 weeks PFC and as LittleRed said you should see some hair growth in the next week or 2, as I am seeing more and more every day. Still not much on the top but it started on the sides and is working its way up so hang in there!

  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2009

    chelev - I love your hairstyle and how much you have. I cannot wait to get there!

  • Rachel_BC
    Rachel_BC Member Posts: 679
    edited November 2009

    have you guys tried http://www.madmenyourself.com

    ?

    Its a fun little thing where you can pick  your face, eyes, nose, HAIR accessories, attire etc and come up with a cartoon image of yourself.  We've made some fun ones that really do look like "us".  I thought it might be especially fun for you, to create and see yourself the way you really are, until the reality reflects what you see in your head...ON your head

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited November 2009

    Thanks, Blondie!   Yes, have faith ladies.  It does come, but it is slow on the top for some reason - I thought I was going to have a permanent bald or thin spot and actually ended up using rogaine my derm okay'd for a few weeks, but it has all filled in now.

    we went to a wedding yesterday and I spent a few extra minutes flat-ironing my hair and getting it spikey and textured and my dh, who absolutely HATES short hair said, "that is really cute, it looks great".  I was floored.  I guess it is growing in enough that it really resembles a style.  the back still does whatever it's little wavy self wants to do, but I'm not looking at the back of my head, so I really don't care.  :)

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Warrior 517 you look great! Which July did you finish chemo?

    Hope everyone is doing ok today,

    hugs, Judy xxx

  • Warrior517
    Warrior517 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2009

    Hi Judy...I wish I could tell you it was just a few months ago. But, it was last July. I will tell you, though, I was "wigless" by October. So, just a few months after last chemo, I sported the military do..lol  Lots of thin head scarves to look more stylish. By Christmas, I was putting gel into my hair. By early winter, I was highlighting it. Just take it one month at a time!! Once it starts rolling, it rolls! I did do herceptin up to March of THIS year, so don't believe that Herceptin slows it down. I also took BIOTIN, a hair and nail vitamin for a while.  I just wanted to post here to show you girls that it WILL come back!! In the meantime, enjoy each stage, sassy and sexy...lol

  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 82
    edited November 2009

    chelev - Do you remember how far out you were from chemo when you started using the Rogaine? It may be something I have to do, as I am getting lots of hair everywhere but on the top. Is that how most of everyone's hair came in????

    Warrior517 - Good for you that you went without your wig by October. Even if I had the guts it is getting to be winter here now and I would FREEZE without it on my head now, even though it gets pretty hot when the hot flashes come!

  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 209
    edited November 2009

    Warrior517, thanks for the encouragement. I am thinking of taking the scarf off for Thanksgiving - not sure yet though.

    Have a good night one and all,

    Judy xoxox

  • Warrior517
    Warrior517 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2009

    Judy..I hope you will be surrounded by people that care and love you on Thanksgiving...maybe that really is the appropiate day to try it!!!! 

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited November 2009

    Warrior....I am exactly one year (lol) after you. I finished my chemo in July of this year. Do you have pics of your different hair growth stages that you could post here?It would be so encouraging for us. I am guessing that your hair in your avatar pic is how much it has grown since chemo?

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited November 2009

    blondie, I was about 4 months PFC when I started using rogaine - it was early August and I finished just before I went to NY in September.  I think it helped with the remainder bald spot.  Women's Rogaine, you use it twice a day.

    Judy, go for it!!  Once you go without the scarf and realize nobody is freaking out or staring at your head and you get over the initial stage fright, it's so freeing.  Like you are shedding yet another layer that cloaked you during this fight.

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited November 2009

    Blondie!!!! Have fun. Do not worry a rats boodie what anyone thinks. The good part is that everyone that loves you will be so excited to see you the way you are. I was having sushi last night and the waitress ask me what I did for a living. I said a photographer and she said she knew it was in the arts. That is because of my hair (and the way I dress). I am 55 years old and loving every 1/16th of an inch of growth. I believe the less serious we take ourselves the happier we can be. Hair has always been important to me in the past. Now that I have experienced not having any. I have shifted my importance to being kinder, better on the inside so it shines through. I still have a long way to go with that. A life time.

     Grow in peace

  • cs34
    cs34 Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2009

    first i want to say i never thought i'd see the day i was happy to have my "mustache" back... Smile but, boy am i EVER so glad!!!!

    i have a question i hope someone will answer for me...(please)...i am eight weeks done with chemo and i have salt & pepper growth (at 39 yrs old) and some hairs are sticking out more than others and it's patchy.

    did anyone else experience this and is this when i've heard women have shaved it at this stage to get it all at one "level" and go from there?

    i wish i could put a picture up to show you all but i don't know how.

    should i shave it to one level or wait a little longer? what have others done at this stage? HELP!!!!!!!!

  • lollys
    lollys Member Posts: 44
    edited November 2009

    Bold--I love what you wrote!! my hair is about 1/4 in although v=covering my head and really want to go topless but just cant yet--you put things into prospective!!!

    cs34--I havent done any cutting since it has been growing--the top seems longer than the sides but i just cant think of cutting anything yet--(although the hair on my neck needs to be shaved so maybe in a couple of weeks I will do that) I am 14 weeks pfc --hang in there 

  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 70
    edited November 2009

    I dyed my hair once it was about 1/2 inch long.  It at least change all the gray..white...brown...clear colors to a nice brown.  The hair showed up so much better.  I didnt' get a trim until I started having some ugly sideburns and neck hair.  My stylist just cleaned things up for me.  That was end of Sept. and I am ready for another "cleaning"!  Hope this helps!

  • revricki
    revricki Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2009

    I have the same question as Marie111. Should I shave what's left on my head with a razor so that it is smooth and all the hair can grow back evenly? I'm almost 1 week PFC. Maybe 10% of my hair hung on throughout as is now 1/2 long. Thanks

  • revricki
    revricki Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2009

    I have the same question as Marie111. Should I shave what's left on my head with a razor so that it is smooth and all the hair can grow back evenly? I'm almost 1 week PFC. Maybe 10% of my hair hung on throughout as is now 1/2 long. Thanks

  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 403
    edited November 2009

    cs34 - My hair grew back the same way but I waited to get a trim.  I was so happy to have a little bit of hair even if the lengths were crazy that I just couldn't think about shaving my head.  Your hair doesn't grow back even normally anyways so it doesn't make sense to me to shave my head when I finally had hairs growing back. 

    I used styling gel or mousse to control those stray hairs.  Right now my hair is 2-1/2" long so I am using molding wax that I discovered just recently and I like the natural feel of my hair using the wax versus a sticky gel feeling.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited November 2009

    Okay did anyone dye their hair and have it come out with an orange tint ??  I think it is called brassey and there is a shampoo to help (Bold ??) but I can not think of the name of it.  HELP!!!! Please....

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited November 2009

    No worries Jaimieh. You did not leave it on your hair long enough number 1 and you can get rid of the orange by getting a purple shampoo. If I were and judging by your diagnosis I wish I was.... LOL I would go to a beauty supply and let them direct you. I can wait to see you all blond and fierce!!!!

    I did not shave my head with a razor but rather a electric clipper. It made me feel better to have it all grow back the same. It is a matter of preference

     XO

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited November 2009

    Jamie and Bold...The name of the shampoo at the beauty supply store is Shimmer Lights. It is purple and will help neutralize out the brassy tones. Good luck!

  • stef58
    stef58 Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2009

    Hello hair thread, I started taking biotin today. How much does everyone take. Has anyone used women's rogaine?  What else can I do to get this stuff going. I would like to have enough hair to go without a cap by Thanksgiving. My hair came back during chemo. Right now its about 1/2 longf and white and thin. Any suggestions Thanks Hugs Dianne

  • ChrisC433
    ChrisC433 Member Posts: 70
    edited November 2009

    I take 5,000 Biotin daily.  I also used a product from Sally Beauty for hair regrowth (got a starter kit with shampoo, conditioner, and follicle booster).  Message head each night to get blood flowing.

    Good luck!

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited November 2009

    Ah you ladies are awesome.   I will be getting myself some new shampoo tomorrow.  I think this will be bottle 3 for my 2 inches of hair....lol...... 

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