Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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I think so, too, Otter - you look gorgeous! One more treatment and I get to grow hair, too.
Gail
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I got my hair trimmed (i.e., neck shaved and a little trim about the ears) today. Figured scraggly isn't really the look I'm going for.
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I can't decide if I want to trim around my ears or not; it's getting curly there, and sometimes the hair sticks out away from my ears. Kinda silly looking, I think. But I want it to grow, right? That's why I can't decide whether or not to trim.
Michele
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TN-Michele - I think you should go for it and trim! It's a leap of faith that it's going come back just the way you want it!! Trust the Hair!
Gail
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I'm looking kind of scruffy these days but I'm not doing any trimming anytime soon. I think I said this before: it will be a while before I let a pair of scissors get anywhere near my head!
How's this for a bit of hair irony? Here I am, 5 months post-chemo, with a full head of thick, curly hair (about two inches long when I stretch out the curls), and what does my son bring home? HEAD LICE! He couldn't have gotten lice when I was bald and didn't have to worry about catching it??? Seriously, if I had had to deal with the extra laundry and nit-picking while I was undergoing chemo I know I would have cried, so I guess the timing could have been worse.
Otter, ITA with the others, your hair looks GREAT! I'll have to post another photo sometime soon, my curls are just insane. Not that I'm complaining, I've always liked curly hair -- it was never like this of course, but any hair is good hair in my book!
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LorenaB, LOL LOL LOL ha!!!! ROFL.
CRACKING UP about the head lice! I remember my daughter got it once, total gross out! But you're right! Would be less "ick me out" with a bald head! You protect those curls woman!!!
I am halfway through my second Taxol after 4 ACs (2 more to go, then done!) and I feel stubble growning in on my head already -- like when you shave your legs and they need to be shaved again. (There is still some other hair there than never fell out, I never buzzes, got a pixie then let it just fall ou...)
Did anyone else's hair start to "stubble" back during the tail end of chemo?
Springtime
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My hair felt 'stubbly' even after the 2nd FEC. After the first tax, the stubble fell out but the baby fluff remained. Stuble came back straight away. I finished 3 weeks ago and my 'hair' is going berserk..seems to be growing everyday but not 'real' yet..more like an impressive 5 o'clock shadow, with heaps of whitish longer bits. Charming. Yesterday I had to go and have three surgical procedures, one requiring a general. So..no makeup whatsoever. I was quite shocked to see how pale and Cancer-Girly my eyes/eyebrows looked! I am REALLY looking forward to a bit of thickening-up there!
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Hair cover I love - finally found it. This seemed to be the most likely place to post.
I've had a High UV Buff (headwear) since early summer and love it. It's a seamless lightweight tube that can be worn many ways and comes in many colors and prints. It's stretchy so it stays in place better than my scarves. I usually wear my wig but for trips to the amusement park and such when I either didn't want to damage my wig, it was too hot or I was afraid it would come off, this is perfect. It doesn't have any tags so I couldn't find any info to pass on but I just did.
I bought mine at The Vermont Country Store although, last I looked, I couldn't find it on their website. The buff website is www.buff.es but directs you to other sites also. Once at their site, click on"store locator' and then "online store". The www.planetbuff.com has a huge selection. I own the UV buff as stated but there are winter buffs too.
It's so comforatble around the house since I still don't have enough hair to keep me warm. I even wear it at night as the elastic in my night cap is annoying.
I can't seem to send the link but if you click on Learn how to wear a buff and then on biking buff cancer survivors there's a good article.
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Otter -
I am so happy I'm not the only one who's hair is creeping back slowly. Except of course for the hair on my chin which acts like it's being fertalized. My hair is still thin & very very curly. I guess I should stop telling people who compliment me that it's not a hair cut, it's chemo. If they like this mess that looks like it was combed with a blender, I can't imagine what they thought of me before ...
susan
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Thanks to all of you for the compliments about my furry head. Seriously--it makes this process easier to hear nice things from friends.
My dh has asked me twice if I've misplaced my ball caps. (?)
On another "hair" topic... Last Thursday, I went for my first official prosthesis fitting. My mast/SNB was in Feb. '08 and I finished chemo in June '08, so this was a bit late, but I was finally ready. I won't go through the prosthesis stuff, since that's detailed on the prosthesis forum. There was a "hair issue," though, while I was there.
The store owner, like all her employees, is a BC survivor. When she saw me paying for my prosthesis and mast bras, she asked if I had lost my brows and eyelashes from chemo. My lashes are still short, but my brows are mostly grown back and I "enhance" them with brow powder. I wasn't wearing a headcover, so the scalp hair loss was obvious.
I said I'd lost my brows and lashes but they were coming back nicely, though pale-colored. The store owner pulled out a tube of stuff (maybe 6-inch by 3/4-inch container) and said if I would use it on my brows and lashes, they would grow back faster. She said if I had used it during chemo, I wouldn't have lost my brows and lashes. The cost? Around $45.
Then she showed me a fairly small bottle of a salon-type shampoo. She said if I had used that during chemo, my hair would not have fallen out. I could use it now and my hair would grow back faster. Cost? Around $12. I declined. She persisted: "Well, at least try the sample-size bottle--it's only $2." No, thanks. "You have to buy shampoo anyway--why not use this, and help your hair grow back faster?" Sorry, no thanks. She finally gave up and threw in the sample bottle for free.
Okay, I know there are products out there that are being advertised (and used) to prevent chemo-associated hair loss. But, I can't help thinking, if there really was such a product, wouldn't our oncos know about it? My onco told me the one chemo-related SE that they had not been able to treat or prevent was hair loss. We all know the hair loss can be even more traumatic than many of the other things we experience with a dx of BC.
So, please don't consider me silly if I'm skeptical of what the store owner was saying about her hair products.
Oh, and rock--no, I haven't had the ends trimmed. All I've done is use a razor to clean up my neckline (since the photos). I think in another month or so, I'll stop by my hair stylist's shop for show-and-tell. I don't mind the color of my new hair--it's not at all like my previous, natural color, but I'm willing to wait and see. I've been shopping around for short hairstyles for the "new me."
otter
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That burns me up, Otter. I'm not so sure that our individual oncos would necessarily know about such a product, but the women on these boards sure would!!! The store owner should be ashamed of herself, frankly, as should the folks who manufacture the snake oil. (I can only imagine the ingredients.) MOREOVER (and yes, I probably am overreacting!), I resent the implication that your hair loss or anybody's hair loss is somehow an affront to the public asthetic that should have been prevented and now must be addressed at all costs.
These folks -- however well-intended -- are from the same gene pool as those who kept trying to get me to cover up my head when I was bald-bald. If I had wanted to wear a wig or a hat or a head covering, I would have worn one thank you very much. Toward the end, I started to respond by saying: "Why? I think I look okay bald, don't you?" or "Why? Is there something wrong with me being bald?"
I will not hold my breath to find out whether the sample bottle of stuff worked, dear Ott. But if I'm wrong, I'll buy a bottle of the stuff myself, drink half of it, and pass along the rest! The only stuff in a bottle that might make our hair grow is Time.
This concludes Rock's Rant of the Evening. You may now resume your regularly scheduled programming.
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I think that store owner should shave her hair and pluck out all her eye brows and eye lashes and see if it works on her.
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ROFL+ROFL+ROFL!! You girls crack me up! Rock & Teressat: absolutely! Otter, that would be such a cool suggestion! I am over these people. She, of all people having been through it herself!! should be able to put her commercial inclinations aside for 2 minutes. For feck's sake..if anything made hair grow through chemo, hair-loss wouldn't be mentioned in ANY context.
.......did she happen to have a little something for Chemobum or Chemothighs??? .......
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Guitargirl,
Cracking up about the hair on the chin, fertilized!! I am sure this will be the case for me. One thing I enjoyed about the "hairless" me was no plicking of facial hair! Just fits that this would be the first to come back, and also somehow "engergized" --
LOL!!
Springtime
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I agree with Rock and kerry_lamb. I'm sure if there were something that prevented hair loss during chemo, SOMEONE other than a know-it-all store clerk would have mentioned it. My hair came back pretty quickly, but I'm just now getting my eyebrows back and this is a year and a half after chemo!
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Hi All:
Rather than start a new thread, or spend an hour or so looking through this one (!), can anyone tell me the remedy for ingrown hairs? Last tx was July 22 and hair is returning everywhere, but for some reason half the "nether region" hairs are ingrown. Not bothering me yet, but soon will, I'm sure!
Thx in advance,
Linda
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Irishdreama,
ahhhhhh! Eyebrows just back now after 1.5 years!!! ahhhhhh! Pls share your tricks. Did you draw in, in the mean time? Mine are getting thin.
Ugh. (I think this is worse than losing your head hair!)
Springtime...
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I LOVE your hair, Its real and ITS YOURS!! I am exactly 6 weeks out of chemo and am only at the 5 o'clock shadow stage, the smooth bald patches are finally filling in with a soft stubble of white fuzz. My eyebrows looked fabulous till last week when to my horror they started falling out in patches. I tried filling them in with eyepencil but I looked like a drag queen and wiped it off. Eyelashes seem to be long and lush (with mascara) I hope those don't fall out
When does the body hair come back? All I really miss is the hair on my arms. Use to smooth the hair in one direction all the time, for some reason that was comforting to me, I didnt realize this till I lost it all..
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Decided to join and read the last 15 pages of your posts! Wish I had come earlier! You ladies are a riot, I have to say! Too funny some of your antics.
Have to say about the 'snake oil/charmers'. When I went to get my near waist length hair cut short before surgery (figure it would be easier after surgery to take care of, plus I kind of figured I'd be doing chemo), and the dresser tried to talk me into a $40 set of shampoo stuff that would insure I didn't lose my hair. I should have said, 'Sure, if you'll guaranteed it for a full refund WHEN I lose it!' I declined of course. MY first thought was, that if it prevents hair from falling out, is it also preventing the chemo from the rest of the scalp, I'm trying to kill any waylaid chemo cells?
Then about month after chemo stopped and I'm looking for that magical shampoo everyone talks about that increases hair growth! HA! READ the bottle lady..It says on each one...that the products works by increasing the size of the hair shaft, thus making it appear your hair is thicker. MAYBE, the hair is individually thicker, but not the # of hair you have. I hate this type of advertising! Just nutty!
Those wondering about hair care...just do what you always have, minus the heavy perms and coloring and IT will come in and be fine. Mine is 8 months post chemo and about 2 and 1/4 inches long and I've had two trims...one minor and one pretty good one. It will grow well, just give it time. You all look great in your pics! and will continue to be happier as it grows through it's chemo hair into what you know and love!
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Hi All,
This is my first post on this thread but have been reading it for weeks. I finished chemo in mid Aug and my hair started growing immediately......now it seems to have slowed. My hair was very thick and curly....it is now straight and the sides are thin ( can still see my scalp ) and overall no where near as thick as pre chemo. Can anyone comment on how long it took to get full hair thickness/density back? Also anyone else have their hair come back straight when it was curly before? My biggest fear about chemo was that my hair would not come back the way it was!
Bright side is I get more compliments on my wig everyday....it is a cute short bob that I could have never worn with my "real" hair! My lashes are almost back to full length (lost all but 4 lashes post chemo) and my eyebrows are back in force.
Thanks Ladies!
Valerie
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Hey Valerie, My hair was always pretty curly. When it grew back it was straight at first! I was hopeful that it would stay that way. Now I look like a poodle! Of course everyone is different, but I bet it gets that curl soon! I had last tx at end of January, and still did not have a lot of hair in mid May, now I have about 3 inches or more, but you cannot tell, because it is so curly! I think you have a way to go, so don't worry yet!
Lou
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Guitargirl ~ I know what you mean about the chin hairs. That was the first hair to reappear for me. I'd love to try a little curl on my head although anything more than what I have would be fine. 4 months out and only 3/4 to 1 inch so far.
Springtime and ShellyJo ~ My eyebrows went missing for about a month. I'm not an expert with makeup but used eyebrow powder with a little pencil on top (as recommended at the cancer boutique) and they looked pretty realistic. I used stencils that came in a kit with the powder.
LorenaB ~ I'm so sorry for your head lice predicament but it was hilarious reading about it. You're right - way too much to deal with during chemo. I work in school health rooms where we see head lice all the time. I've never had to deal with it at home but some families just about come unglued at the prospect. A lot of work. And you know, those little lice prefer clean heads, don't you? So it's almost a compliment to you. I can't wait to see a picture of your cirls since you offered.
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Guitagirl,
Where does one find these "stencils" with the powder? I am going to the "Look Good, Feel Good" class tonight, and I will ask. But share if you know!
Springtime
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Springtime ~ I bought my eyebrow kit at Sally's Beauty supply. I see them on their website. www.sallybeauty.com I believe the salesgirl recommended powder that appeared lighter than I thought I needed. It was a perfect match. Just checked the kit.- my brows are dark brown and the powder is light brown but looks fine.0
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Here I am - 21 weeks post chemo
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GRAMA DEB!!!
LOOK AT YOU WOMAN!! Wow, what curls!!! Wooo Hooo!!!
That is so good to see! Thanks for sharing. There is HAIR AHEAD!!! :-)
Springtime
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I have a question. I will have my 3rd tx (TC) next Monday. I started losing hair significantly on day 15 of the first treatment and had it shaved pretty close then. I still have all the hair on my arms, and the fuzz on my head has never fallen out. Are these things I still have to look forward to?
Chris
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gramadeb ~ that must be some kind of record! Are you sure it's not a wig
Amazing! And gorgeous! Did you have curls before? I'm 17 weeks today and doubt I'll be that far in 4 weeks but I can hope. Thanks for sharing. It's so encouraging.0 -
Chris - I had arm hair throughout chemo and always had a thin fuzz on my head. I had TC also and was never really "bald" You may not lose anything more.
Deb
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gramadeb, you are only 2 weeks ahead of me, yet you have SERIOUS hair and mine is only joking.
hopefullady/Chris, do not be too hopeful. I lost all the hair on my arms at some point during my 4 treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxan. It just disappeared. I checked one day and I had hairy arms. The next day, the hair was gone. The real bummer was that the re-growth of my arm hair was faster and more exuberant than the hair anywhere else. I, too, retained some of the hair on my head through chemo. It was just a few wisps. Those hairs all fell out as the new ones grew in. There is no justice.
otter
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