Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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I wore the wig once and ditched it. IT was itchy and picky and it wasn't me. I looked fake.Then I wore hats and scraves when I would go out. I got tired of that and went without them. I don't remember exactly when but I was bald. My husband was more embarrassed than I ever was. It must have been a month or two after I lost my hair that I lost the hats and scraves. I wantesd to get a henna design painted on my head but couldn't find anywhere to get it done.
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I also loved being bald, no wigs for me. I bought a Harley-Davidson scarf (just to be a rebel!) and wore that when going out (chemo was in winter after all, but hot flashes, sweating *UGH*...no hats for me). My BF is also bald, so we were twins. He was supportive of all that I've gone thru, and says I look beautiful no matter the weight gain now, the sweating, my red face, lol. I know how lucky I am, and let him know it every single day. BTW: He's a truck driver, I had to go to all my treatments (chemo/rads) driving myself. He's here nights after 7pm. I would go bald again in an instant, SO much easier to care for, and NO HAIR ANY-WHERE~!!!
~juli(Gotta find the positives in all of this somehow!)
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MelBel, I ditched the hat at 13 weeks post chemo. I hated the colour - way too much grey! - so I got it coloured before my 'debut'. It gave me more confidence to go 'topless'! Good luck - Im sure u will look great!
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Sugar - did you have any trims/clean-up or did your hair grow into this great style by itself? also, did your color? Trying to decide if I should get mine trimmed a little since it looks so unruly - also lots of gray.
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For those of you hoping to "cut the curls out" - I tried. The curls stayed, and my hair was shorter. The best thing I ever did was the Brazilian Blowout. It is very expensive, but my hair is NORMAL. No more fuzz. My hair is not super straight, unless I flatt iron it, but the texture is amazing!!! I can wake up, shake my hair and go. I would fight the crazy curls for 40 minutes, and it still looked like crap. The reason I'm saying all of this is that I regret all the cuts I had trying to cut off the curls. My hair would be so much longer right now.
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Nodapearl, that Brazilian blowout - is that like thermal reconditioning where they "bake" the conditioner in with the iron? I wanted to do that, but it's a few hundred dollars, if that is what you are referring to? I think I may buy a flat iron see if that helps....
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Nodapearl: Thank you for the advice! I figured cutting wouldn't resolve anything. May I ask how long your hair was before straightening it?
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-I just joined your thread - I am 6 weeks post TC and onlyhave a bit of "baby fine" peach fuzz on my head - very blond - it reminds me of my daughter when she was a baby - but she had no appreciable hair until she was almost 2! A bit depressing to be sure. My SO swears it is growing but I think he is just trying tomake me feel better -
Sugar - Your hair is beautiful!!!!
Any ideas - I have heard Biotin - I started taking it - my Rad Onc says will do no good - rosemary shampoo? Any ideas qould be appreciated!
Everyone have a great weekend!
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Cindy, welcome to the bald and itchy club! I have stubble and that fuzz, am also 6+ weeks PFC.
I've been rubbing rosemary and almond oil on it, but now I'm reading that essential oils are stored in fatty tissue and not good for cancer patients. Huh. Back to my "simpler is better" philosophy in general.
Since my doctor is saying no major supplementation while in radiation, I'm laying low. Once it's over, fish oil, vitamin D, and horsetail are on the docket.
Don't despair yet. I know from research that timing it by week isn't how it goes. It depends on where you were in the hair cycle during your treatment, so weeks out varies!
I'm itchy as all getout, I can't wait to get some hair action. Hats are miserable, as are scarves, and with the heat on in most buildings, the hot flashes are a real drag.
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MelBell - I'm with you, same place. Ready to ditch the wigs and hats but not sure I have enough hair. Still feel a bit self conscience. I don't think it will be much longer and I can 'free' the head. I have what appears to be a thick head of hair but it's only about an inch - maybe a little more on top - but it tends to stick up on top, Gerber style.
It's also gray but I do have a good amount of dark color. However, it'll be so different than my hair was before bc and than the wig I've been wearing. I'm afraid I'll scare people. Sic of the wig - Carolyn
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Carolyn: I bleached mine until I could dye it and it made it look more hip and on purpose. It really helped, too, considering that it grows straight up!
Cindycaw: Welcome! Well, since you are an adult it shouldn't take two years! See the post above regarding hair growth patterns.
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I have only had one treatment so far, shedding hair like crazy.Someone mentioned hair extensions and according to my niece who is a hair dresser she swore to me that once I have an inch of hair growth she can give me natural looking extensions. One of her co-workers is about a year out from treatment and looks amazing with extensions my niece gave her.0
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Basia: I was told that I would need 4" of hair to do extensions!!! Does it matter what kind of hair you have? Although with chemo hair it's just fried stuffed animal hair which isn't hair at all. LOL!
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MBJ, my niece is really good, all she does at her salon is extensions and makeup, so if she tells me an inch I am going to hold her to it LOL. She didn't mention the quality of the hair, I will ask her about that.
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Thank you!!!
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Calleigh - you'll do great as you have a wonderful attitude. And no, nothing will be the same - it'll really be better, you'll be better. Oh, not at first. Alot about this disease sucks -- but there's plenty to admire. You'll see, hang in there and have fun with the wigs and head gear. You won't be doing this forever.
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Just started a thread about hair growth. Finished chemo 9/17/09. Eyelashes came in first in November like someone said above. I went without a scarf by March, but was hair was very sparse on the top all summer. Kind of concerned - but went to the hairdresser and he found another new growth of hair starting on the top - I wouldn't have guessed this would happen. I thought what you got is what you got. It is now in and no more seeing my scalp. I never heard of this, but keep an eye out for it when you hair starts growing. Good luck.
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char2010 - yes, I have had three trims since I stopped wearing my wig in May. I try to get it trimmed every six weeks but am a bit overdue now. I'm going tomorrow for a cut.
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Sugar, maybe I will get a trim, too. I want a look like yours....mine is too "bushy" right now. It's like it is growing straight up into the air (like Marge Simpson).
Do you flat iron it or anything like that, or is just soft like that on it's own?
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Calleigh: You were very brave to have your hair 'buzzed' before it started to fall out on its own. Yep, it was 14 days after my first chemo treatment that mine was clumping out in the shower. My hairdresser got me right in, and luckily it was a 'good' experience, as the customers there all proclaimed I had a 'nice-shaped-head', lol. I really ENJOYED being bald (remember NO SHAVING anyWHERE!)...and I wore a Harley-Davidson scarf (it was winter after all). NOT into the wigs or hats, got too sweaty/hot. GOOD luck to you, and as we all know, your hair WILL grow back...and it may be very different than you're used to (mine was straight, grew back in very soft/curly). GOOD luck to you (all). ~juli
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I'm hoping someone can get a good picture of mine soon. I just held a hand mirror up (so I could see the back) the other day and could not believe how much hair I've got! Not sure of the color, mostly white with some mousy grey sprinkled about - but hey - I'll take it!
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Calleigh;
We all know what you are feeling right now. If I can give you a mantra to help you through this period, it would be, 'I'm losing my hair, but saving my life'.
On another note, my 'woodstock' hair is now about 1" in length especially on top. Along the sides of my head (male patterned baldness) it is very fine with a great deal of white, black, brown mixed in and also about an 1" long. I see some new growth, darker hair growing in on top as well. I'm just not sure if I should just take the trimmers and cut off the 'feathers' because it is really itchy under my wig when I wear it (only to meetings or out for the evening) or just leave it. Any and all advice welcome. Thx so much, Heather
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MBJ - My hair was 3 or 4 inches when I had the blow out. I can honestly say I wish I wuld have done it sooner. My hair would be so much longer.
Fearless One - it sounds similar. They put the solution on, dried it, flat ironed it, washed it, flat ironed it, and I was done. The whole process took about 3 hours, but we did highlights first.
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Calleigh: You were very brave and I am glad you brought a friend with you to help you through. This was much harder then losing my breast! I went out and boaught a shaver because I knew I would be using it more then once and I couldn't imagine going to a salon--I was devastated losing it but buyijng a great wig helped. I had my DH shave me when it started growing out.
Heather: I shaved off my first growth because it was so uneven and because it was a weird "no color" white. Feathers is a good description of it. I waited until I had hair all over before doing it and afterwards it came in even, although very grey. Now, 8 months later, it is back to its original color of mostly black with a bit more grey.
Fearlessone: See above! Chemo destroyed the testure of my hair so look for products that soften and condition and that will help straighten it. My stuffed animal hair is out of control, grows straight up like Marge Simpson, too and just won't behave. I have a friend who swears by olive oil and coconut oil but I haven't tried it yet.
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I ditched the hats and wigs this past Thursday at 14 weeks PFC. It feels great not to wear anything on my head for the first time in 6 months, but I am VERY self conscious. Hair is probably 1" to 1.25" and is growing in just as thick as it ever was but I get SO cold. It's a far cry from the 18" it used to be but at this point I will take it. I REALLY want to color it, but am trying to wait until it is a little longer. I can't even bring myself to trim it to even up the ends, don't want it any shorter than it already is. I'm taking biotin, probably not doing any good but it makes me feel like I'm helping.
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Toughmom38 I am 5 months post chemo and I could NOT stand the color...like a rat..I just used Clairol Natural Instincts semi-permanent. Washes out in 28 washes and COMPLETELY covered the grey.I was very pleased with how it looks for now. I will have to re do it but no harsh chemicals and cost about $8.
MBJ Your hair look so cute!!! I am a few months behind you and can not wait for bangs!!!
Have a good night everyone!!
Di
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Didel: I was so relieved to even have 1/2" bangs! I used gel and plastered them down on my forehead in the beginning!
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Well, last night I used mascara for the first time in too many months. It was only on my bottom lashes because my top are far too short. I can't believe how great it felt!!!
Happy Halloween to all.
Heather
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Calleigh...That was very brave of you to cut your hair off before it all fell out. My hair was long and started falling out 16 days after the first treatment. There was hair everywhere, in the sink, my bed, the car, etc. I waited about a week and buzzed it off myself (I am a hairstylist) It was very devastating for me also and I thought my hair would never grow back, but just keep remembering that it will and look at it that the chemo is doing it's job. Hang in there.
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Heather: Yay for you--you will have full eyelashes in no time!
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