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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 2,234
    edited March 2009

    My hair USED to look that way - naturally curly, like Orphan Annie when wet, etc.  NOW, it is poker straight, about an inch long.   First time in my 63 years I have had straight hair, lolol.    But, it is better than the bald look...

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    Nancy D + Goldie = TWINS!!!!!

    I hope I look like you ladies. still pretty short. but better than bald!!!  about 15.5 weeks out....

    When do the curls start????

  • Smile2006
    Smile2006 Member Posts: 132
    edited March 2009

    I am on day 17 after first tx.....my hair is shedding pretty good now.  Thinking about cutting it shorter....cant bring myself to shave it off yet....

  • nancyd
    nancyd Member Posts: 557
    edited March 2009

    I'll tell you it didn't start out curly. The first few months it was very straight. It didn't start to curl until it was about 1". It's growing slowly...but then it never grew very fast during the winter. Summer sun and air makes it sprout. I'm like a plant.

  • Lisa810
    Lisa810 Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2009
    mom_of_2, thank you so much for the buff recommendation - they look so cool!

    revkat, thanks for the sparkling earth site.

    Shari, right there with you. I'm on day 10 of my hair loss (day 25 after 1st AC), started wearing the wig last tuesday (do you EVER get used to it?!), and rotating the 2 beanies & 2 scarves at home. i can't imagine going out in public with just a scarf. not yet anyway.

    on a quest for "hipper" styles than what you usually find. I stumbled upon this one last night:

    http://www.hats-for-cancer-patients.com/chemo-hats-novelty-prints.html

    and then this one this morning:

    http://www.softhats.com/cancer-hat.php?sku=S011

    just thought I'd share. Trying to find my happy place about this. It's.so.hard.

    (((Annie))) thank you so much. Your pics of your hair loss were a huge help to me (I didn't buzz, I'm letting it shed naturally - I'm closing in on 'beetlejuice' ... *cry/laugh*) to know what to expect ... and seeing your re-growth is definitely an antidepressant for me right now. You are such a carebear ... and completely more adorable than mia!

    thanks to (((everyone))) for the regrowth pics! 

    It's heartening to hear there's a possibility of regrowth during taxol, since i finish AC on march 18th - if all goes well - and start taxotere april 1st. *heavy sigh*

  • Karenp62
    Karenp62 Member Posts: 68
    edited March 2009

    Goldie & Nancy - I love the curls. I am 4 months out (Nov 7) from chemo and my hair is just beginning to wave in the back. It's no where near the length of yours. But it gives me hope that soon I can get rid of the wig and caps.

    karen

  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2009

    Lori did you color yours or got blessed with no chemo grey?

  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 102
    edited March 2009

    Hello Ladies

      I don't know if this is true or not, but I''ve always heard that people that wear hats all the time go bald quicker, (Look at the majority of country western stars, most are balding), so taking that into consideration, I have been attempting to just go hatless, wigless at home and it seems like my hair is growing faster since I started doing this. I don't know if it's something to do with the hair follicles getting alot of air or if it's all my imagination, but I figure it's worth a shot. My head freezes all the time but hey, if I get hair out of the deal, it's worth it..and I'm still in treatment, (4 more weekly Taxols)...but my peach fuzz is growing!

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 503
    edited March 2009

    Hello,

     I will be starting Chemo and  Herceptin in about 2 weeks and I read on here somewhere that taking Vitamin E before helps with hair loss. How much should I take and is there anything else I could try as well?

  • goldie0827
    goldie0827 Member Posts: 6,835
    edited March 2009

    Mskarin, I colored mine, it was totally grey. I couldn't stand it, so I used a non permanent rinse, which was about a month ago and should be washing out at any time. It seems to have washed out some, but not much, which brings me to wonder if the color is changing. I can't see any change in the color of new growth at the roots. I had also posted earlier back about private areas coming back thick, course and black. That is now gone and back to what it was pre chemo.

    CC, I took Vit E (for hot flashes tho) and still lost my hair. However, I was told not to take it during radiation. So check with your doctor before starting anything.

    I have to agree with Nancy,  started to curl after about 4 months. I think it was about inch and a half then. It is now about 2 inches.

    Lori

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    I went to the gym where my daughter works this Sunday. First time.

    I couldnt decide, wig no wig, wig no wig. I had it off, I put it on. I took it off. I ended up going with NO WIG and just a ball cap. I walked for an hour on the treadmill and went 3.4+ miles!!!

    So I don't know if that is "commando" given I had a ball cap, but it is the first time out without a Wig in months!!!!

    Spring.

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 1,466
    edited March 2009

    i had curls.

    i didn't like them at all but certainly like them better than no hair.  I've lost my hair again with this second set of chemos.  While they were falling out i notice that the ends were curled but the rest of the hair was straight.  I buzzed them off.  for a couple days my head looked so normal.. short (very short) straight hair.

  • Karenp62
    Karenp62 Member Posts: 68
    edited March 2009

    Has anyone purchased wigs from TLC??? If so, were you pleased with them??

    Karen

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    Has anyone tried "henna" in their hair? I just ordered several different shades of blonde colors offline.

    If anybody has any experience with them, let me know! I went to Allstatebeauty.com.

    Spring.

  • LorenaB
    LorenaB Member Posts: 91
    edited March 2009

    Karen, I bought a couple of "falls" from TLC -- the partial wigs to be worn with a hat or scarf.  I never ever wore them.  They just looked funny.  I got one from headcovers.com that looked a lot like my real hair (I called it my "wiglet") that I wore every day under a hat for about three months.  I don't know why, but the TLC ones didn't work for me.  Maybe the regular wigs are different?

    Good luck to you!

    Lauren

  • GramE
    GramE Member Posts: 2,234
    edited March 2009

    I went to a funky little shop and got a $ 29.99 wig just for fun.   Whenever I wear it everyone loves it.   My hair was naturally curly, short and salt and pepper gray.  The wig is auburn with henna highlights, stick straight in a layered cut.   Very different, but I love it.   

    I think the difference may be just ordering and not trying on, versus going somewhere and trying it on.   They do come in different sizes.    

  • goldie0827
    goldie0827 Member Posts: 6,835
    edited March 2009

    Karen, I bought 3 wigs from TLC. I like them all and when ever I told anyone they were a wig, they were surprised, thought it was my real hair. Here are pics of 2 of them.

    If you buy one and don't like it, you can send it back as long as you don't take the tags off. I think for a wig and the price, you can't beat it.

    Lori

     Photobucket

  • Lisa810
    Lisa810 Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2009

    Lori, great wigs!

    leftyAKAnancy, would love to see a picture of your wig! sounds exactly what i'm looking for for my "fun" wig.

    i ordered one wig from TLC, it's called "bonnie". it doesn't look ANYTHING like it did online, it's even sort of "boxy" looking, it's uncomfortable and it's going back. i also bought one of their bangs kits, can't figure out how to attach them to my scarves & hats, so i think i'm sending it back also.

    just my two cents. 

  • Karenp62
    Karenp62 Member Posts: 68
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for the feed back ladies.

    Lori - Your wigs look great. Do you know the name of your short one?

    I spent quite a bit of money on my original wig. I don't want to put that much money into this one. My hair is about 1 inch (beginning to curl) but not quite long enough to ditch the wig. As leftyAKAnancy said, this one will be just for fun. Even thinking of going short and blonde.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    Lori, cute as a button!!!

    is TLC a web site?

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited March 2009

    Karen,

    I have TLC wigs, they're ok.  They were only $40, but I won't wear them to work, but just around the weekends shopping, to the park, etc.  BUT.. I just received a wig from Wilshirewigs.com, for just $69!  and I love it!  I am getting so many compliments on it that it looks so real.  It even has the monofilament part so you can part it different ways. The TLC wigs have parts that are kinda bushy and nest-like, and they are itchy to me. I wish I found the wilshirewigs website before I bought the TLC ones.

    Spring-It's TLCdirect.org.

    Sue

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 624
    edited March 2009

    Springtime:  Re henna -- I've been using henna for about 10 years.  I buy a product called Colora Creme (made in USA) and it's premixed, comes in several different colours.  I use mahogany and it covers the grey hairs, giving them a reddish tint which looks like I have highlights.  Before chemo, my hair was shoulder-length, very thick and very healthy.  Now it's about 1 1/2 inches long, but I found the first time I used the henna when hair was about 1/2 inch, it didn't "take".  But it's working now.  It does wash out, so needs to be done about every 6 weeks, but the premixed henna is SO easy to apply.

    Good luck!

    Linda

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    Sue, I am goin gto check out Wilshirewigs.com. I have a VERY nice wig from a local shop, but I am thinking I would like a "short pixie" cut one that will bridge between the one I have and my "real" (very very short!!) hair.

    Linda, I ordered some Henna, not mahogany though, I am a blonde so ordered different blondes to light brownish shades. Are you a brunette with the mahogany color? (sounds beautiful, actually).

    Goldie, What color are your wigs pictured above from TLC???? They look very nice. Just wondering!

    I went out again today with just a ballcap. I think I am in some transition mode!

    Spring. 

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 624
    edited March 2009

    Spring:  Yes, I'm a brunette and had very few grey hairs pre-chemo, but a whole lot more post-chemo!  Hope you can find a henna shade just right for you, because I think it's really good for your hair.

    And you're definitely transitioning!  It gets so much easier every time you leave the house -- I promise!!!

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 757
    edited March 2009

    I had my first post-chemo haircut today, 39 weeks after finishing chemo.  My hair is curly-curly and still short, so I've been worried about getting it cut.  I didn't want to lose any of the length that has taken so long to grow back.

    So, I stopped by my hair salon today, just to say hi and to show my hairdresser what lay ahead when I finally did come back for my first appointment.

    She said she had some time--would I like her to trim and shape it a little, today?

    I think it looks soooo much better.  She trimmed off all those tiny, colorless ends that were starting to frizz, and she used some leave-in conditioner that made the curls lie flatter instead of sticking up all over the place.  I think she enjoyed doing it.  She has been cutting my hair for more than 20 years, and I've always had perfectly straight hair ... until now.

    otter 

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited March 2009

    Otter, That is great news! Maybe it will make the rest of us not so scared of the first cut. 

    Linda, I am still waiting on my hennas!!!! I hope one works...I assume just like other color, it does not stick or color your skin, just your hair, right? (that is a "duh" question, I am sure!)

    Spring.

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 624
    edited March 2009

    Spring:  The Colora Creme henna is left in for about 40 minutes, and then you shampoo, so if there is any residual colour on the scalp, shampooing gets rid of it.  But do use latex gloves.  I get a box of them (about 100) at the drug store or even at stores like Home Depot.

    I expect the same will apply to the kind of henna you have purchased.

    Have fun!

    Linda 

  • Smile2006
    Smile2006 Member Posts: 132
    edited March 2009

    I am jealous but happy for you ladies that your hair is coming back in.  I will get there soon enough....but yesterday I finally shaved my head.  My scalp was hurting for two days on top of shedding everywhere.  I was at work and everytime I walked down the hallway it would seem like my hair would fall out and find its way in my mouth..  Had enough and shaved it....It definately feels much better.  I could not look at my head until this morning...but I am ok with it now.

  • goldie0827
    goldie0827 Member Posts: 6,835
    edited March 2009

    Karen, Springtime

    The short one is "Amanda, and the color is Rich Golden Blonde #25. Cost is $45.00.

    The other one is "Maggie" and the color is Light Auburn (Strawberry Blonde) #27  $42.00. I had to get a longer one as my hair was hanging out of the short one. (oh what a shame......NOT!)

    I bought the shampoo and conditioner too. The short one, you wash it, blot with a towel and just shake it out. The other one I have not washed yet. I only wear them about once a week, since that is when we go town. I work at home and don't wear my wigs except when we go out.

    Lori

  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 2,007
    edited March 2009

    Question Ladies.  My new hair is quite grey but doesn't look bad.  I am only 49 isnt that too young to wear it grey. I think I should colour it but everyone is telling me to just leave it alone.