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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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Comments

  • LW122713
    LW122713 Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2013

    I will begin chemo on Thursday 02/21. I think the hardest part of all this for me is the impending hair loss. Seriously...I had cancer but am more freaked out about loosing the hair and what other side effects there may be. I feel too like it shouldn't be as important to me as it is but can't help it. I know that I will be so depressed but reading these posts does make me feel better just knowing I'm not alone. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and bits of wisdom. I've been wig shopping online, just checking out options. I'm hoping I can pull one off. What do you do about eyebrows and lashes? Does anyone draw them on or do they even offer fake brows? Just curious as I hadn't taken those into consideration until now but should have.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    LW122713 I was much more concerned about losing my eyebrows than my hair. I purchases Anastasia brow duo 5 weeks before my BMX (hadn't even met my onc) and learned how to use it. My brows thinned but never came out completely. I just filled in. Anastasia brow duo also has a kit with stencils if you are drawing challenged.

    Anastasia brow duo can be purchases at Ulta, Sophora (may not have all shades) and many department stores as well as online.

    Also more makeup and skin care tips for surviving chemo here: linky
    Check out the rest of the site for tips on purchasing wigs, how to tie scarves etc.

  • islandmom
    islandmom Member Posts: 131
    edited February 2013

    Victoria thank you!  On March 6th it will be 2 years PFC.  I am finally warming up to idea of getting a trim which I have resisted very much,  even though before BC my hair was very short.  Overall my hair is a little thinner but it has more body due to the waves.

    IamNancy, you are so sweet.  I know it seems like an eternity but just have to have patience for now.  After having no hair any hair is beautiful.

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited February 2013

    Lhttp://eyelineher.blogspot.com/

    W122713 someone posted this site earlier today and she shows how to draw eyebrows, eyeliner, tie scarves...

  • islandmom
    islandmom Member Posts: 131
    edited February 2013

    LW122713 Sorry you had to join our club. You look so young and beautiful.  You might want to consider the Cold Caps to save your hair.  It seems like it a big hassle and expensive but it is an option.  Otherwise find a wig(s) you really like.  The worst part is where you are right now, knowing it is coming.  Once the hair starts falling most ladies get it buzzed and it almost a relief.  I wore a wig everytime I went out and people were surprised to find out it was a wig. 

    About the eyebrows and eyelashes you usually do not loose them until after you are done with chemo and there are many options as Lago and IamNacy mentioned.  The good thing is that they do not take too long to come back. 

  • LW122713
    LW122713 Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2013

    Thanks so much for all the info. I have checked out the brow kit and can see that it will definitely be something I will be purchasing. I had no idea what a cold cap was and it sounds like it could be fantastic but would take quite a bit of planning and work. I will have to check out other posts to see if anyone else has had luck with it and how they were able to able to work it into their routine. At this point just getting in the car and driving to the first chemo treatment will be a major accomplishment.

  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2013

    LW, 3 women I know used cold caps, with great success. Several of them were younger, like you, and had long, beautiful hair. There's a whole thread devoted to cold caps, so check it out. It is a hassle, apparently, and you need 1 or2 persons to be with you to change the caps during your infusions. But if I had to do it over again, I'd try the cold caps. I had no idea how long and frustrating the process of regrowing hair would be, and then to end up with strange, curly hair that 's still short one year PFC. Many predict that some version of cold caps will become routine in the future, since hair loss magnifies women's sense of loss and feeling like a cancer patient.

  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2013

    P.S., from this thread I learned about the Anastasia brow kit, and I'm on my third one. My brows came back quite thin and gray, but the anastasia powder works great. I use it every time I leave the house. I bought mine on Amazon, although there are many other sources. My best find since DX,!!!!

  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2013

    PPS, the thread is COLD CAP USERS, PAST and PRESENT...

  • mermaid_1010
    mermaid_1010 Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2013

    Yes I have had fabulous luck with them so far.  I lost my hair 3 years ago and it was just reaching my shoulders and then wham......   I am trying not to go through that again...  GOD BLESS COLD CAPS.

    But my lashes are not looking good..  I got this stuff from Sephora that is supposed to make them grow.. but I don't think so..  and the brows.. between getting a little older where they fade..  and losing some...  I am interested in this brow stuff everyone is talking about...

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited February 2013

    mermaid if your interested am offering Mary Kay lash and brow serum to my BC.org sisters for $10 off. PM if you would like to order it from me and I will tell you how.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    mermaid_1010 I even have my 75 yo mom hooked on the Anastasia brow duo . It's only $22 and it will last at least 2 years.

  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 434
    edited February 2013

    Please, how does anyone get a good shape to their brows? I have tried stencils but just end up looking mildly surprised. They end up 1 up 1 down. Diffucult to hold in place and shade in at the same time. 

    my brows were sparse pre chemo and are even sparser post.

    Can anyone suggest the way to get a good look? Or might I have to think about tatooing?

    Thanks

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    There are directions here for drawing on eyebrows. Just click on "eyebrows": linky

    Also do a google search for "draw on eyebrows tutorial" There are many tutorials videos on how to draw eyebrows.

  • Love74
    Love74 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    wintersocks...I had mine tatood before my second tx one year ago. Its probably the best decision I made! Mine are still thin and fall out occasionally but you would never know unless you were inches from my face looking at them. I had them done before they fell out so they are exactly where my eyebrows are. Expensive but so worth it.

  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 517
    edited February 2013

    LW; get Brian Joseph's. www.brianjosephs.com. Saves your brows and lashes altogether. Made by a former chemo patient. It's awesome! Still using it so I don't lose them again as is typical.

  • wintersocks
    wintersocks Member Posts: 434
    edited February 2013

    Love74,

    Yes, I am seriously considering this option, because as things stand now I am more likely to have a' bad brow' rather than bad hair day, I will look into it.  I am glad you are pleased with the look, I have heard good reports about it.  

    i don't like the messing around with shadow especially when I am in a rush to get out. 

  • Marianne52
    Marianne52 Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2013

    I am six weeks post Chemo. Just lost all my eyelashes and eyebrows all fell out this morning. This is the third time it has happened. I can't believe it happened again. Does anyone know when it stops? Also, no hair back yet. Marianne

  • ang7894
    ang7894 Member Posts: 427
    edited February 2013

    I must be a rare breed I have only lost my brows 1 time and I am 10 months pfc.  Believe me I would notice I have very dark hair.. I sure hope all them chemo treatments was working..

  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 124
    edited February 2013

    ang7894,

             My last taxol is tomorrow.  I will be starting the post chemo herceptin  in a few weeks.  Has the herceptin slowed your hair growth, or eyebrows, or eyelashes?  I will be going every 3 weeks for herceptin. How are you finding it?

  • ang7894
    ang7894 Member Posts: 427
    edited February 2013

    Whatingfor-- My last Herceptin is march 12.   I did just fine on it. My doc told me the hair growth is a bit slower and I have noticed it from here from the ladies that are not on herceptin to those who are. But each person is different. I take Biotin and use Nioxin shampoo & conditioner ever since the chemo part was done.  Congratulations on being done with taxol tomorrow YAY...

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092
    edited February 2013

    Angie, you are so close to being finished with Herceptin!  March 12 - woo hoo! 

    Did you take Biotin during chemo?  My oncologist is fine with it so I've been taking it. 

  • fight4two
    fight4two Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2013

    Yay! You ladies are right - when the eyebrows/lashes DO decide to come back, they come back fast!  I am happy to report that I have eyebrows again and I see MANY tiny lashes coming in.  This has helped me look a lot more like "me" as my makeup skills are poor, to put it kindly!

    I am thinking to start biotin.  I figure it can only make things go faster or have no effect.  Has anyone had any negative effects from biotin?  I only ask because I feel so nervous taking pills these days.  This dx has definitely increased my paranoia!

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092
    edited February 2013

    fight4two, if you are finished with chemo I would definitely consider taking the Biotin.  The integrative physician at the cancer center where I have treatments says it's a waste to take it during chemo but I've been taking it on and off.  I haven't been taking in the days post-treatment because I'm so worried about my digestive tract during that window of time. 

    ETA:  Her instructions for it were three months after chemo ends but I know I'll continue taking it long after that.

  • Victoria38
    Victoria38 Member Posts: 187
    edited February 2013

    I started taking Biotin right after chemo.  Mostly to help with my nails since I had a bad time in that area, but it did seem to jump start my hair.  Although they say being on Herceptin is keeping my growth rate slow.  I think it was about 6 weeks after chemo I started seeing the fuzz. 

    I had no reaction to the Biotin at all.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2013

    Lee and Victoria, How much biotin is recommended? Thanks.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited February 2013

    I take 5mg Biotin

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092
    edited February 2013

    Lmimp64 - The bottle I bought was 10 mg (10,000 mcg).   

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2013

    Thanks so much.

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 88
    edited February 2013

    Hi. In case you have always had bangs like me......



    I just received some real hair bangs from headcovers.com. They are wide enough to cover my forehead and wrap to my ears. I'm going to use the Velcro strip on them to attach them to a drug store cotton headband and wear under scarves and buffs sometimes.



    I'm going to miss my hair. :(

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