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Hair Hair Hair - Another question

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Comments

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited June 2014

    LW - you look great! I have been keeping my hair short -its easier and I actually like it plus my bangs never came in cute so I don't wear bangs.. I have had about 6 haircuts this year..

  • jumpy
    jumpy Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2014

    LW0919, you look great! I'm very happy for you.

    I am nearly 1 year PFC and am still bald on top. And, the texture is still terrible -- very fine and cottony. I've attached a photo from 11 months PFC. Ugh!

    image

  • Donnabelle
    Donnabelle Member Posts: 140
    edited June 2014

    LW your hair looks great. Love that sassy style!

    Now I don't want to complain, but I hate my haircut. She told me she took off 1/2" all around, and more in the back for manageability. It is now impossible to manage and looks like crap. Oh well, it will grow, right?

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092
    edited June 2014

    It will grow but it's annoying when it turns out that way.  My stylist left me with four blond dots across the back of my head last time (back in February).  I've been going to her for years.  We've moved 5 hours away but we were in that area and I had her do my hair one last time.  I suppose I got the 4-dot parting gift.

  • Donnabelle
    Donnabelle Member Posts: 140
    edited June 2014

    Oh Lee, that's funny, although probably not for you at the time!

  • Unknown
    edited June 2014

    image

    just took this this morning - i look 100! lol but wanted to show my hair growth @ 5 mos

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited June 2014

    notbuyingit - LOL -you do not look 100.. I like how your hair is coming in..it looks cute and pixi-ish..

  • Lorbgoo
    Lorbgoo Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2014

    notbuyingit I al 3 weeks post chemo and I wish my hair looked like yours. It looks great!

  • lisaj514
    lisaj514 Member Posts: 289
    edited June 2014

    notbuyingit! Your hair looks great! I can't wait until mine looks like that. I'm 7 weeks PFC today and I have a soft thin white covering, fur like! you all know what I'm talking about!

  • Lorbgoo
    Lorbgoo Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2014

    image

    my head 3 weeks after last chemo. Grow hair grow!

  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 275
    edited June 2014

    I know most of us are past the bald stage, but I have to share with you:

    When I was bald, I started 'bedazzling' my head. I just couldn't be comfortable in a wig and I preferred to go topless, but was a bit shy about it. It was SO wonderful to decorate my head and have people stop me to chat instead of give me that sympathetic half-smile and a nod. I could not get through a shopping area or public place without being stopped or complimented . More importantly, I was having wonderful conversations with people about their stories, their cancer experience. It made me proud and confident.

    Anyway, through lots of encouragement, I launched my own product and I call it Sassy Head. I only have one design now, but I REALLY need some people to give it a test spin for me. It works wonderfully on my skin ( I could sleep in mine and get 2-3 days use) but everyone is different.

    I have a very simple website (not pretty, but it works) if you would like to try one out. I am selling these for $8.00, but if you use the dropdown next to word Standard and select BCO, it will give you a price of just $2.00 (plus 3.00 for shipping).

    Below are some pics. The first group was my head when I was bedazzling, and the second is my available design. I plan to do additional designs, including a pink ribbon and designs for children. Your suggestions are welcome!

    www.sassyhead.com

    image

    image

  • Unknown
    edited June 2014

    thanks, ladies! i'm telling you- it's the onion shampoo! :) Thursday is my first hair appt & the "to color or not to color" decision...stillllll can't decide

    jb, that's a great idea! i never went totally bald but i think i would have loved to rock your designs!! much better than hiding under that wig!! especially this summer they should go over big! how do they stay on?

  • Amelia123
    Amelia123 Member Posts: 7
    edited June 2014

    I'm new to this forum, but have enjoyed reading and seeing pics about hair.  I am 8 weeks PFC.  My hair is maybe 1 cm long.  After 3 weeks it started coming in light and very fluffy looking.  I think that was temporary.  Now it's darker but not the same as my original color.  My eyebrows (and most of my lashes) fell out after the final chemo - so depressing.  I thought at least I got to keep those but it was just a cruel joke.  It's nice to see all this is normal and that others have gone through the same timeline.  

    I wish I was brave enough to go bare, but I'm not quite there.  My wig is too hot to wear with this heat.  I may try the onion shampoo!  But first I have to get through my exchange.  My surgery is tomorrow! Getting excited and a bit nervous.  

  • Unknown
    edited June 2014

    Amelia, ladies here are great! lots of good info & tips along with just knowing others are going through this at the same time as you! quite a variety of treatment plans & SE's but the same great determination to get through it - good luck with your surgery!!

  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 275
    edited June 2014

    Thanks everyone!  The designs are all self adhesive!

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Hello, Ladies! I'm new on this board but have been reading some of your posts for a long time. You've all been an encouragement to me! My hair is now about 2 inches long but because of the curl it's much shorter looking. I was having a SUPER hard time adjusting to the gray hair but I've received so many kind wonderful comments from family and friends, I've gotten use to it and I'm embracing the "new look". I've decided to be gentle with my hair and not use hair coloring, hair driers, or flat irons. It's now so much easier for me to care for my hair and I'm saving money by not going to the salon and/or using hair color. For any of you considering whether to color or not color your hair, I hope this link will encourage you, be sure and scroll down through the pictures. This is an interesting project called "The
    Gray Hair Series" where the photographer has done a great job capturing
    men and women of various ages showing that gray hair is beautiful,
    sophisticated, stylish, and graceful. I love it!

    http://memorybanque.com/grayhair.html

    Here I am about a week ago! Last chemo treatment was the second week of November 2013.

    image

  • lisaj514
    lisaj514 Member Posts: 289
    edited June 2014

    Deborah, your hair looks great. I have naturally curly and always wore it natural although I colored it. I hope mine comes in just like yours. I'd love it! I'm only 7 wks PFC and my hair is coming in but slower than most if the other ladies on my forum. It's white and fine and thin and "furry" with the top growing more than the sides and back

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Be encouraged, Lisa! My hair was like yours at about 7 weeks PFC except I had more growth on the sides and back than the top. It seems to grow SO slow in the beginning. I can't wait to see how yours turns out, I'm sure you'll look great!

  • macyhen111
    macyhen111 Member Posts: 402
    edited June 2014

    Wow Deborah I Love your hair!

  • birdlady222
    birdlady222 Member Posts: 185
    edited June 2014

    Deborah, you look beautiful!  I love your curls, and I wouldn't color it either.  My last chemo was in October, 2013 so we are very close.  Did you have your hair trimmed to look like that?  Mine is also coming in curly(was straight before chemo) and salt & pepper.  If I could get it to look like yours, I would ditch the wigs!  It's getting very hot wearing a wig, but I guess it's been my security blanket.  Thank you so much for posting your beautiful picture and the link!  You have given me just the lift I needed Smile

  • iamnancy
    iamnancy Member Posts: 641
    edited June 2014

    Deborah - your hair looks lovely.. don't color it, it suits you perfectly.

  • Unknown
    edited June 2014

    wish i had read all this this morning!! UGH! went to my hairdresser today - told her i wanted it a light brown - she put some kind of new non-peroxide dye on it because it's less harsh i guess - anyway it turned the pretty white hair into an ugly dishwater blonde & the dark gray stayed that way Devilit looks terrible...

    I tried to give it a chance but when i look in the mirror i want to cry...I will be calling her in the morning & hopefully she can make it darker - wish i had kept the salt & pepper!!

    I know it's temporary but it's hard enough to have this super short hair....might even go back to the wig yuk!

  • Donnabelle
    Donnabelle Member Posts: 140
    edited June 2014

    Oh notbuyingit I feel your pain after what I went through with my haircut. Every morning I get up and struggle to style it and know it looks stupid and there is nothing I can do but wait till it grows. I swear I will not cut it again for at least a year. I'm glad I didn't let her talk me into color. I've decided to embrace the salt and pepper and I bought some purple shampoo which is supposed to brighten the silver.....we'll see.

    I got some good advice post haircut at a beauty supply store. If there's a good one in your area, you may want to check it out, especially if there is someone knowledgable about color.

    Deborah, your hair looks great. Very similar to how mine came in with the curls. 11 months PFC my curls are still here. Less curly on top, but the back is crazy!

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Thank you all for encouraging me! I've been buying my hair products from Vitacost which is an online natural health store with really good prices. They have shampoos for gray hair that are free of the toxic chemicals that are commonly in hair products. Since being diagnosed with cancer I'm being a whole lot more careful about make-up, lotions, and hair products, especially avoiding parabens and phthalates that might contribute to cancer growth. I've actually found the healthy products are not too expensive and the results are great. 

    I haven't had a haircut yet. I use a hair gel called Giovanni All-Natural Magnetic Attraction Hair Styling Gel after I wash and condition my hair. Then I comb the entire top portion forward and the back and sides down. Next I let it dry on its own. As it dries it becomes wavy and curly. After it's completely dry, I very gently use my fingers or a pick to style it. Be gentle and do not use a comb or brush because it will remove some of the curl and you'll lose the curly effect and you might look like you have cotton ball hair :-/. 

    Notbuyingit - I'm so sorry you ended up coloring your hair. I tried a temporary  color on my hair when it was almost an inch long and I really didn't like how it looked. I kept it in for 30 minutes which was suppose to make the color stay - but instead it ALL washed out. So I knew then my hair would be difficult to color. I read on another board that someone's hair turned almost a purple tint when they tried coloring it on their own. Maybe yours will wash/fade out quickly, otherwise I hope your hairdresser can help you out. Since I had never had very short hair and I'd been keeping my hair light brown before cancer - It's really been hard adjusting to all this. Hang in there, it get's better. 

    Donnabelle - I'm glad to hear your curl has lasted. My hair has always had some wave to it but not this curly. I'm hoping that it stays. I can't imagine what mine will look like months from now. I hope to avoid cutting it. My hair is also super curly in the back!  Maybe if you try the gel, you can style your hair in a way you'll like.

    Birdlady222 - maybe the gel will help you as well. I never could find a wig I liked so I wore scarves last Fall then switched mostly to caps in the Winter, as a result I learned some stylish Israeli hair scarf tying techniques and how to crochet hats to match my outfits. I'm certain you can give up your wig soon. March 28th was when I stopped wearing anything on my head. It was really hard, but since so many people encouraged me, I managed to move forward and it's gotten much easier with time.

  • Unknown
    edited June 2014

    thanks, Donnabelle, with all we're struggling through - just trying to feel normal again...it's just another blow to the confidence

    i should have stayed with the salt & pepper but i can't go back , at least not right now, so i will figure something out...daughter's wedding in 3 weeks...

    >sigh< sometimes you get tired of the fight

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Notbuying - since your hair has a non-peroxide dye, it might be one that washes out after so many shampoos.  At least that's the way the do- it-yourself kind are. And you might actually like the color better after a few hair washings. I'm really hoping the salon you went to will be help you out. :-)

  • DeeC
    DeeC Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2014

    Ladies,

    Did any of you not shave your head?  My hair thinned slowly and I still have some.  I can wear a baseball cap, other type of small cap or my wig and some hair shows around the edges and bang.

    Now I am wondering if I should shave my head so the new growth can come in.  Only two more Taxol then on to Herceptin alone and I am told it doesn't cause hair loss.  Will the new hair push out what I have left and grow in?

    Dee

  • Amelia123
    Amelia123 Member Posts: 7
    edited June 2014

    Thanks to everyone for posting hair pictures.  It gives me hope as I sit here with what's  basically a really short buzz cut.  It's so vain, but I sometimes I think the hair loss is almost the hardest part of this whole messy journey.  And this is coming from someone who is low-maintenance!

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Dee - Not all of my hair fell out, I had thin bangs that I could show when wearing a cap. There was also hair on the lower back of my head. Elsewhere it was extremely thinned out. I'm so thankful that I never shaved it off because it felt great just to touch my head and feel hair. I'm not sure this will happen to you, but when my new hair came in, the old hair then fell out which was a little disturbing at first but it ended up being fine. Again, I'm so thankful that I didn't shave my head because I've read of so many negative results from doing so such as the hair feeling prickly when it grows back. When mine grew back, it was so very soft, like a newborn's hair. I even had my grandchildren and other family members feel it because it was so special and unique. :-) 

  • Deborahanne
    Deborahanne Member Posts: 150
    edited June 2014

    Ladies - this cancer journey has really shown me how terribly vain I
    am...I liked the way my hair looked before cancer and to lose it was the
    hardest thing for me to go through, harder than the double
    mastectomies. I didn't want gray hair, I thought I was too young for
    that. But I've now realized that it's our culture, the media, and the all businesses that make a lot of money on hair products that made me
    feel depressed and not confident in my own natural looks. About six
    months ago, to help me cope, I started a private Pinterest board with
    pictures of women with gray hair. I had to "change my mind" about how I
    viewed gray hair. This went on for months, an obsession that I'm almost
    embarrassed about. But it was a remedy for me.I needed to see beauty and
    youth in gray hair. I only found "The Gray Hair Project" recently, yet
    I'm very thankful for it as it's a great encouragement for us!

    Here's the link again. Be sure and scroll down through the pictures. :-)

    http://memorybanque.com/grayhair.html