Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.

Hair Hair Hair - Another question

16768707273864

Comments

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

    thanks lisa,  I imagine it is available at Sephora?

  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 288
    edited May 2009

    Lainey....I must be getting tired because I just died laughing at the cat getting to your wig.

    Do they make a semi-perminate in blond?  Mine is coming in dirty dishwater.  Is that a stupid question?

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited May 2009

    Nancy, yes, I am sure you could get it at Sophora

    Renee, Prizms comes in your color too.

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    RNKaren - how much biotin are you taking?  I wasn't sure what the correct amount should be, so I have a 5000 mcg cap, taking it once a day.  Is that enough or should I be taking more? 

    Gotta stop staring at my head, not going to make it grow any faster that way. 

    Lainey- my dogs stare at the wigs when I have them drying on the porch.  Funny, they don't pay them any attention in my computer room where they are all stationed, but once I wash and let them dry, I guess it takes them by surprise.  They keep thinking someone is out there. 

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Lefty, I think my brows were completely bare for about 2 weeks.  They started thinning gradually after my last chemo and were down to a couple of hairs on each side before I finally plucked them out.  A couple of times I did rub some Nioxin follicle booster across them to give them a little "boost". Not sure if that helped or not!  I have also been taking 5,000 mcg of Biotin every day along with a daily Borage seed oil capsule.  I'm not sure if the supplements have helped or not, but my eyebrows did seem to grow back very quickly so I'm continuing to take them every day. 

    When I saw my hairdresser last weekend, she rubbed some sculpting clay on my hair and it worked great.  It's by Alterna and in a green container.  My hair was still salt & pepper and what it did was give my hair some separation and helped cover the thinner areas where my scalp was shining through.  I went and bought some of it from Ulta and it works fantastic.  You only need to use a tiny bit of it. I really recommend it.  Even since I colored my hair I'm still using it to give my hair a little "lift".  It keeps my scalp from looking so shiny when I get in bright lights. 

  • xpectmiracles
    xpectmiracles Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2009

    Blake1960, yesterday I had the TE exchanged on the right and augmentation on the left. I can see why women with bil mast have no problem with pain upon exchange. My right breast is hardly sore at all! The left is giving me lots of pain. It is the first day post-op; so I think today will be the worst as far as discomfort. How are you doing?

    I think I'm losing more eyelashes 6 weeks post chemo. A couple of my fingernails are lifting off, too.Yell

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

    When my eyebrows grew back I feared I would end up like Walter Mattheu !!  Very busy and LOTS of them, then some fell out, but not all.  They are more normal, if there is such a thing now.  I rarely wear mascara, so the lashes did not bother me, except to note that as they grew back, it was itchy.   

    It is funny to look back now that I have hair again.  No shaving the legs all last summer, and I recently discovered I have hair on my arms again.  

    My opinion regarding supplements, other than calcium, vitamin D and C is that I stopped all and did not have any alcoholic beverages when I began chemo and it zapped my tumor.  This may have nothing or very little to do with how chemo works, but that was the only thing extra going into my body.   In addition, I have a lot of allergies and did not want to set off an outbreak of hives or some potentially serious reaction.   

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Oops, I meant to direct my reply about the eyebrows to Nodapearl.  Darn chemobrain!

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2009

    My eyebrows and eyelashes are taking turns falling out. And mind you I am 3 months next week out of chemo!!!!!  This morning I noticed my right eyebrow has bald spot!!  good grief!!

    I picked up some natural hair color today called Herbatint, I can't wait to try it!  I'll have to take some updated pics of my "do".

    Cheryl-So glad to hear you are not in pain on your exchange side.  I can't wait for my exchange, but having another surgery is not something one looks forward to, but I have heard that the exchange surgery is soooo much easier then a mast. I sure hope so.

    Good weekend everyone!

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2009

    Cheryl,

    I am now on my 3rd day post op. Not bad at all. You are right, my left side exchange does not hurt at all, It is the real one (Lift and implant) that has been more painful. Not too too bad though.  It is so much easier than the mast! I am so sorry to hear about your nails and eyelashes! I just can't believe that we have to go through this post chemo! I am 5 weeks out as of Monday. I still have some eyebrows (been putting the follicle booster on them) and it seems that some of my eyelashes I lost are coming in.

    Chelev: I am also tired of watching the hair grow.... It is kind of like waiting for a pot of water to boil but 100 times worse! Wink

    Susan13: Did your eyelashes and eyebrows grow back just to fall out again? Is this what we get to look forward to?

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    I am so paranoid now about my lashes and brows falling out again.  Noooo... say it ain't true!  I check them twice daily with my magnifying mirrior and so far all are still intact. 

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 306
    edited May 2009

    Hi all. I just wanted to remind you if your nails are lifting up you can use crazy glue and reattach them. I was told by my cousin who is a hand surgeon. I know it sounds creepy but it is working for me. No hair yet.Just those scary grays and some white fuzz. 7 weeks out by Mon. grrrrrrrr

  • Maggie63
    Maggie63 Member Posts: 45
    edited May 2009

    Good morning Ladies,

    Haven't been on here for a few days - wow, alot more going on!!!!   Everyone is 'growing'  -  love it!!!!

    I got impatient and didn't wait for my onc's answer on when I should color my hair  -  went ahead and did it!!!!! 

    I am much braver these days, have gone out wearing a baseball cap more often than not  -  but in certain situations, on goes the wig!!!! 

    Right now my hair is at a stage where it has absolutely no shape or style to it  -  and the top and sides are much shorter and thinner than the back  -  weird!!!   I'm tempted, like Laynie did, to go and have it 'styled'  -  but i'm so nervous to get what I have cut  -  I'll think about it over the weekend!  BTW Lainey, that's a nice pic of you - haircolor looks great!

    Well, glad to hear that most of us are 'on our way' to having a full head of hair EVENTUALLY!!

    Have a great weekend everyone!

    Maggie

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Hi Maggie!  I didn't really get too much cut off of it and definitely none off the top!  She took a comb and just above my ears on each side she kind of razored it so it would be closer to my head.  I don't know the exact haircutting terminology for what she did but I don't think she did too much.  I would suggest that if you're thinking about doing it, go to someone who you know and trust. 

  • Maggie63
    Maggie63 Member Posts: 45
    edited May 2009

    Hi Lainey,

    (sorry, I just realized that I mispelled your name in my earlier post - caution,chemo brain at work)!

    Thank you for the advice on the hair 'styling'  -  I have a 1:30 appt. for today - lucky to get it so quickly - just called this morning - but it is a beautician that I know and trust  -  have been to her several times in the past - pre-chemo of course.  I will explain to her just what you told me.

    Thanks again, Lainey!   I will post a pic of my new 'do' as soon as I can  -  anything will be better than the wild thing it is now - and as I said it is now colored - no more white!!!!! 

    SUSAN13: Hi Jersey Girl, I had answered you a few pages back that I'm from Monmouth County - where are you in NJ?

    Maggie

  • cinnys46
    cinnys46 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2009

    I am five weeks out from my last chemo.  I had four AC and four Taxol.  When oh when will I see real hair?  And yes it appears that my brows and lashes have picked NOW to fall out.  Will the humiliation never end?

  • jezzy234
    jezzy234 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Cinnys46-I am 31 days out from tx and my eyelashes -one lone nice black lash fell out last week-  I also have just a bit of white fluff with just a bit of dark coming in.  I can't wait to go bald. 

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited May 2009

    cinny46 - my brows and lashes did not fall out until about 6 or 7 weeks after final chemo, so you are not alone.  I am almost 16 weeks out now and my hair is not yet 1/4 inch long, but it is full enough that I have stopped wearing a hat except when in the sun.  Hang in there, hair is a comin'

    Lisa

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    cinnys46 - don't feel bad - I thought my brows and lashes were not going anywhere and have noticed "holes" in my once long thick lashes and definite thinning of the brows.  6 weeks (April 23) since last chemo - TC.  Have about 1/2-3/4" gray "duck fuzz" and about 1/16-1/8" of real hair - most of my head has hairs, but am getting worried about the side that had the folliculitis bad - still shiny bald.  I'm trying really hard not to look at it all every 5 minutes and not dwell on it.  I don't even want my old hair back, I'll be happy to wear it short for a long time, I would just like to have enough to cover my scalp!!

  • cinnys46
    cinnys46 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2009

    chelev,

    Thank you and the others who replied to my post.  I am new at this. I now have hope that I will not go through life with a shiny bald head.  I have a cute wig, but it is getting hot outside and I would rather go free.  I work in a bank though and must look put together.  Thanks again.

  • RNKaren
    RNKaren Member Posts: 32
    edited May 2009

    Chelev- I'm taking 5000 mcg daily of Biotin.

    For those talking about the eybrows growing in then falling back out- I still have that problem to some extent and my last chemo was July.  I use eyebrow powder everyday.  I don't know if they will ever be normal again.  My fingernails grew out to be normal.

    For my first hair trim, my beautician trimmed my hair around my ears so it looked like I had my hair that short on purpose.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    I am approaching a meltdown. I hate my wig, I have no brows or lashes, & I'm bald. I am going out tonight to a bar wothout the wig. The hell with it. Need a drink for courage!!! Hope I don't regret it

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

    Nodapearl, you've been through alot, the heck with what others think! You deserve it. And if you're bald head bothers them, let them leave. Hold your head up high!

    Hugs

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl - Enjoy yourself and drink two if you feel like it!

    Cinny - I also did 4 A/C & 4 Taxol.  I finished on March 12 and it took a good 6 weeks before the hair really started coming in.  After that it really seems to grow fast. My brows and lashes fell out about 4 wks or so after chemo but grew back really quickly.

    Maggie - woohoo, I can't wait to see a new pic of you and your new doo!

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Girls - thanks for the encouragement. I was going to back out.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Girls - thanks for the encouragement. I was going to back out.

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited May 2009

    nodapearl!  Here is a toast to you and your free head!!!  Drink one for me baby!  Remember to tell the idiots that Ms. Chemo is your stylist!

  • ilovemykids
    ilovemykids Member Posts: 43
    edited May 2009

    Hi ladies,

    I am just here to give you a little light at the end of the tunnel!  I am 23 weeks past my last chemo and I have a full head of beautiful, thick soft hair.  All my lashes and brows.  I was so scared that I would not have my hair again.  You know what, loosing our hair is a small price for us to pay, for the insurance that it gives us.  I never thought of my hair before I had bc.  I am so appreciative, and happy for so much more now.

  • soaplady1950
    soaplady1950 Member Posts: 55
    edited May 2009

    I DID IT!!!!!!   i went without anything on my except my own hair short as it is my husband has been trying to talk me into it for sometime now and i did it today  i am 18 weeks post chemo and have about 1 1/2 " in some places it is frosted brown and thick but i could not get past the SHORT  i figured everyone would be looking at my chemo do but i don't think anyone did and now i don't care  i have been wearing a baseball cap since a week ago thursday and today I DID IT!!!

    it was really hard for me to do  but i survived just fine the world did not come to an end . my husband told me how proud of me he is and that made me feel GREAT he has been a rock thru this whole speed bump in the road of life.     sharon

  • kjbell
    kjbell Member Posts: 454
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl-you go girl! Knock 'em dead at the bar!

    Soaplady-good for you! You went topless and lived to tell us about it!

    You should both be so proud!