Hair Hair Hair - Another question
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Susan & Goldie... you girls look awesome ! Thanks for pics. Helps me understand what to expect (growth wise).
Lisa 1964 - It's coming girl.. all of a sudden your going to have a growth spurt.
As for me... on the other side. Haven't lost mine yet. Day 12 since first chemo. I'm just hoping hoping hoping to make it through this weekend with hair... : )
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Journey,
Everyone is different. If you click on the link I had, you can see all of my different stages of hair. My last chemo was the end of Sept 08. You will have hair this weekend, it does not all fall out at once. But it could start any day now. Mine started to fall out exactly 2 weeks after my first chemo. I cut it short before hand, then when it started to fall out, I just shaved it. I did not want to have to deal with all the hair.
Good luck to you
Lori
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You gals look terrific. omg I would die (ok maybe not die, but u know what I mean, lol) to have had my hair come back curly and thick. Feel lucky ladies. I am jealous, lol I guess we always want what we dont have huh? Ive been doing accupuncture for the hair issue (it came back but very thin) and I swear,,,,,,,,,,,,,its a workinggggggggggggg. lol I am getting new lil hairs every day. Ive been done with chemo almost 2 years now and herceptin for a year. And it just came back so much thinner (specialy on the top, as you can see my scalp) . Who knows if it was the combination of biotin, accupuncture or just time. Still not lookin like a chia pet,,,,,,,,but it seems more filled in.
Someone asked about what to take for hot flashes,,,,,,,,,,,I have tried Effexor and Neurontin,,,,,,,,and neither of those worked,,,,,,,,,,they just made me feel really weird in the head. I am also doing accupuncture for hot flashes and its working a little. They have probably decreased by like maybe 20 percent. Wish they would go away all together cause they suckkkkkkkkkkkkkk. lol
Have a great hair growing day.
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Mine didn't start growing back until at least 2 months after chemo. I'm now 5 months out and it's still maybe only 1 - to 1 1/2 inches long. But it's SO SO curly that it looks like it's only 1/4". Everyone wants their hair to grow back so quickly, but I am so unhappy with what has grown back that I feel like I want to go shave my head again. I'm having a very hard dealing with this hair that has grown back. Summer is coming (I live where we have hot summers) and wearing a wig is almost impossible. Going without is not even an option at this point cause my hair looks so bad. I'm really getting depressed about this. I HATE looking in the mirror to see someone who doesn't even look like me. Goldie - you are dealing with this a lot better than I am at this point. Everyone tells me to use a product - what product can take care of this head of hair that has a mind of it's own! I'm totally frustrated.
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WOW!!! Look at all that hair!!! You all look fabulous!!!
I am 6 months from my last chemo (actually it will be six months tomorrow) - but I will be on Herceptin through August which does cause the hair to grow much slower. Of course the nuisance hair does come in rather quickly and more of it. So much for shaving! lol It is also not uncommon if you are on Herceptin for your eyelashes / eyebrows to fall out multiple times. So far for me, it's been three times! So hang in there - it does grow back!
Thanks for the advice on getting a trim - I have a combination of peach fuzz, brillo pad and electric socket hair! LOL!
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wblibrary - I don't know about cutting your hair. Eventually, the weight of it will pull the curls out somewhat. Believe me, product can help. Prior to chemo my hair was as curly as some of the chemo hair posted, and my hairdresser could straighten it and it would remain straight for days. A tourmaline blow dryer helped lots with the frizz. I have a T3 dryer and flat iron, but it was pricey (very worth it in the long run). Have you tried to straighten it? It may take a while, but if it lasts a few days, that may be an option. My hair gave me so much grief before, you just need to find what works for your curls. Don't give up. Maybe a hair dresser could give you some some samples to try until you find what you like? Or maybe Sephora will have some samples?? Just a thought. Noda
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Nodapearl - I can't remember when my lashes started to show again. I wasn't real worried about the lashes so I didn't pay too much attention to them. But when they were still really short I did put mascara on them. It looked like eyeliner and framed my eyes a bit.
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wblibrary - Chemical relaxer?? Someone on one of the other threads tried it at 6 months out, and it looked great. Just have it professionally done. I used to do my own, and would always have a section that wouldn't take. It is bothering me sooo much that you don't like your hair. I want mine back sooo badly. There has to be something you can do.
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Wow, Susan! you and your hair look great!
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Cinrae, Glad you are finding something to work for you, even if it's just a little. As for hotflashes, I don't like to suggest anything because of all the contradicting information out there. I work with Naturopathic doctors, that work at the cancer center I go to, so the doctors know what is going on and what you are taking. I tried black cohosh with vit. E, didn't help me and they said it is ok to take it. I tried acupunture, that didn't work either. Now I take 2 tlbsp of flax meal 2x a day and I take clonidine (high blood pressure meds) twice a day. This all helps ALOT. I have hardly any flashes during the day at all, night time is a little different. Average about 1 flash every 2 hours. But that's better than 1 every half hour or more! Flax meal is another one of those contradicting things to take, but I trust my doctors and they say it is ok. You have to do what you feel is right. If you are comfortable with taking something, take it....if not, then don't!
wblibrary, My hair is probably about 4"-5" long and no relaxing of the curls as of yet! AT ALL! I am handling it the best I can. I have to keep telling myself "its better than being bald". I too hate my hair, but glad to have it. It takes quite awhile to get it to look like the picture, but that looks better than the curly. If I get lazy and do just curls, I'll take another pic.
Thanks everyone for the comments!
Hugs
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Lori! WHAT HAIR!!!!
Mine is totally curly as well, and I never had even the least bit of curl, at all, so this is quite a new experience!
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When did your hair start to curl? I'm 4 months out and look like I have a regulation military crew cut! I have one spot on the back of my head that has a mind of its own and goes its own way.
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Jane M - I am with you girl. I could join the Marine Corp and fit right in and I am 16 weeks.
wblibrary - I think getting a professionally done chemical relaxer is an excellent idea. If you go to a professional with experience, he/she will know if your hair can handle it as the chemicals are very harsh. You should also invest in 3 Matrix products. They have a line called "Sleek" all the bottles are bright orange. There is a shampoo, conditioner and styling creme. They are designed to help straighten the hair and keep it straight when used with a good hair dryer and/or flat iron. A high quality hair dryer is crucial to controlling curly hair.
Lisa
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Jane - My curls became really noticable at about 5 months. Here is the link again of my hair progress. You can see it waving before the 5 months, but curly for sure at 5! It is still just as curly, just longer.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii319/goldie0827/Allofme4-1.jpg
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My onc says NO black cohosh, and I'm triple negative. Someone mentioned birth control pills which are a BIG no-no. I'm doing the Effexor 75mg as well - for my "mood" as well as the flashes. I don't think I can judge it until I finish my last Taxol - the night of my treatments are non-stop hot flashes, for about 4-5 nights - then they get less as I get further from treatment. I'm hoping that when I can get more than 2 weeks away from a Taxol treatment they'll continue to wane...here's to hoping! What a weird experience to be thrown into menapause in one damn day!
I want my hair back so bad, someone said she feels "trite" when there are such bigger worries - she voiced my secret thoughts....I'm a petty person worrying about my hair when I'm trying not to DIE here....but DAMN I WANT MY HAIR BACK. And my eyelashes. I'm a bit distraught to here they can keep falling out over and over again!
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Dear all: I am also 4 months out. Last chemo AC was on Feb 10. I have an inch of hair now. Can I colour my hair now (I have a lot of grey coming out) or should I wait till it gets longer ? If so, how much longer do I need to wait.
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gigigi - Call your stylist and color all you want! My last tx was Feb 9 and I only have 1/4 inch of hair but I have colored it twice already to cover the grey.
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Goldie-my hair is very similar to yours at 5 months. There's no way I can even begin to grab it with a flat iron to straighten it. It's only MAYBE an inch and a half long. Has anyone tried the Super Straight product line by Pureology? I may try it before I cave and get a chemical relaxer done. I'm desperate. I feel like a 70 year old with a bad perm at this stage. Thanks everyone for your suggestions
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thank you Lisa64. I will see if they have any organic product for hair colouring as I don't want too much chemical on my head. G
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Gigi-do you have a Whole Foods or Wegman's in your area? They carry hair color that is free of chemicals.
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Gigi, I used "Naturtint" from Whole Foods. It's ammonia free and also free of some other chemicals (can't remember the name at the moment!). I used it on my hair and it worked great. My hair is about an inch long. I didn't leave it on for the full 30 min though. I washed it out after 20 and it worked fine. I used the Light Chestnut Brown and it came out pretty dark at first but it lightening up quiet a bit.
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Whole foods has natural Hair Color!!?? Who knew! Thanks for the tip.
Jane, I agree with Goldie/Lori, it was about 5 months when the curls started to emerge, maybe the hair is "long enough" or somethign by then?. 6 months yes. 7 months (now) Way curly!!!
Does anybody know, will the curls stay, or is this just a "phase"??
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Springtime - I sure hope that mine is temporary. After living 47 years with straight hair I'm having a heck of a time styling this new mop?? Better than bald though. By the way, today is my one year cancerversary. What a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karen
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Congratulations Karen. I can't wait until I get to my cancerversary.
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Karen, Mine is in July, So... Congratulations on beating the beast! (Curls or no), you are still here, standing, and it is dead dead dead!!!
I agree, Mop is a good term!!!
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Okay I am excited I have a "clean up" haircut scheduled at the end of the month. I am thrilled about it. My hairdresser told me not to temporary color it even with organic stuff. I think she is scared of how bad I would mess it up.
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Karen - congratulations!
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I colored my fuzz with prizms last night. I got scared and took it off after 15 minutes, so the grey isn't covered. I don't know why, but now I have 3 dark circles on the back of my head. Looks like aliens left crop circles!!! Oh well, I guess it will wash out.
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Nodapearl, I did the same thing. I totally panicked halfway thru. Thoughts of my hair falling out started racing through my mind.
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I used Prizms this morning and feel about 10 years younger! The results are very subtle -- the grey is less noticeable and blends well with what is now a soft brown. I, too, was a little worried about damaging what little hair is on my head and only left the color on for about 15 minutes, but it worked well enough to make me happier. It doesn't take much these days -- LOL. --bonnie
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