Hair Hair Hair - Another question
Comments
-
Just out of the shower, and this is what I have now! Quite unruly!
0 -
Brit,
I think yours is longer and thicker than mine. I feel like mine has kind of slowed. Also, my eyebrows seem to be thinning again. I also have no bottom lashes. WTH? Anyone have this happen
this far out from chemo? I have had to use an eyebrow pencil to fill them in.
0 -
mvspaulding- your hair is definitely longer than mine. I see some strands that look 2-3 inches long, and you don't seem to have the chemo curl as much as mine. Mine is fairly thick except right in the front, but I was thinning out there a little bit before cancer. Yours looks nicely thick. Your color is great too! My eyebrows are thinner than pre-chemo and very unruly. I have to use eyebrow pencil to fill in, and I have never used eyebrow pencil in my life! I have lashes, but not as thick or long as before, plus they don't want to curl with an eyelash curler anymore. Here's a pic of me 10 years ago with my red hair.
0 -
I put some color in mine about 5 weeks ago to lighten it up some, but it is starting to fade out. I like your red, it suits you! I was kind of hoping I would get some curl in my hair since I have never had that, I do have some waves in the back.
0 -
Here's my pics 9 weeks PFC. I wish it would hurry up!
0 -
I ditched all hats, scarves and wigs as of last week. Way too hot here! It was a little weird going out without them at first, but now I don't even think about it.
0 -
Forgot to add that my eyebrows came in so thick so fast I had to have them waxed already (about a week ago!) It was crazy how quickly they grew back like overnight. I looked like one of the Sesame Street characters - they were really bushy! My eyelashes are starting to come back too! Yes!
0 -
10 months PFC, but still on Herceptin. Hair is growing SO slowly. I went to see my regular hair person a few weeks ago, and she said, "If I try to cut it now, you're still going to hate it. Give me another inch." So I'm trying to grow another inch before she shapes and colors it. I've always had long hair and would like to grow it out. It's also much curlier than before, and I'm very much hoping it will relax over time with some more length.
I've tried hair color at home (Henna-based), but it does nothing for the gray.
One thing that might be encouraging for those of you who are at earlier stages of PFC: I'm at the point where I lose the occasional hair just due to regular cycles of hair growth and loss. I can see that on many of those individual hairs, the first half inch or so was gray, and then my regular brown came in after that. So if you're thinking about buzzing off that first half-inch, it might be worth it if you weren't gray before then.
0 -
Hang in there ladies....trust me it will get better. I am 9 months PFC. I have had 4 haircuts and colours. I get it cut about every 5 weeks. It grows very fast and has come in thicker than my old hair. I will be keeping it short. It is so easy to take care of. It came in curly at the beginning but now is quite straight. I think because I have had it cut so many times. I am getting rid of that first chemo hair. I have to fill my brows in with Anastasia brow powder as they are not totally filled in yet. I am losing my lashes now for the third time. As my new lashes grow in it seems to push the old ones out. They fill in quickly though.
It is so nice when you loose the Cancer look. Having no hair was probably the hardest thing for me. Soon it will all be behind you!
0 -
DeeRatz - I cannot wait for my hair to look like yours! Thank you for sharing!
0 -
Thanks, Dee--you look terrific. Love that color. I'm about five months behind you and need to get to the salon. My main issue is the color but my husband has been half-seriously telling me I need a haircut.
0 -
Dee you look beautiful. Love the color! And bangs too...wow. Sucks about your lashes. I can't tell if I've lost any cause I haven't put on mascara since before chemo last year. My nails do suck though as they keep chipping, splitting, and peeling every 4 months like clockwork. No amount of biotin or nail hardener helps. Guess. I just gotta persevere til they rebound their growth cycle.
0 -
So many of you posted beautiful photos!
I keep hoping, but mine has not returned with any sense of thickness and body, but I recently purchased a wig that looks much like Dee's hair: http://www.godivassecretwigs.com/petite-sheila-sho...
I am interested in reading updates from those who have seen dermatologists and other specialists for improved hair growth! Thanks!
0 -
shopgal - not sure if you can see in this pic but halfway through chemo on both middle fingers I got a black spot under the middle of the fingernail. The one on the left hand is growing out as the nail grows with no problem but on my right hand...yuck! I can actually pick the nail up as if it's gonna fall off! I'm talking extra care of it. Side effects of everything are never ending! I always had nice strong nails!
0 -
anotherNYCG - Very cute wig!
I'm going to dermatologist on 08/02/16 for a crazy psoriasis outbreak on my back from going off steroids during chemo (all over my back!). I plan on using this opportunity to ask about my hair and nails and what they think about my skin handling radiation in a couple of weeks!
I figured if I'm going I mays well get all I can out of the visit!
I'll let you know what they say about the hair issue
0 -
Paxton-You will find if you get your haircut it is much easier to manage. I had mine shaped and trimmed starting at 12 weeks PFC. It makes a huge difference if it is evened out. The biggest difference is when you start getting it coloured. I was scared to do it the first time but I had no problems. I dyed it at 3 months PFC with no problems. That was when I felt and looked less cancery.
Shopgal-I am loving having bangs again. They seem to take forever to grow. I need them to hide the wrinkles on my forehead as Ifeel like I have aged 10 years in the last year.
My fingernails are good but my toenails are a mess.
0 -
DeeRatz - your hair and color look great! Aug 8th will put me 6 months PFC, and I'm not even close to your length. I have had it trimmed once, but have not tried color yet. However, (and this is the good part) I think it's growing faster since I had it trimmed. There's hope, ladies! My nails, both finger and toe, have a distinctive ring for each chemo, but they are growing out. I keep them short and can now only see about 1/4" of chemo nail on my fingers. Toenails grow much slower, so I've still got about 1/3" to go there.
0 -
Dee! Long time no photo - you look fabulous!
MVSpaulding, your hair is so beautifully straight!
Coming up on nine months PFC and I'm still wearing my wig. My hair looks like Kramer's and I've got a tight curl above my forehead. Figure I'll wait another month before I go back to salon where I got the wig where they specialize in chemo regrowth so that they'll have something to work with. I have never had layered hair, and don't know what to do with the curl! I need heavy-duty styling products and instruction!
0 -
Thanks Hanley! I hope your skin improves and you feel well!
Feel good wishes to all here!
0 -
Hanley 50, Try using tea tree oil, you can get it on amazon. It is a natural anti-bacterial. I also used Biotin, my nails grew out pretty quickly. Toenails took longer, but are finally almost normal 16 months later. Best, MJS
0 -
Rock- that was funny. Great song.
Haven't lose mine yet but heard 3-4 treatment it will start to go .
0 -
Help! My last chemo was February 5th of this year. The top is growing in coarse and fuzzy, but the rest is soft and smooth. I'm taking biotin. Does anyone else have a crazy new hair texture? I have no idea how to style it, plus the hairline just started growing back in. Everywhere is about 2 1/2 inches but the so-called bangs are only 1 inch.
0 -
Jghager313, I lost mine exactly 12 days after my first treatment. It was falling all over my shirt at the Razorback football game. How embarrassing. Your scalp may tingle before it wants to go away. If your scalp starts to hurt then it is time to pull out the clippers.
Good luck and stay strong.
0 -
Amie, from what I've read, you are normal. The bangs are the last to come in. Annoying, huh
0 -
Wow, Cat! So cute! Were you curly before chemo?
I'm a little over a month and a half out. My hair is SUPER fine and straight. Whereas I had SUPER thick and curly hair before chemo. I'm really curious to see what I end up with.
Does anyone have recommendations for hair growing products/techniques?
0 -
Hello!
I haven't been on here in a while so I thought I'd post an update to offer some hope and inspiration to others.
I lost all my hair during chemo in 2009. In the spring of 2010 it started growing back very curly and very grey.
I tried to let it grow in grey but by the fall of 2010 I dyed it my "natural" dark brunette.
For 4 years I kept dyeing it but I got tired of the grey roots and so January 2015 I decided to grow it out grey.
What worked for me during my regrowth period was experimenting with different styles and different hairdressers who didn't know me "before".
My hair is not the same as before chemo but I've found a style that I like and works for me.
It's a lot thinner maybe from the chemo, arimidex, stress or menopause (probably all four!).
Here's a recap of my hair "journey"
Late Winter 2010
December 2010
Summer 2011
Spring 2015
Summer 2016
0 -
MarieK--thanks for the photo timeline! I thought about keeping a photo log but I end up just deleting the selfies. It would be nice to check on the progress.
Asher, I've been using a Niacin and Caffeine shampoo from OGX. Much cheaper than Nioxin I think. Smells great!
http://www.ulta.com/anti-hair-fallout-niacin3-caff...
I also used coconut oil or argan oil intermittently with a little essential oil like tea tree or peppermint for a post shampoo treatment. My fiance thinks my little cancer rituals were funny lol.
Here's me at 13 weeks PFC (tomorrow I will be 14 weeks). I was waiting at the plastic surgeon for a fill on Tuesday. My brows and lashes were the last to go and the first to come back--fuller than before I think. I used the Brian Joseph gel during chemo. I wonder if that's it. Anywhoo....so glad to have hair again!
I hope everyone is feeling well and enjoying these lovely (albeit hot!) summer days.
0 -
Angtee15 - wow you have a lot of hair for 13 weeks!
This is me almost 16 weeks PFC.Isn't nice how you get a do-over with the eyebrows?
I have to admit pre-chemo I was over plucking mine and I wasn't crazy about the shape but when they grew in "fresh" I was able to have them professionally shaped.
Before they grew in I learned how to draw on brows with an eyebrow brush and pommade and I've been hooked every since.
With grey hair I use an ash colour on my brows. I feel naked without now!
0 -
Thanks for the suggesting, Ladies! Thanks also for the pictures. My eyelashes are continuing to fall out, although my eyebrows are coming in. It's nice to hear we get a do over with the brows, as I over plucked mine, as well.
Marie, your post cancer hair looks great and you look amazing.
0 -
Ladies you all look great. I'm 12 weeks PFC and my hair is coming in nicely. At first my eyebrows grew back like crazy but this last week they are falling out again and so are my lashes. Bummer. But get this: my chin hair and sideburns are like a beard..
0
