Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
Comments
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I am putting together a list of haircare products all cold cap users have liked. If you've used one not listed please send me a PM. Thanks!
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Alright ladies. I notice that I'm finding little white flakes in my hair that look like dandruff. (I've never had dandruff.) Is this because I'm not washing my hair very much? Is this normal for the cold cap process? It's a bit itchy and annoying.
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Sadly it is normal for most of us cold cap users (regardless which cap you used). You'll have to try different shampoos and find the one that works best for you. I finished chemo last June and still have it occasionally. I just tried Aveda and it seems to make it worse. The one that seems the best for me (and we are all so different) is Mill Creek Botanicals. You are just going to have to experiment and find out which one works best for you. I try to stay as organic as possible.
You'll find the right one for you!0 -
What is it about the shampoo that is causing it? I'm using Nature's Gate shampoo. Standard sulfate/paraben free. Why does that cause dandruff?
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I think the dandruff is due to the toxins leaching out. Chemotherapy drugs are alkaline. Some women have added vinegar to their shampoo to balance the pH. I think the amount was 1 teaspoon. Look back through the thread-it's here somewhere.
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dancetrancer: that flakiness is the drying effects of chemo (made more noticeable because you aren't washing your hair as often). Mine lasted for about a week, then really slowed down after my first hairwash, and went away totally after my second hairwash. Everyone is different. I hope it improves soon!
Susan
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Thanks guys. I have an email into Geralyn to see what she recommends; will post back.
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Dancetrancer,
I guess my experience was like Susan's , I didn't have much of an issue with white flakes. Frankly, I found that the Kirland (Costco) paraben, sulfate-free worked as well as anythign else I tried.
on an earlier post - you asked, when do you start feeling confident that you won't lose your hair - for me - the weeks PFC were the hardest - because I lost so little hair during chem. I shed heavily PFC for about 11 weeks - week 12 it started slowing down - I'm nearly 15 weeks PFC and it's virtually stopped. I would say I lost about 30% of my hair - never any bald spots - but definitely thin. I've had it short (just below the chin) for a while - but I hated the texture so much and the thinness that I got it cut even shorter two weeks ago - definitely increased the look and feel of fullness -
Hang in there - you'll keep your hair - it won't be the hair you started with - but it'll be pretty far from bald - I know it's hard to believe this when you're going through it - I had a hard time believeing it when others told me the same thing - but here I am - 15 weeks PFC with a full head of hair. Lucky
p.s. sorry to say - your brows and lashes - if you've kept them through chemo - which I did - will thin significantly post chemo - mine really thinned out about 8 weeks PFC (and I used Latisse throughout chemo). I have to say though that they grew back very fast.
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I'm like luckyjnjmom -- lost virtually none during chemo have been shedding since -- 14 weeks PFC and it ain't slowing down. I'm taking BioSil and iron and washing every other day with the right shampoo in cool water. Not much else i can do!
I'm not really upset about it -- still have full coverage. I just wish I had known to expect it. Somehow I missed this aspect of the joys of BC treatment.
I can't imagine how weird it is going to look when all that hair grows back long enough to make itself known. It think it will fit nicely with the several nches of brown and grey roots I'm currently sporting. ALL the hip and trendy types are wanting this look.
On the dandruff thing, I started out using Burt's Bees adult shampoo/conditioner and had dandruff. I switched because it was so sudsy I wondered how it could be gentle (there was logic to that at the time). Dandruff went away.
I gave the Burt's Bees to my son who mentioned last week he stopped using it because of dandruff so I guess the type of shampoo can make a difference.
I've been using Latisse religiously and my lashes have grown back thick, short and straight out. My brows thinned but never went away completely. Naturally, the hair down south has come back like gangbusters except for a quarter sized patch right in the middle which is bare. SO weird.
Don't know about you all, but no one told me about ingrown pubic hairs as a side effect of chemo...... ouch.
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Ouch is right TLG!!! Yikes!
Thanks to all for helping me to mentally prepare for either situation (or both?) -shedding a lot during chemo or shedding a lot post chemo. I still think it is going to be tough watching a good portion of my hair fall out, but it would be A LOT tougher if I didn't know to expect it. So again, thank you. It is also good to know there is no standard pattern, so I can't keep telling myself it will be "x" way or "y" way. I will just have to take it day by day and hope for the best.
Geralyn asked me if I was talking Silica compound. She seemed to think that it would help, but that I need to get my onc's approval, of course. I need to look into it. I am taking a TON of stuff already, not thrilled with the idea of introducing more stuff into my already whacked system.
I asked her about adding vinegar and her response was "just a few drops".
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TheLadyGrey -
I have the same sized patch of bladness down south in the same location - how weird!!! Also - the hair growing back is so much darker - normally I'm blondish - what's up with that! Sorry if this is TMI! Lucky
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I'm preparing for chemo now and have ordered the caps. While speaking to a nutritionist at my health food store today about probiotics capsules and silica tablets a memory of using Knox gelatin for my nails came back so I mentioned it. He said that gelatin would be very good for hair as well as nails, so I plan to take it daily. I used to drink it as a broth, disolved with a boullion cube, every day and my nails grew long, healthy and beautiful. It can't hurt and may help.
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Dancetrancer, put a few drops of apple cider vinegar in your shampoo when you wash. I read that earlier somewhere in this thread and tried it when my hair was flaking. It seemed to work. I haven't had white flakes since.
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Did anyone use cold caps with Adromycin and Cytoxin? I will have that for 4 cycles every 2 wks and then Taxol every week for 12 wks. In Park Ridge, IL
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Thanks Victorious - I will try the vinegar next wash on Friday.
Had my second TCH yesterday. What a LONG day. They didn't get me started until maybe 10:30 or so, I was in the clinic til 5 p.m., and caps weren't done until 8:20 p.m. Ugggh, could not WAIT to be done with the caps. Exhausted!!!! Glad it's over, waiting for my 2nd round of SE to start hitting soon...
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Mamacath - I did not do TAC so I can't answer your question with any experience. I know some girls on here did that chemo though. I also wanted to say "Hi Neighbor!". I am in the west burbs!!!
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Hi all, had third treatment last thursday, hair still hanging on but very dry and full of knots, scary when I try to comb through it, the whole knot comes out. Any suggestions on knots and the dryness? Thanks
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Leveled, What shampoo and conditioner are you using? I used DermOrganic shampoo and conditioner and it worked very well. Many on here have used Kenra spray on leave in conditioner and said it helped. Are you using a REALLY wide tooth comb?
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Laura5, I am using organix sulfate and paraben free shampoo and conditioner, I also have aveda but for some reason the smell makes me sick, maybe my comb is not wide enough. It's scary.........as far as the spray on conditioner, do you spray it on first and the comb your hair out? Can you get dermorganic in a store or online?
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Leveled, I ordered DermOrganic from Amazon, although many salons carry it. I purchased the Kenra, but never ended up needing to use it. Several on this thread did use it though. I might have ordered my comb from Amazon too, or maybe picked it up at Target, I can't remember. It is made by Goody and "ouchless" is on the handle. It is really wide and worked pretty well. I started at the bottom and combed very carefully.
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Leveled, as Laura said, start at the bottom and work your way up - but also HOLD your hair above the knot (like in a little pony tail in your hand) so that when it catches, you hold the hair steady with your hand and no force is applied higher at the roots. Keeps it from pulling out at the roots as much. Even if it still breaks off a bit lower down, you've still got the root intact. hope this makes sense.
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Hello everyone! I've been reading these posts from the beginning and figured I better get to the end a little sooner as my caps are due tomorrow or Monday. I will schedule round one of TCH x 6 after we've practiced. I've been rooting for all of you. It's great to see so many positive results, not only surviving BC chemo but with a lot of hair intact. It sure has given me a more positive attitude. You see, my hair is also my Halloween costume, Cousin Itt. I'm hoping it will still work this year! Everyone knows who Cousin Itt is though. Looking forward to chatting with you all.
Kathleen
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Welcome Kathleen!!! Glad to have a fellow cold cap user on board!!! When I was little, I used to do Cousin It's laugh with my hair pulled forward over my face. I bet you pull off a great Cousin It at Halloween!
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Just read your bio, Dance. I'm surprised you need the caps...I would've pulled my hair out in frustration! Dang, what a stressful time for you. Speaking of stress...that's already caused me some hair loss in the past couple of months. So try to think good thoughts and don't forget to breathe!
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LOL CousinItt!!! It has indeed been a stressful ride for me - blech!!!! Can't wait for it all to be over, as everyone does!!! Thank you for the empathy and looking forward to hanging out here together. Love your username!
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Thanks all, I will try to getter a larger comb and follow your instructions. I am also going to buy the kenra spray on conditioner, as my hair is really dry. Anyone know how long after chemo you can color your hair with a vegetable dye and get a trim.........provided its still on my head.
Wow Kathleen, you have one head of hair......I don't think I had that much my whole life.
Lisa0 -
I am have just passed day 17 of chemo after using cold caps - so far no hair loss. My doctor said it would be today or not - any advise to keep the good folicle vibes going?
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maureeno: wear regular freezer cold caps a couple hours per week.
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Lisa, the official hair color recommendation is 6 months PFC. This is what I received from PCC in February, which was different than what was on their site and original instructions:
Q. How long until I can color?
A. At least 6 months after your last chemo. If you want to color sooner you can color your hair using vegetable coloring with NO Peroxide or Ammonia based coloring kits 3 months after your last chemo.I am just about 3 months PFC and about to color my hair (next week). I have had almost no shedding PFC, which is why I feel comfortable trying it. If I was still shedding, I would probably hold off. My hairdresser has a line of hair color that is peroxide and ammonia free, and did a patch test on me last week to see how my hair would react (no problems).
Hope that helps.
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Ckk,
Thank you for the clarification.......3 months pfc.....ugh......I will be really gray! I guess grey is better than bald......let me know how the vegetable coloring works for you. Congrats on finishing. I have one more to go.
Lisa0
