Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
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A ~ Thanks for the insight. The craziest thing about this journey is so much is unknown! Having insight into what to expect with shedding helps a lot. I'm being cautiously optimistic as AC is so harsh.
I love the idea of keeping the shed hair and doing something symbolic!!
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Annie- yes, it's Toppix. I may have spelled it wrong. I bought mine on Amazon. Just shake it on. No water. It's pretty amazing. I used it and then tried to show a friend my bald spot and I couldn't even find it! It's gotten bigger since then but I've found I don't care anymore. I can still part my hair on the other side to cover it or pull my front hair back gentle in a mini clip and that hides it.
My hair just looks so fried and dry. I've never gone this long without a trim and I'm dying to get a couple of inches cut off just to tidy it up!
When can we get a trim? I can't remember. My last chemo is in 2 weeks. Hallelujah.
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phaila,
I just noticed something you said- that your hair is more blonde but the hair falling out is dark. That's the same with me! My hair is reddish brown but the only hair falling out is almost black. I didn't even know I had hair that color! It makes me wonder if darker hair is more susceptible to the chemo..
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does the shedding ever slow down? My sides are so thin....it's worse when it's wet and your head just looks skinny and long:( my frizz kind of poofs it up once it dries....happy Mother's Day morning was wash day😂 I am moving towards my third treatment and don't know if my hair will hold out....
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Hi Phaila
I'm counting PFC from the day of my last treatment which was Dec 22nd. I don't have to many pics to post here, but here's a few. I need to update in the cold cap success story thread.
Before I started chemo and capping. I actually cut off a few inches before I started so it would be more manageable. PCC says to not do any drastic cuts right before you begin.
Here's me now. Got a shorter long bob haircut. I lost almost all my eyebrows and eyelashes, still have my port in until September.
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Today I shed so much . It's only noticeable by the sides by my ears. I'm afraid to shower tonight..please talk me off the ledge. This is so depressing.
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Lydialydia
You will be ok! I lost most of my hair around my ears and at the nape of my neck. I feel like the caps weren't as tight as they should have been 1 time. You still have plenty of hair on top to cover it. No one will even notice unless you show them. Really. It will grow back fast once you stop chemo. Mine is already a couple inches long. You can do this!!
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Hi all! I just wanted to chime in that I COMPLETELY ignored the no caffeine rule. And I brushed my hair too, but I used a gentle brush. It's called The Wet Brush, and it's really gentle on tangles. It's the only one that my 4 year old daughter will let me use on her long hair. So I figured it would be good. I use a wide tooth comb when it's wet, and The Wet Brush just once a day in the morning.
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Starsarestars: You look great. Thanks so much for posting that picture! My daughter just moved back to the bay area from Truckee. I love it up there.
I am only on day 12 (taxol, herceptin, perjeta) but no shedding so far. I am using penguin caps and the freezer at the infusion center. My husband is doing an incredible job of getting the caps on. I know I have a ways to go and the shedding could start at any time BUT I did have a girlfriend who used the penguin caps and didn't shed any more than normal. Interesting!
I am going to try to just roll with it. No need to add another stress.
I hope you are all having a great weekend.
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Stars your hair looks great but those amazing scenery backgrounds might have a little to do with it👍😊 Let me ask you, the only thing I can do to my hair is wear glasses on my head...it's like my smoke screen. Do you do that too?
Susan, I have heard of that wet brush. I'll have to look into it. I wetspray my hair in the morning or whenever I need to comb it then I brush it or comb it. Works really well:)
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Thanks ladies!
SusanBP where are you doing your treatments? I did all my chemo and both surgeries at UCSF. That's great your daughter was the inTruckee. It's a beautiful place to live, and rehab in the mountains has done wonderful things for my energy. You should visit! You seem like you've got a great attitude starting off with all this craziness. Keep it up!! It definitely helps. Shedding seems like it's a little different for everyone, mine started after the 2nd cycle of drugs. But you will get through this !! *****
Phaila- I wear scarves loose folded and tied up like headbands and bobby pins to pin my thin hair back from my face. Obviously sunglasses too. I only washed my hair once a week in super cold water with Burts Bees Baby Shampoo and used a natural spray in conditioner I bought at Whole Foods with a wide toothed comb. Otherwise I'd use a shower cap so my hair wouldn't get wet. When I'm out in the sun I also wore trucker style ball caps loose on my head because they are mesh in the back so my head could breathe.
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that's the shampoo that I bought too
Those photos are beautiful
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I also never heard anyone say anything about not drinking coffee. Haha I drank coffee everyday and still do.
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I just washed my hair and it's coming out in clumps. It's knotty and tangled and won't stop coming out. I may have to get a trim tommorr. I can't get the knots out without pulling hair out. It's hard I cried for hours
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Lydia, others have used corn starch to help get out the tangles. Your hair will need to be dry. The corn starch is very slippery and the hair tangles can slide apart. Hopefully someone who used that technique is reading and can pop in with advice
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Starsarestars: I am also at UCSF. They are completely amazing there.
And I would love to visit. The only down-side of my daughter coming to live with us (which considering what is going on was one of the biggest God-sends ever) is that I can't go up there to visit her!
Thank you for the positive words. It is so helpful. :-)
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Lydia, I'm so sorry...that's so hard. I got this detangled Arctic Cold Caps recommended "Honest Conditioner and Detangler" at Target. I don't know if that would help you or not. I hope you feel better about it. I've seen a couple of us having crisis when the reality of how much our hair really suffers and changes hits and then we seem to rebound. I hope it is like that with you.
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I bought a cap and an SPF headgear wrap that make me look cool for my age. But I'm feeling like this:
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Lydia~ I second the spray detangler, you can focus on the tangles and avoid the roots. hang in there!! i forget which regimen you are on, but sounds like the first 30-40 days are the hardest. sending love your way.
this site is soooo helpful. thank you all for the great info, honesty, laughter, tears. I start in two days..... threw the cap on at -25 and proceeded to get the worst headache in my eyebrows, hard to imagine another 10 degrees
it's gonna be an adventure. planning on taking a handful of ibuprofen an hour out!happy mama's day to all the mama's on the board!!
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sarah - the cold is shocker at first but after the first cap, it didn't really bother me too much - head freezes I guess!
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Star - thank you so much! The before and after pictures help set a realistic picture of this in my mind and that the cold capping is also for the grow back period! You look fantastic.
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Hi all - I am 14 weeks PFC and just dying to color my hair. I have dark blond hair naturally and have been getting blonde highlights for all of my adult life. I have dark roots halfway down my head and I just hate the way it looks. My colorist says that he can do a tint without peroxide or ammonia but it will wash out and not really lighten my hair. To get light you need peroxide. I know that I am supposed to wait 6 months but I'm so ready to get rid of these roots. Has anyone cheated on the color rules?
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thank u all I am using leave in conditioner. I lost alot but still have coverage. Is it normal for as lol of these knots? I am going to buy detangler today. That's y I lost a lot of hair because I had to unknot the hair. Are the knots normal? It's so dry to.
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lydia when I started shedding I was as desperate as you, now Im just taking it in stride, if it works, it works... as for the knots, my hair is shoulder length so it wasn't too bad for me, but what I did realise is that many of the knots is hair that has already fallen out of the scalp, but it get tangled with the rest of the hair, so it seems like you are pulling it out when you comb, but actually you are just untangling from the rest, Its still lost hair, and it sucks.
as for the dry hair, I guess its the most important feature of the troll hair, that and the fact that I can't use any of the products we used to control dryness and frizz.
wishing you all a non shedding week
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Lydia,
My hair tangles when I wash too and I found that the most helpful thing for me is to have a low stool in the bathroom where I can sit down, take a deep breath, and slowly work out the matting/knots with patience. Somehow, sitting always makes me calm down and take the time that is needed to comb.
ILoveArt
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According to Penguin, you can use conditioner, just don't get it on your scalp...i.e protect the follicles.
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Lydia, Cody is correct in stating that a lot of the hair you find tangled in knots is just loose hair that has already fallen out and got caught in the rest of your hair. My dermatologist told me the same thing. Washing your hair will not make more come out. The hair that falls out is just destined to shed. Sure, you don't want to be pulling or tugging or yanking or shredding at your hair - you need to be gentle as you wash it and work out the tangles. There is a product called The Wet Brush that works wonders in untangling all types of hair, from fine to course. My stylist recommended using that over a wide-tooth comb because she said hair is weakest when wet. She said using a wide tooth comb puts more stress on it than using the Wet Brush.
And for you gals with troll hair :-) I occasionally used a light conditioner on my hair to keep the frizzies down and give it some moisture. I have long hair. I did not apply it close to the roots but put it on the ends and maybe 4" up from the ends.
Hope everyone is having a good Monday. Hang in there - you will be finished before you know it!
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Girls, is there anyone with short hair (just covering my ears) here? I feel like i am the only one using caps for short hair... I just past first week of Taxol so shedding still to come. It bothers me so much i can't really style them anymore or wash often> I used to style them with gel after wash every morning. I keep thinking you girls all have long hair and it is probably easier to get away with. What will happen with short? Any one had experience? I used a bandana yesterday in attempt to look better without any styling....
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Vikto
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Viktoryak: I have a bob. About even with my chin on one side and a bit longer on the other. I actually cut off about 7" in preparation for the cold capping because I wanted it to be easier.
Mine is probably not as short as yours but I also am missing my products. I did make a diluted spray of water and one of my organic styling products (no bad stuff in it). I wet my hair a little in the morning, spray a little on and it helps.
I think the biggest thing you need to be careful of is getting any kind of conditioner and product on the roots. The follicles are the part you want to protect the most.
That said, I am new to this and don't have long term results yet. I do know that they say even if you lose some hair, cold capping helps it grow in much faster and better. So, I think still worth it.
I am at day 13 and so far no shedding. It's going to be an interesting week!
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