Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair
Comments
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Catgirl - you look great! Congratulations on finishing chemo and cold-capping so successfully!
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Luvmyys - I surely hope that once brows and lashes grow back, they don't fall out again. Not sure what to tell you about your brows. Would it help if you used eye brow pencil on top to sort of accentuate the top and draw attention there rather than below?
Pamela - such good news on the growth of your brows and lashes. I will have to remember castor oil.
Catgirl - Love the pic!!! You both look so happy. Your hair looks amazing. Isn't it wonderful knowing what a nice day you're having when you could be cold capping? My last round is April 20th, and I am already looking forward to May when I feel better and maybe start looking better.
MJ Pow - so good that you asked the doc for better meds for nausea. Hopefully, he/she has a good solution for you considering it sounds like you're following all the little tricks we know of.
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hey ladies!
Has anyone that is 9 months PFC considered getting a keratin hair treatment to smooth out the coarse chemo hair coming in? If you are anything like me, you got a big bald spot on top that now has 6 inches of really curly, coarse hair that is very high maintanence. The rest of my hair is smooth and a little wavy. The chemo hair is a pain in the ass.
My oncologist suggested a keratin treatment and when I got my hair cut last week I brought it up and the stylist said she had that in mind but was waiting for the chemo hair to get long enough to "make the curve" around my skull. And it's ready! So I'm doing it Friday. I'm more than nervous. I understand it requires a very hot flat iron and I'm worried my hair is going to fry off. What a shame that would be, but it would do a lot for my self esteem not having my top hair looking like a frazzled bird nest.
So if youve ever done it! Let me know what you think! I'm really looking forward to pretty, smooth hair again!
I still only wash my hair twice a week. It's kinda funny. Wash day used to always make me nervous and that feeling never went away. I like it though. My scalp likes it too.
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catgirl, your hair looks very good.
I had 6 t/c's and I really feel like the extra 2 rounds effected my hair. Tomorrow will be 7weejs PFC for me and I feel like the shedding has slowed tremendously. I feel like what I have now is mine to keep now plus whatever regrowth . My hair always looks its best on wash day. All the other days my hair looks so trollish. My lashes are gone other than like 4on each too eye. I started using castor oil 2days ago. Hoover then come in fast.
Hugs e e
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Runner70 - Pre chemo I've had lots of Keratin treatments and with the exception of the hot flat iron it's really good for you hair, makes it stronger and healthier. I'm 16 weeks PFC today so the hair covering my bald spot it's long enough yet, but as soon as it it I'm getting one. I also just had a friend who finished chemo about 6 months ago (she didn't cold cap) just got one and loves it.
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Catgirl--you look amazing!
Fastgirl--I'm still using the spray but feel like it makes my hair so stiff by the 3rd day and I can't wait to wash it by day 4-- just to spray it again and start the cycle over. Yesterday I finally did a hair mask in the shower with a Pantene product I had in my bathroom. It feels a little softer but I'm hoping color will moisturize it more. I bought 2 boxes of Clairol Nutrisse yesterday and I am scared to use it.
Hopfull--your lashes will be half grown in within the next 5 weeks. They come in faster than I expected.
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Hello,
I have t been on in a while but reading everyone's post with suggestions and tips is so helpful. I really appreciate this group. Thank you everyone!!
Pamela 23--- congrats on being finished. Your Facebook post was amazing. Keep us posted about your hair color. I'm 3 weeks PFC -- my hair is thin, frizzy, needs im thankful for the hair I have.
Cat girl---you look great.
My lashes have thinned but still some left. I'll see what happens in the next few weeks but I'm going to try castor oil. Also trying the essential eyebrow-- thanks lovesgreenthings.
Question-- I was told by penguin to not wear a hat unless it's an aerated one. No wonder that it's finally getting nicer outside where I live, I want to walk outside. Does anyone wear a hat?
Also, I want start exercising more. I was so fatigued during my chemo. In the past, if I did a hard exercise class-- like spinning, my head would get so sweaty. I'm nervous to do this because of my hair. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I also was given steroids in my premed before chemo for nausea and for 2 days after.
Take care everyone!!
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Catgirl2--You look beautiful!! Hair is fabulous. And such a happy photo.
Pamela23--The good news about the spray is that it gives great coverage, but agree about the stiffness. My roots are white so my concern is finding a semi-perm color that will cover it. If anyone has any thoughts or experience there, I appreciate it. I hear that you are really nervous about coloring--will you try a "test" section of hair and see how it goes?
MichCali--I have worn a ball cap on the weekends and if I walk during the week. My hair, without any heat, is curly and frizzy, and the wind tangles it. The hat is a white Nike feather lite dry-fit, very lightweight, with "tasteful" vented areas. I don't wear it tightly, and I believe it keeps my head cooler in the sun. I am on an easier chemo (taxol and herceptin) and have lost little hair (week 10 out of 12) and don't believe wearing the hat has had any affect, and actually has prevented excessive tangling. I think walking is a good compromise for exercise because your head doesn't get so hot.
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MichCali!
Welcome to this group and sounds like you have things going well so far! I have been keeping up with exercise so far but have modified it from my pre-chemo days for sure. I practice yoga and am doing less difficult (strenuous) classes like Yin or Basic Hatha which do not get me too sweaty. Also, I walk my dogs everyday about 30 minutes and am counting all of the household chores, including lawn and garden work as exercise. That will have to be enough for now! Once the weather get's warmer in Michigan, I will avoid doing outside work when it is really hot, but PCC suggests rinsing your head in cool water after anything strenuous that causes a sweaty scalp so that might be an option for you and is something I plan to do for days when it is unavoidable.
An update on Essential Eyebrow Solutions - my brows have thinned a bit, but not much at all. I started about 2 weeks prior to AC DD. I have Taxol x 12 to go but am hoping they stay for now. The true test will be after chemo I guess from what most of you are posting, post chemo fall out.
I will post at that point as well so everyone will know the results, but happy so far with what I have, no one would know I am in chemo with my hair and eyebrows intact. Even with my hair flat and un-styled, I still am very comfortable leaving the house and getting out which helps with keeping a positive attitude throughout this. So inspired by all the photos of the successful cappers, thank you for posting!!
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Thanks lovesgreenthings for your suggestions. I also live in Michigan and I hope we are done with winter.
I hope everyone has a nice weekend!!!
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kshorten- I got the keratin treatment today and I think it's changed my life! Another thing that reminds me if what I've been through is now gone. Seriously, the top of my head looked like 6 inches of nice, thick pubic hair. Now it's so silky smooth and blends so well with my longer hair that you have to really look to see that the hair is shorter. I really hope when I wash it and blow dry it I get the same result. She said I shouldn't need a straightener. The one I got is by keratinase and was told it contained no formaldehyde.
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Catgirl - Awesome picture, you look great.
Runner - Glad the keratin treatment is a success. I had them before this mess and can't wait to get back to them.. your hair should just dry naturally pretty smooth and straight, with blow drying it will be perfect. Enjoy! My first one changed my life.. no more blow drying for 1/2 an hour and no more flat iron.
How many weeks PFC did you blow dry and flat iron?0 -
Great news on Keratin treatment, thanks for sharing!!
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well I have to admit that toward the end of chemo I put my blow dryer on the lowest, coolest setting to get a head start on the ends drying, but I never used it near my scalp. I'm guessing it was 2-2.5 months PFC when I started carefully using a brush and blow drying my hair. My hair at that point pretty much stopped falling out. I didn't use a flat iron though. Even before chemo, blow drying is about all I do unless I have big plans.
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hi all,
So I'm three weeks pfc. Since going pfc I've had very little if any real shedding!. the worst hair loss for me went on for almost three weeks starting after my Dose dense taxol number 3. I thought my hair was going to be a total failure. I do have terrible thin baldness on my crown, looks like male pattern baldness. I think I lost over 80 percent of my hair but I still have some to get me by. I hav a patch of hair in front that can be combed over.
I started taking viviscal for hair loss. I believe this is a great product for hair growth. I got it at CVS...Amazon has viviscal,,,,looked at reviews and it looks possible you could get a counterfeit product. I stopped temporarily because I've been having a lot of stomach problems pfc.
I have intermittent Cramping. I'm not sure what is causing all the upset. I've been losing weight slowly because of it. I expected to be all energy and happy at three weeks pfc but it's really the opposite. I'm tired, emotional, and not getting much sleep. not regular in anyway. Still taking some zofran, and Pepcid. because of them I'm still fighting my ever annoying constipation.
My take is that hair loss is really individual. No shedding now. so I continue to hope to hold on to the hair I have left. It seems to be staying...the massive shed in between my last two taxol treatments was absolutely horrid. I thought I would be uselesly bald for sure by this time. I am growing some grey baby hair fuzz along the sides where I lost hair months ago. Still nothing in the newly shed areas. Toppik is still saving me.
I'm very bald on top. I'm using toppik and wearing caps and hats a lot.I don't think they are causing me any more hair loss.
I have my (neoadjuvant) surgery next Thursday. Lumpectomy, axilla dissection, and full on breast lift. I'm scared out of my mind about it. I did chemo first option partly because going under the knife just freaks me out.
Wish me luck.
Hugs all
E
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Hi all. I used Dignicap to save my hair as I have mentioned. Yesterday I had a full foil highlight. So nice to have hair color again. I still only wash twice a week therefore will post if I have any breakage after next wash. Happy Easter to everyone
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Hi Everyone, I'm 3 weeks PFC and wondering if anyone has found anything that use to help with frizzy hair. I'm thankful I still have some hair but when it air dries, it's become so frizzy. I know there's products on the market to use for anti friz when blow drying but I was curious if anyone has used any products to put on after washing.
Thanks
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Summer-- how far out are you? I'm 12.5 weeks and I am so scared to use the ammonia free color I bought last week. I think I'm getting out the same amount of hair per washing as I was pre BC. But there's that fear....I still feel like I lose more than what will come in. I feel like my hair is thin and straggly looking. I just saw a pic on my husband's phone of me going in for the lumpectomy and my hair looks so thick and beautiful I miss that!
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Hi Ladies!
Anyone use a deep conditioner on their hair PFC? I am 11 weeks PFC and have been researching some deep conditioning treatments. I do use the Acure conditioner and a leave on serum after its dry but it's just not cutting it.. The problem is the deep treatments don't follow the Penguin protocol for natural products to use on your hair..0 -
MichCali, I have finished #11 of 12 taxol weekly with herceptin every 3 weeks. I couldn't take the frizz anymore, so with little hair loss at #9, I purchased an Aveda product--part of their Smooth Infusion line, a new product called Nourishing Style Creme. I use my fingers to squish a small amount of product, diluted some with water, on the longer sections of my hair (it is shoulder length), keeping it away from my scalp, on towel dried hair (so still damp), then air dry. It calmed the frizzes to the point where I actually thought my hair looked OK for the first time during this no heat zone.The product is paraben free-you will have to evaluate the other ingredients
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Pamela23- I'm 9 weeks out PFC. Diginicap rep recommended 2 months PFC for coloring and highlights. I have not washed since my highlights----kinda fearful. I will say since chemo my hair is already extremely dry therefore the bleach made it even more so if that is possible. Have always had oily hair so this chemo hair is different and hard to deal with---more like a bird's nest. I don't like to use hair products. Have simply used shampoo due to oily hair my whole life, now I guess I will need conditioner and some type of product for the dryness.
I know what you mean about pre chemo photos. Looked at mine and my hair is so shiny and laying very nicely and now....Bird nest! Yikes! I wonder if it will ever return to the way it was.......
This is my PRE CHEMO Hair.....I refuse to photograph my POST Hair.
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Summer2016 - fantastic photo of you. I bet your post-chemo pic is nicer than you think. I stopped wearing eye makeup thinking it would help save my eye lashes, not to mention how red and irritated my eyes are and they are so watery now. So I look older than before and my hair is totally stoner.
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summer, you look nice, but I know exactly what u mean on the before chemo pics. I look at mine all the time and I too wonder if I will ever look like before. I used to be a confident person before. Not anymore. Hate my hair. Hope our hair gets back to normal asap.
Hugs
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Summer, my hair used to be oily too and chemo dried it out, just like your case. I'm almost 2 years PFC and my hair is gradually getting back to its old oily self.
I actually liked it better when it was on the dry side. I must be weird.
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I'm two years out from cold capping and my hair is thicker than it was before! So hang in there, ladies, there is a light at the end of the tunnel
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GoKale4320---Thank you! Between having gained a huge amount of weight, no brows, no lashes and very pale skin...I don't recognize myself. I only wore eye makeup to my chemo appointments not to scare anyone. Currently, not wearing makeup. I purchased fake eyelashes but am afraid the glue would get on my lashes and pull out anything new or the last 6 lashes I have lol. I'm not real talented with my brow marker either. I hope all comes back soon. I even wonder if my skin will return to its normal color.---I know what you mean about the stoner hair look. I keep going in to have trims. My bald spots have fuzz which is now making my hair even more of a bird nest lol.
Hopfull2---Yes! I felt the same way. You know, that feeling of I look like everyone else. Well, I have never felt the way I do at this time. Can't believe how many people stare at my appearance. And it does not help that I have been limping with my neuropathy as it is so bad in my feet and painful. Told my husband that I don't believe I would be walking at all if I had more than 4 of TC. I wish my MO had lowered my dose when I told her about my burned fingers and feet. Instead, she only gave me more steroids
BBwithBC45---I thought I would like having dry hair. Believe its the whole learning curve on how to deal with dry versus oily. I am so used to stripping my hair and no hair product not even conditioner. Same with dealing with dry skin---never had to use lotions etc...Am looking forward to the day my hair returns to normal
It's great to know that it should happen!!0 -
Hi girls! I have been keeping up, but am just now checking back in. I am coming out of the fog from my 2nd TC treatment last Monday. It takes me every bit of a full week to get over it, and the WHOLE three weeks between treatments to even look at those caps again! I put them in the guest room and SHUT THE DOOR. I have true love/hate feelings for them...
I have been waiting for the big shed, but still just a comb full or ponytail holder full a day. My hair is becoming very dry and I think more is breaking than falling out? On the last wash day, I tried both the Acure conditioner and the coconut oil spray to see if that would make it softer. I am lightly using a straightening iron on the front 2 pieces - I hope I don't regret that. I love everyone's suggestions and I am armed and ready with the WOW powder and the Toppik. Next week begins the barrage of senior events for my son who will graduate on Mother's Day. I have decided to just go with the ponytail knot/bun and not even try to style it. It seems to go better that way. I feel like I fuss with it less if I just put it up, and as long as I don't lose any on the front - it will look okay. Did anyone have thinning or lose hair on your hairline? I think that's my biggest fear...
I am also trying to decide if I should keep my hair appointment that is coming up? Are you all getting trims during chemo treatments or are you waiting until you're done? I have never talked about hair so much in my life, but so far it's worth it! I love having this forum to see everyone's progress. Thank you all for sharing your stories, pictures and tips. It feels like a little (or not so little) family.
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hi bruinvul, congrats on completing Round 2. I did TC x6 and did not have thinning at the hairline but have thinning just all over my hair. No bald spots just extremely thin hair all over where if I saw myself I'd ask what's wrong with her hair. I never got a trim during treatment as it's not advised with penguin. Good luck with everything
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MichiCali - I think exercise and fluids were important for me, and I encourage you to resume what you were doing. I finished 4 rounds of TC at the end of October 2016 and had a bilateral at the end of November. I used Chemo Cold Caps and kept maybe 40-50% of my hair. My oncologist and surgeon were impressed with how much hair I still had and are trying to convince the clinic to make DIGNICAPS available. I tried to drink at least 9-10 cups of fluid (mostly water) /day throughout treatment, (more like 7-8 now), and exercised every day, usually long walks or walk on treadmill. Day 3 after chemo I felt like shit, but would still try and do a short walk. I felt shy about my hair and wore a scarf, "Beanie", "Buff" https://www.buffwear.com/ , when at the gym or outdoors. I can't find a Beanie like I wore, but it was light weight, similar to the "Buff", but better for wearing on hair. My hair is coming in nicely, but is somewhat coarser and maybe a little curly/spikey, so I still wear something, like a jogger/yoga head band with a wide band or maybe a beanie/buff.
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Lovemyys--I need a deep conditioner too. I'm at 13 weeks PFC today. I used a Pantene hair mask last week but don;t feel it helped much. I think once I color my hair and stop using the spray it'll feel a lot softer. The color should have conditioners in them too which should help.
BBwithBC45 and Leslienva--thanks for popping in and encouraging us. I think we are so excited to have hair during chemo and then when the treatments are over and we feel normal, we come to the reality that our hair isn't. I am trying to remember that I did this to look normal, knowing I could lose up to 50%. Now I have to digest the fact that looking normal to the outside isn't the same as what I consider looking normal for me. But it WILL come with time. It could be so much worse so I remind myself how blessed I am with what I have. Nothing is permanent. I hope that helps the others struggling with the same dried out, patchy gray, thinned out head of hair. This isn't forever. Catgirl--is yours a little better texture since coloring?
I was about to color my hair this morning with Clairol Nutrisse ammonia free color and chickened out. I looked at Penguin's hair care suggestions and they say a vegetable based ammonia free dye. Anyone have any recommendations? Assuming if I go to Whole Foods today they may have a box.
In other news, I stumbled upon this. There is a shampoo that is made in Canada that claims to grow hair twice as fast. The article says cancer patients in Canada are among the biggest consumers of this shampoo. Anyone from Canada that has seen this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2257448/Wa...
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