Topic: Shaving your head before chemo?

Oct 24, 2015 11:13AM - edited Oct 24, 2015 11:14AM by MissBee123

Hello Holly and welcome!

I had a head shaving party, too, and it was quite fun! I waited until mine began to fall out, however, I think there are benefits and drawbacks to both.

Most people lose their hair pretty consistently between days 14-16. By then, in general (if you're having treatment every 3 weeks), you are feeling pretty good. If that's not your regimen and you're on weekly treatments, you might feel differently. The drawback to waiting is that your hair will begin to fall out pretty quickly and it may be hard to plan a party last-minute. For me, day 14 my hair was intact and strong. Day 15 I woke up and when I ran a brush through my hair all of it came out. My parents were due to arrive in town for my next chemo and head shaving party two days later. I ended up pinning my hair in a little bun and then threw a scarf on. For the next two days I didn't touch my hair so that it would last, but it was ready to jump off my head by the time the party arrived.

The drawback to doing it beforehand is you may be one of the people who doesn't lose their hair. Some women only experience mild thinning and it might be sad to cut your hair off for no reason. If your hair doesn't fall out, then you will find the stubble growing back pretty quickly. The upside to doing it before chemo, of course, is that it allows you to be in control. For me, I was fine with losing my hair, but many women find it deeply upsetting. If you feel attached to your hair and know you might have this type of reaction, doing it earlier may help.

Either way, having a party is a blast. My mom even made t-shirts for everyone at the party, which was really fun. I had a friend video it for me. If you'd like to watch it, it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwMLNn8k-k

(I never want to feel self-promoting on this site, please only watch if it would be helpful, no pressure!)

Good luck!

Oct 24, 2015 11:19AM marion55 wrote:

i am waiting to start my chemo and will waiy to see what happens with my hair xx i was told by my partner to go bald xx

Oct 24, 2015 11:32AM rainnyc wrote:

HollyElise, I got a short cut, then went to the place where they sold me my wig when it really started to fall out and had them take the rest of it off. (But I'm a serious introvert and would not have done a party!)

Something my wig guy told me, which I'm passing along because I think it's important, is this: Please don't shave your head down to the skin. If you're having chemo, your white blood cell counts will be dropping, and you'll be more vulnerable to infection from tiny skin nicks. They clipped mine very, very short, nearly to the skin but not all the way down. I also found that in the first couple of weeks of chemo, I had small skin infections--like acne but all over, including on my scalp. You don't want to aggravate those.

I'm sorry you have to be here, and I hope the chemo mojo kills those nasty cancer cells! Good luck!

Oct 24, 2015 11:50AM 208sandy wrote:

Yes, don't "shave" your head - buzzing it is what is required and hairdressers know how to do it - the reason for taking your hair off before chemo is that in some cases it hurts falling out (a friend of mine was in tears it hurt her so much) so get a short cut first and then get it buzzed closer to day 14 - mine fell out on day 17. I certainly didn't have a party but I also didn't take anyone to dr. appointments or chemo or anything - I feel stronger when I am alone for some reason. Don't have children so can't comment on that but the party might be a help to them (and you) - best wishes to you - things are going to be o.k.

Oct 24, 2015 12:03PM sbeddows123 wrote:

I did a short pixie cut to start then about 3 weeks into chemo cut it very short.....grade 2 say......after that it was getting patchy and bugged me so I went grade 1. I still actually have stubble and have just 2 more treatments to go so I am wondering if I will ever be bald all the way (I am 90% bald dont get me wrong :) ) I have a very very young daughter who really hasn't een affected by my crazy hair changes....I say do whatever is going to be easiest for you. Sometimes it's nice to take control.of the hair situation rather than just let it do its thing :)

Oct 24, 2015 08:36PM Kicks wrote:

We had a 'Hair Shaving' party at the barn when my hair started coming out in big clumps. Son and some of my 'Sons' (his friends who call me Mom) all clipped their hair and mine with the horse clippers (there were also a few horses who got their manes done). Hubby is basically bald anyway so just runs the clippers over hear every week or 2 anyway.

A good time was had by all of us as I was fighting the Monster and it was just a part of the Battle I/my body was waging with the support of loved ones.

Oct 25, 2015 12:30AM Holeinone wrote:

Holly, I think most ladies lose there hair on A/C, not sure on T/C.

I wished I had got a cute short cut before my first chemo. It would of showed me what it will look like in the future.

My chemo was dose dense, meaning every 14 days. My head hurt. The weight of my hair was really painful. So happy to shave it off. I bought a wig, never wore it. Not once, I hated it. I did need a beanie, I live in a cold climate & it was early winter during chemo.

I hope chemo is gentle for you.

Oct 25, 2015 08:27AM rainnyc wrote:

I felt the same way you did, Susan. My DH's first suggestion when I knew I'd be having chemo was that he'd shave his head and get our teenage son to do the same. I told him absolutely not, that if I couldn't have hair I wanted others around me who did. Took a selfie of me-with-hair before I had it buzzed off. I looked grim--not like someone who wanted a party around her. But if a celebration is right for you, then go with it!

For those going through it now....about 7 weeks post final chemo and have a half inch of hair!

Oct 27, 2015 08:55PM ksusan wrote:

TC will do it, too.

Jun 14, 2019 02:01AM - edited Jun 14, 2019 02:02AM by Meow13

There are for some very strong pyschological issues with this one. I for one would not want to face total hair loss by chemo or otherwise. It was also pyschological painful to see my mastectomy so I wouldn't look at it. The 4 month wait for reconstruction was the hardest and saddest 4 months of my life. I broke down a couple times I would have chosen immediate DIEP reconstruction if it was possible.

As far as shaving my head , never, when I was a child my parents threaten me with that if I didn't do what they said. It is and was a form of humiliation. I know times are different but when I think of a woman with a shaved head I think of what the Nazis and others did to women who were caught have relations with the "enemy". Personally no way would I ever make light of baldness.

Good for you if you can do it or live with no breasts but don't expect others to feel the same way.

Jun 14, 2019 08:25AM wanderweg wrote:

Taxotere will definitely cause hair loss. I cut my hair very short prior to TC chemo and then buzzed it after the first round. It can be uncomfortable as it comes out and it seems to help if it’s super short. Also, it’s just unsettling when it starts to fall out even though you know it’s going to happen. Mine grew back a little between each round and I wasn’t 100% bald until after the last round. I never wore a wig, just scarves and caps. And as soon as the first little bit grew back, I stopped covering my head at all. I found the Sinead O’Connor look kind of freeing. Now I have a head full of fluffy chemo curls. When it goes back to being straight, I’ll probably cut it super short again. But here’s the important thing – all that was just my experience. The more women you can talk to who actually had chemo and can speak from experience, the better. Your friends, family members, or even women with cancer who didn’t have chemo really have no way of knowing what they would do in the actual situation. And then you have to decide for yourself what works for you. I talked with several women who had been through chemo before I started, and found them really encouraging. It helped me know that even the hair loss was just temporary and part of doing everything I could to get well.

Jun 14, 2019 11:30AM wanderweg wrote:

Abbidoodle - I wanted to add that I love your idea about the party. That’s such a positive way of dealing with something difficult. If it were me, I might have limoncello at that party!

I know the original poster is done with chemo by now. I hope she is doing well. But this thread got me thinking about when I first found out I need to chemotherapy. My younger son, who was 21 at the time, was the first person I told because he was at my house when I got home. He sat and held my hand and cried with me, then offered to shave my head for me. It was such a loving offer. I hate this disease, but I am grateful for all the love and support I got from so many people throughout my treatment.