How long did chemo curls last?

kiki3
kiki3 Member Posts: 15
How long did your chemo curls last? I was done with chemo last Aug and thought they would last about 6 months, but they are still here. Trying to decide if I should keep it short or let it grow. Don't want to suffer through the fro, only to have it start coming in straight again, and have to cut off the curls. My hair grows super fast, so I am spending a lot to keep it short. Good problem to have, I know!

Comments

  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    My curls starting fading
    My curls starting fading just recently and my chemo was completed a year ago this past March 30. I always had wavy, unmanageable hair, but my hair is starting to look straighter to me now. Crazy how things happen.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    natly15 said:

    My curls starting fading
    My curls starting fading just recently and my chemo was completed a year ago this past March 30. I always had wavy, unmanageable hair, but my hair is starting to look straighter to me now. Crazy how things happen.

    Barb -- my Onco RN - and fellow breast cancer
    patient, Survivor and Advocate .. stated that my hair would return to it's original thickness (or thinness), texture, and coloring within 8 to 10 months after re-growth. My Oncologist as well as his PA -- stated that I would remain 'curly' for at least 2 years. .. Barb had it right ... within 10 months of the finish of my chemo treatments - my curls, have disappeared.

    The upside .. I have hair once again, and love walking around without a hat, scarf, or bandana.

    Vicki Sam
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    Those Chemo Curls
    Like you, my last chemo was in August 2010. I had thick straight hair before that. Now I have a full head of chemo curls. I am so grateful to have any hair at all that I really do not care that it is curly. There is no way of knowing IF or WHEN your hair will get back to its pre-chemo state. I am treating it like I would any other hair style. If it looks too long, messy, weird, etc. then I would get it cut. If it looks OK then leave it alone. You just have to figure out what works for you. Any "mistake" you might make will rectify itself in a few weeks after all.

    IRENE
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member

    Those Chemo Curls
    Like you, my last chemo was in August 2010. I had thick straight hair before that. Now I have a full head of chemo curls. I am so grateful to have any hair at all that I really do not care that it is curly. There is no way of knowing IF or WHEN your hair will get back to its pre-chemo state. I am treating it like I would any other hair style. If it looks too long, messy, weird, etc. then I would get it cut. If it looks OK then leave it alone. You just have to figure out what works for you. Any "mistake" you might make will rectify itself in a few weeks after all.

    IRENE

    I guess everyone is
    I guess everyone is different. I ended chemo Oct. 2009 and had tight ringlets of chemo curl.

    It has relaxed some, but still very curly. Who knows maybe I'll keep it. Before treatment had wavy hair.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    I am so weird! LOL
    I never had any curls.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    Rague said:

    I am so weird! LOL
    I never had any curls.

    I still have curls although
    I still have curls although it is relaxing. At first I hated it now I love it, so easy! It is relaxing somewhat, so I know it will go back, but I finished chemo Jan 2010
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    No curls for me :(
    Always had super straight hair and was looking forward to having some curl but didn't happen. Wierd thing is my hair is growing out sides are long enough to cover my ears but I still feel like I am bald headed?
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    Mine was back to normal,
    Mine was back to normal, just a little thinner in the front within a year. But I liked the curls, it was like a really soft perm!
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    Wish I could give you some
    Wish I could give you some advice but my wavy pre-chemo hair is about 3-4 inches long and stick straight! I SO need a trim for my bushy shaggy hair but as I'm sure you all can understand don't want to bring scissors anywhere near it!!
    *hugs*
    Heathher
  • kiki3
    kiki3 Member Posts: 15

    Wish I could give you some
    Wish I could give you some advice but my wavy pre-chemo hair is about 3-4 inches long and stick straight! I SO need a trim for my bushy shaggy hair but as I'm sure you all can understand don't want to bring scissors anywhere near it!!
    *hugs*
    Heathher

    Thanks ladies! Guess it is
    Thanks ladies! Guess it is just time to go with the flow!
  • reet147
    reet147 Member Posts: 1
    chemo curls
    My curls lasted for almost a year. It just kept relaxing until it was straight. It was the best thing from the chemo and the radiation and meds afterward. Good luck.
  • new2me
    new2me Member Posts: 177 Member
    reet147 said:

    chemo curls
    My curls lasted for almost a year. It just kept relaxing until it was straight. It was the best thing from the chemo and the radiation and meds afterward. Good luck.

    My last treatment was Oct 1, 2010
    I have about 3 inches of hair and it is very curly. Before chemo my hair was wavy and thick. If I don't tame my hair - it frizzes and I look like a "chi a pet" LOL
    But like everyone said, I am so happy to have hair and not have to wear a wig, or hat. I won't go near scissors. LOL
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    I finished chemo
    6 months ago and have 1/2 long frizz! I used to have naturally wavy hair with a mind all it's own. I started to go hatless one month ago and I can't wait for it to get long enough to get it cut and colored.
    Char
  • QuiltingMama123
    QuiltingMama123 Member Posts: 124
    cahjah75 said:

    I finished chemo
    6 months ago and have 1/2 long frizz! I used to have naturally wavy hair with a mind all it's own. I started to go hatless one month ago and I can't wait for it to get long enough to get it cut and colored.
    Char

    I'm loving my chemo curls,
    I'm loving my chemo curls, but I'll go with the flow. When it's straight again, I'll love that, too!
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769

    I'm loving my chemo curls,
    I'm loving my chemo curls, but I'll go with the flow. When it's straight again, I'll love that, too!

    chemo wavys
    I had chemo wavys for about 6 months and then it went straight again but at least when I use a curling iron the curls stay longer than they did before chemo. My hair was thick before but now it is thicker and still very soft.

    Margo
  • CAchick
    CAchick Member Posts: 277

    chemo wavys
    I had chemo wavys for about 6 months and then it went straight again but at least when I use a curling iron the curls stay longer than they did before chemo. My hair was thick before but now it is thicker and still very soft.

    Margo

    Curly girl
    Hi, I always had sort of curly hair...I used to straighten and blow it out. Then, when I hit 50 years old, I said "Forget it" and embraced my curliness! I thought maybe after chemo mine might even be straighter, because people say the texture changes sometimes...but no! Curlier than ever! I just enjoy it...Wash n go, so to speak! I only put a little hair gel in after shampooing, and pick it out a little. People are always telling me that my hair is gorgeous! I finished chemo on Nov. 19, 2009...But still have curls galore...Just glad to have hair again! :) (Blow dried in this picture, though...)
  • kimetha
    kimetha Member Posts: 1 *

    I had lymphoma last summer, last treatment Nov 2022, I have always had streight hair even as a little girl, I am 67 now. I am loving this wavy to curly hair and I hope it will stay.