When can I dye my hair?

chriskaput
chriskaput Member Posts: 109
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
It's been 3 months since I finished chemo and I have about 1" of hair now, curly and "GRAY". I hate it. Has anyone asked their onco. about dying their hair? Has anyone dyed their hair 3 months after chemo or should I wait the 6 months as I've read? What products should I use? Any help would be appreciated. I just want my "normal" color hair back....even if it is short : )
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Comments

  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #2
    Color Color Color!!
    Mine came in the same..curly and very salt and pepper...never had that before...I colored my short crop 3 months After chemo... It 's been 17 months since chemo..have had 4 haircuts...the curls ar e still with me....chemo curls..easiest hair I've ever had... Even though it was a pixie, like you said I wanted my natural hair color back...made me feel so much more like myself! My oncologist said to color it whenever I wanted AFTER 1 month out of chemo....
    Best wishes
    Nancy
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #3
    MAJW said:

    Color Color Color!!
    Mine came in the same..curly and very salt and pepper...never had that before...I colored my short crop 3 months After chemo... It 's been 17 months since chemo..have had 4 haircuts...the curls ar e still with me....chemo curls..easiest hair I've ever had... Even though it was a pixie, like you said I wanted my natural hair color back...made me feel so much more like myself! My oncologist said to color it whenever I wanted AFTER 1 month out of chemo....
    Best wishes
    Nancy

    well Mine came out white and
    well Mine came out white and I couldn't stand it..and I kept trying to find a color that would cover the white...to the point that after a year I had completely fried it and so I just cut it all off short again to start over! So my suggestion is go ahead and color but get it done professionally. The hair is finer and thiner and more fragile and can't take the abuse of over the counter color.
    Dee
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #4
    Here is a link for
    Here is a link for you:


    Using Hair Dye After Chemo
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #5
    dyaneb123 said:

    well Mine came out white and
    well Mine came out white and I couldn't stand it..and I kept trying to find a color that would cover the white...to the point that after a year I had completely fried it and so I just cut it all off short again to start over! So my suggestion is go ahead and color but get it done professionally. The hair is finer and thiner and more fragile and can't take the abuse of over the counter color.
    Dee

    The minute there was enough to color
    My understanding is that we're advised to wait 6 months before coloring our hair not because of any health reasons, but because the hair is more fragile and could fall out again.

    I read that in an ACS booklet, and thought, well already BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, who cares, I'm going for it! 3 months after I finished chemo, even though it wasn't near long enough for foils, my stylist figured out a way to do highlights by dipping a wide-toothed comb in the solution.

    It was one of the best things I did for my own well-being after treatment -- I'd always had highlights, and it felt SO good to look in the mirror and start to see ME again. I believe there are times during treatment and recovery when you just have to say To H*ll With It and do what makes you feel good -- highlights and pizza did that for me!

    Traci
  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    #6
    5 mos.
    I had mine colored professionally about 5 months after completing chemo. That's when I quit wearing my wig and had my hair colored and even highlighted - she used the cap and crochet hook method since it was so short, and it turned out great! My hair had come in curly and white, and my stylist showed me how to do it in sort of a spiky, punky style. I love it and I've gotten lots of compliments. Do what makes you feel great - you deserve it! Linda
  • mellindy
    mellindy Member Posts: 13
    #7
    It's been 14 years and I
    It's been 14 years and I dyed my hair as soon as I had enough of it! That was after chemo and 5 weeks of rads until it grew in. Haven't seen any consequences so I say - go for it. Getting a touch up Friday!
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #8
    mellindy said:

    It's been 14 years and I
    It's been 14 years and I dyed my hair as soon as I had enough of it! That was after chemo and 5 weeks of rads until it grew in. Haven't seen any consequences so I say - go for it. Getting a touch up Friday!

    Just my 2 cents ... I too was excited to see hair, and as
    soon as I had 1 inch or so .. I went to my local pharmacy, and purchased a temp color -- chesnut color -- to add warmth, as my base color was drab, with sprinkles of gray --. I followed the directions to the 'T' (always had my hair hi lited by a professional), and to my surprise and horror, my new hair color was what I refer to as Lucille Ball RED. Horrible, Horrible ugly color .. and I did it myself! I went on to purchase several other temp then perm colors in an attempt to darken my new 'virgin' red. Mind you, not a pretty red, but a BOZO red. It took months of trims, and professional dye jobs to numerous to remember to fix it.

    Henna natural hair colors is the way I would go, if I had to do it all over again.

    Happy coloring!


    Vicki Sam
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #9
    VickiSam said:

    Just my 2 cents ... I too was excited to see hair, and as
    soon as I had 1 inch or so .. I went to my local pharmacy, and purchased a temp color -- chesnut color -- to add warmth, as my base color was drab, with sprinkles of gray --. I followed the directions to the 'T' (always had my hair hi lited by a professional), and to my surprise and horror, my new hair color was what I refer to as Lucille Ball RED. Horrible, Horrible ugly color .. and I did it myself! I went on to purchase several other temp then perm colors in an attempt to darken my new 'virgin' red. Mind you, not a pretty red, but a BOZO red. It took months of trims, and professional dye jobs to numerous to remember to fix it.

    Henna natural hair colors is the way I would go, if I had to do it all over again.

    Happy coloring!


    Vicki Sam

    Vicki--the very same thing happened to me
    AND, I used a natural henna product from Whole Foods. I thought--I'll be safe, no harsh chemicals on my head. I used a color called "chocolate." Okay, you think that's probably going to be somewhere in the brown family--right? NOOOOOO--like you, somewhere between Lucy and Bozo. As it was explained to me, not only does the texture change after chemo, sometimes the chemical make-up of the hair changes.

    It's been six months since chemo's over for me, the red has very, very gradually gone away, and I'm alot of salt and a little pepper right now.

    I'm thinking of trying it again--this time maybe by my stylist although I really hate using all the harsh toxic chemicals. What to do?!

    Hugs, Renee
  • mrs gadget
    mrs gadget Member Posts: 118
    #10
    I am having he same problem
    If you try it, let me know how it comes out!! I finished chemo in December and will probably wait until sometime around May to dye it. Maybe soon if the grey starts really getting to me. Before Chemo I used Garnier light golden brown.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #11
    mrs gadget said:

    I am having he same problem
    If you try it, let me know how it comes out!! I finished chemo in December and will probably wait until sometime around May to dye it. Maybe soon if the grey starts really getting to me. Before Chemo I used Garnier light golden brown.

    crazy women here on the board to take matters into their own hands and color my hair! If only .. right

    If only I waited a few more weeks .. not, me I would of saved myself tons of money, and embarassing day, weeks and months.

    Vicki Sam
  • chriskaput
    chriskaput Member Posts: 109
    #12
    VickiSam said:

    crazy women here on the board to take matters into their own hands and color my hair! If only .. right

    If only I waited a few more weeks .. not, me I would of saved myself tons of money, and embarassing day, weeks and months.

    Vicki Sam

    Can't wait to dye my hair!
    When did you dye it? I cannot wait anymore, i cannot stand looking at the grays anymore LOL
    Thanks ladies for the advice.....I will wait till close to the 6month mark and have my hairdresser do it for me ; )
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #13
    chriskaput said:

    Can't wait to dye my hair!
    When did you dye it? I cannot wait anymore, i cannot stand looking at the grays anymore LOL
    Thanks ladies for the advice.....I will wait till close to the 6month mark and have my hairdresser do it for me ; )

    Chris .. The is the best .. Seriously, take it
    from me and Renee. Our new hair growth is .. 'virgin' by all standards, no need to watch a bad dye job .. slowing grow out .. day by day, week by week, and so on. That sucks! I lived it ...


    VickiSam
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #14
    VickiSam said:

    Chris .. The is the best .. Seriously, take it
    from me and Renee. Our new hair growth is .. 'virgin' by all standards, no need to watch a bad dye job .. slowing grow out .. day by day, week by week, and so on. That sucks! I lived it ...


    VickiSam

    Thanks for
    posting this question. I have been dying my hair for more than 21 years. I'm only 1 month post chemo so I have a wait ahead of me. Right now I have 1/8" dark stubble some places and 1" white strands. I'm still basically bald. I used to have natural curly hair so I'm curious as to how it will grow out. I see my onc in March and I'll check with him as to when it's safe to go to the hairdressers for a new do with color.
    Char
  • wanbli
    wanbli Member Posts: 1
    #15
    dont use permanent
    i know you asked this question away back in January, but i thought i would post nyway just in case anyone else is looking up for a answer, this is what happened to me i got my last chemo and Radiotherapy end of July, my hair didnt fall out with the type of drug i was on, but because of the combination of chemo radiotherapy your hair can start falling out couple months after which i noticed some of my hair falling out, my hair was just a mess i decided to get permanent nice and easy which iv used forever, i dyed my hair and as soon as i started drying my hair i knew i was in trouble it was falling out in handfulls, it kept falling out every day right up untill Febuary 2012 when i had to get special hair shampoo to stop my hair from falling out and steroids which thankfully has worked, my hair has been grown in but now grey and like baby fine hair, dying your hair with permanent dye i dont this is a great idea at least wait a year before doing so, and maby 6 months with non permanent, i came online as my hair looks terrible grey at the roots and i bought semi permanent dye but still a bit scared to try it after what happened, if i use it i will update on the result.
  • christine8822
    christine8822 Member Posts: 40 Member
    #16
    Hair color, chemo white, look like calico cat

    Hi, the issue with coloring your hair after chemo is not that the products are necessarily too harsh. it's that hair color does not respond the way is normally does on "chemo white" hair  or the weird other colors and textures that grow back first after chemo treatments.  My hair grew back chemo white and dark steel gray, a bad salt and pepper look, a sort of pelt on my head. I did have quite a bit of hair, thick by 3 months. So.... 

    At 2 1/2 months, I tried:

    "Fanciful Fawn" rub in hair color first. That is the temporary color that washes out. it would not cover the blackish icky color. It ended up mottled.

    I washed that out.

    My doctor said it was ok to color my hair when ready.

    At 3 months, I used Revlon Colorsilk (no ammonia) formula, level 04 light blonde. It did not cover any of the gray and turned the blackish part a sort of orange-ey brown. There also were parts that were still black. I looked like a calico cat. However, it did lighten some of the hair, and it actually improved the texture of the hair. it did not damage the hair or my scalp.

    But after another two weeks, I could not stand the brindled look.

    At 3 months and 3 weeks, I tried using my normal L'Oreal Excellence (with ammonia), light natural blonde, which is what I have used for many years. It did not harm my hair or scalp. The texture was fine. However, instead of becoming blonde, it took up my entire head to a bleached out cool grayish white color, which looked no better than the gray salt and pepper or orange calico cat look I'd started with. It seemed to do nothing to the gray and just brought up the black and orange parts to beige.

    Not great. like painting your living room wall with primer. 

    So this morning, I had a brain storm. Over the beige, I put on the "Fanciful Fawn" again, the wash out toner that is basically like a watercolor paint on your head. This time, i got a pretty nice light brown all over. So I guess for another month I will do that. It just looks better to have some warmer color in my hair. In another month I will use another permanent color, probably go back to the ammonia free ColorSilk, maybe a dark blonde or light brown. Will report back.

    Moral of story: Go slow. If your hair and scalp is in good condition, don't be afraid to use hair color. But be afraid of the result!

    Would love to hear anyone else's experience.

     

     

  • klymb8tyz3
    klymb8tyz3 Member Posts: 1
    #17
    Hair Dye and Chemo


    I saw a lot of interesting stuff in this post. I think a 20 volume developer for sensitive scalp, and an ionic sealer would be thest way to go. provided, this is semipermanent, and lasts 2-4 weeks, btw fades at 2weeks, honestly. My neighbor, Sandy . . . she has a huge mast in her chest. she has bone cancer. they are ordering her not to dye her hair, and she loves her hair. it is not bright carrot red, but vibrant from that neutralized to looking vibrantly natural.it's not bozo red, or reba red, but she loves it orange bright carrot red with the extremity mellowed to a natural irish red. . . . and i want to chemically define a way to dye her hair. I'm really smart . . . my sister went to school for hair, she was a major professional at dying hair . . . i learned a lot from her and liz. I see people talking about the fragile results of dying before and after chemo. i see the bozo red . . . I think that something ionic with a red neuatralizer would help. at local beauty stores, they sell chemical free additives that neutralize the brightness of cherry red, they're 50 cents.  it's a liquod additive that eliminates red, and promotes blue in pose of yellow, like a neutralizer or stabilizer. With the henna dye, add lemon juice even if doesn't come with it, and sugar . . . it makes it take hold. I think honestly, ammonia free 10 or 20 volume developer with a stabilizer would be safe enough, a low peroxide cream, or ionic, at best . . . semi permanent 20 volume ionic color with after care sealer . . . it says forty minutes, but 18 minutes, i've gotten my hair to look natural doing that without a chemical fry . . . ashe free too, no harsh chemical feeling at all, healthily. I love my neghbor and it really bothers me that she is upset about this. I have a genuine concern for you as well. I wish you all the best and i hope you are well. I will pray for you. <3 And i will post the results of this later for you. :)

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    edited September 2017 #18
    I spent forever coloring

    I spent many many years coloring my hair.  Then I decided to let it go and it grew out to be this wonderful white all over and I loved it.  It was soft and bright and layed so nice.   Then chemo destroyed it.  It has grown back to be frizzy, rough feeling.   3 different colors but not a mix all over the head.  Straight in the front and white, the sides were half straight and salt and pepper and the back was chemo curly and black.  WTF I think.  I cut it again hoping that would help and it did not.  I have this awful hair and I dont know what to do.   Most of the time, I dont even look in the mirror anymore it is too depressing.

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #19
    Hair?

    Annie, I gave up looking in the mirror too!  Once in awhile I glance and I feel nauseated! 

  • Beepositive
    Beepositive Member Posts: 259 Member
    #20
    HELLO EVERYONE THERE IS HELP OUT THERE CHECK YOUR AREA

    CHECK OR GOOGLE " LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER"  under this site American Cancer Society has this great program for cancer patient currently going thru treatments. they offer a free class with licensed beauty consultants and hair stylist who work with you in a class you up for offering tips with make up eyelishes . wigs all free and donated by the salons. please locate one in your area they are normally held at the hospitals were you have your treatments.

    YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT!!!

    Blessing to All

    BEEPOSITIVE

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    edited September 2017 #21
    Beepositive said:

    HELLO EVERYONE THERE IS HELP OUT THERE CHECK YOUR AREA

    CHECK OR GOOGLE " LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER"  under this site American Cancer Society has this great program for cancer patient currently going thru treatments. they offer a free class with licensed beauty consultants and hair stylist who work with you in a class you up for offering tips with make up eyelishes . wigs all free and donated by the salons. please locate one in your area they are normally held at the hospitals were you have your treatments.

    YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT!!!

    Blessing to All

    BEEPOSITIVE

    TY

    Thank you Bee, your so kind. 

    Hugs,

    Annie

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