Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

For some people hair loss is
For some people hair loss is quick, almost instantly. For others it is a process of days. For me I had more trouble with the idea of it falling out with out my control. I styled the crap out of the hair as soon as I knew it was going to fall out.

I thought I was dealing with the same sentiment you have, once you loose your hair you are definitely a cancer patient. I wanted to keep it to myself and loved ones. So...in my denial I thought I would just go blonde...my natural color is almost black. Then I went sort of purple. That faded to pink. Then I got it cut short and went burgundy. A few days later, it started falling out. It was taking days and I had a thin patch here and there.

That was harder to deal with. I remember posting something about it here. Eventually I just could not take it. I cut it as short as I could and a friend shaved the rest. I maintain the look with a men's electric razor. Now that it is off, I am so much more comfortable....and think of all in my family with bald heads, I look the cutest.

Hair, Or Lack of It
Hi Sara,
You and I must be on the same schedule. I had my first chemo 19 days ago and I am also in the process of losing my hair. I thought it would all fall out at once, but it hasn't. I had it cut short last week and wore it like that for a few days, but now my head looks pretty scary with big patches of hair missing. I think I'll be relieved when it's all out. I agree with you, when you lose your hair, you are an official cancer patient. It does save me a lot of time in the morning!

Hair
I checked out how long it was going to be when hair started to come out and it didn't fit into my schedule at all. My husband and I were going on a vacation to Vegas and I had decided I was not going through losing my hair there. I did not want to wake up in the hotel room with my hair all over my pillow. Didn't think I could handle that, or take a shower and have bunches coming out. I guess I decided to do it on my terms. I called up my grandchildren and asked if they would shave my head. The 2 grandsons that live in town went first and I told them they would have to leave some for the out of town grands to do. I had 2 days in between hair cuts but it was totally worth it. The first group gave me a double mohawk, with one side being wider than the other side. When the other 2 arrived they got to finish the job for me. The funniest part of it all was I had to keep it covered for the 2 days and I was at a hockey game for my grandson. He asked me Grandma can I show my friends the hair cut we gave you. I thought about it for a second and told him to have them look quick. He told them and we all had a good laugh. Something we will never forget. Oh and I had gone to the hairdressers a couple different times and had them cut my hair shorter. Susan

Sara2011 said:

I love the responses I have
I love the responses I have received on my post. At least it helps to kind of know what is up ahead. This hair loss thing has been baffling to me because it is just a lot of unknowns until it finally happens. It is good to know others have gone before me and have survived the baldness that comes with chemo and I guess I will too! I agree with you SunshineLeslie, that having no hair will really speed up the process of getting ready in the mornings! Ha!

Sara, I began chemo in late
Sara, I began chemo in late June. My hair began coming out after about 2 weeks. I went ahead got it buzzed. I cried and cried and cried. I know it's just hair, but it just crushed me. I won't let anyone see me without a hat on, but that's just me. I tried a wig but it was too itchy. I have a large hat collection, most of which I bought at Wal-Mart, plus people have also given me hats. It still bothers me, but I have one more treatment to go in 3 weeks. Hopefully my hair will grow as fast it did before. LOL! On the bright side, I LOVE not having to deal with shaving my legs or dealing with facial hair. Best wishes to you. Sorry you too are having to deal with this beast. My dr. told me yesterday I was in remission Take care. You will find this group quite a blessing.

Carla

Nope, not tomorrow
Hi Sara. I started losing my hair about the same time as you. The weirdest part was feeling that soreness all over my head, especially when I touched it. It took almost 3 months for me to get quite bald. The last hair to go was around my face and back of head. Thus I could easily get away with hats with the fringe of my own hair showing. I liked that! I already felt like a cancer patient, as I had an ileostomy (temporary, thank God). The last to go were my eyebrows and eyelashes, and THAT was hard. I had all kinds of prejudices about getting a wig, from thinking it would be heavy or itchy to believing they all look fake. A dear friend encouraged me to look anyway, and I found one that is marvelous. It looks natural and feels great, and there's never a bad hair day! Ask where you get chemo if there is a "Look Better, Feel Better" class near you. I've never been a makeup person, but in this free class (sponsored by the American Cancer Society) you get a ton of lovely makeup and are instructed in how to apply it. Having correctly drawn on eyebrows was terrific--took away that embalmed look. Keep laughing. We really get to find out what's important when we get this diagnosis, and any vanity that we took seriously will become quite funny. I read your "About Me" and was happy to see you believe as I do, that God allows something like this to happen for a reason. Our only "job" is to be open to all of the learning that He is bringing our way. This journey has been one of the most searing of my life, but there has been incredible, truly incredible, Grace on every side. I pray it's the same for you. Carolyn

mopar said:

I REMEMBER
I remember that feeling of 'soreness', kind of like I had been wearing barrettes or a hat or something for days. It came out little by little, just like most of us. I don't remember though how long it was before it was all gone.

Keep laughing, Sara. I really wasn't too upset about losing my hair because I knew what to expect - it helped me to prepare. And it will grow back. I will say, however, that 11 years later I still don't have to shave my legs or underarms much! All of this is an inconvenience of regaining our health. Hang in there!

(((HUGS)))
Monika

hair
I agree with mopar....it felt like "barettes left in for days" type of soreness. Almost a tingly feeling before it fell out.

The first time I went through treament, it started to fall out in the shower about 3 days following my second chemo. I was in tears, but my husband came to my rescue and shaved my head for me. He said, "honey, you're ready to join the army now!". lol

I recurred/progressed mos following end of treatments, and my hair had started to grow in. But I shaved it off as soon as I knew it would be leaving me anyway. It was easier that way.

I find that scarves and soft hats feel the best for me. The first time, I wore my wigs a lot. But this time my skin is more sensitive, so I tend to only wear the scarves/hats. I'd love to go bald, but I have an ugly red rash on the back of my head from a reaction. It has become manageable, but has left a scarred area that I'm pretty self conscious about. Other that that, not having hair can actually feel good...especially on hot days (Im in Florida) or when you shower....the water on my head is so refreshing!
Losing my hair was a traumatic experience for me....if you read some of my posts you'll see they are all mostly about my beloved hair (or loss thereof!) I think that losing my hair really affected me as a woman. But now it has also empowered me! I am no longer ashamed to not have any hair

Best of luck to you! Have fun with it....get some great hats, wigs, scarves. I recently registered a wish list on a couple of websites (4women.com and headcovers.com). That way friends and family could send some if they wanted to help. I'm going to be bald into next year, so a wardrobe change for my head was in order!