To shave or not to shave...

pakb56
pakb56 Member Posts: 141
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
About 7 days post first chemo I noticed some slight hair loss. My doctor said day 17 would be the big day and my sisters on the board were 13-14 days. So, after a work meeting I had to attend onsite on day 14 (I am a virtual employee) I went to my stylist and told her to shave to about 1/2 inch.

If only it would stay this way! I didn't want to shave completely because I kept thinking those little stubbles would be trying to fall out and might get ingrown!

So, hear I sit wondering when it will all go.

Honestly, I feel like a dog with fleas! My head itches (was before the shave) and my scalp is quite tender.

Oh what we don't go through to look beautiful!

Take care,
Pat

Comments

  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #2
    I shaved
    and had no problem.
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #3
    daisy366 said:

    I shaved
    and had no problem.

    I Cut it short
    and had no problem. Simply let the remainder of the hair fall out as I shampooed my hair in shower each day. Really your choice as either way it's coming out. I found mentally when I was proactive to do something with the hair, felt more in control of fighting this disease.


    Now go out and purchase some cool scarves, hats and wigs....make it fun!!

    Hugs,
    Jan
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #4
    Shave
    I HAD to shave. The bristles hurt when I wore the wig. I know other people will say that shaving damages the hair follicles...I had no problems at all from shaving my head.
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #5
    carolenk said:

    Shave
    I HAD to shave. The bristles hurt when I wore the wig. I know other people will say that shaving damages the hair follicles...I had no problems at all from shaving my head.

    Pat baby oil will help the itching
    My hair fell out on day 17 this time. I just trimmed the longer pieces that are hanging on. I did not shave any of my four har losses. When my head itches or burns I just rub some baby oil on it and it helps. Good luck with adjusting to you new look. I think the first time of losing your hair is the hardest. Then you realize when treatment is over it will grow back. And who knows how it will come back.

    Hope you are doing well after your treatment. In peace and caring.
  • fearlesshoneybadger
    fearlesshoneybadger Member Posts: 9
    #6
    A massage therapist once
    A massage therapist once offered to work on my scalp. At the time, it was so sensitive (like someone had been pulling on a ponytail--except all over) I declined. But I did discover that self-massage of the scalp with light/gentle pressure and hand movements can be wonderfully soothing after wearing a hat or wig. It helps with the itchies too.

    As for shaving...it seems each woman has her way of how this part of the process will go. I trimmed down my hair rather than shave it off but part of that was not wanting to let go of my teal hair (I dyed it w/a vegetable dye post-surgery and pre-chemo as sort of a living ribbon of awareness). I never lost all of my hair--got down to "baby orangutan". Now that it's starting to grow back, I have baby orangutan wisps with a couple millimeters of stubble beneath.

    -Karen
  • CindyGSD
    CindyGSD Member Posts: 190
    #7
    Hi Pat...
    The scratching and tenderness will go away in a week or two. I regretted shaving my head the second time ..at least at first because it seemed to aggravate the soreness. The first time I shaved down to about a 1/4 of an inch and it wasn't a big issue.

    Cindy
  • pakb56
    pakb56 Member Posts: 141
    #8
    CindyGSD said:

    Hi Pat...
    The scratching and tenderness will go away in a week or two. I regretted shaving my head the second time ..at least at first because it seemed to aggravate the soreness. The first time I shaved down to about a 1/4 of an inch and it wasn't a big issue.

    Cindy

    I hope so.
    Bad enough the itching but I also have flaking which I have never experienced before. Rubbing some baby oil gel in my scalp seemed to have helped the itch. Bad think about scratching is the hair is coming out that much faster.

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