Chemo hair loss

I wish I could see it!  Your user picture isn't coming through.

LisaPizza said:

I don't know when your chemo

I don't know when your chemo will be done, but my profile pic was 3 months post chemo. Still very short, but no hat needed. I actually ditched the caps 2 weeks before that picture, because of the hot weather. 

Hi Lisa, your profile photo is gone. We miss your smiling face!

LisaPizza said:

Oh, let me fix it then! I

Oh, let me fix it then! I didn't realize, because when I read threads, it still shows for me.

You're back !! Thank you !!!

cmb said:

Unsuccessful Attempt at Improving Hair Regrowth

As I mentioned earlier in this discussion, my hair grew back in exactly the same (same color and texture), just a lot less than I had before. Since it's been 1 ½ years since I ended chemo, I don't think there will be any change.

However, my cat Griffin was very diligent in grooming my head when I was bald and also as my hair started to grow back in. I was hoping his efforts would help stimulate the follicles, but no such luck. But he gave it his very best!

That's so funny, my cat, derMaus, did the same thing when my hair was out of commission. She would lick and lick, get a few random strands, ptooey them out, and go back to licking. I didn't know other cats did that. Maus is no longer with me so thanks for the sweet memory.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with hair growing back. I had my last chemo on November 29. My first chemo was in August and my hair started falling out on Labor Day. until the end of October it seemed so hot to wear the wig that I wore just hats, but once cold weather set in the wig has been more comfortable. Hair started coming in noticeably the first part of January and it was all white. My hair now seems to be mostly a salt and pepper  except for the part around my face which was the last part to start coming in and that recent growth is  white. I did have to have a trim of my sideburns and around the bottom of my hair in back because it has come in long enough that it sticks out the wig and my wig is not white like my hair is right now. I am hoping that by the end of March I am going without a hat or a wig. I have read that if I decide to start coloring my hair again I need to wait until it is been six months past chemo for the texture of the hair to take the color properly. I, too, am just glad that my hair is growing back in and I will be happy to wear it proudly regardless of the color or the curl or the straightness.

I am very pleased that my hair has started coming in at a regular pace. The hair on the top of my head was standing up straight and looked much like a flat top. I read somewhere to use a baby hairbrush to train the hair in the way it should go. I tried this and it immediately started lying perfectly flat and i can even make a semblance of a part on the side.  So, if any of you have hair that needs some taming as it comes in, you might want to try the baby brush. 

zsazsa1 said:

I know what you mean about

I know what you mean about the looks.  I used to give them, myself, I am sure.  The recognition, and then the compassionate pity.  Now that's me, on the receiving end.

I was out a lot last weekend in crowded places, on a windy day, so I chose a hat rather than a wig.  Also wore gloves and a surgical mask, to reduce chance of infectious disease exposure.  I felt SO bad when a little kid looked at me with horror, as if I were a monster.  I used to make my living working all day long with kids.  Now I'm scary to them.  Oh well, chemo's almost over, and after that maybe I'll never need it again.  I got a cheap wig that looks pretty good, and I'm supposed to be getting a human hair one soon - hopefully that will look even better.  Some Orthodox Jewish ladies who wear wigs look just fantastic in them - better than one's own hair!  Maybe that will be me.

My hair started to grow back around Christmas so it is still pretty short with a Mohawk thing going on top, but it is silver grey. All of them say they like the new look, but I am not sure if they are trying to make me feel better. They even like the color! I do get interesting looks when I am out in public but very few looks of recognition of my probable condition which makes me feel more normal. 

light42day said:

Chemo hair loss
Hair loss is a big deal for us! It has been so good for me to read your stories. They make me laugh (and cry a little, too). I may start losing my hair this weekend or maybe by Monday, which will be 14 days since my 1st treatment. I bought some new bandanas online that I really love so that made me feel a little better.

This whole cancer/chemo process has really caused me to think about my life. I think it changes you forever in some ways. I've been pretty weird about my hair, for one thing. I used to have NIGHTMARES about my hair being cut really short and then I'd wake up and be so happy that it was still long. Now I have it cut REALLY short and I love it! But now it's going to fall out. I know it will grow back in time. But it sounds like it will take awhile for it to be the way it used to be. I'm sorry to go on about this subject. It really isn't as important as being well again and living a long life.

I told my husband that I was afraid that he wouldn't find me attractive anymore when I was bald and he said he wouldn't know the difference when the lights are out! He was kidding, though! He told me that he would love me no matter what. He's stuck by me through a lot these past months. He goes with me to my Chemo up in Seattle and sits there with me all day when he's really busy with our business stuff. I feel very blessed.

oops this thread is old!