Hair Coloring

Hair Coloring
Hi ggcs111

I have also colored my hair for years. (I am now 54 dx at 49) After chemo mine came back almost completely white. It did bother me so I colored it when it was about one inch long. I died it bright red and spiked it allover. I had a little fun out of it while it was growing back out.

The gray made me look and feel old "er". I felt much better about myself after coloring it. If it bothers you I say go for it.

Eil4186 said:

hair color
You are only 53, I doubt you look old! I too had been coloring my hair for years before cancer. My hair came back in with a lot of gray and I started coloring it again once it grew to about 3/4 of an inch. It was still very short, but it looked better in my golden brown:o) I say do what makes you feel better and more like your old self. Eil

hair color
I agree, color your hair if you want to, have fun.

My 39yr old daughter was diagnosed last year and when her hair came back in it had a little grey and she began coloring hers as she had been for years.

I'm 61 and of course my hair came back salt/pepper and just a couple of days ago I went and got my hair colored and styled. I am now a blonde, lighter than I colored it before. I thought about this for quite awhile and decided to go with the blonde as we know life can be short or long for that matter so do what you want to do so you'll feel better after going thru the journey that we do.

Good luck to you

Hair Color
Hi ggcs, my hair came in totally white after chemo. Granted I had been coloring my hair for a while prior to being diagnosed, but it wasn't that white. So, if you want to color your hair go for it. After all, you are the one that has to feel good about the way you look. Hugs, Lili

ggcs111 said:

Hair
Hi Lili, You say your hair came in totally white? That must have been a surprise. I was certainly surprised to see more than a few gray or white hairs. I always imagined that if I did let it come in natural, it would be a lot less than what it actually is. I'm Hispanic and my natural color is dark brown or black depending on how much sun I have had. Some Hispanic friends of mine, once their hair comes in so gray or white, they go lighter brown, frost, or totally blonde. On some it looks very good, on others you don't know how to tell them that it just isn't that flattering on them. But the color change they make, if it makes them feel good, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. My opinion is just that, an opinion and it could be dead wrong.

Did you have a single or a double mastectomy? Are you done with your treatment Lili? Thanks for writing and God bless you.

Hair
Hi ggcs: On June 1, 2007 I was dx with invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a right radical mastectomy June 7, 2007. They removed 7 lymph nodes and all came back clean. I started 8 rounds of adriamycin, cytoxan and 5FU on July 16, 2007 and finished Nov. 16th 2007. I did my tram flap reconstruction this February. I am also hispanic, gg, though of much lighter skin since I am of european descent. So, when I started going gray at 25, I started coloring my hair. As I got older and the grays became more stubborn, I started coloring my hair lighter so that the grays wouldn't be so noticeable. When, I was dx in June, I stopped coloring my hair since I knew I would lose it anyway. At that point I noticed I was gray but not as bad as when my hair grew in after chemo. I also have to say that it came in very curly. It is now, not as curly but I do have waves that I didn't have before. It's been a roller coaster of a year, and I have to say I am glad it is over. I have met many wonderful people on this site that I wouldn't have, had I not been diagnosed. This is a special sisterhood (and we do have a brother also, our friend Bill S) that only those that have gone through this can understand. Welcome to the club gg, Hugs, Lili

mmontero38 said:

GArnier
Hey Joyce: Having a hard time finding any permanent hair color that will hide these grays. So far, I have tried Revlon, L'Oreal, Garnier, and the grays all start showing within 2 weeks of coloring and that's why I decided to go much blonder than this picture. I have had it colored at the salon, and it does last a little longer, but frankly, I can't afford having my hair cut and colored every 4 weeks and paying upwards of $100.00. So far, Garnier has worked the best, so if I have to color my hair every 3 weeks, I guess I will. Hugs, Lili

Dyed mine yesterday! I used
Dyed mine yesterday! I used Loreal Dream Blond, which is an amonia hair dye and not just a grey coverer. I will let you know how I fair (lol). If it doesn't work, I will try Garnier. Remember the old days when we used to worry that mistreating our hair would make it fall out? Don't know why, but that gave me a chuckle. Bring on the dyes and pass the blow dryer...love, JOyce

NorcalJ said:

Can't remember hair
I had asked my hairdresser about the hair dyes being toxic, or a problem, and she said that it was in the men's dye, but it was taken out long ago. I'm still not sure, but it doesn't matter since I've got 3 more Taxol to go, so there's not exactly "hair at the end tunnel" yet.

Which brings a thought to my chemo brain, (a good feat in itself), Joyce please remind me what a blow dryer is???? ;>}

Blow Dryer
Lol Norcal: I couldn't remember what a blow dryer was either. Took me a whole year before I even had to use one. Hugs, Lili

ggcs111 said:

Hair Coloring
Thanks Jadie. Obviously, you are very brave and full of adventure to go with a spiked, red haired look. Good for you. Spiking mine--that's just not me. But good for you to do what makes you feel good and back to your old self. Also, did you go with permanent or temporary hair color. Did you use permanent or temporary haircolor?

Hair Coloring
Hi ggcs

I'm not very brave or adventurous. Just crazy.

I used permanent color. I always use Garnier Nutrice (sp?). It might take a couple of applications to cover the gray completely. This works great for me.