How to cope with hair loss.

clara68sam
clara68sam Member Posts: 1
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May-2011 and I've only had to treatments of chemo and my hair had started coming out. I wanted to know what did some of you do when that happened and is there a certain way that you're suppose to do to your scalp.

Comments

  • mollieb
    mollieb Member Posts: 148
    Hair Loss
    I sympathize with you on your hair loss. It's tough to see just how lumpy our skulls are! Fortunately, it will grow back eventually. I kind of like not having to deal with my hair.

    As to special treatment of your scalp, I don't think there is anything recommended in general. If your skin is dry, put some moisturizer or lotion on it. Use sunscreen if you are going to expose it to hot sun.

    I didn't like wearing a wig, so I focused on scarves and hats, especially hats. headcovers.com has lots of cute hats that don't cost an arm and a leg. For scarves, I used mostly long scarves, but 36" squares are good too. Unless you are very experienced with scarves, I don't recommend anything too slippery. They are hard to keep on.

    At first I would wear a hat even in the house, but after a while it just didn't matter. If my family can't take the way I look bald, too bad! I was fortunate to have a little hair back by the time the summer got really hot -- maybe someone else can make a suggestion on how to handle really hot weather, and going in and out of air conditioning.

    Mary
  • Maxmom57
    Maxmom57 Member Posts: 7
    Hair
    Hi Clara68sam!

    I shaved mine when it started to hurt when the wind blew it. I can see the grey sticking around so far, but the darker stuff is leaving fast, after 2 chemo's. I had problems with blemishes on my face and scalp from the chemo, I am using Oil of Olay that has the salycilic acid in it and it has worked wonders. Plus my normal moisturizer w/ SPF 15 on my scalp and face. Probably everyone is different though.
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    ...
    Hi clara68sam - sorry you have cause to be here, but glad you found us!

    My hair started to fall out on the 8th day after my very first chemo treatment. Then when it looked bizarre (to me!) from having bare patches (from coming out in clumps at a time) I finally just shaved it. Somehow that gave me a bit of control if that makes any sense..?

    I did buy a (expen$ive) wig but never even put it on. I just wore a scarf/headwrap. I ended up making my own headwrap becasue I didn't want it to come off while I was sleeping.

    Send me your address and I'll sew some up for you? In the upper left of this page, in the dark orange box, see where it says CSN Email? Click that and you can send me a message if you like.

    (((Hugs)))
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    It is such a personal thing
    At my work up to 100 people come through every day and some have been coming in regularly for years. I had some hats ready which I found made it difficult to talk on the phone plus a wig my stylist helped me order and then colored (human hair wig) and styled to look very much like my own hair. After the 3rd person told me how sorry about my cancer they were and their kindness made me cry I ditched the hats. My wig faked them out enough that now that I am not wearing it I am getting a lot of comments on my "haircut". It was just easier for ME to not have to answer the questions and deal with the comments so I strove to look like I always had.

    My son-in-law got the honors of shaving my head 3 days after my second chemo when my hair was coming out in huge handfuls, and what was left looked dull and lifeless. Not many men can say that they shaved their mother-in-laws head and lived. He was the only one of us who could do it and not cry. I used Nioxin and another salon product I can't think of the name of for thinning hair the whole time just because it made me feel like I was doing something to help my scalp, but I don't know that it really mattered, just gave me a psychological boost thinking I was doing something.

    I wish you the easiest time you can possibly have coping with this.

    Hang in there,

    Jennifer
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    grams2jc said:

    It is such a personal thing
    At my work up to 100 people come through every day and some have been coming in regularly for years. I had some hats ready which I found made it difficult to talk on the phone plus a wig my stylist helped me order and then colored (human hair wig) and styled to look very much like my own hair. After the 3rd person told me how sorry about my cancer they were and their kindness made me cry I ditched the hats. My wig faked them out enough that now that I am not wearing it I am getting a lot of comments on my "haircut". It was just easier for ME to not have to answer the questions and deal with the comments so I strove to look like I always had.

    My son-in-law got the honors of shaving my head 3 days after my second chemo when my hair was coming out in huge handfuls, and what was left looked dull and lifeless. Not many men can say that they shaved their mother-in-laws head and lived. He was the only one of us who could do it and not cry. I used Nioxin and another salon product I can't think of the name of for thinning hair the whole time just because it made me feel like I was doing something to help my scalp, but I don't know that it really mattered, just gave me a psychological boost thinking I was doing something.

    I wish you the easiest time you can possibly have coping with this.

    Hang in there,

    Jennifer

    there is a salon in boston
    there is a salon in boston that does hair replacement help for people who have alopecia, from chemo to other reasons. They did my wig ahead of time, then buzzed my hair when it started to fall out. I didnt shave it down to the skin it had a slight stubble. some came out and some did not. I wore scarves, and hats. so actually the wig was a waste of time. I used baby shampoo on my scalp. I used cotton sleep caps at night for a while, and the easy scarves during the day. some people become experts at scarf tying and find some beautiful scarves and do it up with great earrings. and makeup. Look good feel better is a program by ACS that helps. There is also a company I have read on here that gives free beautiful scarves for women with cancer. I will try to find it, or do people have the link?
  • margz35
    margz35 Member Posts: 53
    wigs, hair, etc
    Hi Clara68sam:
    My hair did not fall out until half way through my chemo and when it did - wow!

    I did order a wig from headcovers.com - Racquel Welch - Infatuation - awesome, and have worn it everyday since. I work in an air conditioned office and have a 5 year old so it helps all round. It is not itchy and is comfortable.

    My last treatment was on July 1 and I now have a 1/2 inch stubble of brown hair coming through. While I was bald, I used a really good scalp tonic by L'oreal called Nature's Therapy Scalp Relief Leave In tonic. I purchased it at Sally's Beauty Supply and it was $8.59 I use about a nickel size amount each morning and night and it is just lovely.
    I started using it in June when my hair started to fall out and I have about 1/2" left in the bottle. It smells lovely too - a cross between aloe vera / mango.
    I am now using Nioxin in the morning when I shower and I am convinced this has helped my hair grow (it cleans out the hair shafts and nourishes the follicles - so they say!)
    Do not use Ovation - it was a waste of money and did nothing.

    Good luck on your journey and your hair will return...

    Margz
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    margz35 said:

    wigs, hair, etc
    Hi Clara68sam:
    My hair did not fall out until half way through my chemo and when it did - wow!

    I did order a wig from headcovers.com - Racquel Welch - Infatuation - awesome, and have worn it everyday since. I work in an air conditioned office and have a 5 year old so it helps all round. It is not itchy and is comfortable.

    My last treatment was on July 1 and I now have a 1/2 inch stubble of brown hair coming through. While I was bald, I used a really good scalp tonic by L'oreal called Nature's Therapy Scalp Relief Leave In tonic. I purchased it at Sally's Beauty Supply and it was $8.59 I use about a nickel size amount each morning and night and it is just lovely.
    I started using it in June when my hair started to fall out and I have about 1/2" left in the bottle. It smells lovely too - a cross between aloe vera / mango.
    I am now using Nioxin in the morning when I shower and I am convinced this has helped my hair grow (it cleans out the hair shafts and nourishes the follicles - so they say!)
    Do not use Ovation - it was a waste of money and did nothing.

    Good luck on your journey and your hair will return...

    Margz

    Try to grin and bear it
    My hair started falling out pretty early, before my second treatment. I shaved my head and word soft cotton knit wraps, sort of like a bandanna, some hats, and my wig only to chruch or special things. I continued to use my shampoo and condition on my scalp to try and keep it healthy and only covered my head when going outside the house (even just for the mail). I also used a GOOD moisturizer every morning and sometimes in the evening before bed. (I had 4 roundsd of a/c cocktail and 4 of taxotere) My hair started growing back while I was still on the Tax and by Dec. 22nd when I had my mastectomy there was enough hair to had a "dent" in it from the oxygen tube. I had it trimmed at the end of March and it has now been cut 3 times since then. I'm keeping it fairly short until the wavey stuff grows out because it's pretty hard to manage otherwise. I'll have to decide soon what to do with it because it is starting to go back to the normal poker straight hair that I've know but not always loved for over 50 years.

    Hang in there, your hair will come back too. My oncologist told me hair loss was a good thing because it meant my body was receptive to the drugs and they were doing their thing.

    {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    silk head scarves :)
    :( im so sorry you're having to deal with that. For me, losing my hair was the worst part of my breast cancer journey. The tingling/sore scalp only lasts for maybe a week or so, and like others have said during that time I wore a cotton sleep cap. When my hair was coming out in big clumps, I had my husband shave my head -not all the way down with a razor, but down to the stubble. I got a few wigs from a local cancer center, but honestly i didn't wear it much. My hair was gone throughout the winter, so I wore alot of cute beanie type stocking caps. My favorite head coverings were 2 silk scarves - i bought a christian dior one and a coach one (both used) off of ebay. The silk felt SO good on my head, and they had the designer logos so they made me feel stylish still. The one good thing is that your hair will start growing back in as soon as your chemo is done. Mine took about 6 weeks before I had a full covering of stubbles on my head. Hugs to you, I know just how hard that must be for you.
    *hugs*
    heather
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485

    silk head scarves :)
    :( im so sorry you're having to deal with that. For me, losing my hair was the worst part of my breast cancer journey. The tingling/sore scalp only lasts for maybe a week or so, and like others have said during that time I wore a cotton sleep cap. When my hair was coming out in big clumps, I had my husband shave my head -not all the way down with a razor, but down to the stubble. I got a few wigs from a local cancer center, but honestly i didn't wear it much. My hair was gone throughout the winter, so I wore alot of cute beanie type stocking caps. My favorite head coverings were 2 silk scarves - i bought a christian dior one and a coach one (both used) off of ebay. The silk felt SO good on my head, and they had the designer logos so they made me feel stylish still. The one good thing is that your hair will start growing back in as soon as your chemo is done. Mine took about 6 weeks before I had a full covering of stubbles on my head. Hugs to you, I know just how hard that must be for you.
    *hugs*
    heather

    My hair started coming out
    My hair started coming out on the 14th day in clumps! I finally shaved some of it, but still leaving some color. I finally got tired of all the hair everywhere & had my boyfriend shave it all.
    My daughters went wig shopping with me & found a very cute comfortable wig. I also work around alot of people & didint want to draw attention. For me, I'm more comfortable with the wig.
    And like others, my face & scalp break out from chemo. Use lotion ony scalp every morning & night. As others, hair becomes less & less of an issue & I also am enjoying how quick I can shower & get ready!!
    Wish you the best through this journey!!
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    I shaved my head when the
    I shaved my head when the hair started coming out in clumps. I went with beanies and bandanas because I never felt comfortable with the wig. As for the scalp, I moisturized it like I did my face. I don't know if it mattered, I had just heard that chemo was hard on your skin so I paid it more attention than I usually do. Sunscreen is probably important this time of year!

    Cindy
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    skipper54 said:

    Try to grin and bear it
    My hair started falling out pretty early, before my second treatment. I shaved my head and word soft cotton knit wraps, sort of like a bandanna, some hats, and my wig only to chruch or special things. I continued to use my shampoo and condition on my scalp to try and keep it healthy and only covered my head when going outside the house (even just for the mail). I also used a GOOD moisturizer every morning and sometimes in the evening before bed. (I had 4 roundsd of a/c cocktail and 4 of taxotere) My hair started growing back while I was still on the Tax and by Dec. 22nd when I had my mastectomy there was enough hair to had a "dent" in it from the oxygen tube. I had it trimmed at the end of March and it has now been cut 3 times since then. I'm keeping it fairly short until the wavey stuff grows out because it's pretty hard to manage otherwise. I'll have to decide soon what to do with it because it is starting to go back to the normal poker straight hair that I've know but not always loved for over 50 years.

    Hang in there, your hair will come back too. My oncologist told me hair loss was a good thing because it meant my body was receptive to the drugs and they were doing their thing.

    {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

    I'm so sorry that you are
    I'm so sorry that you are going thru this. There is a post titled HELPFUL WEBSITES that has a lot of info about others that lost their hair and some good sites about scarves and such.


    Hugs, Angie