hair coloring

babywatson
babywatson Member Posts: 9
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi all,

So far, four chemos in, i have managed to keep a good deal of my hair. I'm going to get clip on extensions to try to fill it out. 

My issue is I am not a natural blond. I'm okay now, but am scared to dye my hair in case it all falls out or does some damage to me. What have all of you not natural blonds who have so far kept their hair been doing? Any tips would be great.

You know, it's funny the things we can't let go of. Whenever I thought of breast cancer, I always thought i'd get a masectomy right away if i had to. And I don't think it would bother me that much, my breasts were never real attention getters, and I could hide it well under clothes. But my hair....the thought of losing my hair which I loved is so hard.

Mary

Comments

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #2
    hair

    My hair thinned, but I never lost it on Folfox (tho I lost most of my body hair.)  I was told that I was allowed to color it, just not on chemo days.  Note, I wasn't bleaching, just covering gray with my "natural" brown color.  Ask your onc.  They expect all kinds of questions, including these.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #3
    I never lost hair due to

    I never lost hair due to chemo, I think it happens more for people who have cancers related to hormone issues such as breast cancer. Mine did thin out drmatacially a couple of months after a long hospital stay where they'd had to use a number of meds on me but it was five months after the actual issue which was the PE I had while on chemo. I lost most of the back and much of my body hair. My hair grew back in as think as ever but I have about 5 legs hairs now, rarely shave my armpits and my eye brows and eyelashes are not as good as they were. So now I have to draw in parts of my eyebrows and I'm not very talented at it. I'm always worried that they're assymetrical or that they'll come off or smear.

    Today I'm colouring my hair. It hasn't been done in more than a month because I tried a new chemo and had a bad skin reaction and had sores on my scalp but I have half an inch of gray and my scalp seems fine and I'm going out for my birthday tomorrow and I'm doing it.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #4
    My hair fell out

    I am sure the old timers here are sick of me saying how I looked like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. I was happy to shave my head and get rid of the three or four thin clumps left hanging on my head. 

    Mary, after you've passed it by your Oncologist, I say do what makes you feel good.  Personally, I'm putting as few chemicals that leach into the skin, on my body as I can get away with; but thats just me and my ways. Each to his own, I say. 

    TRU

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #5
    I've heard of hairdressers

    I've heard of hairdressers having issues because they've been around chemicals for years but I doubt just colouring our hair once a month would do any damage.

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #6
    JanJan63 said:

    I never lost hair due to

    I never lost hair due to chemo, I think it happens more for people who have cancers related to hormone issues such as breast cancer. Mine did thin out drmatacially a couple of months after a long hospital stay where they'd had to use a number of meds on me but it was five months after the actual issue which was the PE I had while on chemo. I lost most of the back and much of my body hair. My hair grew back in as think as ever but I have about 5 legs hairs now, rarely shave my armpits and my eye brows and eyelashes are not as good as they were. So now I have to draw in parts of my eyebrows and I'm not very talented at it. I'm always worried that they're assymetrical or that they'll come off or smear.

    Today I'm colouring my hair. It hasn't been done in more than a month because I tried a new chemo and had a bad skin reaction and had sores on my scalp but I have half an inch of gray and my scalp seems fine and I'm going out for my birthday tomorrow and I'm doing it.

    Folfox doesn't commonly cause hair loss

    But Folfiri does, so it's a matter of the chemo.  And yes, the chemos for breast, ovarian, and lymphomas definitely cause hair to fall out.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #7
    abrub said:

    Folfox doesn't commonly cause hair loss

    But Folfiri does, so it's a matter of the chemo.  And yes, the chemos for breast, ovarian, and lymphomas definitely cause hair to fall out.

    FOFLOX

    Mine fell out on FOLFOX.  Just sayin :)

  • babywatson
    babywatson Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2017 #8
    Trubrit said:

    My hair fell out

    I am sure the old timers here are sick of me saying how I looked like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. I was happy to shave my head and get rid of the three or four thin clumps left hanging on my head. 

    Mary, after you've passed it by your Oncologist, I say do what makes you feel good.  Personally, I'm putting as few chemicals that leach into the skin, on my body as I can get away with; but thats just me and my ways. Each to his own, I say. 

    TRU

    hair coloring

    I had figured I was going to do it anyway because I just never believed those stories about all these chemicals invading your head through your hair. When I was pregnant, my ob told me to go ahead and get my hair done, it was not a problem. The main thing I am worried about is some reaction on my scalp, or something. I don't know yet what to do, but I'm not walking around with a dark brown hombre look.

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    edited March 2017 #9
    Trubrit said:

    FOFLOX

    Mine fell out on FOLFOX.  Just sayin :)

    Yes, but not a given with Folfox

    Many don't lose their hair. I lost body hair, but not the hair on my head. Hair loss is less common with folfox,  but it does happen. 

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