Coloring our glorious HAIR!

abbadoodles

It's coming back okay, but it's got a lot of GRAY!!! Anyone else here who has colored their hair all their lives and is shocked to see how gray it is now?

I've read that it's best to wait a while to color hair re-growth, but I'm not waiting too long. At just over 3 months post chemo, I'm getting ready to ditch the wig, probably within a month or so. I refuse to bare a gray-streaked head. Call me vain, but I do have my standards.

So, what do you think about Loving Care? It's about as gentle as you can find, without either peroxide or ammonia. Of course, it doesn't last too long, but maybe long enough for my needs at this time. I can always go back to the semi-permanents later.

The other thing I have not looked into because I've never dabbled in it is henna. I don't know if henna products would interfere with regular coloring later or if they cover gray at all. I am not interested in going lighter.

What's a good plan or what is your experience?

Tina

lindaDK

I have no advise to share, I'm in the exact same boat as you. Where did all this gray come from? I am also wondering about coloring.

Anonymous

Most oncs advise us to wait at least 6 months before coloring our hair, but I used an at-home rinse at about 4 months and then ditched the wig and had full highlighting done professionally at six months. One thing that you really need to keep in mind if you're using at-home products is that your hair is considered "virgin hair" and will be very unpredictable in how it holds the color. I recall several stories here from posters who used a red color and ended up with some pretty odd results. So do try to stay away from the reds and go for something that's not too dramatic.

Good luck! Isn't having hair AWESOME?!!!

~Marin

sahalie

I wasn't ready for the incoming colors either so I went a head and used something as gentle as I could find really soon after there was enough to color. I never wore wigs but I wore baseball caps all the time. Then the amazing wonderful curls came in. I have straight hair normally.

caaclark

My last chemo was June 15 (2006). I ditched the wig by mid August and colored my hair (at the salon) by late Sept. Just highlights but it held the color really well and looked great compared to how dark it was coming in.

Lynn12

I finished chemo in May and was shocked at how gray my hair came in...my dh and I were twins!

I waited 3 months and colored it. The color came out darker than normal, so I need to switch to the next lighter shade next time...my hair has held the color quite well.

livesstrong

I heard that henna on grey hair is a no-no. Turns it funky colors. The nurses at my ocn's office said its OK to color but use a product with no ammonia.

Mine came in more salt & pepper and everyone seems to like it so I might keep it awhile.

Valerie

abbadoodles

Oooooooooh, thanks for the heads up (NPI) on the henna! Funky, I don't need.

Went to the drugstore yesterday after searching for info on the various types of hair coloring products online. Basically, you have your temporary, such as FanciFul color rinse, which lasts until you shampoo. Then there are levels 1,2 and 3. Level 1 is semi-permanent with no peroxide and no ammonia (such as Loving Care) lasts 6 to 12 shampoos. Then there is level 2, demi-permanent, with a little peroxide and no ammonia, which lasts 24-26 shampoos. And then there is permanent, with both peroxide and ammonia. Here's a link for more info.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/hair-coloring.htm

Anyway, I came home with a bottle of Loving Care. It will be just dipping my toes into the dye bottle. Should be gentle enough for new hair. I have to say that although my new hair is softer than the old stuff, it is still pretty tough. Not like a baby's hair at all, now that it's off and running.

Will let everyone know how it turns out. I will probably "do it" the beginning of the week, after DH is back at work. Need my space to do this, esp. if the results are not so great.

Tina

abbadoodles

I took the big plunge and finally colored my hair this morning. Just finished it, actually, and am pleased to say that I am VERY HAPPY with the results.

My natural color came back darker (brown) than it had been but with lots of gray up top and a scattering all over. I was afraid to use anything too harsh so bought some Clairol Loving Care, the non-permenent color for gray, in the Light Brown shade.

The results are very, very nice. I left the product on for the minimum 20 minutes (chicken). The gray took the color nicely and is a couple of shades lighter than my non-gray hair, so that the whole effect is somewhat streaked. Very artful, if I do say so myself.

Comments from others on this board and my own prior experience with hair coloring made me choose a hair color somewhat lighter than what I was trying to match. I'm glad I did that. Actually, I will probably use the Light Golden Brown the next time, for a little brighter effect.

BTW, I did only use about half the bottle of coloring and will save the rest for another time. Since this is not a coloring that you mix with anything, I imagine the product will be fine a couple of weeks from now when I will have to use it again. Loving Care is only rated for 6 to 12 shampoos.

Now, I can go in for my exchange surgery later this week without having to bare a gray head. Not too much hair, but lookin' pretty good.

Good luck with your own coloring adventures and let us know what you used and how it turned out.

Tina

Anonymous

Yay, Tina....I bet you look like a real BABE!!!

~Marin

abbadoodles

Oh, that's me, alright. A babe all the way. ROFL Hey, if we can't boost each other, what good are we? Thanks for the thoughts.

Tina