Hair Hair Hair - Another question

ishobie

I stopped chemo in september, still on  herceptin. i have a full head of hair now, short, but its thick n nice n soft. However, its GREY, i was a blonde, so at some point I will color, but not yet. It is as long as that little girl, emma watson, from Harry Potter, she cut it real short. I wish i had the nerve to wear it like this, i am so sick of wigs.  I started using this treatment for thinning hair by phyto and i think it has helped a lot.  I started it as soon as i saw some hair growing, which happened about 4 weeks after chemo stopped. It really will help to feel normal again when my hair is longer and blonde.Does that sound vain? I hope not.....I had such a horrible time with chemo and finally I feel physically better.  My oncologist said you can never tell how long it will take for hair to grow back, Im assuming close to a year.

happy holidays everyone

isabel

Char2010

ishobie - I finished  chemo mid-June.  My hair is about 2.5 inches long (trimmed it once very slightly) but the front sides are shorter and very fine.  Not comfortable w/o wig as well.  Can't wait to ditch the wig and color my hair.

DiDel

Char I am with you on the hair growth..the sides and top are taking much longer.

This time last year I was recoverying from my mx and now heading into revision surgery tomorrow. Here's hoping 2011 is better to all of us!!!

Diane

Char2010

DiDel - Wishing you the best tomorrow with the surgery.

lrr4993

sugar - I just saw your picture a few pages back - wow - you have a ton of thick hair.  I can't believe that is only 10 months (plus you have been trimming it for a while).  That gives me hope!!  My hair before chemo was your color and super thick and about mid back length with long layers.  It has always grown like weed so I am hoping that will be of benefit with this situation.  I am almost 4 weeks after my last chemo and super excited to confirm that I have stubble!!  Still a long long way to go, but at least it is on its way.

Did you take anything for hair growth?  I have been taking a hair growth combo vitamin, but will have to stop that for rads in january because of the antioxidants.  I will probably buy a folic acid supplement for use during rads - I read that it is not an antioxidant, although I will confirm this with my doc. 

Sugar77

Irr4993 - my hair was thick before chemo so it's come back pretty much like before...only curly! I had purchased Nioxin 2 but only used it for a couple of weeks before my hair dresser told me to stop using it.  He recommended I used Biolage shampoo and conditioner just like I used to use. I've taken Biotin and my rads onc said it was fine to take during radiation.  I haven't taken folic acid other than the bit that is in my Centrum multivitamin. I finished chemo in early Feb. and officially stopped wearing my wig 12 weeks later in early May.  It was short but I didn't cqre because it was hair and I was tired of wearing a wig.  Hang in there!

MarieK

Hi All!

I hope you had a happy holiday and I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

I just thought I'd pop in and post some updated photos to give others encouragement.

I finished chemo mid Jan 2010 and now 11 months later and after many trims my hair looks like this.

I just let it grow in naturally - it was much whiter at the start - but has finally filled in with this salt and pepper look. 

I tried Nioxin shampoo and conditioner a couple of times but I didn't like it and so switched back to my normal Pantene products. 

As you can see it's coming in very thick and curly.  I blowdry it with a Frizz Ease product (Weather Works) and a round brush to help "stretch" it out.

Last Christmas I didn't have any eyelashes or eyebrows and here are my eyelashes now! 

Please ignore the wrinkles...

I hope you don't mind me posting all of these - I know I really liked to see hair photos.  They gave me encouragmeent and I hope these do the same for you.

Happy hair growing to you!

Marie

cc4npg

I for one appreciate pictures and yes, it helps to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Your hair looks beautiful and so do your lashes.  I don't see any wrinkles ... seriously.. very pretty.

kittycat

I love the pics too.  When I dye my hair again, which needs to be done sooner than later, maybe I'll post some pics of my hair, too.  I got out a tape measure and it's 1.25 inches.  YAY!  It's very thick and curly.  I'm planning on wearing it out, while riding my ATV this weekend on our camping trip! It will be cold, so I will probably still wear my wig while standing around. 

kittycat

MarieK - I love your hair & eyelashes (and you are not wrinkly)!!!!

Carrol2

MareiK thank you for posting your pics. You look great and it is hopeful for those of us waiting impatiently. Today is day 21 of my last TC tx. I never asked my doctor if I could take biotin or use nioxin I don't have an appointment with her until February 1 because I am going on a business trip for 3 weeks. I am getting a blood test on the 3rd just to make sure all is ok before i leave on Jan 9th. I guess I will ask the nurses. They seem to know a lot anyway.

Char2010

MarieK - thank you so much for posting the pictures - you look great and your hair is so nice and thick - gives me hope

KatherineNaomi

I agree! Marie, you look great and love the salt and pepper gray

Claire82

Claire82

This is me - 8 months post chemo. 

I still can't add a picture to the text box.

I post on facebook and then copy the url to the image insert box here. What am I missing?

Anonymous

Hi Ladies. I'm so glad this thread exists!

I haven't started chemo yet - just healing from lump./snb last week - but meet my onc Jan. 20 and know I'll be doing some kind of chemo since I'm triple negative. 

My hair is super striaght and baby fine, but tough (I've been coloring it for a looong time) and grows fast, and I'm wondering if hair type has anything to do with it not coming back?

I'm scared that I'll be one of the few who never regrows hair after chemo since its fine. Anyone else have my hair type and have trouble?

My hairdresser (who's also a great friend) said she thinks the Penguin Cold Caps may not work for me because of my hair texture, so this has me worried that I'll have all kinds of hair issues forever.

Any insight is much appreciated - and I love all the encouraging pics and stories.

Carrol2

moichelle67 all i can tell you right now is i just finished chemo and i never went cue ball bald. I still have like strands al around my hair line. Not the most attractive look but i never shaved it for fear it might not grow back. it was eough hair that under a hat i had sort of sideburns if that makes sence. I too ahve very fine hair that grows fast usually. I am hopiing for some sprouts soon i'll keep ya posted.

Claire82

I did it! Here is my hair 8 months post chemo - trimmed once and highlighted. I'm the one on the right.

LadyinBama

Marie, Claire and the others: Thanks so much for the pictures. I'm just 3 weeks PFC. It hurt the most to lose my brows and lashes, I had beautiful, long lashes; so it helps to see that yours came back and look so nice, Marie. And hope for the hair too! Everybody looks great.

Carrol2

Claire you look great how does your hair differ now and before chemo? Are you keeping it this length?

kelben

thanks alot ladies for the pictures, they make me feel more positive.   My hair was fine, and thin but curly.  It looks better as it grows in.  My thin areas are covered yea!!!

Claire82

It's so curly now but the thickness came back. I have always had long hair so I am trying to grow it back, but I must say I'm beginning to love it this length. I've done nothing to it except shampoo and conditioner. I did hide the gray, guiltily but...

x-raygirl

Marie and Claire ~ thanks for sharing the pics of your hair!  It gives me a realistic idea of what to expect.  Both of you look great and so healthy!  I wish the facial  hair would slow down.  I wonder if the biotin is making it grow so quickly.  I went and had it "threaded" the day before Christmas.   Nice... it was a kiosk in the middle of the mall.  I have ultra short hair still on my head and it must have looked hilarious - because it's obvious I had chemo.  But holy smokes, it took her forever to clean up my chin, upper lip and sides of my face.  I never had facial hair before, at least none to worry about.    It's SO fun watching the hair grow in!!!!!   ~ Daiva

Char2010

Michelle67 - The chemo that carries a risk of permanent hair loss is Taxotere.  You may want to discuss an alternative with your doctor.

Claire82 - Your hair looks great - such nice body and good length of 8 months.  Can't wait till my front has the length you do.

toni30

Thanks ladies for the pix - you give me hope!  I am 3 months post chemo and have full brows and lashes, but the hair on my head is still short - maybe one-half inch long.  Was hoping to ditch the wig oin January, but now I'm not sure.

lrr4993

So, is anyone having the experience of their wig being significantly prettier than their own hair?  LOL.  I have never gotten so many compliments on my hair in my life. Several friends who don't know about the cancer diagnosis (I only told a select few) have commented on how great my hair looks.  I even get compliments from strangers - just today the clerk at CVS said "you have such pretty hair."  It is hard not to laugh.  If they only knew.  Although I cannot wait to have my old hair back, I am somewhat concerned that it is going to be a downgrade! 

Keep posting the great pics. Everyone looks so good and the regrowth is so encourage.  And katherinenaimi - I am so jealous of how beautiful you look even without hair.  I look completely ridiculous and horrible without it, hence the full-time wig wearing.   

KatherineNaomi

Thank you lrr993! I feel like I look like an alien most of the time so that was very nice to hear.



I don't wear a wig so I haven't gotten the wig compliments. I never found one that I felt comfortable in. I'm so glad that you've found one that you love and that others love on you!

lrr4993

You DO NOT look like an alien!  LOL.  I look like an old man.  Actually - and this is not a joke - I look like man I used to work with. I never lost all my hair with chemo - I have kept an extremely light layer all over, that is a bit thicker (but still very thin) around the bottom of my skull . . .like male pattern baldness.  It looks just like him - he had the bald on top and back with the wrap around hair at the bottom.  It is so horrible!!  I would not dare go outside without my wig.  I wish I were as brave as you and the others.  The only person who has seen my without it is my mom.  Not even my onco has seen it.

I was fortunate with my wig.  I hate wearing it and it sometimes it gives me headaches, but it is really pretty and natural looking.  It really looks exactly like my hair, but healthier.   I have joked that I am going to keep it for those humid days when my natural hair is out of control.

kittycat

I get compliments all the time on my wigs, more so than my natural hair.  It makes me wonder what people thought of my natural nair (which I have a lot of, but it's fine). 

Carrol2

lrr4993 I have the same male pattern thing going on and I wear a hat most of the time. I finally got the wig (in my avatar) that I like but i still worry that it looks like a wig. I am on day 21 of my last infusion so have not seen any growth. I worry because i had taxotere. They claim there is only a 3% chance hair will not grow back. But i hope it's a good sign that not all of my hair fell out, only a few lashes and none of my brows. The nurses say they never saw a patient not get their hair back. How far along are you? Have you seen any growth?