Hair Hair Hair - Another question

westiemom

I'm suppose to get my hair colored Monday, amonia free organic based color. I can't wait! 

Nodapearl

Carrol - I can't remember the exact website, but google Joseph Mullen color.  He is a colorist in New York, and he was doing research in the area of color and chemo hair.

Carrol2

Nodapearl thanks i will look into this. More research. You really need an education once you start this. I should get a job doing this for someone.

Jenmarie9

I am about 4 1/2 months PFC. My hair is crazy! Probably 2 1/2- 3 inches all around. Very thick, like before. No chemo curls

I have scheduled an appointment with my hairdresser for Tuesday at the urging of my husband. I am afraid she will look at me and say "what the hell do you want me to do with this?" I think I need some kind of shaping b/c it really is sticking up all over. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Thanks to all of you who have posted your hair growth stories and especially the ones with pictures. It really kept me going through those dark "bald" days. God bless.

Jennifer

westiemom

Can anyone share their Nioxin experience. There is the "system" and then they sell the treatments individually. I'm tempted to buy the 3 step (shampoo, conditioner, scalp treatment). Did anyone experience hairloss in the beginning using it? If so, did the hair grow back? Is the hair more dense from using it? Thanks!! 

Joanne58

cc4--thanks for the info on henna.  You've had great experience with it and I'm sure your hair was/is gorgeous!   Sure wish I could fast-forward my hair growth.  It's SOOOO slow, but the fuzz is spreading, thankfully. 

Hope you get the info you need on Nioxin, westiemom, so I can feel good about the investment I might make, too.

KCmom--I'm trying not to covet your wonderful hair growth (and your perfect complexion!)  It really looks like your hair is going to be wonderful and thick again--lucky you!

Carrol2

westiemom and joanne58 well i can tell you i started to use the nioxin 3 step program about 3 weeks PFC. It's a shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment.  In the beginning my head and any place on my neck ears or forehead that it dripped on got a little red and then faded shortly after. But now it's fine. I don't know if it's working or not though. I am 10 weeks PFC. I have hair growing all over my head now but I can still see my scalp. My doctor does not say to use it or not because it is not FDA approved. I got it because the ladies on here had said they used it. But I have also read some people like the rogaine better.  I also started on tamoxifen 2 weeks ago and my doctor says that should not affect my hair but i have heard some people say they think it does on here.

Anyone else have an opinion on this? I would love to hear also. 

Char2010

The ladies on this post that are taking Arimidex - just wondering how your hair to doing?  I had chemo, followed by rads, and started Armidex right after.

westiemom

Char2010 I took tamoxifen for about two months, then I had a bi-lateral oophrectomy in September, this put me in menopause, now im on arimidex. my hair is thick and curly except the front area of my scalp, my hair is much shorter and thinner or less dense in that area. it seems to be getting better.

How is your hair doing?

Char2010

westiemom - my hair is very curly (normally it is not), soft, but pretty thick - except around the temples where it is wispy and sparse.

x-raygirl

I just wanted to share that my 19 yr old daughter donated 14" of her hair to Locks of Love today in honor of me.  I am so proud!  She is now sporting a super cute bob and looks sassy and sharp.  As for me, mine is an inch long and coming in nice and thick.  I've been using Nioxin and am planning on ordering the stuff MBJ has mentioned once I find it...  One thing I have learned since my dx last March is patience.  I'm practicing it in regards to my hair growth!  

MBJ

This is the link to the 183 Topical Solution by Xenna:    http://www.xenna.com/183.html

soaplady1950

that is a wonderful story people can surprise and amaze you sometimes your story made me cry good luck with your chemo i have been cancer free for two years it didnt seem like i would ever get past the chemo stage it does pass faster than you think i will be thinking of you   sharon

tnbcRuth

xray- that is wonderful that your daughter did that!!!  Please give her a big hug for me.  You must be so proud!!!!

x-raygirl

Thanks MBJ - I'm going to order it today :-)  

tnbcRuth ~ thanks and I will! 

Char2010

MBJ - I ordered the 183 topical solution and will start using it.  It sounds like you are using it in additionion to generic Rogain.  Not a problem doing that?

rachel5738

I am 3 months PFC and have been taking Tamox since 1 month PFC (and just finished rads last week). My hair is growing in pretty steadily but still short. I purchased Biosil last week but haven't started it yet. I looked at the Nioxin but was debating on whether to buy. When I went to visit my Onco last week, they said my hair growth looked good. I don't wear a wig -- and haven't for a long time--but I don't think that I would go without a hat at this point. I'm going to see about ordering some of these products to see if they help. Can't hurt.

Nodapearl

Westiemom And Joanne58 - I used the nioxin and it seemed to help.  One problem that I found is that there is a nioxin for color treated hair.  I didn't know, so I bought the other one.  Once I colored my hair, I quit using it since I was afraid it wuld harm my color.  I think the one for color treated hair is #2, but I may be wrong.

MBJ

Char:  Yes, I am using the men's rogaine (check with your dr first if you have any concerns) and the 183 topical solution.  My routine is I wash my hair with Nioxin shampoo and Sally's straightening conditioner.   I first put on the rogaine, then the topical solution, then I put on an anti frizz serum.  I wait 10 minutes then I put on my hair gel and then I blowdry.  My hair is very thick.  It didn't make it grow in faster, but I have thicker hair then I have ever had in my life.  Oh yes, I also take 5 mg of Biotin 2 x a day for healthy growth.

x-raygirl

MBJ - I stopped the biotin for a bit because I had so much fuzz growing on my face - nice and thick!  At least it was blonde - I had it "threaded" and am enjoying no facial hair at the moment:-)  I saw generic men's rogaine at Costco yesterday - might just add that to my routine.  Thanks for spelling out what has been working for you!  Daiva

MBJ

x-raygirl:  I found that the fuzz eventually went away.  I don't think the biotin is to blame--just the chemo and/or the lack of estrogen which sometimes results in a spike in testosterone.

Char2010

MBJ - thank you for describing your routine - seems like so much work but then what is our option :-(  Do you spray the topical solution all over your scalp or just the thinner areas?

MBJ

Char:  I spray just on the areas where I have hair loss.  I also do both the minoxydl and the 183 at night before going to bed.  I forgot to mention that I also use the Nioxin hair spray and hair gel after using the anti frizz serum.  It isn't alot of work given the alternative which is bald spots for me:).  It has now just become part of my hair routine.  It only takes a minute.  The only part I hate is waiting the 10 minutes, so I put a towel back on my head so I don't get chilled until I am able to blow dry it.  The proof is that I now have so much hair--I love it now because, except for the extreme frizziness.

MBJ

NEW PRODUCT INFO:  John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray, $10.  I saw this is one of my women's magazines and they claim you can sleep in it and it falls back into place for days on end.  Anyone with longer hair should maybe try this and let us know if it works.  I am using so many products (see above) that adding one more thing to it is pointless.  I think this might be a great product for those of you over a year out with lots of hair to work with and who are still frustrated with the frizzies and the chemo curl. 

Anonymous

Mary, I did not notice, till now, that you are taking 5 mgs. of Biotin a day!?!  I was only taking 1000 mcgs.  That's only 1/5 of what you are taking.  And did you say you take 5 mgs. twice a day?  So does that make it 10 mgs. a day?  Or did you mean 2 1/2 mgs. twice a day?  I need clarification, as you can see.

I must say, though, after my last surgery I am surprised to see less sparse spots on my head.  I have yet to take a shower (it's been 20 days, yuck), but I already have washed my hair with regular shampoo about 4 times.

Could it be that I'm less stressed and I know that my last problem was addressed and remedied?

Brenda 

saralmom

Just wanted to comment on the natural hair color issue - I have about 1.5 inches of hair all over, and finished chemo in August (maybe slow due to Herceptin?)  Anyhow, since December I have been having my stylist apply a plant based color to my hair about every four weeks.  I bought it at Whole Foods and took it in to the salon.  It works pretty well - though in my former life I had regular color/highlights which cost a fortune - so this is pretty basic compared to that.  It colors my gray.  They have many different colors and tones.  I decided that since I'm trying to clean up my act with food and cleaners, etc., that I didn't want to put chemicals on my scalp.  At least for now...  I recommend it for those looking for a natural color.

MarieK

I'm ready for a change...

My gray hair is not as "bright" as it was when it first came in and now I'm considering colouring it.

I have a great stylist and I'm going for a hair cut next Thursday.  Should I have it coloured then too?

I know it's a lot of upkeep - prior to this BC adventure I had been dying it for YEARS!!

For those of you that dyed your hair after it came in all gray - do you regret it?

Sugar77

Marie - hi, i died my hair as soon as I could (at 12 weeks PFC) and I don't regret it at all.  There wasn't much gray before I lost it but there was when it came back in. I don't have a lot of roots so I think it's getting darker as time goes on as my coloured hair is very close to my natural colour. Your hair looks so nice with the gray so I think it'll be a tough decision for you.

westiemom

Nodapearl did you use the 3 step treatment? The set I purchased is for colored hair and my hair stylist said Nioxin is good stuff, so I'm just about convinced.

MBJ

Adnerb:  I do take 10 mg total: 5 in the am and 5 in the evening.  Not everyone has hair loss after surgery but it can happen as late as 3 months after.  I take it you are still doing well?