Hair Hair Hair - Another question

PSU222

Ok ladies, now I am getting worried about never having real hair growth......  Monday will be 5 weeks PFC and still nothing.  Is this normal?

hdangelbaby

hey all! I have about at least a good inch or little more of hair!! dyed it super awesome red tonight. love it!

although i felt a little gulity about putting chemicals on my virgin hair!

but the ladies at Sally Hansen Beauty Supply store guided me to the gentler side of hair dye...

i really do love it!

Joanne58

PSU222--It was my "normal,"--not having growth until the 8th week.  I was still losing the stubble that hung on after I had my head buzzed.  Soon, you'll start to feel a downy type of hair (more like fur) and then you're on your way.

I had straight hair with waves before chemo, but now have a ton of thick curls.  It's easy to care for, but it sure is an adjustment!

Lots of beautiful hair progress photos.  Congrats to all!

Racy

PSU222, my growth of dark hair only really started at about 7 weeks. Just before that, I could see the colour of my scalp darkening with the hairs under the surface getting ready to burst through.

Perhaps you have the fine white hairs that precede the darker growth and just can't see them.  Maybe get someone to have a close look at your scalp.

I know it's very hard being patient and waiting. I also had the dread that mine may not grow back as I had Taxotare, but it is growing well now at 13.5 weeks.

Good luck to you and let us know how you get on in the next couple of weeks.

dizzyakira

Wow you ladies are gorgeous! I never thought I would have hair envy. But here I am, friday was 5 weeks pfc and I'm still bald, just a bit of wisp on the top left of my head . I used to have thick super straight hair that grew super fast, like inches in a month of course I still have to shave my legs, underarms and pluck stray facial hair throughout chemo, ugh. Eyebrows are slowly growing back and my eyelashes just all fell out, ugh

bdavis

Hi ladies... My brows are back, lashes never left, but are thicker now, hair on my head is doing great BUT... Need to discuss the facial hair... Can't call it a beard, but I am for sure fuzzier in the beard area... Luckily I am blond, but still.... I have plucked a few, but for those further along in this hair process, what should I expect? Will it fall out on it's own? Laser treatment? Pluck?

lago

bdavis I have it everywhere except my chin. Even my shoulders, neck. It's all the light fluff stuff (even though I'm not a blond). I have been told it will fall off but still waiting. I'm over 6 months PFC.

SpecialK

Ok - I have finally figured out what my hair looks like.  It is a spread out dust-bunny.  And slightly longer in the back, so a dust-bunny mullet it is!  I am at almost 8 weeks PFC and it is still pathetic.  If I went without wig/hat I would frighten people. 

Dominika

Hello Ladies!

Gosh it's been ageeees but work and my 3 year old really keeps  me busy! 

First of all wow soo many new pics - You all look fantastic!

I will try post a pic with my  progress ( 8 months of growing and even I manage to do something what i can call the shortest ponytail ever he he it lloks a bit funny but well, i'm not seeing the back of my head all day so I don't really care lol:))

islandmom

bdavis:  I am 5 1/2 months PFC and I did get a lot of hair around my cheeks a little on the chin.  The hair was long and thin.  I could not stand it anymore so I had it removed using the laser.  She did get a big part but not all so I have to go back for a few more sessions.  I can see where the hairs got the laser and some did not fall so I do not think they are going away by themselves at least in my case.  

The laser does not work well for blond or gray hair.  The darker the better.  I had my bikini area done and it took like 2 weeks for the hair to fall out but I could not be happier with the results, I love it.   I wish it would have worked as nice on my face but there the hair is just lighter. 

Most hair removal places offer free consultaions you can always just see what they suggest.

At least you are blond so it is not as obvious as mine was because I have very dark hair.    

islandmom

Dominika: Love the pony tail, very chic!!  You look Beautiful. 

MamaV

Help! I'm 3 weeks PFC and have about 1/8 inch of fine white hair on my head. Plus I have a bunch on crazy 1 inch long dark hairs in random spots. Please tell me there is hope for this disaster on my head. Look at my avatar - how can this Italian girl sport white hair? What should I do with the long sprouts? And when can I hope for eyebrows and lashes? Need encouragement!

YaYa5

ok, i have a question about shaving my head.  i've read so many comments about this that i can't remember it all.  ha!  i had my first TCH last thursday and the neulasta shot on friday.  of course, i'm just a few days out, but i have a phobia about hair.  i can't stand hair anywhere in the bathroom or in the bed.  it's crazy, but that's me.  how soon will it start coming out?  it seems that most of you have said 14 days, but others have said shorter.  and, how short do i buzz it once it starts coming out?  should i just have it shaved all the way off?  some have said they shaved it down to 1/4" and it was still too long, so they just shaved it all off.  ideas would be so appreciated.

dragonfly1

Hi YaYa with TCH it usually starts shedding heavily around day 16-18 and if you can't stand the mess you'll want to be prepared at that point to buzz it off. I was the same-as soon as it started shedding all over me I wanted it gone! Don't actually shave it because you could cut your scalp. I had a friend use clippers with the guide on the shortest possible setting. The stubble will also break off so a few days later I had my DH use his electric razor (you know the mens cordless type with the three heads?) to buzz it even closer without fear of cutting me...

pejkug3

I concur with Dragonfly. 

My hair hung on longer than most - no shedding at ALL until Day 21.  Just long enough to give me hope that it wouldn't fall out...

marjie

My hair started shedding around day 15 or so and it was only a few days later that I had my DH buzz it off on the lowest setting.  The teeny stubble was still kind of itchy and bothersome so we ended up using duct tape (not kidding!) to take the stubble off. 

I am just coming up on 6 months PFC and my hair is back, even looking more like a style than a chemo cut.  I haven't had any of the facial hair (or at least I don't notice it!) so far anyways!

TreadSoftly

You look amazing Dominika!!  I love the tiny ponytail and all the clips!! Im 19 months PFC and my ponytail is not much longer!!

Carrol2

Dominika love the little pony. I am about the same amount of time out as you but my hair is very curly so just trying to go with it.

 I went to a car show this past weekend that we go to every year. Most of those people had not seen me since right when I got diagnosed and was facing surgery. Many forgot what had happened to me this year, and many did not know I had chemo.

All I kept hearing is oh you cut your hair love the new look. I guess that is good. It was weird. I had to say hello first a lot, people did not recognize me. I was very uncomfortable every time someone said something but i smiled and said thank you even though inside I was feeling those pangs of loss for the old me.

But in the end I realized that the old me is still inside and a lot tougher. 

thegood5

my hair started to fall out on the 15 th day, buzzed it that night.  Started using a lint roller to grab the little pieces for about a week after that and then had my hubby shave my head with my razor because my head was sore...I think from the little tiny stubble that  you could barely see.  He did this 2 x's and then it wasn't sore any more after that. 

lago

Yaya I think my hair fell out on day 16 as predicted by the wig place. It does depend on what chemo you are getting. I had it cut short but not buzzed. It was still messy. I would vacuum my bathroom and pillow daily. Because my hair had some grey but dyed dark in it it would show up no matter if I wore light or dark clothing. If you don't like mess buzz it.

Domonika you always look adorable ponytail or no ponytail.

Carol I must say (again) I really do prefer the short hair on you. These people mean it when they say they like your new look. It's fab.

MamaV  3 weeks PFC is nothing. Remember that most of us were on 3 week cycles for our chemo. I didn't even start looking till after 3 weeks. I know one gal that ended chemo before me but her hair took months to come back… and when it did it really came in fast. Her hair is longer than mine now. It will come back. I cut the long strands short.

sweetcorn

MamaV--I will be 3 wks. PFC on Wednesday, and started noticing some fuzz on my head this weekend.  At least that is something.....

My eyebrows are almost not there and my lower lashes are pretty much gone, even using Brian Josephs.  My left eye has fewer lashes than the right.  These will start growing back in pretty soon, right?

Dominika--Love the pony!  You look fab!

Jane

bucky317

sweetcorn I will be 3 weeks pfc this Thursday, so I am one day behind you. I still have the dark "sprout" in the front growing, and have also noticed some "fuzz" on top coming up with more dark "sprouts".  I was so happy to see this!!  Yay!!!  Have you been using any special hair shampoo? ie  Nioxin, rogaine etc. I have not as of yet, (besides Biotin pill daily) but plan to try the Nioxin,

sweetcorn

Bucky317--I have been using Nioxin #2 cleanser, conditioner, and scalp treatment for the last couple of months.  Figured it couldn't hurt.  I have been taking Biotin for a couple of years, also.

Jane

kittycat

I updated my profile pic with a photo I took this weekend of myself.  It's coming along.  I started getting the fuzz hair in September of last year.  It's still pretty thick. I think the shedding is normal hair cycle.  We will see.

I got my hair shaved off at 14 days after my first chemo. I used a lint roller daily to get the little stubble that was falling out.  That was a lot easier than watching it fall out in long clumps.  It was very easy to care for my bald head and wear the wigs.  It is nice to have my hair back, though!  

dragonfly1

Dominika, Carrol and Kittycat- It's so encouraging to see your pics with so much hair-we are all looking forward to getting there and having an actual hairstyle:)

I'm including my latest pics from 9 weeks PFC just to show the difference in growth in the past two weeks. Taking pics is really helpful-just when I think nothing is happening I'm amazed at the comparison. Not bad considering I buzzed my head 2 weeks PFC to start fresh, so all of this growth has actually occurred in 7 weeks... 

 

sewingnut

Okay Dragonfly, now I'm really jealous.  I'm a week past you and still look like a shiny white ball covered (except or the front of my head) with translucent fuzz =:0(

tracie23

carrol you look sooo great.. I have a little bit less than you but It is getting curly , I am so happy to have hair and not look like an old man anymore LOL

marjie

Now Tracie.....I don't think you ever looked like an old man!  Like you, I am super happy to have some hair.  I'm really curious to see exactly what it's going to do as it gets longer.

Speaking of hair, ladies I think you won't be able to NOT smile...this is a picture of my new great-niece.  She's only a few days old....LOOK AT ALL HER HAIR!!! 

christine47

Love that babies hair!!  Looks like dad has some great hair too.

Carrol2

dragonfly so happy that I could help to encourage those earlier on in the process than me. I hate my new hair even though I get lots of compliments, it's not me, but it's better than bald and it will all grow back eventually. Your hair is growing in fast.

tracie23 I guess i should be happy just to have hair now but i saw some pics taken of me over the weekend on facebook and I just hate how i look with short hair.