Hair Hair Hair - Another question

RhodyMMM

Timbek2, you look great! I love the short "do" on you! Your husband is right.....no one knows what we have been through. I see the hair regrowth as a sign of strength and perseverance. The chemo was brutal, I just finished on Friday. Never thought I would make it, had to work the whole time. I think I plan to stay short for a while when it gets to that point, although I have always had short hair. My hair was the longest in years before I lost it. Just long enough to tuck behind my ears.....so not long for many! Everyone tells me to style my hair like my wig, which is highlighted and a little longer on top than my usual, but we will see. I can't wait to go au naturel again (which I do at home now...). But I must admit that I am loving the no maintenance aspect........

Here's to all you gorgeous ladies out there.......your hair (or lack thereof) is a true badge of courage and honor. And I think we all give a knowing look to other women when we see the "do." We all know what it means!

Martha

Mely19

timber and jojo- you guys look absolutely beautiful! Thanks for posting pics. I love seeing the progress and the styles. Absolutely gorgeous.

Septmom- the energy levels will return. It just takes time. Each month after is better and better. I'm back to normal work levels and I've started exercising again. I'm starting to feel like a normal 41 yr old again. 

MaryFox

It's great to see the gorgeous hair pics.  Thanks for posting.

Septmom

Thanks ladies for all the words of encouragement. I hope to pay it forward and help others when I am through all this. 

Thanks again for giving us hope.

kjiberty

JoJo--I love your hair.  Mine came in curly, curly, curly, and is still wavy in front and curly in the back 20 months PFC.

Timbek2:  Becky is as beautiful in person as she is in the pictures!  XOXO

Donnabelle

thank you ladies who posted pictures! It is comforting to see such good outcomes.

My hair has come in very curly. Today I tried to straighten it a bit on the sides and back and I think I am bringing back the mullet

Hang in there everyone and smile!

jojo2373

  A small flatiron (hand size) was so helpful during the very short stage!  

lago

It's a travel flat iron. I use it on my bangs. 

I haven't posted this in a while on this thread for the newbies.
My hair transition linky

Carrol2

jojo you look adorable. great to see how well your doing. 

I am 3 years 3 months PFC. My hair is exactly as it was now. Except I didn't go back to blonde. I cover the grey with brown and carmel now.

jojo2373

Carrol, ty you look great!  Wow 3 years back to the same.  I see you are a WW leader, any advise for losing on Tamoxifen?  I am doing all my old habits for weight loss but the scale keeps going the wrong way.  

MinusTwo

Thanks Lago.

jumpy

Septmom and RhodyMMM--hand in there! You will feel better soon!

jojo2373 and Timbek2--you both look beautiful! Thanks for posting. Your progress is inspiring. Again, I have HAIR ENVY!!! I'm 8.3 months PFC and am still very thin on top despite doing all the "right" things. I went "topless" as work for the first time on Friday. I just can't stand the wig anymore. I received lots of compliments. But, I miss my old hair.

IamNancy

Carol - I second jojo's question... my scale is going up and its all going to my waist and stomach.. I can't  seem to follow a diet..and WW was one I never understood.. I think I got the points all mixed up.. but even days when I do eat healthy, I just feel like I am gaining

shoppygirl

HelloLadies

I have decided to start taking Bioten and am wondering if anyone can advise on what the correct dose to take every day. 

Thanks. 

LizA17

Im right there with you girls except I have so little growth, I can't begin to go w/o my wig. What hair I have is growing, there's just very little of it. I'm going to Cabo the end of the month for a much needed vacation. I was so hopeful to have more hair by then. Losing hope here. Think I'm going to be one of the lucky 3-6% that has permanent hair loss. 

lago

My dermo was pleased to see I was taking 5mg of biotin

milees

Hi Everyone!

I finished chemo 8 weeks ago.  I think my hair is growing a bit, but my lashes have thinned in the last couple of days and my brows completely disappeared!!! Is there anything I can do?  I am already using Latisse on the lashes and brows.  The remaining lashes are longer, but sparse!  

Also,  I have always been blonde, but I have no idea what the color on my head is..maybe dark blonde and whitish?  I never had gray hair before although at this point nothing would surprise me.  I am feeling really down about the lashes, brows and hair.  I thought at this point I would be feeling better about things but I feel like they are getting worse...

Thank you

M

lago

michelelees it happens a lot. My hair came in black and grey. While I always has some grey my hair was never black. Even my eyebrows came in darker. It will eventually grow out. I don't remember when though because I dyed my hair as soon as I went topless. My eyebrows are normal color though.

milees

Thanks, Lago I have been really down the past week or so about how I look.  We had my daughter's birthday this past weekend and all I kept thinking about was how sad I must look in a wig with no eyebrows. Not your typical Kindergarten mommy!  My daughter was invited to a playdate on Sunday afternoon and today she sweetly asked me if I would wear my hair (wig) when we go.  Broke my heart.  

It gets better, right?

~M

SyrMom

Milees ... I've never used eyeliner or eyebrow pencil in my life; but now that I don't have any lashes or brows, I've been learning.  It's getting easier and many tell me that can't even tell I have no eyebrows.  I think I look like a clown, but others reassure me (those that do tell me the trueth).  (The eyeliner helps disguise the missing lashes.) So hang in there.  The American Cancer Society puts on a free program, think it's called Look Better Feel Better, something like that.  You could call them and they may help you out.  No getting around it, it shits!

lago

milees I looked like the healthiest person in the chemo room and I never work a wig always a scarf. Yes is was the make up. I used eyeliner too but the most important thing was the eyebrows. I use the Anastasia Brow Duo. They do have kits with stencils if you need them but check out the looks good feel better site. They show you how to apply eyebrows when you don't have any. and a lot more make up tips too. Also check out the tips for hair/scarves. Might give you some ideas.

• Go to the beauty guide
• then Make up Step by Step
• scroll down to eyebrows
• be sure to watch the video
  
• linky
  Note that the Anastasia stuff is a powder. You pat it on with a slanted eyebrow brow brush. They should be able to show you in the store. I got mine at Ulta but all the major department stores sells it too.

Anastasia Brow Duo: linky
Stencils: linky  

I did go to the Looks Good Feels Better session. It was great. The organization that does this is The Personal Care Products Council Foundation. The American Cancer Society works with them providing wigs as well as informs their social workers about the program but this is NOT an American Cancer Society program.

RhodyMMM

I just noticed yesterday that I do have a 5 o'clock shadow at the eyebrows. Still not sure about the eye lashes. My hair is growing in length, and slowly filling in on top. I have been taking Biotin 5,000 mg; it seems to be a standard dose. Also trying to make sure that I am getting enough protein in my diet (I have been working on that all along as my total protein levels were low post-op and throughout my chemo). I believe that protein intake is critical.....topical solutions and shampoos don't feed the foundation, nutrition and diet are where it starts. All I know right now is that I can't stand having the wig on; as soon as I get home from work I take it off. As of yesterday I am keeping a hat in my car so that the hair can come off as soon as I get out of work and I can go without until I return to work. So itchy!

The Look Good, Feel Better Program through ACS is great. It is a fun class, gives great tips, and free products. Also a chance to connect with others who are in the same boat.....

lago

The Look Good, Feel Better Program is NOT an ACS program. 

ACS works with them and provides wigs. The LGFB program is The Personal Care Products Council Foundation

milees

I will look into the brow kit  I think my issue is that my brows were always relatively light and I always seem to get the brows on too dark...and then I feel like a clown.  Before I started chemo I did a make up lesson with one of the estheticians (also a medical assistant) from the PS office.  We didn't focus on brows, mostly eyes, so the tutorial should help.  

I am using the biotin and nioxin, but I hadn't thought about protein.  That is a good idea as I was anemic during chemo.  If I can get something to grow I think I will feel better!!!

Thank you!!!!

milees

Just watched some of the LGFB videos...they are great!  Thank you!!!

megomendy

I signed up for the LGFB class next month. I signed up through the ACS so I just assumed it was through them. Oh, well. Do they give you the stencil for the eyebrows or should I pick that up myself?

lago

The cosmetics are all donated so you don't know what you will get but I haven't seen a stencil kit in there. There may be a brow pencil. 

To be honest I left most of the cosmetics/skin products there for someone else. I have sensitive skin and know what product work well. I didn't want to risk something new. I also don't wear foundation. I use a powder bronzer (Star Bronzer by Lancome). I find it lasts a long time and really helps give a healthy glow to your skin. Just don't over due it.

Carrol2

ok yes I am a weight watcher leader but not a doctor. I know weight gain is listed as a side effect of tamoxifen but it's also a side effect of menopause. For me it's the normal process of gain that happens to everyone as we get older perhaps there are medical reasons why but I don't know them. I know that I also gained weight and I struggle to get it off . I recommend if you haven't checked it out you can do wright watchers without counting points. I haven't mastered it myself but I'm working on it.

IamNancy

Carrol-wright watchers? is that part of weight watcher?

Carrol2

sorry lol typo darn little buttons on iPhone it's weight watchers