Hair Hair Hair - Another question

lago

The best thing you can do for your skin is drink plenty of water. Seriously when I don't I look like crap.

tangles

My hair journey! ( hope this link works)
http://youtu.be/9xOcW73Zhow

Gretta

Once again thanks for the advice girls.

Gretta

Hey Tangles, just watched your video, brought tears to my eyes but by the finish I had a smile on my face xx

IamNancy

Tangles - loved the video - really loved your t-shirt

tangles

Thanks Nancy. I don't wear the t shirt very often as I don't want to draw attention to my chest. Maybe someday when the reconstruction is fixed but NOT now Im very lopsided!

Anonymous

Question? Does anyone have hair loss now like I do more than five years after treatment ended? I have been on Tamoxifen for five years and never had this much hair loss. It's now to the point on the crown area where you can see my scalp because the hair is so thin. And my 'ponytail' used to be more than an inch, now it looks like a skinny strand of hair!!! Freaking out - anyone with any ideas why all of a sudden this is happening? - Help!

CassieCat

As far as skin goes, my skin looks and feels its worst when I'm dehydrated. So make sure you're drinking plenty of water. I've used a Clarisonic brush for 2-3 years now (once a day) and that really helps keep my skin feeling soft. It also helps my product sink in. I'm avoiding parabens now but found a few products that I like: The Body Shop vitamin e aqua boost sorbet, Yes to Carrots night cream; and Clinique moisture surge extended thirst relief. I also have some Rhonda Allison pumpkin e serum that I use occasionally.

lago

Shelly you need to call your primary care doctor. You may need to see a dermatologist or endocrinologist. There could be a number of things that cause hair loss (thyroid issues?) Get this checked out.

Puffin2014

Here's my 4 month post chemo hair photos.

SandyLovesLucy

Puffin, you look great!  I'm 2 months PFC and not close to that length yet.  Thanks for giving me hope that in a couple of months my hair might look as cute as yours!

HomeMom

Do you all get other people to take your pictures? My pics don't come out that good. I'm really salt and pepper and about an inch long, plus curly. Doc said no coloring until I'm 2 inches. I'm using that Fast shampoo and conditioner, and it looks like it might actually work! . I thought my skin looked amazing during chemo and I look much better in pictures now then before my dx. My husband bought me that clarisonic for Christmas and I love it. I'm also staring to use Origins skin care. No parabons and they are cruelty free.

tobyholic

Does anyone have any suggestions about a hairstyle for my sons wedding with all these chemo curls? Or maybe some kind of "bang" extensions? I was hoping to get another inch of length before the middle of March, but I'm losing hope

anotherNYCGirl

Puffin - your hair is so thick! I am also almost 4 months, but my hair is so much thinner. I just bought biotin and will soon see if that helps!

Sjacobs146

Tobyholic, try a salon that specializes in women with hair loss. They might do extensions, or a small,hair piece.

Puffin2014

Lew takes my hair pictures for me.

Anonymous

Lago, yes I will have my TSH checked at the next doc visit. I read all about hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and if it runs in a family, it's possible to be handed down. I just thought the hair fallout was due to menopause and 5 years of tamoxifen. I need to find out though if it's something else.

Puffin - you look awesome !!

Dixie1

Puffin your hair looks great. I think you are about 1 week ahead of me but yours looks much longer and thicker. Here is mine.

Puffin2014

I don't know Dixie, I think yours looks about the same length as mine (color is close too). I've been using just a dab of styling gel and fluffing mine up a little and trying to train it to go to the side a bit.

AussieElaine

Puffin and Dixie, I am sooo jealous, I am 3 months out from chemo and my hair is growing ever so slowly. DH says it's so hot here (100 + today phew !!) that my body thinks I don't need hair as it would make me even hotter..gotta love him, he tries really hard to make me feel better!! Can't quite believe that my eyelashes fell out 2 months AFTER chemo and they too are taking for ever to come back. I am trying to master the art of putting on false eyelashes but look somewhat like a cartoon character, practice makes perfect right?

luv 'n' stuff

Elaine

Miscraw

Hello ladies! I will be 8 weeks post Taxol tomorrow. I didn't lose all of my hair, but thinned dramatically & continued. Last week I finally had my hubby cut (not shave) all the long strands that were left. I've been using Nioxin since I finished chemo & taking 5000 biotin. I have some regrowth on top, but none on the sides yet. I bought some minoxidil but haven't used it yet. I've read that if you stop using it, that hair will fall out again. Has anyone found that to be true or have a better suggestion of what to add? I was really hoping for a cute pixie cut for a June Vegas trip!

April8

Wow, Dixie1-you have so much hair!

Miscraw, I am a Taxol/Herceptin gal and I am just 12 days off my last treatment. I have little white sprouts randomly on my bald head. Lost half my eyelashes. The MO nurse practitioner told me to take Biotin but I can't right now bc I'm taking antibiotics for a UTI. She said minoxidil does nothing to stimulate growth-it just helps you keep prexisting hair. I'm worried as to how long it will take to get any growth. I purchased hair fibers online from Sephora-supposedly you brush them in to bulk up your hair once there is enough there. I was able to purchase white and gray which shocked me. I hope I get even a half inch soon-I hate the wig

Lorbgoo

y'all's hair looks great and I love the video

lago

Miscraw if you stop Minoxidil your hair will go back to what it was. You might consider using it while you are on this drug then stopping once you complete the course of treatment. I've been using Minoxidil since before chemo due to receding hairline. I'm on it for life. Costco sells it although I have been using the Walgreens generic. Might switch to Costco because it's less expensive.

Gretta

Hi Girls, sure this question has been asked before, but how long should you wait before colouring hair.  Is it a length thing or a time post PFC thing or both.

Also using Minoxidil (thanks for the tip way back when Lago) & have picked up some Nioxin Intensive Treatment is it safe to use both?

Girls posting pics your hair looks great, mine is still so slow

tangles

I colored my hair very early. Semi perm color. No Problems. I don't know why in the world a Dr would tell you that???????

Puffin2014

I don't know the criteria (length of hair vs time since last chemo) but both my doctor and hairdresser have said the same thing, that new chemo hair is too fragile to dye or perm for several months.

208sandy

My onc told me to go ahead and dye my hair two months PFC - my hairdresser concurred - no problems but the fact that I had taxotere made my hair almost non-existent for five years and I still have large bald spots in the back of my head so I either wear hats or a wig most of the time.

lago

My MO said anytime for hair dye. Had it professionally done 13 weeks PFC.

batcatlady19

Haven't looked at these boards for about a year! It's that long since I finished rads & my last chemo was 10/31/14. Hair is growing back fine, but I hate it. I've always been a long-haired gal. When I thot about it falling out from chemo, I didn't care. I was so gallivant. I had cancer! Who the f*ck cares about HAIR???? Kill it with fire. No mo' cancer.

Now, I'm stuck with a crappy hair "style" that I would never in a million zillion billion years have chosen. Friends & my husband say the curls are "cute." It doesn't look like me to me. I didn't choose this part. Stupid cancer. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

(Fwiw, yeah, totally growing in fine. Same color (with greys!) & thickness as before, just curlier & it had been wavy, now it's super curly. Totally normal. I didn't use any special products or vitamins, it just grew back. From cueball bald to supposedly fashionable pixie-cut-length in about 6-7 months.)