Hair Hair Hair - Another question

PamelaC47

Jane, after about the first six months the front and top started catching up to the sides and back. After around nine months it seemed like it grew very fast. I'm 18 months PFC and have like eight inches of hair, it took a month to start growing back. I haven't cut it at all. The front will catch up!

Mom2ABoy

A lot of people are asking when hair starts coming back ... I would like to know when it starts falling out. I'm thinking of getting a chemodiva halo wig, but I don't want to rush to get my hair cut tomorrow when I start chemo the day after. Just too much abrupt change at once. So I'm kind of wondering how long I can wait before getting my hair cut off to make the halo wig ... after all it won't help much if I don't have any hair left when I get the wig made. My treatment is Carboplatin, Paclitaxol, Herceptin, fractionated doses weekly for 12 weeks, then Herceptin continuing for a year after. Any advice?

Chloesmom

Hair filling in now and got the ends trimmed at 4 months post final chemo. mine is curly on top and in the back but not on the sides. Looks bizarre!

Queen_Celeste

Mom2ABoy:  I wouldn't wait if I were you!  My hair started falling out Day 12 after the first chemo session.  Before that, my scalp was sensitive and irritated, then my hair got quite brittle and did not cooperate with my meager attempts at styling.  That's a great idea to get your hair made into a wig.  We would love to see it!  Best of luck to you.  (I just had the 5th of 6 chemo sessions.  There are advantages to being bald....)

ThinkingPositive

Finally without wig... nonpermanent hair color worked finally and now I spike it out a little and it looks fine. Hoping it grows quickly, but it feels so good to go places without the wig and not worry whether people notice it or not.

Tobycc

Thinking Pos, post a pic!

Trvler

I can't wait to be at that point. Although I got my wig washed today and it turned out really good this time. The last time it didn't look that good. I only had it done because I wanted to make sure I did it right and have it trimmed. I will never, ever go back to those ladies again. The one was telling me today how she lost her boyfriend to cancer. They are the most insensitive clods on the planet.

live_deliciously

so what over the counter hair color works ok ? Can't stand this silver/gray. Only have about 3/4" of hair so don't want to go to a salon yet.

ThinkingPositive

live_deliciously. I used Clairol natural instincts. It's ammonia free and washes out in 28 shampoos. But I had to try three colors to get it right. Not sure that was so good. I used medium golden brown and it turned orange. I was totally gray. Then medium brown and finally dark brown which ended up giving me medium brown color which is my original hair color.

ThinkingPositive

Tobycc.....I take horrible pictures, I hate the way I look I them. I will try to take one where I look okay.

ThinkingPositive

Tobycc.....here it is. not such a great photo.

MomMom

Thinking Positive, Looks awesome. Love the color and spikiness- very youthful!

Paula

live_deliciously

thinking pls. Thanks for that tip on the Clairol. I'll get up enough guts soon to try it

ThinkingPositive

Thanks MomMom !!! ...I hate the way I look in photos...as soon as I get some better ones, I will post. Its starting to get more and more difficult to make the hair look good... taking longer and longer in the mornings. It was easier to just put on the wig and go....but I still thank god every day that my hair is growing back...so I will take it like it is!

Tobycc

TP=== FABULOUS picture! You look absolutely beautiful, and your hair is wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

Kath

Italychick

I got the hair touch up for gray roots, and it Made my hair dark brown, not orange. Half of my hair was that fishing line looking stuff. It looked like a 70s frost job before I dyed it. The touch up kit was all the hair dye I needed, since my hair is about 1/2" long.

CassieCat

Mine is coming in so thick and slightly curly that it doesn't lie down flat yet. I feel like I have very little in the way of styling options. It is growing, though, and people have said it looks OK on me. It's very different from the long thick hair I had. I finished Herceptin today and am curious to see if my growth picks up in speed now.

ThinkingPositive

Tobycc...Thanks!!

Trvler

Cassie: Yeah, mine is going to be curly too. It is going to be hard to style. Right now it is probably 1 inch at the longest point so I have a ways to go. Just want it to be long enough to keep my head warm in the winter at night.

DaisyQ

I am just about 8 months PFC and had my last Herceptin infusion last Tuesday. I decided to get my hair trimmed this week. It was getting a bit bushy looking, and very unruly.. It isn't as long as I had hoped (maybe hair after Herceptin will grow faster?) and it's a weird mix of waves and poker straight. But it is HAIR!

When I get discouraged, I remind myself that 11 months ago I was shaving it all off..

loriekg

Congrats on finishing Herceptin Daisy...and CassieCat too!!

My hair looks just like Italychick's except the top lays down flat.

ShetlandPony

The key for me has been a good cut that works with the chemo curls. I tell my hairdresser I have no preconceived style plan, just make it look good. Keeping it short.It looks best with just finger combing.

CassieCat

DaisyQ, good point!

molly1976

I'm 12 weeks PFC and finally almost have my whole scalp covered. It took a good 8 weeks to get going but since then is growing fast! I do wonder how much Herceptin has slowed it, though. My MO seemed surprised that I was still bald 8 weeks out.

PamelaC47

Molly, I was just looking at my old timeline of hair pics, and your hair is exactly the same length mine was at twelve weeks out. I don't take Herceptin, but for some reason my hair took a month to start growing after chemo ended. Once it gets started it grows fast . You look great, that's good even coverage!

Chloesmom

17 week PFC. Curls on top and back. Bought a product called texture taffy today to try to fluff up the sides

Will try it tomorrow

PMR53

I had a 6 week break from Herceptin this  summer and my hair grew fast!  It definitely slowed down once I restarted. Ladies get ready for fast growing hair now that you are done! I am hanging up my wig as my hair is darker and shows through now. I have just enough to throw on a sun visor and it just looks like a short haircut. It's weird curly hair but I can put product on it and it lays down flatter on top. Shorter in back. Longer in top. It's HAIR! Yay. 

PMR53

Anonymous

Thanks for posting the picture Molly! Once again, you inspire me as I look forward to what's in store for me. I am now 4 weeks PFC and beginning to have some sparse downy sprouts- more each day. Looking forward to some full coverage. You look great! My eyebrows and lashes fell out last week, but already coming back so full and soft. I feel all new!

pennsygal

Five days PFC. Not much hair, but eyebrows courtesy of Sephora!!

Anonymous

Love all the pics!!

Pennsygal, I remember so well the beginning stages of growth. It seems like it took forever. A few years later and I have a ponytail again!! Can't wait to see your progress!!