Pics of Short Hair after chemo

ninel

I am about 4 months out of chemo. My hair is slowly coming back. It's about 1.5 inches I think...My hair prior to chemo was shoulder length and was curly.I am 34 and I know this is stupid...but I feel very uncomfortable walking around with such short hair. I think women my age who have such short hair are making some sort of statement. I on the other hand, am not a statement maker. I just like to blend in, but I am getting so tired of my wig.

Are there any women out there who do walk around with really short hair? Would you mind posting some pictures? Maybe it will give me some strength to ditch my wig...especially since its getting hotter by the day down here in Florida.

Thanks to everyone,

Ninel

fightinhrd123

I dont have time to post pics right now, but i'm the same way!!!  I finished chemo in september.  I will PM you  a link to my myspace if you want, theres a pic there,  and i have one word for you - Headbands!!!!  Not only do they make the hair not look so chemoishy, they give the illusion of more length in the back.  I wont go anywhere without one, and have several in different colors, the brighter the better!!!  I'll PM you the link now.

glostagirl

Hi Ninel

I had chemo last year, my last infusion was May 30th.  My hair pre-chemo was long and naturally blonde, with very little gray for an old lady of 50!  My wig is a similar color and style.  I too, very quickly grew tired of wearing it.  I felt like a phony.  As summer approached I began looking for hats and put together a nice collection from local stores, the TLC catalog, and a few baseball caps~I'm a Red Sox fan!!    I think I only wore my wig out in public twice, once to a nice restaurant and to a family party, where another guest asked me where I got my hair cut, that  gave me quite a chuckle.  

Anyway, in August I began going out au natureal and suprisingly got quite a few complements, from people who did not know I'd had chemo.  I do like to wear makeup, with a focus on my eyes, but was careful not to over do it.  I found that wearing interesting earrings and tops with standup collars or a scarf around my neck made the look all the more interesting. Cool sun glasses too!   Admittedly, it was hard the first few times, but got easier.  Also, I always made sure I had a hat with me, because even in the summer I would easily get cold, or needed protection from the sun.  

I don't think you should worry so much about people thinking you're trying to make a statement.  Attitude makes you who you are, and if anybody faults you, it's their problem, not yours.  So be proud, you're a survivor!  I'm older than you, and have found as I've aged (matured), I worry less about what people think of me.  I know I'm a good person, and that matters more than my hair style.

My hair is still pretty short after 10 months and I love not being a slave to long hair!   My husband, who always liked my hair long,  has come to like it short, he says I look artsy......  

LMDuncan

HI Ninel

I am 42 and my last chemo was Sept 30th I now have about 2 cm of hair.  I have just had it colored and feel much better about it.  Mine grew back 90% white. 

there is another thread where a few girls have posted pics of their hair, it is called Hair Hair Hair-another question.  I tried to do a link for you but when I tried it it didn't work. 

Lori

ninel

Thank you Lori, but that link isn't working. Can you walk me through where it is?

LMDuncan

go to search at the top of the screen....click on search ..type in Hair Hair Hair and when you scroll down you will find the thread

Lori

Tamara67646

Ninel,

I am 45 but always had longer hair - so I was uncomfortable with the idea of having my hair so short too.  I have never been adventuresome when it comes to hair!

My last chemo was 10/31/08 so I am 4 months out and my hair is about 1.5 inches long and this week I went to work without the wig!  I actually have gotton compliments on the "cut" and I interact with people at another location who don't know about the chemo - and some of them complimented me on the new look

What helped me get up the courage was I googled "really short hair styles" and I saw pictures of women - some "regular" people and some famous people with really short hair and it helped me realize that I could look good with it this short and people could think it was a choice to go this short. 

I also decided that I would never have done this style on purpose and hopefully I will never be in this situation again - so why not take advantage of having different styles as it grows out. 

Good luck! 

DV8Q

I went from having a blue mohawk to beautiful brown long hair (wig). Have you seen americas top model? There is usually one woman with short hair in the competition, other celebs who rocked short hair : Allisa Milano, Hally Berry, Audry Hepburn, Audry Toutou, Natalie Portman I mean sure there celebs but thats all I can think of, maybe go get your makeup done at the mall or a salon that will at least make you feel better. And here is a picture of moi... you see my hair didnt all fall out after I buzzed it down it started getting patchy real patchy now this looks silly. And I am still in chemo I wish it all just fell out at the same rate/time. "  What a difference a wig makes. Good luck just consider your new look a social experiment. Short hair /no hair screams confidence! 

BethNY

I ditched my wig about 8 weeks after chemo. I reshaved my head about 10 days after chemo, so everything grew in evenly and nicely.

I understand what you're feeling about feeling a little shy with short hair making such a bold statement. But in my mind, I was like...

F*ck it. I just went thru a cancer war, and after chemo, I could really care less what people think.

People were pretty receptive to the super short hair. I always had on a livestrong bracelet, or a pink ribbon pin, and I'm pretty sure most people put two and two together.

There's no way I could wear a wig just to make other people feel better.

When my hair was about two inches, I would use spiking glue, and wear it really funky. I did that for the first yr, until my curls started to come back, and it was too heavy to spike up, even with a flat iron and spray.

Then I let it get through that awkward phase and only cut it ONE time to even out the back. Then let it grow, grow, grow, and GROW more.....

I finished chemo 2-05 and trimmed in September, and then cut it again a year later... then cut it again a year and a half after that.... obviously that was some time ago... my hair is longer then halfway down my back these days..... hang in there it will change.

PaminFL

Nine-

Hey!  We've chatted before a few months ago (I live in Sebring - used to live in LOL).   Anyways, I'm going through the same thing as you when it comes to revealing my super short hair.  I've never had hair this short, never wanted hair this short, never dreamed I'd be sporting this "do".  I've had long blonde hair (various shades, lenths and styles) since I was about 15 years old.  I can't imagine going out without my wig.  I know the day is coming soon though that I will need to ace the wig.  It's warming up down here and those hot/humid days are just around the corner.  I thought about wearing a hat and dressing sporty like I just left the gym - but the way I feel is if I plan on covering up my head with a hat, then I might as well cover it up with a wig.  It's the same concept and one is just as hot/itchy as the other.  I think I will feel better to wait until my bangs reach my eyebrows (not sure how long that will take).  They are about 1/3 of the way there (maybe by June'/July???).  Then once I get them to that lenth, get my hair cut into the Halle Berry do that she had a few years ago (short hair but has longer bangs).  Out of all the short hairstyles I've seen... I've always liked that one the best... I think it looks sophisticated and classy instead of trendy and bold like some I've seen.  I've always thought it was a really cute haircut on other people.... but never imagined it on me (I preferred my long hair on me) to be honest, I never had the nerve to cut my hair that short.  Now I don't have a choice so  I might as make the most of it and try something new... who knows, maybe I'll like it!  And if I don't, then I'll just keep letting it grow from there.

Pam

BethNY

I was definitely afraid those first few days of braving the world without the wig... but once you do it a few times, it gets easier.

Brace yourselves.... your friends and co workers are going to keep saying things like.... omg your hair looks so good short, or -- you've got the face for short hair.

OMG- I wanted to punch people everytime they said something that reminded me how short my hair was. The comments don't stop for a yr or so, so you may as well get it over with.

The best thing to do when its short is play around with different products-- especially mens styling products as long as it doesn't have a masculine smell. A lot of pomades, and glue type stuff will give you the hold you need while still allowing you to give the short hair some style.

The color will change to as it grows in and out... Mine started off sooooo light, then it was like five shades darker then it used to be, and I loved it.  If you are thinking about color- you should really invest in an aveda salon, or an organic type place, that won't put harsh chemicals on this brand new virgin hair.  As it gets longer, the weight will change too, and you'll have more styling issues, but my best advice is to let it grow let it grow let it grow!!!!

Also, play around with thin and thick hairbands too...both widths look great in very short hair.

Norwaygirl

Hi I have always had short hair so going bald is not an issue for me, I am more concerned about losing my eyebrows.  Beside my husband likes short hair on women, he finds it very very sexy.

lisa1825

I live in Florida as well and with the "feels like" temp. of 100 degrees daily I say ditch the wig!!  I ditched mine 3 weeks ago.  Yes, it's very uncomfortable as first but I am who I am.  I would prefer one person to love me for who I am than tons to love me for who I'm not.  I ama nurse and I teach.  I had 183 high school students this year and they are all so loving, kind and accepting.  You need to ditchthat darn thing!!

SheChirple

Long hair, short hair, so many women have different hair lengths.  YOU are comfortable with long hair, others are more comfortable with short.  Many men find short hair sexy or attractive, others prefer long hair.

Just go with it...experiment with twists and curls as it grows longer.

Nicole4

I have coloured my hair back to blond and I can't seem to get it to behave, all the hairs are the same length and looks funny by the end of the day if its hot out.I am thinking of getting a trim to shape it, but I am really hesitant...I can't imagine cutting my hair after all this, I should be happy just to have it.