hair regrowth disaster help please

kathy1308

I have read a great deal abou the hair regrowth after chemo. I have not come to a conclusion since people who leave these messages tend to do so during the first few months. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in dec of 2009 and finished with treatment by Oct of last year. I am going through such a hard time. First of all, I was not told about this hair regrowth problem at all. I have tight curl and unmanagable hair to the point that I look ridiculus. I am so depressed now and i have been hiding in my apartment. I just dont want to show my face any where. I had a very nice straight hair before chemo. I dont know whatt i have now. It cannot be called hair. It is curly and very fine and most importantly it feels like plastic and cannot even be fixed. I have used any hair product that was available on the market. Will I ever get my hair back. Please help and share your experience. The worse part is that no one knows at work that i was a cancer patient and they look at me like I am from another planet.

Thank you

Kathy

37antiques

Hi Kathy,

I had a brillo pad of fine hair grow in, once it was long enough to cut, I went to a hairdresser.  She told me that the chemo grows out in your hair too, which is why it grows in like that.  Once she cut it, I was back to my straight hair, it grew in thicker, and now I look like I did pre-treatment.

Treat youself to a nice hairdresser, and tell them you had chemo.  Call a few places first if you want, so you can find someone experienced with it. 

((Hugs))

Anonymous

I have lost my hair three times.  The first two times my hair came back similar to what you are describing.  This time it seems different - very thick, very straight, and very grey.

During the first two times, I would have my hair trimmed at least every two months.  This allows you to continually cut of the "chemical damaged" hair.  By the way, patients used to refer to these curls as "chemo curls".

The problem with the frequent trimming is it will take a longer time for your hair to have any length to it at all but it will be healthy.  Since I have always had fairly short hair, this was not a big deal for me.  I have a friend, though, who always had long hair and she refused these haircuts until she had enough hair for a pony tail.  Her hair was pretty nasty by that time, I thought.

Anonymous

Also wanted to add that there's a specific time where you should not color your hair.  The hair has so many chemicals in it that the color can be unpredictable.

Racy

My hospital has a hairdresser on site so she is experienced in dealing with chemo hair issues. Perhaps check whether your hospital also has a hairdresser.

kathy1308

Thank you for your reply. Did you have this tight curl around your ears. Did your hair go to be striaght again. I honestly dont recognize myself in the mrror anymore.

thanks

Esti

I finished chemo Nov of last year.  My hair grew faster than two of my chemo sisters.  My hair first was clear, then grey, back to brown.  I am now leaving the brillo stage. I know where you're at - no product in the world can take it on. My hair seemed fixed in one position.

It seems in the last three weeks it has started to become more managable.  One thing I did was used a hair colour just to even out the colour.  That somehow made it softer. (I say consult a hairdresser - I might have just been lucky).  My hair also seems to have started to grow a bit quicker. (As in, faster than glacial speed).

Maybe a treatment or a toner could help 'calm' your hair down?  Hang in there - it's just 'chemo hair'.  It will go away soon.  (I used a hair band during my 'brillo' stage as well.  Even broke out the 'I have cancer' scarfs).

kelsbel

I remember when my hair grew back, i was warned about chemo curls and i hated it

but i let them grow and eventually they grew out, i like you never left my home unless it was dark out. But once my hair was an inch i had the ends trimed constantly. I wore my scarf for the longest time eventually i got some headbands fluffed the hair and tried to push past it. now my hair is twice as thick as my locks before chemo and grows faster than i would like. Also i agree with the other ladies try not to use products and if you need to color your hair try natural henna colors from a local health store or online the work nicely without the chemicals.

jancie

I started trimming my hair when it was 2" long and I went every 8 weeks.  My stylist would give me "baby trims" - just barely nick off the ends of the hair.  It took me 18 months to get my hair back to normal for me.  Prior to that my hair was very dry and frizzy.  I was told years ago that it could take 18 months for your hair to be normal again and I was right on that schedule.

I highly suggest you get trims every 6-8 weeks.  We were only cutting off at the most 1/8" each time but I was finally able to trim out that chemo hair.

kathy1308

Thank you all. I think i will keep you updated. I am really having a hard time. if I knew i would have not opted for chemo. I really do appreciate all you leaving me a message.

Thank you

ruthbru

Go to a beautican who specializes in curly hair. If there is a salon near you that sells wigs, they may have beauticans who specialize in post-chemo hair. They should be able to give you a cute cut, products and tips on how to manage your hair. I started coloring mine right away but I had them do it because your hair is really 'virgin' hair and might not take color the way it did before. Better to let an expert handle it. If you get an good cut and color, you may find you begin to enjoy your hair, but even if you don't, it will soon be back to 'normal'. Hang in there!

justagirl

kathy,

as everyone before me said, go and get yourself a good semipermanent colour job and trim.  Before chemo my hair was very long and straight.  After chemo last year it came in so curly it was unbelievable.  My son thought it looked awlful - he said it was like how older women go get a very bad perm.  I didn't think it looked so bad after being bald.  People did look at me strangely as they remembered my straight hair.

Having had breast cancer is nothing to be ashamed of at work.  I would hope you would of had chemo, even knowing about the 'chemo curls'.  You didn't rob a bank, you didn't beat your kids, you just had breast cancer.

It's now a year since my last chemo treatment and my slow growing hair is long enough now to be called short - just below my ears.  I got it trimmed about every 12 weeks just the tips and the curls are getting less and less.  If I use the blower, I can pretty well straighten my hair.

Don't be so critical and rough on yourself.  It is also normal to be depressed and unhappy with just about everything after you finish chemo.  Don't quite know why, but seems to be.  In fact, depression seems quite common in dealing with breast cancer as it not only affects our health and life, but how we see ourselves and others see us.  I can say for me, the depression has gotten better.  If yours doesn't start to lighten up, check with your GP or oncologist about taking a mild anti-depressant for a few months to get you over the bumps.

Fearless_One

Hi Kathy,

I had the poodle-look, too - it is only recently that I can see the new growth is soft and wavy - not curly like the longer parts that have not been cut off.    You won't look like that forever.....in the interim I wear headbands a lot.