Hair Loss

njchicken5

My friend asked me to go with her to get her hair cut off before it falls out.  Is there anything I can do (buy) her to help ease this traumatic experience for her?

SpecialK

njchicken5 - How nice that you are concerned and asking this question.  Thank you for caring enough about what your friend is feeling to ask what to do.  I had long hair before I started chemo.  I had my hairdresser cut 8" ponytails off and I sent them to www.hatswithhair.com to have an "underhair" made out of my own hair.  Then my hairdresser did a cute short cut for me.  I did this about a month before chemo started because I wanted to get used to having short hair before it all fell out.  It took 24 days after chemo started before it started to fall, then my husband shaved it off.  I know a lot of ladies have a party to shave off the hair - make it into something fun.  If your friend is cutting it short in prep, maybe make a day (or evening) and go to lunch/dinner, go shopping, get pedicures, something to lighten the mood.  My co-workers all put money together and got me a spa gift certificate.  Best of luck to you both!

msphil

hello sweetie, I too was worried about hair loss, and especially because I was in the process of planning my wedding, so my best friend who had been through cancer happened to be a hair stylist and she recommended to cut it very short, sort of boy style and with make up and earrings it looked great, and not long after that it started to come out in clumps and I started to wear a scarf wrapped like a turban, in the house  and around family I left the scarf off.  But you are doing a wise thing, God Bless Us All.  A 17 yr cancer survivor.  idc, stage 2, 0/3 nodes, L mast with reconstruction (body rejected it) now wear prothesis, chemo, rads, and 5 yrs on Tamoxifen.  msphil

sandogger

Hi NJChicken5,

For me, whenever a person would go along for support for any treatment or in this case, her hair cut, just go!  It helps to know somebody wants to be there for you.

After my first chemo treatment, about three weeks in, I cut my long blonde hair to my shoulders.  My hair was getting dry like a little broom.  I knew from reading that it was really close to falling out.  Then one night, I was talking to someone, brushed my hair back and a large clump came out.  I called my hairdresser and she was nice enough to come by and shave my head.  I asked her how much $ and she said "Oh I don't charge for ugly haircuts".  We both laughed but I had not seen myself yet.  We hugged and she left.  I looked in the mirror and could not believe how I looked.  Like my brother, except worse.  I washed my scalp and wore this little cotton hat all the time after that.  You find out that your head gets cold without any hair.  It was winter time when I went through this and my head was cold as could be.  I liked the idea above with the "underhair".

Good luck and hugs to you!

Sagita

I did the same thing. I just had my second dose last Tuesday ( Aug. 30) My very good friend is with me to support when i decided to go to the salon & cut it really short. She even took a picture of me while the hairdresser cut my hair. I am smiling but deep inside i am so sad. Try my best to stop my tears thou. But i get over it now. So far i am on my two weeks now but no bad hair loss yet. I am waiting when will be the day to shave it all off....

Bought my scarfs & hat too. I better be prepare instead of making myself sad. Through this way, it help myself to adjust  with the changes of loosing my hair.

Sagita

I did the same thing. I just had my second dose last Tuesday ( Aug. 30) My very good friend is with me to support when i decided to go to the salon & cut it really short. She even took a picture of me while the hairdresser cut my hair. I am smiling but deep inside i am so sad. Try my best to stop my tears thou. But i get over it now. So far i am on my two weeks now but no bad hair loss yet. I am waiting when will be the day to shave it all off....

Bought my scarfs & hat too. I better be prepare instead of making myself sad. Through this way, it help myself to adjust  with the changes of loosing my hair.

njchicken5

I thank all of you so much.  I now feel that I have a plan and know what I can pick up for her to try to make this experience a little lighter.  Good Luck to all of you!