22yr old Seeking Cold Cap/Hair Advice

TresBelle

Hello, 

I am new here. A little about me: I am a 22yr old college African American college student living in NYC. I was diagnosed, stage 3 in November. I had a right side mastectomy with 6 positive nodes removed and a tissue expander placed on Jan. 27th. I am currently healing up and waiting to start chemo which will be followed by radiation, and then DIEP reconstruction, God willing! I feel good. 

I am here seeking any advice you have on the Penguin Cold Caps. I have mid-back/waist length hair that is relaxed. I've read the thread in here where a user by the name of Malaika shared her experience with the caps, but it was made several years ago. I would like to know any info you have on using the caps with relaxed hair. I am going to try to read the whole thread on the caps but it is several hundred pages long and I can't skim it for info specific to my hair type.

For example: I believe Malaika stated that her hair was natural and she used the caps at -36 or -37 degrees and when she used them at a cooler temp, it burned her scalp and she lost some hair. However, many websites suggest to cool the caps to -30. My hair isn't in it's natural state like hers, but I see there may be a difference in the way the general pop uses them versus the way black people use them. I'm looking for any info like this or anything you may have heard or can think of.

 Thank you for reading this and taking the time to help!