Life After Cold Caps: a place for ex-cold-cappers to share

Warrior_Woman

I have not cut or colored my hair yet.  The shedding is minimal.  It has been almost 3 months since PFC.  I'd like to cut about 4 or 5 inches off but PCC says only an inch per month.  Any thoughts?

PatinMN

Warrior Woman - I would go ahead and cut it if I were you.  Since you are shedding only minimally, I don't see what harm it could do.  I actually colored my hair at about 7 weeks PFC (using a color product without ammonia or peroxide) and had it trimmed at about the same time.  I was not shedding - I think I would have waited had I been shedding.  I think the PCC instructions are overly cautious in some regards.

summer70

WW, I am just starting to notice a shedding slow down at 9wks PFC. I agree with Patin, go ahead & get it cut. I had mine cut approx 3 inches at 3 weeks PFC & I don't think it did any harm. It sure made me feel better! My 'nature's ombre' is growing tiresome, however...think I'll go for highlights at wk 16!

OneTexasDay

WW, if your hair is like mine was, I'd say go for that trim. I felt much better to get all those dry unhealthy ends gone. I also had my hair color and have seen no negative repocussions. 

Gonna try to post some pics but every time I try to figure out how to do it from my phone I get distracted. 

OneTexasDay

pics 1 and 2 are selfies from my desk when I started really thinking it might be worse up there than I thought, but this not an angle that many people usually see so was not as big a deal as I thought at the time. 

Pic 3 after a color color and up do at salon about 9 weeks PFC, I think

Pic 4-6 are me cut, colored and wearing my topper. Had no idea about toppers but apparently all those tv and movie stars Wear them all the time. Easy to put on and stays put even in my convertible, I am told I could even wear it on a roller coaster. My guy and my long-time hair stylist did an AMAZING job matching the color. Topper actually doesn't start until @4-5 inches from hairline and I think it is almost impossible to see where it starts even IF you know it is there. Best part... I only wear in want to, I can get by just fine without it. 

For those in DFW area, send me a private message if you want the guys info... On topper. I actually found him when I was looking into extensions because he is supposed to be awesome at those too. 

Warrior_Woman

Texas - It's fun to finally put a face with a screen name.  Clearly going to the hairdresser made a huge difference.  Your photos look great.  My plan is to cut my hair to my jawline and wait for the new growth to catch up before I let it all grow back in.  I may wait longer on coloring my hair.  I can check with my stylist to see what she has without ammonia or peroxide.  

summer70

Texas, you look beautiful & your hair looks amazing!

sue219

Im getting ready to color my hair for the first time.  I am 11 weeks PFC and pretty much stopped shedding.  What product did everyone use?

Texas - you look great

Warrior_Woman

I'm 13 weeks PFC and getting my hair cut tomorrow.  I'm still shedding but it's minimal.  Good luck, Sue.  I will color in Sept.

jc254

My hairdresser (who's also my friend) did a lot of research to find the safest professional product to color my hair the first time at three months PFC.  I trusted her to decide which product would be best.  She used demipermanent color by Framesi from their Eclectic line.  She did not use heat after applying the color.  We just left it on longer.  It covered the grey really well and I was thrilled with the results.

Warrior_Woman

JC - How far out from chemo were you when you colored?  Had you completely stopped shedding?

jc254

I was three months past my final chemo.  I was still shedding but it had slowed significantly.  Since I was going to a wedding, I deecided it was time to do something about the state of my hair.  I was more worried about using heat on my hair than I was about the actual color.  That's why I didn't sit under the dryer.  We weren't sure how well the color would take or last without using heat, but it turned out great.  In fact, she continues to apply it that way now. 

Warrior_Woman

Thanks JC.  I'm telling my stylist today and putting her on the mission!

Warrior_Woman

JC or anybody - My stylist carries the Redkin line.  The demipermanent color has hydrogen peroxide but less than the permanent type.  Has anyone used Redkin?  Does the demipermanent color by Framesi from their Eclectic line have any hydrogen peroxide?  

sue219

One Texas Day - I followed your advice and went in and got a topper,   I can not believe the difference it makes.

I am beyond thrilled,  my hair really thinned around my crown and this really does the trick,  I was supposed to have colored this a.m. but chickened out and decided to wait another week or two and then do a demi-perm color

Warrior women my hairdressser is recommending the redkin line as well,  the saleswomen where I purchased the topper recommend clairol beautiful browns ( no ammonia or peroxide)   I think I am going to go with redkin

Sue

Warrior_Woman

Sue - You try the Redkin line first and let me know how it goes!  

PatinMN

I can't quite figure out what a topper is, but you look great, One Texas Day.  

For color, I used the Clairol Beautiful Collection twice (applied at the salon I usually go to).  I have dark brown hair with very white roots.  The first time I was afraid to use heat as directed, and it didn't do too well on the roots.  But it did help!  Second time we did the heat and it colored much better.  However as it washed out it got a greenish tint, and we had the devil of a time getting my hair back to normal.  I had sort of tri-color hair for a while.  Another problem with the Clairol was that it dripped color when I sweat.  Ruined a few t-shirts at the gym, and discolored nightgowns and pillowcases.  I would definitely go with the Redkin product.

Warrior_Woman

Pat - Thanks for the heads up about the Clairol.  I know a lot of women have used it and reported mediocre results.  Green hair is frankly the last thing I need.  Thin, strangely green hair!

OneTexasDay

posted pics while waiting to go back for my Diep flap and am just now checking back. Sue, that was quick. So glad my decisions were able to help someone else here, lord knows I have benefitted from so many others experiences at this pt. 

As far as toppers go, they are basically partial wigs but since you still have your own hair too, you blend the topper hair in with your natural hair and you secure it with these snapping combs that attach the bottom of the topper into the crown of your own hair. It is shocking how easy it is. 

Apparently this is one of hollywoods little secrets, that is why they all have so much hair and can just clip in new topper with a different style within in minutes....they don't even have to be in same country while you are getting a new hair style.. Not that this last part will ever apply to me. 😃

I was told scarlet Johanson was wearing a topper in every one of her scenes in iron man 3.  Sounds like they might all be doing it. 

If I can find a good descriptive site or video on toppers, I will try to post link here.... And as hard as it is to believe. Toppers ARE as easy to put on as the video will likely show. 

OneTexasDay

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=hair+topper+video&fr=iphone&.tsrc=apple&pcarrier=Verizon&pmcc=311&pmnc=480

I give up. Not sure what will actually come for you on the link above but was trying to post the you tube link with the girl with longish strawberry blonde hair with rack of colored strands to the right (right based on your view). Hope it works for you!

Warrior_Woman

I found this website for Halo Hair Extensions:

http://www.halohairextensions.com/usa/?gclid=CPmTj...

I doubt I will bother.  My hair is growing back in and it is summer so I am wearing it up anyway.  I have a feeling it would look silly on me with the extensions, my hair and the regrowth.  That's 3 different types of hair.  I did read that with daily use they only last a few months.  Anyone know the price for these things?

PatinMN

Thanks for the links!  Now I understand what a topper is...although I'm still not quite clear on how those clippies attach it to your hair.  

summer70

Hi Ladies- I hit wk 12 PFC and decided that my scraggly, ombre mullet was no longer tolerable. I went to a salon that uses organic colour & had high-lites and low-lites added. I even sat under the dryer to process for 5 min! I was so nervous the whole time. During the vigorous head message in the sink I just kept praying my hair wasn't all going to fall out into the stylist's hands. Anyhow, it turned out great & I week and 1 shampoo later, my hair feels much thicker with the new cut & I don't seem to shedding.

For those who are interested in extensions, I watched 2 women receive 'Great Lengths' extensions. It was a fast process & they looked really good. Apparently this type is very high quality hair & applied in a way that doesn't damage your own. It was intriguing but the the thought of having to replace them every 3 months sounds exhausting at this point.

Wishing everybody a great Sunday!

Warrior_Woman

Wow, lookin' good, Summer!  So many of us have moved forward with cuts and color prior to the recommended time frame and I don't believe anyone has yet reported a problem with it.

jc254

Summer, your hair looks really pretty.  I love the color.  Warrior, did you do anything to your hair yet?

OneTexasDay

Looks great .... Just beautiful.... And I bet you feel so much better.... Moving on is an awesome thing!!!!

Warrior_Woman

I had my hair cut about 5 inches.  All the ratty dry ends are gone.  I didn't bother with the recommended 1/2 inch per month.  That would have taken too long.  I'll color it in August.  

sue219

Summer 70 your hair looks beautiful

lawyergirl

3 months PFC, and my hair is starting to fill in again!  I hadn't realized how much hair I'd lost at the nape of my neck!  The first picture shows how thin my hair is near my neck, and where the regrowth is filling in (this is the lower 1.5" at the nape of my neck). Thankfully the thinning it isn't noticeable when all my hair is down (second pic). 

I colored and cut my hair at 7 weeks PFC, after the shedding had pretty much stopped. As far as I can tell, everything is coming back thick and healthy! Every hair follicle in my body seems to be working in overdrive right now - even the ones that I didn't miss so much. No complaints from me though! I'll take the hassle of shaving over the pain of cold caps any day! 

Jennliza

Hi All...I see this board isn't that frequented...but I'll ask anyway. Has anyone used Keranique after cold capping? My hair is really shedding now that chemo stopped. It didn't shed that much during chemo...especially after I was switched to Taxol. Now I am shedding like after my 1st treatment..

I am 4 wks PFC...wondering if your shedding picked up post chemo....when you stopped shedding and if you used any special products to grow hair?