Shaved my head today

GrooGruxQueen

When I woke up this morning there was a good bit of hair on my pillow. At first I thought it was cat hair, they always sleep with me, but there was just too much to be theirs. I ran my fingers through my hair and a good bit came out. When I took a shower a ton came out. So I decided that it was time to get the clippers out. I wasn't expecting it to start so soon though, I had chemo for the first time three weeks ago.

I think my mom took it the worst. When I told here she started crying like crazy. My dad was the lucky one who got to do it. I was doing alright until he started running the clippers through my hair then started crying some. We did have a good time doing it, he gave me a Mohawk before it was all shaved off.

I was still doing ok about the whole thing until I got in bed tonight and my head hit the pillow. I felt stubble instead of hair on there then I lost it. I'm having trouble laying in there with my head on the pillow so I got on to type and see if there was anything going on. Hopefully it will make me tired and I'll pass out when I get back in bed!

Meow13

you describe something I could never face.

illimae

The hubs shaved mine and I cried too but then I went outside and the breeze was awesome. Have no fear, people are really nice to bald girls, I even get free extras when we would go to restaurants. Here’s a pic a made at work during chemo last year when I decided to have fun with it.

GrooGruxQueen

illimae, I got a good laugh out of that!

Freebies for bald girls - I'm going to have to remember to take my wig off when I go out to eat. Do you get discounts or free clothes when you go shopping too?

I've been keeping a positive attitude about about being bald. I always told my dad that he was going to be bald soon because he's got really thin hair but I laughed today and told him I beat him too it, he's got more hair than I do now! I said that I could have kept some of the cat hair when I comb them to make a wig, but if I do that I might end up with fleas!

Meow13

yikes

GrooGruxQueen

By the way illimae, which one is the picture of you? lol

DebAL

Groo, i hope you got some sleep. Losing your hair is tough. The first couple days were the roughest for me but we are all different. You definitely have the right attitude, free clothes sounds great!! It also seems like you have a very supportive family. You are beautiful with or without hair my dear! Personally, i was very lucky and so thankful that I had no other chemo side effects ( exercised, worked, no nausea) that I decided hair loss I can deal with. Sure, I miss it but summer is a good time to be bald. Just left Florida. 100+ degrees and humid i sure didn't miss my hair last week! Plus I get ready quicker than my husband. Left my "lid" at home lol. After I buzzed mine it slowly started coming in throughout treatment. But I still look like my dad. Illimae, you are a trip! Your pic is hysterical! Breeze does feel good. A guy i work with that has a buzz told me to swim while i have no hair; that the water feels awesome gliding over your head. And people are kind. We went to a concert and asked to pay to upgrade one section. The boss was standing there and said " put them in the best available" free. I didn't say a word but guessing it was my scarf. I just choose to embrace that kindness when it comes into my life. I hope everyone has a good day and enjoy the breeze on your scalp, through your peach fuzz, or through your hair today!

NotVeryBrave

I'm so sorry. You sound like you have a really good attitude and a great family. It's okay to lose it sometimes, though. It's a lot to go through.

I would say that losing my hair was one of the worst things about this whole mess. And you are right on time! My mother went with me to get it buzzed. She held up surprisingly well, but I was a mess.

I never embraced the bald look - didn't show my husband for a few days, didn't show my kids for a few weeks. I wore a sleep cap at night (it was January) and a wig during the day. My hair started to grow back before I even finished chemo, but it takes a long time.

I had hair that was below my shoulders. It's now as long as my neck. Last summer was when I quit wearing the wig (too hot) and then quit the ball caps and bandanas (didn't really go with some outfits). I'm not much of an accessory person and never embraced scarves and stuff.

It's a huge adjustment for sure - in your pillow, in the shower, in the mirror - and you'll adjust. But cry when you need to because it's no good keeping it all in.

illimae

GrooGruxQueen, lol! No clothing freebies but I did get extra chips with my fajitas 😋. I had a wig but only wore it one day, felt weird and hot. I had fun with jokes bald though, like driving with a friend who rolled the window down and saying hey man, you're messing up my hair! Some people thought I looked so cool and I must admit, I felt like a total badass, lol.

I even made a personalized bald emoji, lol

Meow13

How different we all are.

moth

For your sleeping issue, try silk pillows or wearing a soft cap - though I just got used to it after a couple days.

fwiw, I love being bald. I love how fast it is to get ready in the morning. No hair, don't care. There is a fun t-shirt I saw online which said "my oncologist does my hair" - I use that line when people ask about it.

GrooGruxQueen

I didn't go to bed until about 3 in the morning when I finally got tired. My head still felt weird on the pillow but I passed out with in 5 minutes. When I woke up this morning I felt pretty good. I think laying on it all night helped a lot and might have even made it feel normal. Odd? I've even been running my hands across my head a lot because it feels so neat! When I look in the mirror though it's a little weird to myself bald.

My husband and I had to run to the store early this morning and I just threw on a baseball hat before I went. I had short hair to begin with, only about 4 inches long, and I couldn't tell I was bald at all!

I went to my parents house, they live next door, this afternoon and I took a shower before I went. I couldn't believe it because it actually took me longer to get dressed than it did for my hair to dry!

The only thing that I hate is that my head gets cold pretty easy. It's been really hot outside and we have air conditioning in the house to keep it cool so that isn't helping much with keeping my head warm. I'm going to have to dig out a snow cap and start wearing it.

My husband is the one driving me crazy about it now. He told me that any time I leave the house I need to wear my wig, baseball hat or scarf, even if I go to my parents place or brother's place who also lives next door too. I live out in the country, and like I said my parents live next door and so does my brother, so it's not like I'd be walking 5 blocks down the street through town where everyone will see me and I'll be getting odd looks. I'll probably always wear something on my head when I do go out but not around here. Besides my parents and brother see me with messy hair with all the time so I'm not going start fixing it when I go to their place now! It might take him a little while to get used to it but I know he'll get over it.

illimae - I know I'll be making jokes about being bald, I already have as you've seen. I was at my parents house when my dad shaved my hair. It started raining when my husband and I were walking home. I told him that we should have drove to their place because my hair is going to get wet now!

moth - I'm going to have to see if I can find that t-shirt. How much do you tip your oncologist? I want to make sure I'm giving her enough!

Thanks everyone!!!!!

ksusan

Here you go, lots of styles.

GrooGruxQueen

I think I'm actually used to being bald already. I've still got some peach fuzz on my head right now. About how long did that take for that to fall out for you guys?

I know you can loose all the hair on your body so I'm really looking forward to loosing my let hair, I just hate shaving!

ksusan - I told my family about those shirts and they all got a good laugh about them!

Ingerp

Just my story. I'd read somewhere on BCO that it was kind of prickly going super short with the initial buzz, so I took it down to an inch at first. Kept it like that for a week or two before going down to 1/4". I've been doing baseball caps but need to figure out something with scarves for a couple of big meetings at work. I shed a tear or two for the initial buzz, but when it was time for the short one, I decided I could either get sad or not, so I decided on not. It's funny--literally everyone I've had a five-minute conversation with has seen me bald more than I have. I mean who actually looks in the mirror that much? I saw one of my kids for the first time since tx last week, and he looked so relieved and said I looked so much better than he expected--he said he thought I'd look like a zombie. I think everyone has been looking for changes *other than* hair, and I think I look pretty normal. Hair grows back. This is all just part of the story we get to tell when we're out the other side. illimae--love the pics. Humor is our friend.

Egads007

Groo - oh yeah, 4.5 years ago and I still remember the ugly cry I had....my heart goes out to you. Like some of the others I had my cry and then delt with it with a heavy arsenal of humour....like letting my kiddo draw eyes on the back of my head with eye pencil (hid the sharpies). Hang in, this too will end.

Mae - that is the best side by side I’ve seen ever...bar none! None!

Spookiesmom

MO told me I would loose my hair. I told him I’d get Spookie shaved down and have a wig made out of hers, then we’d match. He didn’t get my joke. She’s in full coat, would have had plenty.

I didn’t wear my wig, hot and itchey in Fl summer. But did wear a baseball cap that had No Hair Day on it to protect from sunburn.

Took Forever for hair to grow back. Had to wear a knit hat in Jan to stay warm. By March I felt something strange on my head. I had enough hair for the breeze to blow it around. I’ll never forget that.

IntegraGirl

Shaving my head was one of the worst moments. It just felt like surrender. I had 5 wigs and wore them anytime I went out of the house but never had anything on my head in the house. My wig game was so goodthat my clients didn’t even know I was sick. I had enough hair 6 months after end of treatment to actually get a haircut and ditch the wigs ! Felt great. It’s going to be a tough year but you’ll get through it. This is my hair 10 months after treatment.

ksusan

I just went bald, or wore a scarf or one of these biker doo-rags. With chunky jewelry it just looked like a look (until my eyelashes disappeared later, but by then I had fuzz coming back).

GrooGruxQueen

When I got up this morning my husband noticed a good bit of bald spots on my head where the peach fuzz had fallen out. He also looked and there were a good bit of eyelashes on my face too. I'm not looking forward to when my eyebrows fall out!

I chrochet so I'll probably be making some snow caps while I'm sitting there getting chemo. I made a really nice one last year for winter but of course I can't find it!

Jkittle

hi there! I shave my head the same day as you, but haven’t started chemo yet, probably this Friday. I wanted to shave it off before it fell out. My family is taking is hard as well but are being very supportive. My 8 year old shaved it for me ❤️ Sending healing vibes your way

LayDeeBug

My second chemo treatment is in two days and today was the first day I’ve lost a significant amount of my hair. Getting my head shaved tomorrow and I’m uncertain how to direct my stylist since I’m fairly certain I’m his first cancer cut. How short do I go (I have a pixie cut today) and do we bypass the hair wash in advance? My head is currently super sensitive and in some areas it hurts to touch it - is that normal?

Ingerp

We just buzzed my head at home. At first I went to 1", then about a week later to 1/4", but that was looking goofy so I buzzed myself down to 1/8". Planning on staying here until it starts to grow back.

Castigame

ingerp,

Sorry about the hair loss. Just my two cents. I went bald within 10 days of intitial chemo and no hair cobservation method. I am 53 weeks PFC. My hair chaneged to thick and currrlly. I love it.

Gentle hugs.

Ingerp

Ya know--my sweet infusion nurse last week told me how pretty I was (yes I know they say that to everyone) but she said, "There's something about having no hair that lets people see how pretty your face is." I must say I'm considering keeping my hair pretty short when this is all said and done. At least for a while. I've had periods of my life with short haircuts but haven't done it in quite a while. I'm sure it'll be close to a year before I even need to think about growing it out but in the near term, I'm thinking I might just like living with short hair. It sure has cut down the time it takes to get out of the house!

DebAL

ingerp, you look great!! Laydeebug, once you buzz your hair the scalp will feel better. The weight of even a pixie that I had for a short while hurt. My scalp felt better within 1-2 days. For me, the anticipation of losing it was the worst. I've done so much better with hair loss than I thought I would. In this heat and humidity being bald isn't half bad. This too shall pass. I hope everyone is feeling well!

GrooGruxQueen

LayDeeBug - Before I completely shaved my head my hair was a few inches long, falling out in places, and it hurt like crazy when I touched it. Even just a slight pat, or laying on the pillow, killed. Once I shaved it, using the shortest setting on the clippers about a 1/4th an inch, my head started feeling better almost instantly. About a few days after that what was left on there started falling out so my husband and I got the razor out and shaved it all off.

There's a little bit of stubble up there up there though. About as long as your leg hair would be if you went two days if you didn't shave your legs. For some reason it didn't all come completely off with the razor. I noticed that within the last few days it hurts, just a little wee bit, when I rub it in the spots where there is still hair left. I'm sure once that comes off it won't hurt at all.