Post-chemo Hairstyles????

I started chemo in Oct 08, finished chemo in Jan09 but did Herceptin until Nov09.  Some say that Herceptin slows the growth.  Who knows.  My hair came back CURLY... curls everywhere.  I am still learning what to do with it.  I really don't know how many inches there are.  Finally my bangs feel long enough to be real bangs.   One tip I have is HEADBANDS.  THey have helped me tame the curls and I can style around those a bit better.

I have always had stick-straight hair, and for the past, oh, 30 years or so, I've worn it in a shoulder-length or chin-length bob. Then came chemo (4 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxan), in 2008.  I finished chemo 19 months ago. 

The first hair to grow out was, of course, that incredibly fine, colorless stuff.  By October '08 (4 months post-chemo), I had plenty of real hair.  It was extremely short, straight, and sort of a mouse-brown color.  (My pre-chemo color was medium-brown with red highlights.)  The fastest regrowth was at the nape of my neck, which is still true today.  Actually, that was the first place I could pluck out tufts of hair 2 weeks into my first round of TC.

Within a month, it had started to curl, and was picking up some of the normal color.  This is what it looked like by December '08:

I actually kind of liked it at that stage (6 months post-chemo).  It was curly, but not unruly.  I got lots of help and advice from one of my May '08 chemo sisters, who sort of specializes in curly hair.  She strongly advised all of us new curly-girls to put away our hairbrushes and blow-dryers, and style our curly hair with minimal fussing.  Pat it after a shower; finger-comb it at most; and let it air-dry.  The curls stay defined and manageable then, rather than turning to fuzz.

My hair continued to grow out curly-curly.  (Remember, it had always been stick-straight until chemo.)  By February '09, this is what I was dealing with:

Crazy-curls!  I could have played "Little Orphan Annie" at that point.  The nape of my neck was still growing like crazy, but my bangs had caught up.  I had this big, curly, flop of hair hanging down in front; and I didn't know what to do with it.  I'd heard that cutting curly bangs could create all sorts of aesthetic nightmares. 

So, I went in for my first post-chemo haircut in March '09 (9 months post-chemo). My long-time hairdresser (25 years) trimmed off the tips of the hairs, which were still that fine, colorless post-chemo stuff.  She shaped things and evened out the lop-sidedness.  Much better!  I went back for trims every 2 or 3 months, while we tried to work out a "transitional" hairstyle. (I hadn't decided if I wanted to go back to my chin-length hair, or keep it a lot shorter.)  Sorry, but I have no pics of my post-haircut look(s).

My last trim/haircut was in December '09.  All the curl is gone now; I'm back to stick-straight hair again.  My hairdresser thinks it might be even straighter than it used to be, but I think it's about the same.  The color is medium-brown, and I actually have less gray now than I had before all this mess began.  I've decided to keep it much shorter than it was pre-chemo.  It is so much easier to take care of -- no blow-dryer needed; no curling iron; no worries if I get caught in a rainstorm.  It still grows fastest at the nape of my neck, and I have to work hard to keep from looking like I have a mullet!

otter

It was very helpful for me to know I still looked fab when my hair was buzzed off.  So will rock a variety of looks going forward, which I expect to start in 4-6 months when I am done with chemo and have serious regrowth.

Right now, I am a combination of remaining buzzed off hair plus white fuzz undergrowth.  And who knows what will happen when I do Taxol which starts in two weeks?  All of this is less important to me than knowing I can do most things during this period, and that all should be well hair-wise towards the end of the year.

I do intend to work closely with a hairdresser at one of the edgy salons in town to guide me through the phases of regrowth.  Will also color the whole mess once it is feasible to do so.

My intent is to go back to the chin length bob that is in the picture, but I could be persuaded otherwise.  We'll see.

I believe that having to explore different looks and possibilities is one of the major positives of this journey.  And plan to invest in a good hairdresser going forward.

Mine is curly too.  I went back to the woman who made my wig and got extensions for a wedding.  She was able to flat iron it and it really looked good.  I am going to buy a flat iron and have her teach me!  She even drew me a diagram of where to put each extension!

I think I made the mistake of "trimming" mine when it began growing out.

I probably lost about 90% of my hair.  Naturally, the stubborn grey hairs were the ones that stayed.  I actually liked the look as my hair began growing because the grey hair was a focal point on the top of my head.   It gave me a unique look.  But I had decided to trim it all to get to the same length.  Now I look like GI Jane ready to deploy.  All I've got missing are military fatigues.  I'm tempted to shave it all off except for the patch of gray towards the front and start over with it!

By the way, did anyone find a funny birth mark or port wine stain after the hair fell out? 

Mine came back totally salt and pepper grey and curly.  Haven't been grey for the last 25 years . . . hmmm  Although in the back along my neckline there is dark brown.

Anyway I blow the front dry with a round brush to calm down the curls and let the back do it's thing.  Amazing how much my maintenance and expectations went down after being bald with no eyebrows and 5 eyelashes.

Have thought about coloring it again but that is so much work.  Told my DH that if I did color it and didn't like it I could always shave my head ~~ not like I haven't been bald before.

Colleen

I thought I'd chime here!  I finished chemo in August 08.  I didn't get out of my wigs until the first week of January 09.  

When my hair was really short, I was able to get a brush through it and style it.  It looked kind of cool like I had a pixie hair cut.  But...as it grew so did the curls!  Once it got out of hand and couldn't be styled I started using a hairband.  I still use a hair band most of the time as I am letting it grow out.  The hairband kept the sides and top in place but allowed me to let the back be curly.  It is a very low maintenance way to style your hair but I love it!  

I don't know how to upload a picture in to the message or I would post it.  I think I'll change my profile picture and you can see.

Lorrie 

Thanks for those pictures - you look adorable in every one - even the first one (which is about where I am except with crazy curls on top) - If my hair were straight I think I could make the transition earlier b/c you looked just great in each pix, but curly hair is tough to work with this short. Maybe I'll consider your advice to get stylist at least start shaping mine.  Thanks.

This isn't fair, my hair came back straight, straight and straight.  sigh.....

I agree, headbands solve a lot of the problems as you grow it out.

Thank you so much for sharing your photos!  I finished chemo in July and I am on Herceptin (which is inhibiting my hair growth.)  I am still very insecure about my hair and wear wigs always. Your posting (BTW: your hair is lovely!) is very reassuring that there is hope!

Claire - love your advice.  I  think we should all get new wardrobes to go with the hair and makeup too!  I have to spend some time educating myself on this mop on my head.  In the meantime, I have grown attached to my wide selection of hats.  I used to have long wavy hair that was quite cooperative.  This short curly stuff has a mind of its own.  I need to buy a mini straightener.

My daughter has pin in hair extensions.  They cost about $200.  They took her a while to get used to but she became pretty pro at it and you couldn't tell.

That is about where I was at 4 months after chemo - It wasnt til about 6 months that I was comfortable with my hair but I couldnt keep wearing wig either.  It was not a great time for me but I tried to smile through it. 

Thanks Beverly.  I have done such a good job in creating a great new look for pre/during that my neighbor Greg says he will hire a hit man to cut my hair if I ever go back to long.  It is also a style I can grow into.

I will most likely be doing something different clothes-wise as well.  Had let my weight creep up after my divorce and move to Seattle, and with chemo, it is going back to where it was about 4 years ago.  So will be wearing my "thin wardrobe" very soon.

Thus with short hair and "thin clothes", I will be sporting a new look anyway.  Just a few accessories, and I will be there, though will be something like October before it all comes together.

Glad my super short will coincide with the hottest period of the year....well warm as this is Seattle.  Thanks for the tip on hats.  Will be fun to rock this summer and I never have enough excuses to wear my collection!

What a great email, otter!  I mirror so much of your story - always had stick-straight hair.  Last chemo was early Sept 2009 and my hair is turning curly and browny-dk gray.  My hair looks just like yours at the same time-frame.  I'm planning to go wigless in a month.  Thanks for taking the time to include your pics!