Hair Loss

Hi Goldie:

I think it depends on the type of treatment you receive. Different chemo drugs and doses will affect people differently.

Loosing my hair totally freaked me out. I was more scared about that then I was about chemo side effects. I know kinda vain, but I kept thinking I would be stuck alone in my loft all that time.

So for me this is what I had as treatment...

I had Taxol for 12 treatments every week first for chemo. My hair thinned alot and had a bald spot by the 4th or 5th week I had to cover with careful combing

I then went on to A/C for 4 treatments and lost the rest of my hair. I kept my hair for as long as I could (about 6 weeks but I had shoulder lenght hair and really obnoxiously thick and curly so could hide alot)  then shaved it so I could wear a wig easier for going out. Since I lost my hair in the middle of winter a wonderful friend knitted me a wool cap I wore around the house. It kept me nice and warm. 

Not wanting to stay indoors for the entire time I started to research wigs, and went to the scary 'cancer' wigs sites. Don't! Go to wigs.com. Awesome wigs site. I have a few hair challenged friends that started to shop there after I told them about the site. Very cute hairstyles. Its actually kinda fun to look through. And has great videos that explain what to buy. Also sign up for emails and they will send you some great discount.

Anyway I bought the Revlon Aries wig...it  was easy to style. Basically put it on like a baseball cap, fluffed it up a bit and off I went. My oncologist after seeing for the first time asked me if that was my real hair! HAH! Also, its not that hot, its a capless construction so it did allow air through. Basically was as warm as my own hair would be on a summer day.

It does grow back. 4 months after chemo ended I had about an inch all over and was not wearing the wig anymore. And had the short pixie cut thats becoming so popular.

Some people have used 'cold cap' treatment...there is a thread in the forums here... that is a way to keep your hair , might want to look into that?

I hope your treatment goes well! Take care of yourself.

Goldie..... Once I knew this was part of the deal, I decided to make this as positive an experience as possible.

I had long, very thick hair, and it really was time to go forward with shorter.  So the first thing I did was have it cut into a shoulder-length bob.  I donated my hair to Locks of Love, so it would help some poor child with cancer.  I did this prior to chemo, so no contamination.

The bob is "my grow into" style.  I got two cheap wigs in roughly the same style.  One was plain black, the other had red streaks in it.  I got tons of compliments on the one with red streaks, but plain black was better for any business occasions.

I invested in warm hats.  Not an issue in the summer, but a tight beret also keeps wigs in place.  I slept with a warm wool scarf with fur tips on the end.  Felt like hair.

As soon as I could post treatment, I ditched the wigs.  I washed them and donated them to the infusion room collection where I had been treatment.  The nurses put them out on display as they were cool looking.  (Also $29 each.)

Growing out, I started investing in good haircuts starting about 5 months into the regrow period.  Otherwise, looks beyond scr. aggly, and who needs that.

As for "did the color change", my new answer is, "no, it's the same shade of Feria as it was prior to treatment".

Growing hair back out is the pits.  I can't stand it when everyone tells my how "cute" it is.  I HATE CUTE!!!!!!  That said, it looks just fine, and now is no worse than getting the haircut you always dreaded.  The one where they take off a lot more than you wanted.

I think the entire regrow to blunt, shoulder length bob will take about 2 years from end of chemo.  Or about one year from now.

Anyway, good luck.  Look at this as a time to experiment with new looks.  One thing I will say is that I am a lot better with eye makeup.  And that is a very good thing.

I will also invest in a good hairdresser going forward.  I may even learn to use the products.  That is also a good thing.

The rest of me is glowing, fit and toned.  Not bad either.

Good luck.  It really will be over sooner than you think.  I actually loved the uber short period.  But a bit too edgy to do on a long term basis. - Claire