Hair Hair Hair - Another question

I agree with Ossa and Marjie! Keep your fingers and toes frozen! I did Taxol/Carboplatin 8x after 5x of DD AC.

During the entire chemo time, I took 30g (10g/3x day) of Glutamine to help stave off any Peripheral Neuropathy and I never got so much as a tingle. Be sure to ask your ONC first before taking anything though.

Then, during the Taxol/Carboplatin, I would wrap my toes in those Frozen Nexcare Gel Packs (held in place by a hair band) and then keep my hands on top of a bag of peas and dig my fingers in. It felt like torture but I just kept telling myself it is better than having my nails turn color, get brittle and/or fall off. I never had any nail issues other than a single vertical line down the middle of my middle finger on the left hand.

Also...try to drink at least 64 oz. of water a day.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it!



Oh yeah...this is a hair thread! So....my hair (almost 5 months PFC) is my old hair but maybe a bit thicker....yeah! It is dark brown with tinsel (ok...gray), straight, shiny and shapes into a natural faux hawk. My hub loves it and I actually like it too. It makes me feel like an individual. I also think it looks like I meant it to be like this. But, then again, I live in an area where odd hairstyles are the norm.



I used Jason Aloe Vera Shampoo while I was bald. No conditioner or anything else. Rit at the end of my DD AC infusions, I got folliclitis (sp?) on the nape of my neck. It was probably the worse side effect I got throughout all of this. It was painful and itchy. I used hydrogen peroxide wipes to relieve it and help it to dry out. It went away after about three weeks. The rest of my head was fine, no dryness or oiliness...just slick as a bowling ball. No eyebrows or eyelashes either.

I also recommend a buzz cut when you first start noticing major fall out. Trust me, you'll know when it happens, I would gently tug at my hair every day...waiting. Then, one morning, I woke up, ran my hands through my hair and when I looked, they had so much hair in them, you'd think I was a Yeti!

That day, my hub buzzed my head. After that, the tiny liitle hairs weren't noticeable as they came out. The weirdest part for me was feeling the wind on my scalp. Odd.



Well...that was a novel! Have a great weekend!

I guess, I am fortunate, in that I knew nothing about icing and only lost 2 big toenails after 4 dd AC, and 4 dd TH.

Plus...I'm not sure, but I think Taxotere is considered harsher on nails than Taxol?

It can be difficult writing, rather than speaking, since tone and inflection are absent. I read my post about not getting any nail issues and it came off as if I was saying what I did was super and if everybody just did that, they wouldn't have any issues either...which I didn't mean at all. Kinda like people that post, or make suggestions like, "if you just eat asparagus then you won't get cancer".

Does that make sense? I hope so....finger crossed!

Well I'm sure that's why you didn't get major nail issues. But as we know most don't get nail lifting. Also the icing doesn't work for everyone. I think we are all aware of that. Sharing tips is important but as we know they don't work for everyone… but certainly worth trying.

Hi all! Does anyone have a tip on how to style the short curly hair for a somewhat fancy event? My hair is similar to Divine's but slightly longer on top and I was hoping to be able to do something cute or sophisticated with it for an evening out (cocktail attire). Any ideas?

Momine, I agree with your hair advice for a fancy advent. I often see actresses with short hair  (like Michelle Williams, who plays Marilyn Monroe in a recent movie), wear a ribbon through their hair and it looks so nice.

A couple other suggests:  buy the type of hair spray that adds shine for a special touch.  Here's a link Amazon.com for that kind of product, altho I know any local drugstore or hair salon is sure to carry something similar:

Amazon.com: Aquage Beyond Shine Spray, 5 Ounce: Beauty

And the other suggestion: wear a beautiful pair of sparkly earrings. 

Yay momine proud of you.. you will be a shopper before you know it

LOL, thanks both. Yes, Sephora is absolutely terrifying and I did have a girl who wanted one of the other girls to paint eyebrows on me. I managed to get away from them.



I must say though, this is not happening, I think. I tried painting in eyebrows, and it is VERY obvious that thye are painted. I don't think I can go out in public like that. Part of the problem, I think, is that I am a dirty, ash blonde. My eyebrows (and hair) are not brown, but also not really blonde and not reddish at all. The eyebrow pencils that are not dark all have a reddish tint to them. I shall experiment a little more, but not seeing it.

Momine I did you get the Anastasia brow duo? You can get stencils too. What's nice about it is it comes with 2 colors so you can put on both to look more natural. It's a power that you pat on with a brow brush. Looks very realistic. Not sure if that's what they sold you.

Momine I swear by the Anastasia. I've turned on lots of bc.org gals onto it. I wasn't as concerned about losing my hair as I was my eyebrows. I purchased this (recommended at Ulta) even before my surgery. Have used it ever since. I never had  thick eyebrows either. I also never wear foundation. Last time I think was in the early 90's. BTW when I complained to my onc about my brows not filling she she said "they look find to me." That's how natural this stuff looks.

Hi all, my hair is just coming back, it is thick and curly and out of control, I just had a trim thinking it would look better, but I cannot style it,  It is only about 1/2 to an inch long but going everywhere out of control.  Does anyone have the name of a good website that has pictures of post chemo hair?  I am looking at the net, but there are so many and I have been unable to find anything good.  Any advice would be appreciated.....thanks so much. 

Caitlin.. Welcome.. Sorry you have to be here...

I would recommend shopping in person as you will want to try several on.. Bring someone with you shopping so you have another opinion.. Store personnel are usually good, but a friend will tell you the truth.. I found it very traumatic to loose my hair.. but it is growing back now. about one inch on sides and back. and 1/2 inch on top.. still needs to fill in on top. no longer wearing wig.. just hat (cap) not ready to go "topless" yet.. My last chemo was oct 18/2011

Hi Caitlin, I was a nervous wreck about my hair and got 2 wigs from a salon before treatment . At first appointment, I had color analysis, and stylist asked me a lot about what i had in mind, and he then ordered a variety in colors and styles good for me. At second appointment I tried the the styles and colors he chose for me. I picked 2 and left them at salon. At next appointment between first & second treatment i had my head shaved and the two wigs I chose were trimmed when they fit me right without all my hair under.



I was happy I with my wigs, but hair loss has been the hardest part of this for me. I recommend finding a good experienced salon in advance of treatment. It takes some of the anxiety away to at least feel prepared. I was also happy I shaved it rather than watch it fall out. For me, that would've been even sadder but everyone is different. I have thought about ordering an extra wig on line but have a hard time with color. I found the salon to be very helpful with that. Good luck to you!