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

Curly, I sticked with the same hair wash schedule twice a week for 2 months after the final chemo. After two months my scalps got greasy so I had to increase to 3 times a week. I switched to Nioxin #4 around that time. I really like it. It took 16 weeks to stop shedding. Love your new hair do. I cut my hair short this weekend and finally colored my gray hairs. My hair stylist use Davines, they have no ammonia hair color. It worked well. I'm going to wash tonight. Hope the color stays!

Curly - I remember when you started. Way to go!

Biosil liquid silica, biotin and Nioxin 4 have served me well. The only downside is more facial hair but that is removable.

Article in today's NY Times!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/keeping-y...

Congratulations, Goldenpaws! It is a GREAT feeling saying farewell to the caps!

Hey all! So today I ordered Nioxin 4. Just wanted to ask, for those of you who used it, when you started to use it. I noticed that it does have sulfate in it. I asked Geralyn (my cold cap rep) and she sad that it's okay to switch shampoo when your hair stops shedding, but I'm still shedding so a little nervous to do it. I'm 9 weeks post final cap. Thanks so much!

Kim, you do look great! Congratulations!

Leslie, Thanks for the suggestion ....I had done the clip in extensions, I got a set of seven in various sizes (though I used mainly the biggest one, a long strip/weft of human hair). I used it the last month or so of chemo & just put my sad little strands over it, but I felt even that looked very obvious...(my hair was thin & frizzy w/out product & the clip extension was SO nice looking...I had to braid the extension at night to give it a kinky/frizzy by morning look to try to blend it better with my hair). Are you talking about the more permanent extensions that people get done professionally & last 3-6 months?...My sister suggested them also...I think I am too scared to try those?

....I feel anything I do breaks a little protocol for PCC...my wig I plan to wear for work covers my head therefore creating some heat, though its mesh & pretty breathable, my old clip in extensions create tension towards the some of the roots...either one is not great for "babying the hair" but?....I have four inches of hair everywhere & 6 inches of the little strands I used to have that make it look a TINY bit longer...the problem is, since my hair is curly, & it curls & looks even shorter! it doesn't look at all like 4 or 6 inches ...I have read that you only need about 3 inches of growth to do extensions.....I am just not sure how any extensions will blend w/ my crazy short curls? ....I just feel kinda stuck right now, but I'm trying to think positive

I DO feel like playing up the makeup & jewelry helps accentuate the short hair! lol btw....I go back to work teaching on Monday!!!

thanks for listening, Lori

Okay freaking out a bit!!! After reading through the message boards searching for posts on Nioxin4, I finally decided to go ahead and use it tonight, 8 weeks post final cap. I used the shampoo and then conditioner. As I was in the shower, I was getting A LOT of strands of hair coming out....which hasn't happened before to me while using my old shampoo. I had asked my Cold Cap rep if I could use this and she said maybe wait another few weeks until my shedding stopped- but shedding wasn't terrible so I went ahead and used it anyway. Now I'm really nervous. Has anyone else had this happen????

Leslie, Thanks! I see now what you're talking about...My mom actually told me a few months ago that her hairdresser's salon has a girl who heard my story & specializes in those more permanent 6 month hair extensions (sewn in & glue/tape)...I never considered it until now, but I think in the end I am quite scared. I've only read a little bit from people who have done it (I still need to do more research though) & say that it can really damage what growing hair one does have & with us needing to be so delicate/not pull & tug on it I just am a bit hesitant, & am not sure of the cost 400-700 IF that? I spent so much $ on the cold caps...I did recently find out PCC is going to refund me my last month's fee 633, which I'm thankful for, but is tiny in comparison to what I paid total

JennJ, Sorry to hear the big scare with the Nioxin 4 shedding....thats why I was scared to start too, i though I'd wait even though I'm not shedding & it's only been 2 wks out for me...Hopefully it was a one time thing, or maybe you can wait another four weeks or so to try it....I know I sure am eager to have mine grow...this week I am trying the oil/hair mask inversion method to grow an inch in a month VS 1/2 an inch of normal growth...I'll keep you posted!

Lori

yes patsy is not with cold caps but she does financial aid for them.

Hair is definitely shedding more than usual. Think I may go back to the other shampoo for a few weeks. Sux bc the nioxin made my head and hair feel amazing!!!!

SueBe, I can feel hair coming back in some areas where I lost it, but the area that's noticeable (at least to me) in the very front doesn't seem to have regrowth yet. I've been using Toppik to cover it, but I'm hoping it's just temporary! I'm 11 weeks out from treatment.

Also, are you getting bone pain from Arimidex? Several friends have had issues with it and switched to Aromasin, which is what I'm on. I haven't noticed it causing any shedding or bone pain--just a few more hot flashes.

Jenn, that's exactly what happened to me. I started using Nioxin #4 at 8 weeks PFC, freaked out beacuse so much hairs came out especially after the conditioner. I stopped using the conditioner and switched back to Macadamia leave-in conditioner that I've been using. I continued using the shampoo, as it felt so good. I had to be extra careful and gentle when I washed my hair. My hair finally stopped shedding around 16 weeks PFC. I've been using the conditioner since then.

SueBe, My hair held up well after haircut and color. I did that 4 weeks ago, it was at 17 weeks PFC. Didn't see any extra shedding after that. My hairstylist used Davines A New Colour, ammonia-free hair color. I cut my hair shortbob style, covered all gray. I feel so much better!

Hi, girls :-)

Question, please...I finished chemo on Nov. 7th. I was able to save my hair using the Penquin Cold Caps.

I know I am supposed to wait 6 months before coloring my hair,

but I don't want to wait any longer. It looks horrible! I have brown and gray roots with blonde ends.

The last time I had it colored was the middle of July, 2014.

Has anyone had their hair bleached before waiting 6 months?

Thanks in advance.

Hope your all healthy and well!

Lynda

Is there an ammonia free dye for just highlighting?