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

Okay guys- I need your help ASAP!!!! So, I'm just about at the 6 month past final cap mark. I tried to get an appointment with my hair stylist for mid-July but she was booked solid until August. It's been 9 months since I've colored my hair! She called me tonight and had a last minute opening tomorrow and I took it, but now I'm getting nervous. I'm just 2 weeks shy of 6 months. My hair is no longer shedding. I'm using Nioxin shampoo under hot water again, blow drying my hair, and styling it with a flat iron every few days. I've also been wearing it in a ponytail and working out again (so my head gets hot and sweaty). I've also gotten it trimmed twice (one inch each time). Do I sound like I'm in the safe zone for dying it? I will be going blonde again, so I will be using ammonia. Please write back as soon as possible- my appointment is at noon on Wednesday. Thank you!!!
 
Jen

I'm nervous!!!

I'm literally 12 days before the 6 month mark. Just wondering if people bleached their hair at exactly 6 months and what was the outcome.

I saw your post earlier! Thank you for responding!!!!

jenndance - I highlighted blonde for the first time around 6 months post. They used a bleach lightener...I was petrified...but it came out great! No problems! Here is what my hair looked like after my first round of highlights.

https://coldcapphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/11#2...

I think you will be fine. I would presume bleach is harder on your hair than ammonia, but ask your stylist to be sure - but either way - I think you are fine. You will be nervous as all get out...I remember....but you will be so excited to getting yourself back to "normal"!

I'm at The salon right now for a color, I colored my hair last month 1 month post chemo ( no ammonia or bleach) and it came out fine... Thinking of going back to pre chemo type color today. I had taxol and there had no shedding issues ( this is just me and my experience) figure I may as well go for it .. It's been nearly 3 months PF and I followed all PCCs rules while capping including starting a month before my first chemo just to get used to it

once again doing a chemical free ( no ammonia peroxide)!coloring.. This time permanent color however

Just saying that while I didn't have hair loss issues on Taxol.. Doesn't mean that's everyone I am as Pch says lucky. Either way those caps are very much worth their weight in gold to have a shot at keeping ones hair

Jenndance - it looks AWESOME!!!! So excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!

JeniferE - you look fabulous. Congrats on your daughters wedding. What a beautiful pic of her and her new husband. Congrats again. PS LOVE your son in laws sneakers!!! That is AWESOME!!

I'm only 2 weeks PFC, and still shedding a lot. I still have hair on my head, so for that I'm grateful. I just dream of the day when I can get a good hair cut, wash in warm water, blow dry, and straighten. I may have my hair, but I don't feel like I look like myself ... yet.

JeniferE, beautiful mother, beautiful bride and groom. Congrats! I'm so happy you got to feel good at your girl's wedding.

(And your husband's all, What am I? Chopped liver? Hha, no. A family of lookers.)

Jennidance, look at you! Awesome.

Hey Scarlett -- I see today is your last TC! Woo hoo!! Congratulations and welcome to the PFC club! I am three months out and have colored my hair once with a temporary rinse at 7 weeks (it looked great for about ten days and then just went blah) and took the full plunge two weeks ago with Clariols Natural Instincts. I wanted to do it at home because I don't have a regular stylist and I didn't feel like explaining all about why my hair has special needs. It turned out great and didn't seem to speed up shedding at all...I'm down to losing only 10-30 hairs a day and that didn't change at all after coloring. Have TONS of new hair coming in all over my head and elsewhere. Once the new hair got long enough to lie flat and not stick straight up, the texture seemed comprable to what it was before...it doesn't seem to be coming in more curly or any more grey than it was before so I'm happy about that. Now it is is just a matter of waiting for the new growth to catch up with everything else. As everyone says, don't expect to keep your same hair, but you will have hair. So, while I don't have the prettiest hair right now, I do have hair and I am happy about that.

Jenn,

you look fabulous!

anyone use a deep conditioner PFC? My top layer is dry as straw and tangles. Any brand suggestions? I think the Kenra spray actually is a little drying.

Scarlett, lots of us have used deep conditioners even during. It's important to keep the product off your scalp. But you can apply it to the hair away from the scalp. Check out some of DanielaD's old posts. She used quite a few conditioning products to no ill effect. Good luck!