Breast cancer
posted by Amaryllis
21 May 2013

Hair regrowth after chemo

Last reply: 26 May 2013 22:32

I finished chemo at the end of March and now have a soft downy covering of hair on my head. I read someone elses post that they had the first few layers shaved off to make it stronger - but Im a bit loath to shave off the little bit I have and go back to being completely bald again Image removed. ....any advice? Also have no eyebrows or eyelashes but think nails are finally growing again...

11 comments

Comments

commented by Superwhy
21 May 2013

21 May 2013 10:05

The place I went to get my wig. Roches said that they recommend u shave it once to help it grow back thicker..
Am still in the chemo stage myself so no real help..
I have wondered how long it takes for ur hair to grow back .

commented by WicklowLady
21 May 2013

21 May 2013 11:05

I finished chemo on New Year's Eve and I did nothing with it and when on holidays in the second week in march I revealed my head with minimum hair but just enough to go public. I now have ve ry thick hair while it is still pixie style short but I've plenty of it and i didnt shave off the fluff. I got my wig in cabinteely and they told me to come back and they would put a natural dye in for me. It came back nearly white and I didn't like it so I've had two dyes in so far and will get another one before I go on hols in two weeks. I kind of like my new style but I do feel I will go back to my long blonde hair sometime in the future. It's a great feeling when you have hair even if its only a little bit. I'd had something on my head constantly for seven months!!!

commented by Kathleen
21 May 2013

21 May 2013 17:16

Hi Liz,

Just to let you know that I certainly didn't get my new hair shaved and it grew back strongly. After 3 months of regrowth, my wig fitter trimmed it slightly to even it out and give it some shape. She certainly didn't suggest shaving it, but did advise a cut.

It is true that at first the hair is fine and like baby hair, but hair is hair and makes us look and feel normal again. Don't shave off your precious hair - enjoy it! Revel in it!

Kath

commented by Superwhy
21 May 2013

21 May 2013 17:38

Glad to here ye didnt shave off ur hair...

commented by Amaryllis
22 May 2013

22 May 2013 17:44

Thanks girls!
Think Ill hang on to what I have as you advise - hoping I might have enough to get rid of the wig when I go on hols during the summer.... Image removed.
Liz x

commented by Kathleen
22 May 2013

22 May 2013 21:31

Hi,

You might like to consult one of the older threads on hair regrowth.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=851

Hugs

Kath

commented by WicklowLady
22 May 2013

22 May 2013 23:19

By my reckoning you should get rid of wig in a few weeks. A couple of weeks into June

commented by katykaty
22 May 2013

22 May 2013 23:32

Was at my wig specialist today ,who is also a hairdresser and I asked her this question and she told me never to shave it just to go and get it trimmed up and this should help it .she cut mine today before my second chemo and also fitted my wig , for anyone that's unsure about getting wig like I was , they are not to bad mine looks great , my two boys thought it was great and I think my older boy (10) is very relived , I think he thought I was going to come home with a witches wig like at Halloween .lol went off to bed much happier . Have communion of my god child on sun , at least I won't have to worry about the hair Image removed. . Now may just find something to wear and hope I am not to sick .

commented by encee
23 May 2013

23 May 2013 10:44

Hi Amarylilis

It obviously depends on your hairdresser as to how to deal with regrowth - I finished chemotherapy in September and by March I had a manky head of hair - a Brillo pad in resemblance; wiry, curly, alot of grey where I thought my brown hair used to be!! At that stage I was able to have it coloured so being able to be back in the chair after the bones of a year was a lovely return to a bit of normality.

I hope you enjoy your first cut, whatever you decide to do!

commented by Amaryllis
23 May 2013

23 May 2013 14:53

Thanks girls - you have really reassured me. Kathleen that blog was brilliant - thanks for sending through the link.
Just have to be patient now..so looking forward to having my own locks again!
Liz x

commented by sunshine71
26 May 2013

26 May 2013 22:32

I was bald at Christmas and finished my last chemo in may. I had soft baby hair but I never cut or trimmed it and it's now so thick and wavy. It started slow and then just took off. I'm not sure on the do's and dont's but I'm very happy I enjoyed my hair and never shaved it once it started growing.

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