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Dragonlover's avatar
Dragonlover
Member
11 years ago

Hair Colouring after Chemo

Just wondering if anyone can advise me on when it will be safe to colour my hair. My last dose of chemo was on 16th February and I am just about to finish Radiotherapy. My hair is growing back slowly but surely and is looking and feeling great after having being completely bald! I know there will be many of you who have been through this so will be able to speak from experience - certainly don't want to cause my new locks any damage! My hairdresser uses a chemical free colour anyway so hoping this will be gentle enough, just not sure how long to wait. Thanks for any advice. 

chemotherapy
hair-loss
radiotherapy

5 Replies

  • Robyn_W's avatar
    Robyn_W
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi:) I used to color my hair all the time before BC.When it grew back I was reading the replies to a post on here about hair color,and there was a bit of stuff about BC and the dyes in hair color.I decided not to color my hair again.Maybe it's nothing,but why do something that MIGHT be risky.Thats my take on it anyway.This is the reason that I also try hard to eat better now,avoid caffeine,never drink alcohol etc.Cheers Robyn xox

  • Sony's avatar
    Sony
    Member
    11 years ago

    I decided to go natural, which is grey, just thought I don't know what gave me this cancer so cancelling out on a lot of things, did foils at one time and now have just given up, my thoughts that if you don't like me the way I am too bad.

  • Mozzie_Bear's avatar
    Mozzie_Bear
    Member
    11 years ago

    I just had my follow up visit to the medical oncologist today after completing my chemo and radiotherapy and while we didn't discuss hair colouring, I was advised I was 'normal' now (a little joke I think) so I can do the things I did before my diagnosis.

    Perhaps you can discuss at your next medical appointment but I hope this helps.   Maureen

  • Ebb_and_Flow's avatar
    Ebb_and_Flow
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Dragonlover, when I asked my oncologist the same question her reply was that I could colour straight away but the colour might not take or the colour might be a lot different than expected. My hair came out grey and I hated it. My hairdresser put in a mid brown rinse which was sort of OK but I could still see grey through so the colour didn't take as well as it should have. I was desperate to go back to blonde streaks but I needed a good 10 months of growth before it was long enough for my hairdresser to be able to apply foils. I've now got 14 months of growth and am blonde again and my hair looks great. Hope this helps, good luck.

  • rowdy's avatar
    rowdy
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi I had my last chemo the last week in June last year.

    (oh I cant beleive it is nearly 12 months) My hair grew back fairly quickly, thick,really curly and silver grey.

    I went to my hairdresser when I had a good head covering of hair,and I have coloured it and haven't had any probs. I do think it is a personal it didn't take the colour as well at first but is good now.