Help....I hate my chemo curls

I had frizzy curls which then became short, tight ringlets.  Now my hair is longer the weight has pulled the curls and I don't look like "Annie" from the musical any more!  It took some good regular hair cuts to get to this point but well worth it. I did not use any chemicals on my hair or head for 14 months after treatment finished and my  hair seems healthy and strong - whether this made a difference or not I don't know but it made me feel better.

i finished chemo 10 months ago...what can you do but ride it.   My hair returned grey and curly and I was shoulder length blonde straight.  The identity thing I found odd, I really felt the internal me and who was the exterior! People would say oh you look great and I'd say "I dont know, its not me, its no my chosen identity".  I focused on keeping my internal-self happy and had to bide time until i could start trimming away and the curls.  Had three of those cuts, six weeks ago or so did a home colour which was I ok.  My regular hairdress, when I contacted her I explained how i felt and that I didnt know what to do with this short curly hair.  It has now been trimmed to a pixie cut, the curls cut out (apparently there's a few at the back - i cannot see them) and I had some foils/highlights.  I know feel as though, i have some control of my identity and who I am creating to back on with life!  Enjoy, karen x

My hair took soooo long to sprout(10weeks) -I had convinced myself that I was permanently bald and had even joined a USA online bald group.So when a few hairs started coming through,I was ecstatic.Yes it came through curly and yes,a horrible tabby cat colour but I didn't care-it was hair! I wore headbands for a long time(8mths?)or gelled my fringe area and clipped it down.I made fabric head bands in various colours that tied at the back -they helped tame the curls alittle.It took about 18 months for the curl to drop out and to look like "me"again.Even now,my hair has thinned abit cos of Tamoxifen but I am just grateful I have hair on my head.Perhaps you could colour your hair-I got mine coloured  at about 8mths which made me feel better about the curls.   Tonya xx 

I know exactly how you feel. I really hated my hair as it was growing back. It was so curly/frizzy and I while some people look nice with curls I just didnt' like them on me. I could handle all the BC treatment, surgery,  feeling ill etc but the whole losing my hair thing and waiting for it to grow back properly was a nightmare.

I think I made the frizziness worse by having it lightened very early on. It's now been just on two years since I lost my hair and about 21 months since I finished chemo. My hair is about shoulder length (it has been trimmed a couple of times) and it is gradually getting back to it's pre-chemo waviness and losing the curliness. However the ends are still kind of frizzy and damaged - probably from the coloring - and my hair is not as thick as it used to be. I'm hoping this too will improve over time. 

Unfortunately I don't think there is a lot you can do other than be patient. If you can avoid bleaching you hair like I have it will probably stay healthier. And once it gets a bit of length you can use a hair straightener of course. I know it sucks Kerri but time passes and it does grow back to something close to normal. 

I know exactly how you feel. I really hated my hair as it was growing back. It was so curly/frizzy and I while some people look nice with curls I just didnt' like them on me. I could handle all the BC treatment, surgery,  feeling ill etc but the whole losing my hair thing and waiting for it to grow back properly was a nightmare.

I think I made the frizziness worse by having it lightened very early on. It's now been just on two years since I lost my hair and about 21 months since I finished chemo. My hair is about shoulder length (it has been trimmed a couple of times) and it is gradually getting back to it's pre-chemo waviness and losing the curliness. However the ends are still kind of frizzy and damaged - probably from the coloring - and my hair is not as thick as it used to be. I'm hoping this too will improve over time. 

Unfortunately I don't think there is a lot you can do other than be patient. If you can avoid bleaching you hair like I have it will probably stay healthier. And once it gets a bit of length you can use a hair straightener of course. I know it sucks Kerri but time passes and it does grow back to something close to normal. 

I know exactly how you feel. I really hated my hair as it was growing back. It was so curly/frizzy and I while some people look nice with curls I just didnt' like them on me. I could handle all the BC treatment, surgery,  feeling ill etc but the whole losing my hair thing and waiting for it to grow back properly was a nightmare.

I think I made the frizziness worse by having it lightened very early on. It's now been just on two years since I lost my hair and about 21 months since I finished chemo. My hair is about shoulder length (it has been trimmed a couple of times) and it is gradually getting back to it's pre-chemo waviness and losing the curliness. However the ends are still kind of frizzy and damaged - probably from the coloring - and my hair is not as thick as it used to be. I'm hoping this too will improve over time. 

Unfortunately I don't think there is a lot you can do other than be patient. If you can avoid bleaching you hair like I have it will probably stay healthier. And once it gets a bit of length you can use a hair straightener of course. I know it sucks Kerri but time passes and it does grow back to something close to normal. 

Hi Kerri

I have been there, as I grew back curly too, and didn't like it.

I found a good hairdresser who steadily cut the curls out each month, and it is now almost straight again, just a bit of wave that can be blown out or just gelled if in a hurry.  The bad news is, it takes at least 6-7 cuts to get it all out - sorry!

Good luck - find a good cutter!  Michelle xx

Hi Kerri

I have been there, as I grew back curly too, and didn't like it.

I found a good hairdresser who steadily cut the curls out each month, and it is now almost straight again, just a bit of wave that can be blown out or just gelled if in a hurry.  The bad news is, it takes at least 6-7 cuts to get it all out - sorry!

Good luck - find a good cutter!  Michelle xx