Hi allI am 6 months post chemo and I have hair, which I'm very happy about, however I am struggling with what to do with it. I used to have long brunette hair that I straightened every day (it had a natural annoying wave) and now it's grey and really course and quite curly. I got a hair dresser to put a bit of colour in it on Thursday and, to cut a long story short, I didn't like it and because I had a night out planned last night I decided to rectify things myself. Not a good decision! I proceed to turn my hair yellow, then green, then orange. I then had to resort to using an old brunette hair dye I had at home and now I've gotten rid of my lovely textured grey colour and am a solid blocky brunette. I'm 44 so am not yet ready to be grey, however, everyone loves the colour and I guess I kinda liked it too. I now don't know what to do. I miss my old hair, I hate not knowing where I'm supposed to go with my hair style. I'm looking to get some advice from a really good colourist although have to wait 4 weeks to get in to see her! My hair was my crowning glory and now it feels like a dear old friend who I can't connect with anymore.I'd love to hear some stories of hair growth such as, did the texture change and gone back to normal after some time?Please share any nightmare attempts at colours/styles to make me feel better about myself too. Thank you!

Hi @Lyinnie1974.First off I have to say that your grey colour comes under my heading of 'stunning grey'. I'm still hairdressing after 54 years and have seen it all. The shade of grey that you have, on a young face is the best one to have. It's a head turner. About 35 years ago I used to see a woman on my way to work, in her 30's with a very well cut bob, same colour. The secret to carrying off this colour on a young face is a well cut, fashionable style. Your photo has those qualities..Your face can certainly wear this colour and the length looks edgy.. With all that you've put on your hair recently you'll be limited to what can be done. I went through the, 'oh you look like Annie Lennox, then I became Kath de Knight, Pru Acton, and lordy lordy Camilla. I'm now heading back to Stevie Nick's when she had IT long and curly, but I used to get called her when I wore it straight BC. Keep us updated when you, and if you can get it fixed.

Love this thread. I’m going through all the same feelings and doubts! Thanks so much everyone for your wonderful posts.Ive got a number two buzz cut. Am probably going to keep it until fuzz goes. I feel a bit edgy too,lol , a bit Annie Lennox @Blondy Mind you I see photos of myself sometimes and think CANCER :( How long post chemo until I can colour again? Not ready to go grey yet!Still have mastectomy and radio to go.

I don't know what you are worried about, at least your hair has grown back. I have lost my hair 4 times now due to chemo over a 7year period. Each time it has grown back a little different, sometimes curly and sometimes straight. At present I have just enough coverage to not wear a hat but it doesn't seem to want to go the way I use to have it. It is grey and I use to dye it a blonde colour but my hairdresser is reluctant to put a colour in it. I have got use to the grey now and thankful for the hair that I have got.

Thanks @sister, @Blondy , @Caz1 & @Kezmusc - its good to hear from those who have actually used the cool caplove the sound of all the sparkly, maybe I should experiment a bit - just get out there and brave it - an outrageous wig might be the answer - something totally different from my normal hair so I don't look like I'm just trying to replicate it. I do wear product in my hair and that helps fluff it up as it is quite fine anyway -maybe I'll get through it with a bit of extra product and a good clipping from my hairdresser. I've been to the hairdressers today - we decided my short hair did need to be that bit shorter, which i don't mind but the grey is coming through as I can't colour it. I was shedding a bit (a lot!) she showed me how much had come out when it was washed - it was quite a lot considering it was short already. She was great, we talked hair plans, tried on the wigs I had bought and made sure she had pushed back next client so she could have the time with me to talk. And yes I did cry on her - but I had warned her that I would anyway.If I'm honest I think I'm more bothered that losing my hair will be a dead giveaway and everyone will know my situation -exactly what @kexmusc said.Thanks for the pics - good to see you were able to keep your hair long throughout the process. I've taken pics as well, some the day before starting chemo - took some on Friday (day 15 post chemo 1) as I new it would start soon after that - will take some in the morning I think before round 2. These will be for me and then again like you to help someone later down the line if they need it. Secretly looking forward to having curly hair if thats what happens - never had it except my tight curly perms in the 80's that everyone had - now there's pics i should of kept!Big thanks again to you all xx

Hi @primek- your hair looks gorgeous- and so do you - in EVERY photo! xx

Trying to get through the journey of growing my hair back

Zoffiel
Member
6 years ago
My brutalist approach has been to keep clipping it off at a #4 until I was absolutely sure there was no chemo fuzz left.
My first experience was that it took a couple of months for the regrowth to look normal enough for me to be able to tolerate it. I was 43 then and by the time I was 50 it was curly and waist length again, albeit not as dark as previously. I stopped permanent dying it and just used rinses to give it a bit of colour.
Roll forward to the present, it took me 18 months to stop clipping it following chemo in 2016/17. My poor partner hated it, but I didn't mind. It was a bit edgy and deliberate rather than its current state. Now it's straight and totally grey but the quality is OK. It's driving me spare growing it out but it's nearly at the point I can get some sort of style cut into it. I must admit it's nice to not be confronted by my jug like ears all the time :)
Afraser
Member
6 years ago
It’ll change. Some hair settles quickly, mine changed over almost three years. Started out chalk white lambswool. Not curly, frizz. But mine. We transitioned to grey - I am considerably older and had gone through growing my colour out and embracing my external grey before chemo, so grey was fine especially as it was a good steely grey. But then it gradually turned light brown, with a bit of grey. It’s straightened considerably over time (and got greyer!) but still has a bit of a curl, which I rather like after a lifetime of poker straight. Texture is slightly finer (it was quite coarse before) but that could also be age. I found about a year after it all grew back (grey and curly) that my shed pattern changed. Slight panic but all it meant is that after almost never seeing a hair on my brush or comb I now shed hair at a normal rate. No idea if it’s related. I look at the changes as an inexpensive way of experimenting with new looks!
primek
Member
6 years ago
My hair grew back white. Then it was salt and pepper. Then it came in a bit darker. I found keeping it shorter whilst very curly was best decision. It looked edgy and trendy. When i had it longer I looked like my mothers curly perm grey hair from the 80s. I went onto a multivitamin as my nails were brittle and suddenly my hair started to grow back with colour so I strongly suggest doing this.
I didn't colour mine when white as I liked it. I concentrated on my makeup. Now colour is back I'm doing blonde streaks to help blende my natural grey again.
It's a difficult time and one I found challenging but know it will change as your body recovers.
primek
Member
6 years ago
My transition over 3 years. I've kept it short as I remain somewhat curly at the back.

This was me a few months before cancer found and treatment started at 51.

This is me about 2 months following chemo and keeping it short

About 6 months on. Still keeping short as grew in at different rates

Curly grandma look. I still had boys at school!

Return to short and some blonde highlights to rid the grandma look

My hair is a bit longer now but I've kept this cut and find the blonde looks best to cover my remaining natural grey. I'm 55. 4 years on from diagnosis.
iserbrown
Member
6 years ago
Looking good @primek!
Sister
Member
6 years ago
I did a number 1 when it grew back as I looked like a wedge-tailed eagle chick - white fuzz. That was just over a year ago. Then it grew back iron grey which I hated so I coloured it. It was sort of curly and for some reason grew back with a double crown. I've now had 2 haircuts and it's much straighter - I'm currently trying to get a bit of length so I have something to style.
suburbangirl
Member
6 years ago
Hi @primek- your hair looks gorgeous- and so do you - in EVERY photo! xx
Annie_C
Member
6 years ago
@primek

Your smile is lovely, warm and welcoming.
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
Such a gorgeous smile @primek.
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
It took about a year of hair regrowth before the coarse texture grew out. I kept it neatly clipped close to my scalp for most of that time. In the autumn of this year, a year after chemo, I let it grow a bit and a curl appeared. I've never had curly hair and always wanted it, so I love it. I've kept it short at the sides andclong and curly on top. I think the curl has started to disappear :s but we'll see.

My hair came back exactly the same colour, brown. I was 51 when I had chemo and now 18 mos after losing my hair, it seems as thick as it ever was. Even the greys are in the same place.

On thing is for sure, I love my hair really short and will be keeping it that way. Best of luck, K xox