Hi, my hair has regrown curly and I understand this is normal but and I hate it. Was wondering if I shaved it off again, would there be a possibility that it’ll grow straighter next time?
Has anyone tried this?
Many thanks x
Hi! Mine came back curly and very, very grey. I only had a few grey hairs before.
I didn’t shave it off but I kept getting it cut short, a really short pixie cut for about 2 years. That seems to have done the trick. There is a slight curl now when it’s wet but nothing that a blow dry can’t straighten out!
Good luck,
Lynne xx
Aww thanks for that. Yes mine was grey too (I’m 56) but as I had dyed it blonde for the last 30 yrs, I have never seen a grey hair. Sonow I’ve dyed it blonde and it’s turned out ginger so I’m left with ginger curls!! Was hoping if I shaved it off now, it would come back straight, straight away but suppose that was wishful thinking!!
Thanks again x
Mine has also come back slightly curly. I didn’t notice it at first so maybe cutting your hair a bit shorter might work.
If you shave it off it will grow back curly still. You need to wait for the hair to fall out and then regrow. Hopefully this new growth (in a couple of years) will be as you want it.
My hair was very very curly for a year, then went really straight, more so than pre cancer. It has stayed straight.
It’s funny reading your post as only this morning I was saying my hair is growing back fast and curly, I’ve never had curls…apart from an awful, perm in my teens!..and I too hate it…I’m just going to let it grow and keep tucking it behind my ears until I work out what to do with it…I’m back to wearing a hat when I go out as I don’t like it…mine was grey when it went and now it’s patchy…very strange how it works.
It’s the follicle shape that makes hair straight or curly, and when we lose hair through chemo the follicle collapses so it produces wavy/curly hair when it starts to grow back. If your follicles used to be round (producing straight hair) then they should eventually recover but it takes time. I don’t think shaving your hair will help as this explanation implies it is the follicles themselves that need to strengthen up to their original shape. I did a course with Look Good Feel Better on hair loss and regrowth and it was very helpful. Take a look at Cancer Hair Care (who ran the course) for lots of information.
My hair grew back as white curls- reminded me of a Poodle actually! I also hated it, but my hairdresser recommended regular short cuts, along with using a mild shampoo & conditioner. After 12-15 months, the curls started to disappear, and I’ve grown it out to a longer asymmetric style. I use a purple shampoo now to brighten & tone the white.
I don’t think going for the shave again is the best idea, unless you like that look!
Thanks for all the advice, I’ve decided to trim the stupid curls now cos they stick out through my hair piece and cap!! But glad I know now that it takes quite a while for the hair to grow straight again. I’m not a happy bunny but it’s much better knowing the science behind it too.
Many thanks xxx
Hi, yes this is very common. Mine has done it twice as I’ve lost my hair twice now. Luckily for me I’m used to having short hair and my hair is thick and in good condition.
A little bit of advice - I always use a good quality shampoo and conditioner - I used Nioxin which helps the re growth and condition, because after a while it did start to get a bit frizzy. There are some good quality products out there for curly hair too. I did get my hairdresser to use the clippers and shave some of it as it grew, I regretted this after as it definitely ruined the hair! Eventually it went straight again! But everyone is different I know!
Now I’m here again with curly hair regrowth. I’m not going anywhere near the clippers! Keeping it short and soft
I think the curls are definitely a love/hate thing though….
Mine came back curly with grey in it .
I just kept getting it trimmed.
It’s now straight and very thick .
I say embrace the curls for now. When mine started to grow back I just pinned it behind my ears and everyone complimented the tight curls. I hated the short hair though as it reminded me too much of being sick.
You could try using hair gel to calm the frizz and the weight of the hair will eventually straighten the curl.
Mine was too but give it a few months / a year and it went back to its original. Hang on in ther!
Hi @moobloo and everyone else who, like me, used to have long straight golden hair and now have grey curls. I feel like i’ve joined the shampoo and set brigade. I absolutely hate it. Its also become terribly dry and has only grown 2 inches since i finished chemo in july 23. I put leave in conditioner on it and only wash it twice a week. I feel like i have lost my identity. X
Its the follicles that make it curl…so even if you shave it off it will come back curly until the follicles unkink ( forcwant of a better word!) …mine was more wavy than full on curls …started growing back 2 months after ladt chemo…at 9 months had my first hair cut and for the first time didnt look like an ex chemo patient …by 18 months hair compketely straight again and below shoulder length same as before i had chemo…4 years on its slighly thinner ( not finer just less of it) …which could be age (59) or could be letrozole or a combination
Hi thanks for making me laugh
I was laughing as I so identified with your new curly hair
Mine was very grey ( hardly grey before cancer treatment) very curly ( very straight before)
2 years later I have my straight hair back, it’s shoulder length.
I hated it when it was very short as I just don’t suit short hair. Best of luck
Thank you for all this information. My thick straight Chinese hair is coming in WHITE, not gray, curly and frizzy like an afro!. It’s long and coarse now but I have been hiding it with color and extensions. I hope with time my own hair will return.
A friend of mine is a herbalist and alternative therapies practitioner, she made up rosemary oil for me and I massage it into my head every day, my hair has grown about an inch since May. I also made some up myself, I bought a bottle of Neal’s Yard Almond oil & picked a twig of Rosemary from my garden & put that in the oil after I washed & dried it.