Hi ladies!
I finsihed chemo at the end of November and my hair is back! It’s so lovely to be able to go out and about and not worry about scarves or wigs. I’m heading back to work next week and thought I’d treat myself to a trim and colour. I went in to a local Aveda hairdressers who are happy to colour my hair. I’m dark blonde and want to go a couple of shade lighter. I know you’re advised to wait six months post chemo but I’d really like to get it done. Has anyone had any experience of dying their hair before the six month milestone? I saw Bernie Nolan dyed hers really quickly after her treatment finished. Also Aveda uses a lot of natural products, but granted, to go lighter some chemicals will have to be used. It’s my first haircut in a year and I’m very excited but don’t want to ruin my hair!
Thanks in advance xx
Hi, I used H&B’s Naturtint about two months after last chemo. Did a strand test first though. No problems with it and have used it twice since. Enjoy your haircut! x
hi rosie i finished my treatment in the October and had my hair dyed in the december i didnt have much hair but it was so grey and it was fine i think it was just a natural colour now my hair is so loveley and in better condition than it ever was before good luck.
my hairdresser suggested using herbatint which they use for cancer patients, it is all natural products, she said you can buy the colour off the internet, if its natural products dont think it should be a problem, when I lost my hair the 1st time I dyed it within the 6 mths to blond as I am not a dark girl!
The chemo nurse told me they suggest caution and using natural products etc, to protect your scalp rather than that the usual stuff will cause problems with your hair.
Stella
Hi,
Does anyone know if they sell Herbatint in boots, Tesco etc,
or is it more specialist shops ?
Thanks,
Les
Hi Les, I’ve only seen it in Holland & Barrett.
finty x
I have only purchased it from H&B but there are other online stockists! Remember to do a strand test first! X
Thanks for the info we’ll have a root about 
Les
Hello ladies
I haven’t posted for a while. I finished chemo beginning of Dec '10. I had a bit of hair left after using the cold cap but very thin on top. When it started growing, I had it cut to even up the thinning longer bits. I used the naturitint stuff from the health shop but it didn’t really cover my little bit of grey. So about 2 weeks ago, I dyed my hair (approx 2-3" now) with a normal semi permanent from Boots (John Frieda make). It is now a lovely reddy brown and is thick and growing great guns. No issues with using this dye. Roully X
i was advised not to dye my hair. I have left it to grow back in grey and do you know what…I have had more compliments with grey short hair that I ever did with mid length honey coloured hair…You know we got so conditioned by the media to colour our hair that we just do it. My hairdressser is wonderful and gives me a lot of pointers in making sure the grey doesn’ look dull but nice and shiney. I think it works in a short style, not quite ready for the granny perm and blue rinse just yet…
I tried keeping the natural colour of my hair (which includes quite a lot of grey) for nearly 2 years after my treatment but had to give in eventually. I’m one of the people who just don’t suit grey hair - it just makes me look old.
I got a dark blond basic colour with lighter ‘foil’ highlights so the roots don’t show too much when it grows out.
I had my hair done at the hairdressers 6 months after chemo as I couldnt stand the horrid grey colour any longer - it was fine.
I have now also had it chemically straighened as it was so curly and unruley and I looked like shirley temple and couldn’t do a thing wit it.
My hair is growing nicely now and I am quite pleased with it.x
Hi Ladies
I finished chemo mid October but my hair has taken until now to come through it’s been so slow.
I have a very very short head of hair now and like others, the front and sides came back grey, I put the H&B naturtint on last weekend but I’m wondering how long you have to leave it until you can get highlights, I might feel better about my very short hair if is was highlighted!!
can anyone give me any advice please.
Jude
i waited about 8 mths after chemo to have bleach highlights
thanks Lincs lady, was 8 months post chemo recommended to you or just that you felt the time was right?
Were you able to have foils? Doubt if mine would be long enough for foils in 2 months.
I dyed my hair with Loreal Excel 10 and no problem whatsoever. Now back to dark brown instead of silver grey. Finished chemo and radiotheraphy in Feb. Originally I was scared to permanently dye, but the wash in temporary stuff just didnt take.
My understanding is that it’s the para-dyes in permanent hair colourants that are risky, because they are believed to be carcinogenic. However, since you want to go a couple of shades lighter, it sounds like you will be having you hair lightened with bleach/hair lightener rather than dying it, so I would have thought that is OK (but I’m not a hairdresser, so maybe check with your BC Nurse).
I noticed the actress who plays Sally in Coronation Street (who had BC in real life), has abandoned her wig, and she has obviously had highlights in her real hair (looks great).
I have just finished chemo & so was looking with interest at this thread as I have dyed my hair since age of 16 & have no intention of stopping now. I am lucky that mine started growing back once I finished FEC & went on to tax so I already have a fluffy smattering of about 1cm I was going to try naturtint from H&B but it still has ammonia & it’s the ammonia &/or peroxide in non natural dyes that are the problem more because the hair is still weak & may break off rather than any concern about the parabens for which a link has still not yet been established (time will tell) - a bit like the dairy theory which has yet to be proven.
anyhow - I plan get proper natural dye from the internet
lovelula.com/cat_logona_natural_hair_dye.cfm which is free from all of the above for anyone also worried about parabens. It’s harder to get a lighter shade but I plan to go for red rather than my normal blonde to try a change but think a dramatic colour would go better with the very short style - make an impact rather than hide it away I think
XXXXXXXXXXX jo XXXXXXXXXXXX
Bumping for those on the other more recent thread about hair dye.
Wandyx