Hi guys, I know there are various threads etc. about cold cap and hair loss. I had my last chemo on 22nd Dec. followed by 5 weeks radiotherapy. I used the cold cap and it was fairly successful. I have a lot of hair now, albeit it very curly!! I still won’t go out without my wig because it is so grey and I am desperate to get it coloured. None of the non-permanet hair colourants will work on my hair so I have to get the “heavy duty” colourants. I have seen my hairdresser and she has “agreed” to colour my hair in 4 weeks time, which will be 5 months from my last chemo. I am petrified but excited at the same time. I would love to hear if anyone has any advice before I get it done. I know all the literature says wait 6 months but my Breast Cancer Nurse also said that no-one waits the full 6 months.
Hello!
I used the cold cap, but thinned alot so had lots of new “chemo” hair along with my old cold capped hair. I had mine dyed at the hairdressers 6 weeks after my final chemo! (Naughty, I know! But I was prepared to take the risk of it getting damaged/falling out as hadn’t gone through the cold cap to have to wear hats and scarves all the time due to roots!). For me, it worked out great. The colour took really well and it looked healthier and shiner. I’ve dyed it every month since…
There are women who’ve dyed it and it’s been a completely different colour than planned…but hopefully your hairdresser will be up on that. Mine dyed it darker than she normally would and it came out lighter.
Good luck!
x
Hi Kelly
I used a ‘normal’ semi-permanent on mine 5 months after the end of chemo with no ill effects and I know of others who’ve had their hair dyed using permanents within the 6 months - with no ill effects.
I would get your hairdresser to do a strand and patch test first. The first growth of hair after chemo can be more porous and colours can go odd on it. Your skin might also be more sensitive than it was.
It might be worth trying a strand test with non-perm one first - they never used to ‘take’ on my hair particularly well, but have done since chemo.
Good luck!
Dx
Hi Sandytoes, thankx so much for getting back to me on this, you have really boosted me. Did you use the “heavy duty” colourants, i.e. peroxide, ammonia etc.
Ummmm…it has ammonia (but I think I am going to try out one of their new colouring products with no ammonia)…not sure about peroxide as I was going darker rather than lighter. It was the Redken hair dye range.
Thanks Sandytoes, I will have a look for the Redken range. Thanks. Take care.
Thanks JD007, thats encouraging to hear. Maybe I will ask her to do a strand test with a non permanent first, just to see how it goes. I can’t wait to walk out in public for the first time in 8 months without a hat or wig on.
you might want to try henna as it is natural and less harsh on hair. Unless you want to be blonde, you can mix the pwders to get different colours. I use to mix it with ground coffe to get a darker shade.
I used Holland and Barratts hair dye after reading about it on posts in the forum and it was brilliant Covered all my salt and pepper hair. Think it was 9.99.
I was chatting to a member of staff yesterday who went through this af ew years ago. She decided to dye her new gray hair blond - and ended up (in her words) like a Swan Vesta Match - it went bright pink!!! She THEN went to a hairdresser… you should be OK in expert hands… her story put me off doing it at home (packet on shelf)! Let us know hwo it goes!
All the ‘professionals’ I have spoken to have steered me clear of attempting anything at the mo, including my own hairdresser. I have also been advised to wait until my hair is long enough to style too as at the mo I simply put L’Oreal remix on it to make it look a bit more ‘funky’. The Sister in my chemo unit has also spoken of some women who colour their hair asap and find that it starts to come out as a result.
I am now 7 months post chemo and have now had my chemo frizz cut off twice. My hair is now about 1.5 inches in length, in very good condition but soooooooo soft and fine - just like a baby’s. More grey than I would like, but the rest far darker than previous. My scalp is prickly which indicates new hair coming through so I am waiting until I have a thicker covering of hair, and when I have a better idea of whether the colour it is now will be the same by then so that I can decide what colour I want to be.
If you don’t have too much grey a coloured mousse might be worth a try as it just washes out.
If you think of babies it takes them a good couple of years - if not longer - to have a good head of hair, and the same will probably be true of us.
We are all different - for every one who has coloured their own hair with no problems there will also be one ‘Swan Vesta Match’ too. Trouble is that we don’t know who that is going to be until it is too late!
I finished chemo on the 28th November. I didnt loose all my hair. My roots were terrible and I felt a total mess. I got so much different advice and didnt know what to do. A friend of mine had bleach as soon as her hair was long enough to dye when it returned, so decided to act on her advise. I had bleach on the 1st of march, three months after my last chemo. I had the bleach painted on but on my request my hairdresser left about a tiny bit unbleach on the root, so it wouldnt touch the follicles. It was fine and my hair looks nice again!
Mazalloo… where do you get teh mousse? Been looking Tesco/Boots… nothing…Jane
My neighbour is a hairdresser and gets it from her wholesaler. Try smiling sweetly at your hairdresser or perhaps try on-line - mine is called Vital Styling coloured mousse. Mind it doesn’t stain your scalp though!
I have found the henna dye which I buy on line from Ecohampster is really good, it is only semi permanent but coloured my grey curly hair fine/.
GIJane, are you not based in Herts as there is a fantastic lady who is linked with Lister hosp who I went to see and had my hair dyed. PM me and I will send you her details, she is with cancer hair care.
I had my hair dyed 5 months after finishing chemo when I had enough hair to get rid of my wig
Hi Marybrim
Does the colour wash out eventually or do you have to re-colour it please?
How much grey hair do you have percentage wise?
Thanks
Hi folks
I am due to start a chemo regime that is not expected to effect my hair (so says Onc) does anyone know if the same rules apply in this situation i.e. no colouring (thinking of totally grey roots)
Cheers
bump
I did my hair with a home kit 4 and 1/2 months after chemo… all nice and not grey ready for the new year, I didnt use the cold cap so had lost all my hair so I figured that if it went wrong the worst that coluld happen was it all falling out again!.. But all good dyed 3 times now and still have a head of VERY thick hair, cut twice to get rid og curls.
Good luck x