Hi any idea on how long it takes for your hair to start growing after chemo I fin 5 wks ago but no sign yet I know we are all diff just wanted a idea thanks Laura
Hi Laura
The BCC leaflet says that most women will have a full covering of hair 3 to 6 months after chemo finishes.
I’m 2 months after chemo and my hair is retutning, but it’s still a bit patchy and thin. No sign of any brows or lashes tho! :{
Dx
Hi Laura,
My hair took a little while to grow back and during that time I managed to convince myself it would never do so. Seems silly looking back, but such was my state of mind at the time. Luckily for me my eyelashes and eyebrows did come back within a couple of months.
Anyway, I finished chemo in early January, the initial regrowth on my head was quite light-coloured so didn’t show up much and it was mid-June before I felt I had enough hair covering to pluck up the courage to go out without a hat on.
As you say, it’s different for everyone and I hope things continue to improve for you.
Mine came back during chemo as white fluff.
Now a few months on i’ve got lots of thick grey hair, eyebrows and even lashes. Apart from no fringe, I look quite normal (!).
I finished chemo mid February and I can now say I have a full head of hair. Quite thick, wavy and a bit fluffy at ends. Now almost about 1 and 1/2 inchs long.(except at front!?!) Really needs tidied up and trying to pluck up courage to get to hairdressers for first cut! I have coloured it with an ammonia free colour and it has been fine. Happy without wig in the house and garden but still resorting to wig for going out to work, socially, etc. I keep putting off the unveiling, however I know i will have to do it soon! Don’t really like my hair short, however delighted and relieved to see it back, especially as I am still on Herceptin and I understand that it can slow the growth down. Good luck everyone with new hair days!! J.
My avatar is about 12 weeks after end of chemo, and I was publicly bare-headed with my uber short hair! I never did use the wig, my scalp was way too itchy/sore and I’d had enough of scarves and hats, most people at church (work) had already seen me hairless either at home or in hospital, the Tam flushes were emerging and I thought, hand it!
I am now nearly nine months post chemo and have hair about 2 inches long, thick, wavy and like JayneK getting to the point it needs to be tidied up 
Mine started to regrow after Tax 2 (I did 3xFEC then 3 x Tax) and was initially colourless and downy. It was quite grey to start with but is getting darker all the time!
Hopefully yours will soon return, we are all different, and I recall how worried I was as to whether mine would return after most of it fell out at once just 10 days after FEC 1, then worrying about the bald patch that seemd to take forever to regrow, then suddenly realising I had presentable hair again, albeit very short!
I finished chemo a year ago last week and was able to ditch my wig at the end of January. Have had it cut five times since then as when it grows it is curly. Nothing wrong with curly hair but after 48 years with poker straight hair I can’t face starting to struggle with hair straighteners!
My hair used to be long fine and fair and has come back a lot darker and thicker.I finally got round to getting a few highlights a month ago. Whilst still a lot shorter and darker than I am used to it certainly beats wearing a wig.
I might grow it next year but am sticking to short at least till the hot flushes subside.
Had kept a bag of my old hair but have finally binned it and embraced the new normal.
AM
I too have kept a bag of my old hair - why is that?
I am halfway through chemo that won’t finish until the end of November. I wear a wig, my hair has gone. I can feel hair growing back but I don’t get excited about it as I know that it could all fall out again. Having hair is the least of my problems, I love my wig - and I just get on with my life without having to spend money on hair colourants and time washing and drying my hair.
I had highlights in my hair before and my thinking was to hang on to some to colour match at the end and get back to “normal.” Of course this was completely pointless as the hair I got afterwards was nothing like the hair I had before.
Like you I considered the hair thing the least. Of my problems. My wig was great and often people who didn’t know about my illness would compliment me on my hairstyle. With a wig you never have a bad hair day!
AM
Annemarie - its true! Hair doesn’t matter - and I prefer my wig to how my hair was and I might just keep shaving my head when (and if) my hair grows back - it’s certainly easier!
Hi super trouper. My current short style is totally "wash and go"and is no trouble at all. Whilst not as gorgeous as the wig it is not unattractive and if , like me, you end up prone to the odd hot flush it is certainly cooler.
All the best for your remaining chemo. November is not so very far away now although it probably seems so at times.
AM
Hi Laura
I finished chemo on the 15th April, i did 4 ec’s and 4 tax. My hair started coming through on tax. It’s now about an inch and a half long. I have had it cut, and coloured and will get it done again this week. I ditched my wig in july, when I looked like I had chosen short hair and not had it thrust upon me:-)
I thunk everyone is different, and hair grows at different rates.
Kerry x
hi all i stop chemo last year and my hair still growing so slow hair at sides just little on top old man looking
Hi Laura
I finished chemo a month ago and have what can only be likened to albino rabbit fluff on the back and sides of my head, and an alarming lack of anything on the front. I have never worn a wig but have some gorgeous hats until my hair comes back. I am hoping it will go dark again and hoping it doesn’t come back too curly as it was very curly and long before (like on my pic) but to be honest I will just be happy to have hair again as I’m cold without it. I’m glad you posted because I was starting to worry about patchy regrowth too. I know in the grand scheme of things hair is a small part of all this, but I think we would all like to know that it will come back at some point. I have a friend whose hair never regrew after chemo and found it v hard.
love Rachel x
the wisps that remained are growing… and I think I’ve got some coming round the sides, but not a thing on top or at the back… two months after chemo ended… I WOULD like some more! Jane
I think hair growth is very dependant on if you are on hormone or herceptin treatment, and also how quick your hair used to grow before treatment. I was triple negative to am on no ongoing treatment, plus had fast growing hair anyway, so the 1cm a month that I’ve seen quoted seems to fit me, but don’t include the first month after chemo.
I had my last chemo on 31/03/11, I now have a head full of really soft ‘chemo curls’ which is odd after having had really straight long hair,I should get it tidied up at some point, but can’t bring myself to do it yet.
Jen
Hi Ladies,
Has anyone got any advice to help hair regrow? ie: massage, supplements etc. I’ve heard of horsetail and zinc or products that contain zinc like anti dandruff shampoos.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated as I did’nt mind looking like a fluffy baby owl but now I look like a monk just round the sides LOL.
Love and light to you all
Sarahlousie xxxxx
a friend who sells the Forever Living Aloe Vera range said that AV gel was good for stimulating hair growth, so I’ve been putting the H&B AV gel on, and there are (finally) some signs of life… not all over; not much; but SOMETHING is better than nothing! My hairdresser recommends massage (with anything)
Hi,
I have been using the New Hair shampoo bar from Lush, not sure if it does any good, but hasn’t done any harm, below is part of what they say about it
We have included bay oil, clove bud oil, and cinnamon leaf oil, which work together to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles for healthy hair growth. Peppermint oil stimulates the blood flow, which in turn gives follicles a boost.
There was a previous thread on here where someone said about caffine shampoo.
Jen
I used rapidlash thru chemo and have hung on to lashes and brows. Finished 30 august and hair growing back. Using alpecin shampoo. Reading thread most people seem to have a decent amount of hair in five months. Enough to ditch the wigs