Hi,
I have been looking at this website for some time but could never bring myself to write something. I found out I had Cancer in July 2010. 10 days before my wedding.I was 27 am now 28. I have had chemo and a MS. My hair is now growing slowly and was wondering if there is anything I can use or take to help this along.
Thanks
Jen
Hi Jenny and welcome to the BCC forums
Whilst you await replies about your query I thought you may be interested in the support BCC can offer, please follow this link for support specifically tailored to younger women:
breastcancercare.org.uk/about-us/our-services/support-for-younger-women/
Take care
Lucy
hi jenny
so sorry bout the bad news you got so close to your big day. hope you had a lovely day tho.
i havent got any tips sorry but i will say it feels like it take forever to grow but one day soon you will notice it has just suddenly grown im just under a yr since my last chemo and ive had my hair cut twice ive had it cut short around my ears and bit longer on top but im happy with it now. hope this helps xx kerry
Im having fec t and am half way through. I havent lost all my hair and it started growing after my third fec i start tax next week so i hope i dont lose it again.
Hi jenny after a recommendation, I used a shampoo bar from the shop ‘Lush’ (do u have one nearby?). It’s red in colour + is cinammon based+ is specifically to boost hair growth. Only cost about £4 + I defo saw a difference.
I also took the perfectil skin hair + nails supplements- these are really cheap in asda compared to boots etc. I’ve also seen tabs called tricologie (or somethin v.similar) which claim to boost hair growth. They’re around £30 but I haven’t tried them.
Another tip would be leave your wig off as much as poss as that defo helps.
All the best
tina x
I know some people have said advocado oil massaged in is good but havent tried it myself . x
Try rosemary shampoo - most health food shops will have it. I washed my head with it every day even when I only had a few strands left. I also massaged my head every day with a little rubbered headed brush. I left my wig off as well - it was too hot in the summer anyway! A hairdresser told me that this was also best as wearing the wig when growth starts can stunt growth- especially in the front. My hair started growing before I finished chemo and by the time I went for my mastectomy 6 weeks later I had a full head, although very very short and grey, of wonderful hair. That was August 2009 and by Christmas I’d had it cut and coloured. Its thicker and in better condition than before and is cut every 6 weeks.
xx
Hi Jen - I finished chemo March last year and by Sept had a full head of thick hair that needed cutting . Before dx I took hair, nail and skin supplement from Tesco (£3.99 VERY similar to a popular branded product) to help my nails. Started taking it again after chemo and also massaged head regularly with sweet almond oil as I had read on a hair loss website this would help as it stimulates blood flow. They also recommended hanging your head over the edge of the bed for 5 mins twice a day but thought that was a step too far!!But might be worth a try. Good luck. Marli
Thank you so much for all your comments and tips will try them all.
Hi Good luck with the hair growth! I lost hair (and nails twice) as I had chemo both pre and post surgery. Herceptrin seem to retard haor growth too. A friend who has een through this too recommended Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner, leaving the conditioner on for 20 mins. It’s something to do with the zinc content. Got a proper haircut on Monday at the Rainbow Room! Still very fine on the crown but proper hair everywhere else. Once it started growing, I got Ojon shampoo and conditioner from QVC and it definitly leave hair very conditioned. Pricy, but you only use a tiny amount. So I kinda alternate them. i am going to try the Lush! I gor tons of beatiful soaps - I lov beautiful soaps - for Christmas but have never tried the solid shampoo. They sell devine! Good luck sweetie, hope it helps!
Annie x
Oh and avoid baby shampoo! Everyone I know who has gone through this (including me) did as that is what they recommend and it left hair day, flyaway and frizzy! OK for wigs though … Just checked the typos on previous! Shameful!!
Hi Jen.
I too was diagnosed with bc in July last year. 4 days before my son’s 1st birthday and christening. I was 28 at the time, 29 now. I am just coming to the end of my chemo and can’t wait for my hair to start growing although I am quite surprised by the length of time people are reporting - I was imagining a full head of hair within a couple of months lol. Wishful thinking. It’s good to hear all the advice people have given. I may try the Lush Shampoo bar, sounds lovely 
Good luck all with the hair growing!
Hi Jen.
I too was diagnosed with bc in July last year. 4 days before my son’s 1st birthday and christening. I was 28 at the time, 29 now. I am just coming to the end of my chemo and can’t wait for my hair to start growing although I am quite surprised by the length of time people are reporting - I was imagining a full head of hair within a couple of months lol. Wishful thinking. It’s good to hear all the advice people have given. I may try the Lush Shampoo bar, sounds lovely
Good luck all with the hair growing!
Hi all,
I finished chemo towards the end of August and now have a decent cover of hair, about 1cm long, quite thick. BUT greyer than it was originally (I just used to have highlights, not dye)and oddly curly. I had heard about that before, but couldn’t imagine being grey and curly, but there’s no denying it!!
What to do? Trim the edges and keep it short until it calms down? If I leave it, I’ll have seriously ‘big hair’ before long… Seems a waste of money going for a trim too as it is still very short. When is it OK to colour again??
Hi Sue, have coloured my hair with Naturtint from Holland&Barrett, but did a strand test first to make sure I didn’t turn orange, also had the fuzzy bits trimmed off. Mine is sort of wavy but soft. Hope you are doing ok, are you back at work? X
Hi Tina,
Yes back at work! Went back after half term last term - November. Bit of a horror at first but am just about keeping my head above water… Teaching fine but running the department less easy! Knackered still too. Scared to try tint but might have to give it a go…
You well?
Sue
Hi Sue, you must be shattered, don’t know how you do it! The Naturtint is ammonia and peroxide free, did first colour six weeks after last Chemo, gave me a real boost, hair is now growing very well, thank god! Very lucky my friend is a hairdresser, she wouldn’t let me colour without testing first and I had a couple of cuts to get rid of the Chemo fuzz! Hope you are doing well. Tina x