Hair colouring and Gel nails

[Palm Tree]

I think I am at the same stage and would love to know the answer too - so definitely not trivial. I had surgery nearly 3 weeks ago - and waiting for news of chemo & radio or just radio!

[Daisy200]

Hi,

I kept my gel nails all the way through chemo. I didn't see the advice about darker colours until quite near the end, but my consultant said the same about ladies that keep polish or gel on seem to do better. He didn't really know why, although he suggested that having paid all that money out it might just be sheer bloody mindedness that keeps them on. (He is hilarious like that).

I have cold capped and kept it, so very lucky there. I'm quite keen to get it coloured soon, so if anyone has any ideas how soon after chemo that can be done, I'd be interested to hear. 

Nearly two weeks since my last chemo, just starting to feel normal (ish). Don't start radio until June 21st, so feel a bit like I'm on holiday from treatment. Back to work tomorrow. I'm a teacher so looking forwards to chatting with my Y10/11 girls about the best false eyelashes and the best way to keep them on. Theirs always look amazing whereas I feel I've done well if I don't actually look like I've got hairy caterpillars on my eyelids.

[Selinya]

To remove gel nails polish properly and painlessly, use tips from this article https://naildesignsjournal.com/how-to-remove-gel-nail-polish/  or just try a search at Wiki. There are always answers to almost any question)

[Daisy200]

I've kept my gel nails right through chemo and plan to keep them on for radio too. Anything that makes you feel good has to help. No one mentioned dark colours to me though, I've been mainly pink and red.

[Michelle627]

Hello ellakopella,
Just read this today as I’m five months after chemo, with rads mx. My hair is about an inch long and i just ordered henna hair dye powder off amazon. It’s mixed with indigo, I don’t think this is black henna tho is it? That’s the one with PPD added. This is just an organic mix of henna, indigo and a couple of other plants.

Also wanted to get my nails done as they are just long enough now...but I read that the uv can cause cuticle cancer. I’ve only done it once before, but don’t think I’ll do it again.

Thank you for the post ladies, it’s been very helpful x

[ellakopella]

Hi there

I'm not sure on gel nails myself but I did start to read around cosmetics/ hair colourant ingreidents and found these two sites very useful

https://www.goodguide.com/#/ - you can search a product and understand how toxic/non toxic they are.

https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/reduce-your-risk - good advice on reducing risk

I gave up chemical colouring and moved to pure henna based colours - lush do some good ones but Amazon is also a good place to purchase henna colours.  They're messier but healthier all round.

Em x

[Fenouillard]

Hi Mumtothree

Glad you are through your op. I went through the same process as you, questioning my previous regime. I decided to stop colouring my hair and using nail varnish while I’m being treated. I looked at some research on whether hair colour can cause cancer. https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/109/9/djx202/4102324https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/109/9/djx202/4102324 

I’m going through rads at the moment and when I’m through it will get a new haircut and later on some high/low lights but no more hair colouring. As for nail varnish I’ve been researching paraben and SLS free cosmetics. There is a site “beautydespitecancer.co.uk” which offers products developed for cancer patients, including nail varnish. 

Best wishes for your treatment and let us know how you get on

F

[alleybally2003]

Hi! Do you have to take the gel off your nails if you are going to have chemo or radiation! Thanks

[BerthaB]

Hi Goldengirl,

I was also given this advise by my oncologist, he said paint them in a dark colour , there have been no clinical tests but he had observed that the ladies he had treated who painted their nails seemed to keep them during Chemo. I asked why and he was unsure but throught it may keep them out of the light ... perhaps the same with Gel ones ? Just a bit cheaper !

I found that the pamper session each evening was quite theraputic for me, my mum used to do hers at the same time and sometimes friends when they were round.  So chatting  was good at my nail bar !

Did not share the nail pollish though, was worried about nail infections.

I had 8 sessions of Chemo 4 FEC and 4 Tax and the nails were a bit rough but I did not lose them. The Hair dissapeared but the nails looked good....  !!!

Hugs,

BerthaB

[goldengirl]

Hi one of the nurses said to me that girls are advised to paint their nails a dark colour , black or dark burgundy when having chemo to try and protect them. Anyone else heard of this. I still don't know enough about it all xx

[Twizzle3]

Hi, I've just finished my radiotherapy having had a lumpectomy - my nails looked fab throughout as my friend continued to do my gels. So go girl it's important to keep yourself looking good xx

[BlackSwan]

My layperson's understanding is that Radiotherapy just affects your skin (and tissue etc underneath it) that is  actully zapped.  It is a local treatment not a systemic treatment like chemo.  So I can't see why it should affect your nails or hair, and therefore hair colouring and nail tips shouldn't matter.

If/when you have chemo, you will probably lose your hair so there isn't much/any to colour (and any that is left may be too weak for chemicals and your scalp may be sore when it first falls out).  Some chemo drugs make your nails weak, brittle or they may even fall out, so maybe nail tips are not a good idea in this case.

After chemo when your hair starts to grow back, then people often ask when they can start colouring it again.  Some websites recommend waiting 6 months, but many people don't want to wait that long.  One solution after chemo is to wait a few months and then use temporary (Level 1) hair colour  - the stuff that washes out after 6-8 washes.  This is usually milder than the more permanent hair dyes.

[Mumtothree]

Hi everyone, I am a relative newbie to the site and BC. I joined just before my op and haven't had the chance to come back on since then. What I do like about this forum is the genuine advice and people sharing the good times with the bad. Sorry I do go on a bit but my family are still reeling from my diagnosis, Mums always there no matter what happens isn't she. I find it difficult to talk to any of them they still find it upsetting. Me even after the op feel like its happening to someone else. My apologies also if this isn't in the right place.

I opt to go with the lumpectomy instead of jumping straight in with a mastectomy. I had my lumpectomy and Lymph nodes removed last Friday, had to stay in overnight my op didn't happen until just after 3pm and although this time I didn't have the usual bad reaction to the anaesthetic they wanted to make sure I was ok. I have a lot of swelling and there's quite a lot of pain but the district nurse has visited twice, we know her which has helped, I don't see anyone now until next Friday when I see the consultant for a check up, results from the op and to see whether I need chemo before the radiotherapy and when it's starting. My DN said to keep an eye on the swelling if it worsens then to ring the BC nurse at the hospital, who have been fantastic, for them to arrange me going to the ward for it to be drained.

Now to get to my question as I've heard various reports but not from anyone connected to the treatment of cancer. I have worn gel covered nail tips for years the salon is a good one and my nails don't suffer. I have them taken off occasionally to give my own nails a rest. Also I've had my hair coloured using Nice & Easy also for years, my question is will it be safe to continue doing this considering I know I'm having Rad treatment for definite with the possibility of chemo. I appreciate the chemo would answer the question of my hair but I'm looking on the good side until they say its definitely chemo.
Has anyone else experienced making this decision, I know in the balance of things it may seem trivial to some. Unfortunately I have a pale skin which comes with thousands of freckles, I like to wear make up because some days although I'm fine I can still look pale and ill, its a case of wearing makeup so I don't get asked constantly if I'm ok lol.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.
TIA.