Hair Growth After Chemo

[Betty1227]

Hi ladies,

I'm about 1.5 months post-chemo and I have alot of fuzz growing on my head.  My family/friends are encourging me to shave it completely as that may help it grow more evenly and possibly thicker?  Has anyone done this?  Although it's fuzz, it's better than not having anything on my head so I'm not sure what to do. I buzzed it when it first starting falling out....but I've never shaved my head.

Thanks.

[marie3B]

The fuzz will become hair.  I did not shave mine and it came in evenly.  As it grows you may get some extra long ones.  Those you can trim to match the rest.  Good luck on your new hair.  Cancer is horrible.  The only fun in it has been in watching my hair return. I hope you are feeling great and that the cancer is now gone.  Marie

[vegas2cr]

Marie is 100% correct.. It will grow in perfectly... look under my photos and see my grey fuzz and now... Hope you are well... Ronni

[Betty1227]

Thank you ladies....you both look great!  Vegas - I can't imaging how beautiful Costa Rica is...how lucky you are to be there!!

I'm doing well, thanks.  Just got my results back from CT scans (all normal) and CA125 (12).  I hope and pray that it stays that way for a very long time - for all of us!!  I know hair is superficial, but it makes me feel so much better to see the regrowth - it feels like a new beginning.  All the best.....

[vegas2cr]

There is a book called "Its not about the Hair" and its by Debra Jarvis.. buy it... because its not about the hair its about what having no hair signifies..I hope that you stay healthy for a long time.. Ronni

[Lafnatitall]

The fuzz is GREAT!!!  Mine is now about 1/2 inches long now with a few that are a good 1 inch!  I, too, trim down the ones that stick out!  I thought I looked like an ostrich when it was about 2 months out...but it's getting better and better.  I go out without scarves or hats...too warm!  And besides, I worked HARD for this look!  Wear it proudly!

Rhonda

[Jan214]

I think hair has to start with something so I don't see any point in cutting it to encourage growth.  It is hair not flowers.  LOL  Seriously, my hair was like that and I thought I would NEVER be able to grow real hair again, but it has come back and it is thick and super curly, medium brn and only about 4 grey hairs so, all in all I can't complain.  I hate it and always stuff it under a hat, but I guess one of these days it will be long again.  In the meantime I love my hats.  Yours will grow again.  Good luck with your remission.
Jan

[crecco]

The girls are right. Your fuzz will become actual hair before you know it. Granted it does look odd at times, but when mine started coming back the first time, I referred to it as my "baby hair" as it was so soft. If you notice, you may also have some light facial hair along the sides of your cheeks and jawline. Do not do anything with that either as it will eventually disappear. (just like a baby's does) I know that it seems to take forever, but it will be there. I am just getting mine back for the second time, and it is at least an inch long. But this time it is coming back in lighter than ever. I have always had dark hair but now it looks as though it will be light brown to blond! (my boyfriend always said he knew that I had blond roots!) Just leave it, and now that you can see the fuzz, it will seem to grow much faster and before you know it you will be sporting a new short syle.
      Good Luck,
     Chris

[onniebay]

I never lost all of my hair because I had an allergic reaction to taxol after my second chemo.  I finished chemo the first week of June and it started to grow back in July.  It was all different lengths and looked terrible.  I just kept wearing hats when out of the house.  Someone told me not to wear hats at home because it would grow faster.  Finally in September I went to get my hair cut and my stylist did a great job.  She trimmed it and showed me how to style it. No more hats!  I had a big bald spot on the back of my head until November.  I got lots of compliments on my hair.

My hair grew back the same color and still straight (my stylist thinks it has more body).  It is thinner than before, but I had really thick hair before.  Now it is more medium thick.  Still growing back and different lengths.  I wearing it in a layered bob.  I had dark black facial hair on the sides of my cheeks and jawline.  I just trimmed it and bleached it.  

[marie3B]

I found today that if I stretch the curl out my hair can touch my shoulder.  I showed my grand-daughters and Amanda said, "So, you still kinda look like a man." Marie