hair loss

[sisterD]

i am wondering about losing hair....................is this a problem for those of you on treatment? should i just shave my head when i start?

[milkhoney]

There are several natural remedies that are claimed to help with hair loss, but it's important to keep in mind that there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness. Here are a few natural remedies that are often suggested for hair loss:

Essential oils: Some people claim that using essential oils, such as rosemary, lavender, and thyme, can help to stimulate hair growth. These oils can be massaged into the scalp or added to a shampoo or conditioner.

Supplements: Some supplements, such as biotin, folic acid, and zinc, are claimed to help with hair growth. However, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking any supplements, as they may have potential side effects or interact with medications you are taking.

Herbal remedies: Some herbs, such as saw palmetto and green tea, are claimed to help with hair loss. These herbs can be taken in supplement form or applied topically to the scalp.

Scalp care: Taking care of your scalp can help to promote healthy hair growth. This includes washing your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo, avoiding harsh styling products, and avoiding tight hairstyles that pull on the hair.

Address underlying causes: In some cases, hair loss may be caused by underlying medical conditions, such as iron deficiency, thyroid problems, or hormonal imbalances. It's important to address any underlying causes in order to effectively treat hair loss.

It's important to keep in mind that hair loss can be a complex issue, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations and to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

[sisterD]

my hair is burgandy and the natural is gray lol..........cant really lighten it ..... but its ok, i live in new mexico and its hot.....everyone shaves their head in the summer lol

Seriously, ty for all of your insights and info.......i appreciate it more than u know

[Gerbils]

Hi,
I definitely wouldn't shave your head unless you want to do it for fun. I had long pretty hair before treatment; I didn't shave it as my doctor said no one would notice the hair loss but me. Like ResearchMonkey (nice to see you on here BTW) I too had a severe scalp rash (and rash in most other places).  I lost probably 70% of my hair and even tho it wasn't thick to begin with it looks ok. I am 3 months post tx and my hair started falling 2 months in to the tx and kept going after. There were several weeks after where it came out in small clumps but finally seems to have stopped. I use shampoo with volumizer and blow dry and it fluffs out ok.  

If you don't want to be two toned maybe you couldn't lighten your hair before tx so it wouldn't be so noticeable? I did that several years back so I could let the grey show and it was the best thing I ever did. Grey can be awesome and it easy to grow out if your hair is blondy. Good Luck in tx!
G

[flcyclist]

My wife can no longer make out the words, "I Love You" I shaved in my back hair due to all this hair loss.  Any other men experience this frustration??  ;-))

On a serious note, I've noticed that rash and the amount of itch appear to be related to the hair loss.  The few months I had the itchiest scalp is when I noticed the most thinning.  Fortunately, I started with a thick head (of hair) so not too apparent.  My barber did notice the thinning and the straight hair.  We had a good discussion.  I also notice thinning of the eyebrows, to me obvious.  The llama lashes are getting annoying......

[Dee1956]

Please do not shave your head.  Other people said that to me and I thought, what?!  I think you should wait to see how tx affects you individually
Not everyone experiences hair loss or thinning.  I have a lot of thinning but decided not to cut my hair and now I have baby hairs coming in 4 weeks after finishing tx.  I have some nice scarves to wear to keep the chill off my head :)
Last tx I cut my hair and was so sorry later.  This time I am waiting it out
Good luck to you
Dee

[pjhep62]

NO, do not shave your head... it is really only noticeable to you... just dont wash your hair as much, that helps alot

[screaming48]

i had a pixie cut to start with and i started loosing hair, kept getting into the food and then i came up with about 4 really good bald spots, i did like researchmonkey and bought a couple really nice wigs that i get compliments on all the time when i wear them, sometimes I don't wear them for days on end and just wear a bandana. Somehow I don't mind loosing my hair now that I am still undetected and I have found out that loosing hair is small stuff. you will be ok :)
researchmonkey shots in the scalp oh ouch bless your heart.... my head has been very dry hope i don't get to that point eek

[researchmonkey326]

I should own stock in Raquel Welch wigs.  If you do need a wig, those are a good option - I get loads of compliments on my "hair" and the price is not bad.  I order online.  I had a severe scalp rash so lost most of my hair and my scalp has not fully recovered after six months post trt so it has not started growing back quite right yet (now undergoing treatments for this including steroid injections into my scalp).  I'm still shaving my head because it feels better and you are right, it has given me some insight into what we think is important but in reality, is not.

[kmatucson]

My hair started thinning about 1 month before I finished tx.. I'm 2 weeks post tx and it is still thinning, but that should stop soon.  I started with thick hair, which was a plus.  My hairdresser just came out to my house today and trimmed it up and it looks great..  With the right cut you can definately pull it off..  I still need color, but I'm going to wait a couple of more weeks for that, and until then I wear a hat if I leave the house..  He did suggest Nioxin and is going to pick some up for me..  

[sisterD]

ty

[leebambee]

I cut my hair to a bob before hand, the less tangles you have to comb, the less hair I seem to lose. Maybe it is the weight off also that helps. Im glad I did as I dont have the energy to dry long, shoulder length hair now.
Btw, the shampoo is Nioxin and it helps keep your hair. The bigger problem for me is the itching! This shampoo and conditioner helps with that also. Good luck.

[sisterD]

:)  

[sisterD]

no need to be embarrassed........think of it as finding a new side of yourself.........i too have had long hair forever and every color u can think of, but maybe no hair will give me insight into the unknown and who knows maybe ill like it

ps.....maybe u would too  :)

[sisterD]

thank goodness lol............ i think i would rather have no hair then have it everywhere..........i sort of have a germ phobia and hair freaks me out , ty for the help and ill keep u posted

[Hepcwife926]

My husband is thinning but I think only I notice- it's more on his stomach where he injects he's lost the hair there- but no one but me would see that anyway ;)

[Hepcwife926]

My husband is thinning but I think only I notice- it's more on his stomach where he injects he's lost the hair there- but no one but me would see that anyway ;)

[orphanedhawk]

BTW:
It grows back. Stop the meds, and your hair returns.

[mykids247]

I think the worst part of the hair thing is when I blow dry (and I have to!) is the hair falling on my back and it freaks me out. So I always wear a long sleeve t-shirt to catch the falling debris. Close the drain on the sink and your good to go.

[marty59]

After losing about 2/3 of my hair, I'm totally bummed and embarrased.
I have had a thick long ponytail since about 1970.
I did worry about the hair loss thing at the beginning of treatment and even had my wife cut a large amount off figuring it would be less noticeable.
I should just cut the rest off ( ponytail) and go thin and short for a while, but just can't bring myself to do it.


Guys can be vain too. :)

[orphanedhawk]

If you don't have any problem with shaving your head, then it sure would be easier than picking hairs out of everything, everywhere all the time. I can't brush my teeth, wash a dish, nada without finding hair. Hair is everywhere and still falling.
You might want to wait until you see if it really does fall out or not.

[sisterD]

ty for the info, i really appreciate it...................i color my hair and shaving it may be the only answer to keep it from the 2 tone haha......... but im hoping 4 the best  :)

[sisterD]

ty and i totally agree ...... small price to pay

[mykids247]

I have one week left of treatment and my hair started "shedding" about two months ago. It doesnt come out in clumps just like when you blow dry the vanity and sink has a ton of hair on it and if you run your hands through it you get a hand full. I did start using nixon (I think thats it) shampoo and it REALLY makes your hair look a lot fuller when you blow it dry. I did start off with a lot of really thick straight hair and always wear it in a shortish bob hoping it stops shedding when I finish. If this is the worst price to pay for being free from this I'll gladly pay up!!!!

[ceanothus]

Hair loss varies quite a lot in different individuals. A few seem to lose most of their hair, a few seem to lose none of it, and the rest of us lose varying amounts. I lost about 40% during my previous tx, and it looks like I will lose about that much this time too. It doesn't happen right away though, typically it only starts a little bit at about 3-4 months in, and doesn't really get noticeable until the 5th month. You may not even get enough loss to be noticeable at all, so shaving your head at the outset would be an extreme measure to take. I started tx on Oct 23, and it's only been in the last week that the hair loss is starting to really bother me. My husband isn't sure if he can even see it however, and I expect no one but my hair stylist would really notice so far - although they might all notice that my hair doesn't look as good as usual, without being sure why. I do recommend cutting it shorter eary in tx - it keeps the loss a little less noticeable and it also means shorter hairs in the drain when they do start dropping. I started tx by cutting my very long hair to about chin-length, and now that it is getting extremely thin I will soon be getting a sort of Pixie cut. I hope that will suffice to keep it looking acceptable (it did suffice during my previous tx), but if not then I may look into a wig, or a collection of cool hats. I hope you are a lucky one!