Or maybe I should say, lack of post chemo hair, because its not coming in fast enough for me.
As soon as I lost my hair I started asking everyone how soon I would have hair again after chemo and most clinicians told me, "oh, a couple of months after chemo you should have hair again". I was hopeful. But I did not realize that they considered a tiny bit of peach fuzz on top of my head hair. My definition of "having hair again" did not match theirs.
Losing my hair has been one of the harder things about this whole chemo thing. As women, a hairstyle is a statement, how much time we spend styling it or the lack of attention it gets says something about us. Texan ladies have Big Hair and California girls have highlighted hair. Hair trends influence us, I once styled a Farrah Faucett, a perm and even a Jennifer Aniston. My daughters first styled cut was modeled after a cartoon character we had seen and, at five, it was adorable on her.
So I want my hair back. I'm ready to spend a half hour with a blow dryer, mouse and hair spray again. Lacking that, I spend my time studying short hair cuts and try to convince myself I am fortunate to get to start over. I don't think I would have ever considered short spiky hair, now I am hoping to be modeling such a style by Christmas. By Christmas. . . . yes, that seems like a long time to me too.
If you are interested, there are slide shows out there that chronical hair regrowth after chemo. I like this one the best, but this one seems to be the most popular.
I have great eyelashes and eyebrows and I am shaving my legs again. In my reseach, I've seen that occasionally, the eyebrows and eyelashes fall out again about five months post chemo.
Now wouldn't that be a bummer?!
12 responses to this post:
OMG it would be a bummer. I love this post and how you say your definitions are different. I know you are beautiful with or without hair or even peach fuzz. :) All good things come...sometimes just not as quickly as we want it to :)
That would be a bummer. I also think that having to shave yoru legs again would be a bummer. Is teh fuzz coming in a different shade or texture to your old hair?
This would be so difficult! I think you would look super hip in a short spiky do! :) We'll want to see pics!
Hugs from Paraguay!
Shilo
Thanks for this post Brenda! I admit to being very "vain", as far as hair goes. I have very thin hair and have to be very careful what I put on it, or else I loose even more than usual. So I understand just a little and it would be really hard for me too. I sincerely hope your hair grows back for Christmas! I think a spiky cut would look good on you!
I've thought that the hair loss would be one of the hardest parts of the whole experience! Can't wait for yours be enough for you to enjoy it again - loss of eyelashes/brows would not be soooo bad if you had your spiky do!
Brenda, I had my last chemo on April 30, 2009. by July I had enough "peach fuzz" to stop wearing hats or wigs (way too hot for those!). I now have enough hair to use a little gel and give it a little spike and style. Strangers have complimented me on my hair (my favorite came from a young male security guard). I still don't need a brush, a blow dryer or even a comb...but I'm telling myself that's a good thing. My hair came in darker and thicker...not a bad trade.
My eyelashes came back in really wimpy and then fell out again. They came back thicker and longer than ever though, so there's the good part.
I'm with you on the impatience! Bring back the hair!!
What a great reminder to me today that often the things I think are tough in my life really are not so bad after all.
Hoping you have hair by Christmas! Wouldn't that be a great gift. I've seen a lot of short, spikey styles recently. Classy and stylish!! :-)
Awe, your hairstyles have always been trendy and beautiful. I really liked your hair right before you started chemo.
It'll come back soon.
The good news is, you look great in your scarfs. I love the way you match them with pretty earrings. You look hip!
Thanks for sharing your difficult times with us. Well, Christmas really isn't ALL that far away! You'll look great in your family pictures! Who knows? You may enjoy your short hair so much that you'll keep it for awhile!
Hair is a big part of being a woman and I do hope you don't lose your eyebrows or lashes again.
You are tooooo funny.
I didn't realize how traumatic the hair is treated in chemo. Short hair is always a good look!!!
It is rather interesting for me to read this blog. Thank author for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.
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