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What to do with my mad chemo curls!

(19 Posts)
grandmajet Tue 09-Feb-21 10:44:10

Yes Luckygirl, pink it may well be if enough curls remain after this bout of chemo.
I love the idea of ringlet style hair Laura, fingers crossed for it to hang on in there so I can achieve those.
Pink ringlets. Hmm!

Luckygirl Sun 07-Feb-21 12:26:00

Pink - pink is what you need!!

grandmajet Sun 07-Feb-21 12:01:15

Thanks to you all. It really helps to get messages on what can seem a silly thing. I had quite a few hairs in the shower this morning so maybe my latest chemo has decided to take out the curls. Serves me right for moaning! I wonder what my hair will be like next time?
?‍????‍???‍???‍?or even??!

JanaNana Tue 02-Feb-21 10:24:10

I too had crazy chemo curls. My hair before chemo was naturally wavy but once it started growing back it was a tight mass of curls. and a lovely shade of silver. However a few months later the chemo curls stopped appearing and my hair became very straight ....I had always had very wavy hair and was shocked to see it so straight and unsure how to manage it. After a few weeks thought my natural waves came back again and now it's back to how it used to be.

PECS Mon 01-Feb-21 17:50:37

Grandmajet I have a friend who is sporting a very lovely wig at the moment due to chemo, different from her usual 'look!' I have had several friends who have also had to manage the emotional situation of losing their hair and the 'not feeling like me' situation. It is not nice. I used to iron my hair as a teen to try to get a long straight fringe! Once I embraced my curls and accepted they were a part of me life was happier!

I did have my hair straightened once for a special dinner dance vent..my colleagues walked past me as they did not recognise me!

My advice is to look at the Curly Girl website and use their products. Hope you soon feel comfortable in your new look flowers

grandmajet Mon 01-Feb-21 15:53:21

Haha. True, PECS. I just have to learn how to make the best of it. At least I don’t blowdry and straighten all the time.

PECS Mon 01-Feb-21 14:22:10

As someone who has always had curly hair I am not sure what the problem is?
Though I suppose I might be upset if I lost my curls & they regrew as a ubiquitous straight bob or crop.

grandmajet Mon 01-Feb-21 14:11:25

Thank you all.
Missfoodlove, I have added cantu to my shopping list!

dragonfly46 Mon 01-Feb-21 13:29:52

I am really jealous. Before chemo I had wavy, thickish hair. I now have straight baby hair which I can do nothing with. I am nearly a year out of chemo. I am hoping to get my old hair back.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Mon 01-Feb-21 13:25:20

My hair is naturally wavy rather than out-and-out curly and after the chemo it came back very dry with unmanageable curls - I really couldn't do anything with it for quite a few months. I used the best conditioner I could find to try and tame it but it was a constant problem - although I was glad to be alive.
It calmed down eventually. I had it cut very short and it seems a bit straighter now. Lockdown hasn't helped - the fairly neat pixie cut is looking rather unkempt and shapeless but nothing a trip to the hairdresser won't cure when it's allowed again.

GagaJo Mon 01-Feb-21 13:10:39

I think chemo curls are temporary. Mine certainly were. They lasted a few months then went back to my previous wavy hair. I was white immediately after chemo but it gradually darkened up again too. The only thing that didn't revert to normal was the hair on the top of my head. It's thin now.

LauraNorder Mon 01-Feb-21 13:09:50

Sorry I assumed you'd finished your treatment when I said congrats.

LauraNorder Mon 01-Feb-21 13:07:43

Congrats on finishing your treatment.
I have very curly hair and wash and condition as normal, towel dry, rub a handful of tresemme conditioner in hands and blob it all over head, comb it through with fingers whilst scrunching and leave to dry naturally.
I just add a little more each morning to dry hair if it needs to settle.
Only wash my hair once a week as it gets better and more settled each day.
I did cut it short early in lock down but it looked a bit 'old lady permish' so have let it grow. At five inches it's at its best because the curl can bend back on itself twice, ringlet fashion.
Persevere and it should look great.

grandmajet Mon 01-Feb-21 13:05:44

Welshwife, it’s been growing again for about 6 months - my next chemo didn’t take it out! Having read the suggestions, I think a trip to the hairdresser when it it safe to do so is indicated. That may be a while off, as I’m still having regular chemo and trying to keep super safe.
I thinking embracing the proper granny look in the meantime is the answer.

Missfoodlove Mon 01-Feb-21 12:55:43

Hi, I have a daughter and granddaughter with crazy curls.
There are really good products available.
Cantu and Dipity do are the two of the best.
I hope you can embrace your curls.

Welshwife Mon 01-Feb-21 12:54:35

How long has your hair been growing again? Mine came back very curly and a darker grey than it was. I just went with the curls initially but when it was long enough to need cutting and I had it trimmed it became less curly. Now it is not as thick or ‘springy’ as it was but it is a bit more kinky sort of thing - coming up two years since I finished the chemo.

Peasblossom Mon 01-Feb-21 12:48:01

I’m afraid I took the hair clippers to it and went back to the close crop until it had learned to behave itself!

All except for one curly kink at the front ?

crazyH Mon 01-Feb-21 12:45:53

Curls are gorgeous !!!!!! Why don’t you give it a colour ?
Hope you are doing well after your treatment and are well on the road to a full recovery flowers

grandmajet Mon 01-Feb-21 12:39:00

I used to have a swishy, straight blonde bob, but chemotherapy did away with it. A wig and interesting hats were fine for a while but I now have thick, crazy grey curls. I knew it would come back grey, and had hoped for a cute pixie look but I now look like a cross between Bill Clinton and Brian May, depending on how the mood takes it. Curl cream works to tame it a bit.
Any advice please?