I’m devastated due to my ruined hair

You are not going to endear yourself to other posters Padine by correcting their spelling or grammar. Rude indeed.

I think your health anxieties are being manifest in this concern about your hair. Try and relax a little and enjoy life now you are on the road to recovery.

Get a good hairdresser to cut it so that the worst bits don't show, then LEAVE IT ALONE. You can't see the back to cut it properly, so you risk having chop marks that draw people's eye to it. The good hairdresser will give you advice on how to manage your hair while the damage grows out - which it will.

Don't use hot tongs or hairdryer on it or harsh chemicals, and don't overdo the conditioner or you will have to wash it more often. There are lots of hairbands and chemotherapy hats on the internet that you can wear while out (the weather is helpful at the moment, most people are wearing hats) but while you are alone at home, leave your head open to the air, without squashing your hair down under a covering,

You can’t see the back of your head?? And can’t imagine anyone else being concerned about it??

How did you use both names? surely you must have signed in with two accounts yet you said the original account could not be used.

My hair has recently gone curly, possibly as a result of taking prednisolone for rheumatism. My hair dresser now cuts it shorter and I just leave it to dry naturally. I actually like it.

When I was younger I went to top West End hair dressers such as Daniel Galvin and always admired my hair. So much so that I walked into a lamppost whilst looking at myself in shop windows!

I thought you asked for advice

Do something about it!.

Get a wig if you're that bothered.

And stop looking at the back of your head

Seriously? A poster has started a thread sharing how very upset she is about her damaged hair. Why the insensitive abrasive comments? It honestly baffles me at times when I read some of the comments on GN.

As you say your hair is damaged, I don’t think I’d be using any harsh treatments or tools on it.
I think I’d wait until next Spring, then go to a reliable, recommended hairdresser for a re-style. I travel 25 miles to my salon, but I only go 3x a year. I’m not fussy about my hair, but I’m in awe of a friend who has lost all her hair twice due to chemo.

Have you thought about buying a silk pillowcase? It needs to be good quality 100% silk. I've just got over Pneumonia and my hair looked horrendous but a trip to the hairdresser and the silk pillowcase has taken all the frizzyness away.
I hope you're feeling better soon. 💐

You could try handybands from Seasalt until you get you hair back as you want and then you can wear them as neckbands. I grew my hair long during lockdowns but I need to keep it back when cooking or if it’s windy. I have several in different colours to match with what I’m wearing.

OP, I didn’t think I’d been unkind in my response last night and I’m a little hurt at your comments. I do know what it’s like to feel that you no longer look or feel like ourself following or during hospital treatment and illness.

You asked how to find a good local hairdresser, I responded with what I thought was a helpful suggestion and some advice on hair care.

Have a good day.

I wouldn't use hot brushes or straighteners on it for the time being as that could dry it out.

I really understand how you feel and am now lucky enough to have found someone who finally understands what I like.. I would either have some extensions put in if you want long hair now, or look on line at hair styles and take a photo of one if you like the style. Then look for someone with a decent hair cut and ask who did it. Take your photo along to the recommended hairdresser and hope they can replicate it.. goodluck and hopefully Spring will feel very different for you

As crazy has said, hair is a woman's crowning glory so no wonder you're so upset Padine. As has been said, you need to find a good hairdresser. Ask family and friends if they can recommend someone and if you need it to be cut shorter than you'd like, it will grow back .

I can't see the back of my hair .... out of sight, out of mind!
Seriously though I am glad to hear you have come through your surgery successfully and hope that when you hair grows you will be able to sort it out. Hairdressers are so hit and miss and coming home unhappy with a cut is so frustrating.
I hope you will find a solution.

Oh Pradine How I feel for you there is nothing worse than being miserable about your hair ,Summerlove further up the page did mention an undercut style which I am sure would work for you.
Would you consider going and have a word with one of the managers of the that run the train courses at the universities who train up new stylists they are full of advice and new techknowledgies get in touch through ant 6th form colledge they will help you sweetie best of luck x

Headbands and scarves are available in lots of places . Try a few to see what covers best/ you can manage best, then buy a few. Out in winter a smart beret would be chic. Hopefully this will be temporary.

A short cut at the back to get rid of the worst by a hairdresser not by you!!! At least it's winter so you can wear a hat out. And it is the back so you don't have to look at it.

By the spring or summer it will be back to normal.

Lots of gorgeous chemo head coverings on line for indoors if you can't bear it. I expect no one, apart from you, notices it. Most people are wrapped up in themselves and if they do notice well, if they are real friends , they will understand.

Yes, you need aa good hairdresser. But you do not need to go bald, you could go for an elfin cut and then grow back from there.

You have my sympathy. Some years ago I had very bad eczema on my scalp, mainly on the top of my head, what was normally dead straight and very dark hair,on the top of my head, went a gingery red andd very curly.

My DH, not unkindly, said that the top of my head looked like the top of a coconut - and he was right!

But six months after the eczema went my hair was back to normal. So relax, your friends and family know what your hair was like, so won't look at you critically and what does it matter what people you do not know think?

Get your hair cut neatly, and a short as practical and then leave your hair alone and let it recover. This time next year it will all be just a bad experience yu had - and in two years a funny story you tell.

I’m sorry you’re so understandably upset, I would be too. I remember my hair being an utter mess after being seriously ill in hospital. It’s worse if your hair is fine like mine.
I used leave in conditioner and my hairdresser managed to sort it out.
Could you visit a bigger town and see several hairdressers to ask their opinion before choosing one?

Predictive text can often cause more trouble than it’s worth. Wonder if it changed pedant to pendant.

Bluebell, I am bonefide (and it’s who’s for “who is” and you’re for “you are”. Apologies if you think that’s pedantic but as a retired teacher, correct apostrophes are important to me

I don’t think you’re a pendant Padine but I do think you re rude to pull me up over spelling mistakes that most probably were ‘corrected’ for me by predictive text
I hope you find your answers

I would definitely not cut it at all yourself much as you might want to. As others have said a good hairdresser and leave it alone if you can after its done. Give it time to recover. Meanwhile good nutrition for your general health will help.

Can you look out for women whose hair you like and complement them on it and just ask them where they go?

Padine, you didn't say how long the brace has been off. It could be that your hair just needs a bit of time to relax. You could try to straighten it with an iron, or like someone else suggested, get extensions.

But try not to stress so much! You are probably the only one to notice it.

Hot oil treatment? I think you have to leave it on for a while before shampooing.