Chemotherapy and Hair Loss: How to make the best of it

Cancer Hair Loss Advice From Simone Thomas Dorset Trichology Clinic and Hair Salon

At Simone Thomas hair loss clinic and hairdressers in Bournemouth we are hair loss specialists and we’ve helped thousands of men and women deal with their hair loss during their cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment.

Your hair loss generally cannot be prevented or controlled during your treatment, but it can be managed. By taking the following steps throughout your chemotherapy treatment hopefully the frustration and anxiety associated with hair loss can be minimised.

Before your treatment:

• Be gentle with your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don’t bleach, colour or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Stay away from hairdryers, instead air-dry your hair as much as possible and avoid heating devices such as curling tongs, straighteners and hot rollers. Strengthening and nourishing your hair and scalp now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.

• Consider a new cut and style. Short hair tends to look fuller than long hair. So as your hair falls out, it won’t be as noticeable if you have short hair. Also, if you have long hair, going short might help you make a better transition to total hair loss. Concentrate on keeping yourself as healthy as possible and keeping stress to a minimum.

• Plan for a head covering. Now is the time to start thinking about wigs, scarves or other head coverings. Whether you choose to wear a head covering to conceal your hair loss is up to you. But it’s easier to plan for it now rather than later. There are some fantastic high quality synthetic wigs and real human hair wigs on the market – the myth that wigs are cheap and tacky looking has been well and truly busted here at Simone Thomas in Bournemouth.

During your treatment:

• Baby your remaining hair. Continue your gentle hair strategies throughout your chemotherapy treatment. Use a soft brush – get yourself a soft baby brush. Wash your hair only as often as is necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo free from parabens and chemicals.

• Consider shaving your head. Some people report that their scalps feel itchy, sensitive and irritated during their treatment and whilst their hair is falling out. Shaving your head can reduce the irritation and save the embarrassment of shedding. Some men shave their heads because they feel it looks better than the patchy hair loss they might be experiencing.

• Protect your scalp. If your head is going to be exposed to the sun or to cold air, protect it with sunscreen or a head covering such as a scarf or a wig. Your scalp may be sensitive as you go through treatment, so extreme cold or sunshine can easily irritate it. Having no hair or having less hair can make you feel cold and vulnerable, so a head covering may make you more comfortable and less stressed out by the thought that people may be staring at you.

Hair Care After Your Cancer Treatment:

• Continue with your gentle hair care routine. Your new hair growth will be especially fragile and vulnerable to the damage caused by styling products and heating devices.  Hold off on hair colour services or bleaching your new hair until it grows stronger.  Processing your new hair growth could damage your hair and irritate your sensitive scalp.

• Be patient. It’s likely that your hair will grow back slowly and that it might not look normal right away. It could grow back a different colour or texture. Four to six months after your treatment has finished you should expect to see a health head of hair. If you previously have straight hair it could grow back curly. New growth takes time, and it also takes time to repair the damage caused by your cancer treatment as you would have read about in our previous blogs.

If you think a wig is for you during this transitional time then please book a hair loss consultation with one of our hair loss specialists here at Simone Thomas hairdressers in Bournemouth. We offer a friendly and relaxed welcome and aim to make you feel as comfortable as possible. We have a wide range of synthetic wigs and real hair wigs along with an assortment of scarves. Please feel free to bring a family member or friend along with you to your hair loss consultation – choosing a wig really can be fun!

Book A Hair Loss Consultation at Simone Thomas Dorset Hair Loss Clinic

To book a hair loss consultation please call the team at Simone Thomas hair loss clinic in Bournemouth on 01202 76000.