Dealing with hair loss and chemo curls was a part of Annette's treatment journey. As an experienced hairdresser, Annette explains how to deal with hair loss, chemo curls and hair care.
Chemo curls are caused by the effects of the drugs used during chemotherapy lingering in the body altering the cells in the hair follicles. Which can cause changes to the hair as it grows back with a different texture and colour. If your hair was curly before the chemo you may find as it grows back to be less curly. The chemo curl may not be consistent mine was curly all over except for the fringe was much straighter.
When the hair first starts to grow back its generally fine like baby hair, it needs to be nurtured and the scalp maybe sensitive use an unperfumed p h neutral shampoo as the hair grows it will get stronger when the curls start to appear the hair will feel much drier, remarkably like a bad perm. Those of you like me who had big hair in the 80’s and curly perms will recall the experiences of bad over processed perms.
Learn to love your new look although fashion trends at the moment tend to dictate straight hair to be beautiful, curly hair can be just as beautiful too using the right techniques and products.
Cleansing and conditioning chemo curls
Use a sulphate and paraben free shampoo and conditioners for dry hair, a lot of well-known brands are becoming sulphate and paraben free, it is not just some funny sales ploy to put up the price to sell more products. There is a good reason to drop them from the shampoos sulphates and parabens cleanse the hair by breaking down the oils on the hair and scalp which is fine if you have greasy hair but when the hair is dry, stripping the natural oils will cause curly hair to go frizzy. The sulphate and paraben free shampoo have less lather but feel creamier. They cleanse the hair and scalp gently, removing the dirt and debris leaving the natural oils in tack to naturally condition the hair and scalp, which will mean less irritation and less frizz.
Drying and Styling
Blot dry hair with a thick towel rather than rubbing. Hair is at its most vulnerable state when wet, detangle hair with fingers or a wide tooth comb or a specialised wet brush.
Then work in a styling product such as:
A curl cream – this will hydrate, reduce frizz and give definition to spirals.
Or
Mousse – which adds volume and texture to finer hair but can feel a little crunchy when left to dry naturally less crunchy when used with a blow dryer.
Or
Gel - will define spirals, smooths frizz, holds curls in place, use a thick gel for coarse hair a thinner waterier one for fine hair. When the hair is dry it will look great, controls curls but will feel firm and set and less natural.
Or
Hair Oils or Serums - will hydrate, reduce frizz, and defines spirals. Feels more natural when dry but can be expensive. A cheaper alternative to try is coconut oil, warm a teaspoonful up in a microwave or saucepan until it just becomes a liquid leave to cool slightly and apply to hair
Ideally leave chemo curls to dry naturally do not fiddle with it as it dries. If you do not have the time to natural dry hair, use a blow dryer on a low heat and if possible, use a diffuser attachment, it will spread the hot air evenly and gently and helps to add volume to the roots.
Chemo curls can be unreliable depending on how much moisture in the atmosphere some days the curls are softer or tighter or just in a misbehaving mood. Experiment with head bands, hair clips and grips to add colour and fun to those unruly misbehaving strands of hair.
Regular hair cuts
Each individual hair grows at its own rate once hair has grown to about 5-8cms book an appointment with a professional hairdresser and keep it trimmed regularly so that the slower growing hair has a chance to catch up. Chemo curls will eventually settle down it can take anything from 6 months to 3 years.
Mine took about 2 years to slowly calm down.
Annette xx
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