Hair growth after chemo - how do I look after it and will my 'normal' hair come through?

Hi everyone, finished my chemo at the beginning of May. Lost all hair.

Now starting to grow back but head hair is really fluffy. I had heard that it can come back like this.

My question is to I have to cut it to get rid of whats growing now or will if left alone will it start growing as 'normal' hair?

Thank you x

  • Hi, All my hair fell out with chemo except a strange small patch at the back. Around 2 months after chemo I had surgery and all my hair fell out around that time. Strangely I’d managed to keep my eyelashes but they fell out too then. I felt as if the fine fuzzy hairs fell out then I just started to look like I’d shaved my head and it looked like stubble. 
    My hair then started growing back dark and curly. It’s been around 3 years now since my chemo stopped and I’ve had many haircuts but my hair is now “nipple length.” 
    I just let mine grow for a while and would put a nice headband or something on in the beginning. I took pictures of my hair growth and wish I could include it here as I wanted to know about the process afterwards. 

  • Hi Katelyn, can I ask , when your hair first started to lose your hair did you shave it all off? Mine started to come out after three weeks, it was shoulder length and looked a bit of a mess a few weeks after so my hairdresser cut it short for me, it seems to have stopped coming out now but is very fine and wispy, I am just wondering if I should shave it all of if it will grow back better x

  • Hi Shirley

    I also had shoulder length hair and my hairdresser cut ut into a bob just before my first chemo. My hair started coming out in handfuls so before I blocked up the bathroom pipes I opted to shave mine off. I felt empowered but less feminine- that's just me. If mine was just thinning I would be tempted to have kept it. It's a big thing shaving your head. I got moo goo products that helped with my scalp and rosemary oil to encourage regrowth which I still use now being on letrozole my hair is thinning. It might be useful to ask one of the cold cap ladies what their experience is of thinning and now it grows back. Mine is now almost at the same length and in a bob but it's curly and has a mind of its own, slight bit of humidity and it's a riot :)

  • Hi Katelyn,

    Thank you for your reply it was very helpful, I have got some moo goo a friend bought me will try that on my scalp and also will get some rosemary oil if it helps with the growth.

  • Best of luck, hope you keep your hair