After Cancer Therapy Treatment

It is important to understand that it may take 6 months to 1 year before adequate hair growth recurs.  The body has had a significant insult and healing is directed to vital body functions before full attention is directed at hair growth.  The following helpful hints will ensure a healthy new head of hair.

How to Have Your Hair Chemically Curled or Waved

To get nice curls on short hair and to minimize hair breakage, use a mild body wave, leaving it on for a short time.  Wrap hair loosely on the largest curling rod.  (Loose curls are less damaging to recovering hair shafts).

How to Color Your New Hair

Permanent hair color is the most damaging to the hair shaft, therefore, the use of semi-permanent color (washes away after 4-6 weeks of shampooing) is the best at this time.  Change your hair no more than 3 shades from the re-growth color.  Do not bleach your hair to lighten it.

* This material was taken from the booklet “Maintaining a Positive Image with Hair Loss and Cancer Therapy” by Johanna Lombardo Ehmann, RN, OCN and Angela Sheehan, RN, MS, OCN