Content Overview
- Summary
- Causes of Hair Loss: Chemotherapy and Radiation
- Questions To Ask About Hair Loss Before Starting Chemotherapy or Radiation
- Hair Replacement Alternatives: Wigs, The Bald Look, Hats/caps and Scarves
- If You Decide To Go For The Bald Look
- How To Care For Your Hair During Radiation And Chemotherapy
- What To Do If Eyebrows Thin
- How To Care For Your Skin If You Lose All Your Hair
- How To Cope With The Emotions Of Hair Loss
- How To Care For Your Hair As It Starts To Grow Back In
Hair Loss From Treatment And How To Deal With It
How To Care For Your Hair During Radiation And Chemotherapy
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The following tips for caring for your hair and scalp during chemotherapy and radiation therapy are based on recommendations from the National Cancer Institute:
DO:
- When you wash your hair
- It is generally recommended that you do not shampoo more frequently than 3 times a week.
- Use mild shampoos. Baby shampoo works very well
- Use a conditioner to combat dry and brittle hair.
- Pat your hair dry instead of rubbing it
- Sun protection
- Use hair care products containing sunscreen.
- If you have significant hair loss, use a sunscreen or sun block on your scalp, or cover your head for protection.
- Styling
- Use a soft hairbrush and a wide tooth comb.
- Use gels, mousses and sprays with light or medium holding power. Stronger preparations are harder to shampoo out.
- If your hair becomes tangled:
- Don't pull.
- Hold the tangle, then gently comb through the tangled hair.
- Consider having your hair cut short. A shorter style will make your hair appear thicker and fuller. Also, in the event of hair loss, the appearance may be less dramatic.
- Sleep
- Consider sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase.
- To prevent hair on your pillow, consider catching hair loss at night by wearing a hairnet, mesh cap or other head covering, or put a towel over your pillow.
- If you swim in a pool:
- Before swimming, protect against chlorine damage by thoroughly wetting your hair with water. The water plumps the hair, minimizing chlorine absorption and its drying and brittle effect.
- For additional protection, after wetting your hair, apply a conditioner or silicone-based styling gel. When done, cover your hair with a swim cap.
- In cold harsh weather, wear a hat or scarf around your head to keep your scalp from drying out.
- A scalp massage may make your scalp feel better.
DON'T
- Don't use
- A hair dryer. If you do use a hair dryer for a special occasion, keep it on the lowest / coolest setting.
- Rse rollers. If you feel you must on occasion use rollers, be sure they are soft (foam). Do not sleep in them or use electric or other heated rollers.
- Hot curling irons.
- Don't hold your hair with:
- Hair barrettes or clips.
- Rubber bands or other hair bands. They will cause breakage.
- Don't use products that may be harsh on your hair. For example:
- Don't dye your hair, get a perm, or use hair straigheners.
- Don't use gels, mousse, oil, grease or pomade.
- Avoid hair care products that contain bleach, ammonia, peroxide, lacquer or alcohol.
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