Easy Ways to Manage Hair Loss From Chemotherapy

One of the first questions that will come to your mind when you hear about chemotherapy will be, “Will I lose all of my hair?”. Hair loss is often associated with chemo because it affects a majority of patients getting chemotherapy treatments. You can read our article on 5 Things You Need To Know About Hair Loss From Chemo to understand it better. We at Papillon Chemocare understand that losing your hair can affect your self-esteem and put pressure on your social life. But as Winston Churchill has famously said, “Attitude is a little thing that can make a big difference”. We know that you can be better prepared to manage hair loss from chemotherapy. There are some really simple steps you can take to not let your hair loss or any stress from it get in the way of your treatments and healing. Here’s what you can do to cope with the hair loss you can expect.

1. Talk to Experts: Talk to your oncologist about the kind of hair loss you can expect from your treatment. Get in touch with experts like Papillon Chemocare to understand your hair loss and what solutions are available to you. Ask questions so that you have answers that will quell your fears and help you prepare for what to expect and what you can do to manage the hair loss.
2. Plan Ahead: Decide beforehand if you want to order a wig so you have enough time to get a custom-made wig that will match your real hair closely. Planning ahead will help experts get a better idea of your natural hair and you get a wig that matches the colour, texture and style of your real hair. It will also help make the whole process less disturbing for you and help you cope better with your chemotherapy cycles.
3. Cut Your Hair Short: A lot of patients opt to cut their hair short before the chemo begins. It helps reduce the distress of seeing your hair fall out and you can focus on getting better.
4. Protect Your Scalp: Your scalp becomes sensitive once your hair starts to fall out. Actively protect your scalp before going outdoors. You can use scarves, turbans or hats to prevent any damage to your scalp. Or you can apply sunscreen on your scalp if you are going out without any covering on your head.
5. Wash Your Hair with Care: Like your body, your hair needs special care during your chemotherapy cycles. Choose a mild shampoo and do not wash your hair more than once in 5 days once your chemotherapy starts. Avoid washing or oiling your hair after the 12th day after your first chemotherapy cycle as it can tangle your hair more.
6. Say no to Chemical Treatments: Avoid any chemical treatments like perming, colouring, straightening or ironing. The products and processes used in these treatments weaken your hair and can lead to more hair loss.

Hair loss from chemotherapy is not uncommon. And every patient’s experience of it is different. But this experience can be a little easier if you take some simple steps towards managing it so you can focus on getting better and not stress out from it.