Care For your hair

Feb 15

6 Protective Tips for anyone with/or without Hair

During life, your body changes, and your hair. This post is suitable for chemo care, pregnancy, hair loss, hormonal changes and anyone interested in gentle hair care.

My hair has started shedding, and it’s like finding little tumbleweeds of Amy all around the house, I recently posted on instagram about how I thought the top of my hair was blasted off by a sudden gust of wind. It’s honestly that delicate at the moment I feel like the threat is real. I’ve also considered dust busting my bed in the morning these days.

If you are facing chemo soon and wondering about your hair, you can ask your oncologist if they know about the effects that the drugs you are on will have on your hair. Not everyone will lose their hair on chemo. But they may experience thinning.

I thought I’d use my research skills to find out the best approach to protecting your crown while on chemo. Hair loss during chemotherapy, also known as chemotherapy induced alopecia, occurs because the drugs [that are saving yo life] target rapidly dividing cells, including those in hair follicles. The impact on hair can vary depending on the specific drugs used, the dosage, and individual factors like your hair type.

HOT TIP— Guess what, these tips aren’t just reserved for chemo patients either. Permission to try!

Be Gentle— regardless of what is going on with your hair, just go easy on it. SO that means don’t touch it all the time, don’t trap in under your handbag scrap, don’t over brush, don’t tie up too tight. Look out for gentle hair care products, free from sulphates and suitable for sensitive scalps. My faves are Crown Curly specifically for wavy and curly textures, but also love the range by Dr Organics suitable for all hair types.
Avoid heat styling— heat can easily damage your hair at the best of times, and giving it an extra dose of sky high temps in an already fragile state is not going to go well me thinks. Give the straighteners a miss a try embracing your natural texture I bit more. If you like a beachy look, I like the After Ocean Hair Repair Spray from Gypsea Sol. If you HAVE to heat style, think low heat settings and heat protectant sprays. Mmmk?
Your brushing technique matters. As a curly haired person I only wet brush in the shower with a ton of conditioner [which I have not being doing during chemo FYI slight finger detangling only] if you are straight, and you need to brush/detangle, you could try finger or wide comb detangling to remove any knots or tangles without causing excessive stress on your hair. That said there's some awesome detangling brushes out there. Whatever tool you use, make sure you are starting at the ends and working your way up. You can also hold the hair ‘above’ where you are brushing/combing, give it a little lift to secure it then brush gently, this helps stop the tension from the root. Hair falls out from the roots. So unfortunately there’s not much we can do here other than know you are beautiful inside and out forever and ever, amen.
Wear and sleep on silk, because darhling you deserve it. So that means chuck your old cotton, linens or flannel pillow cases, your hair and skin will thank you for it. If you put skincare on before bed, you have a much better chance of it absorbing into your face rather than soaked up by that pillow slip. Silk glides better, less pulling on your fragile follicles. You might notice less sleep crinkle in the morning too— yay bonus! I sleep on a pearl grey silk pillowcase from White Lotus they also do a beaut silk mask that I rate.
A note on hats, head coverings and turban wear — the above goes too, having a scratchy or catchy texture is going to hinder the ol’ scalp. Plus at this time your scalp may be super sensitive so you really want to let it breathe. So for that reason I suggest natural fibres such as silk and bamboo. If you are wearing for a shorter time period, polyester is also an option as it’s nice and smooth. Here’s an option for each Cap, Turban, Scarf. If you have a hat without this lining, try tying a scarf under the hat then popping on — because farshun!
Practise acceptance — whatever is going on with you, your scalp, your hair. Fighting it just isn’t going to work. Yes be proactive, be protective, take the collagen [ask your onc if you are on meds] but treat it with love and kindness, I know it can be frustrating and sad, you’re allowed to feel those feelings. Feel them! But you gotta pick yourself up and keep moving through it whatever your journey is. Finally, drink water because your body is better when adequately hydrated.