8 ways to embrace chemo curls
Curly Hair Basics
So, as I approach round 4 of chemo, this is when my oncologist tells me to expect some hair to be saying ‘sayonara’.
And that’s ok, I’m ok. As a good friend reminded me when we found that first curl fall out, ‘It’s just the chemo showing you it’s working.’
I’ll take it because I’m not doing this cancer thing for fun. But it got me thinking about all these beautiful people that are growing in chemo curls and have no idea what to do with them.
So I thought I’d list out the basics. Cos I love a list, me.
Learn to choose your own adventure— you are going to read a lot of ‘shoulds’ with curly hair but, I say do what you bloody want it’s your hair, and you have permission to do as you please, especially if you went through chemo to get your new newly crowned curls. But you might want to look for super hydrating ingredients, choose plant based, and stay away from sulphates and SLS.
Ditch the shampoo and find a cleanser- yeah it’s weird right, don’t use shampoo. Of course some curl types (wavier) can get away with shampoo but if you are growing in curly I highly recommend a cleanser, and guess what you might only have to use it once a week! Yassss. I love this one because it is menthol and tingly and makes your scalp feel clean af. Now, I have not tried this on a balding head yet! I will and I will report back. Packed full of hydrating ingredients, I do not believe there is a better product on the market for curly hair.
Wet brush your hair with conditioner to detangle — when your curls grow in you are not going to be brushing them, weird again I know, but you can wet brush them with a heap of conditioner in your hair. In the beginning you might not need to, you can finger detangle but as it grows in you do. If you’re hair is shedding do not panic, this is natural as you aren’t brushing your hair as regularly as you would when it was straight so you haven’t been removing this natural fall out that would usually shed. It’s ok.
Product is your friend— depending on your hair type, you might find you are better leaving some of your conditioner in when it gets to rinse time and layering on a gel or a mousse. Curly hair needs hydration to set in into it clumps, this can often see you go a whole week, or at least with a refresh half way through. Welcome to the curly fun club!
Scrunch the crunch— when you use a gel you are going to want to let it set a cast, this is the wet look moment of my life that I detest because I personally like volume! I will do anything to dry it, my hair dresser uses a Dyson because amazing, but I personally drive round the block with the air blowers on my hair full blast baby. Yes, loud music to boot. One rule — keep your hands out of it! Do not touch it! Until it is dry, then you can scrunch and fluff or pick out and the roots to give you the volume you want.
Go wet look — if you don’t like volume, and that’s ok too. I get it this might be all too new, and you prefer the security of your comfort blanket of wet look gel, permission to leave it in.
Go with it — curls are sometimes banging and sometimes not. When I was a kid I would have done anything to look like everyone else, but now my curls are a major part of me. I found that acceptance was the best and quickest route to loving my curls sick. And I’ll be using that same technique to be ok as they leave me during this chemo stage.
Finally be gentle with your hair — curls are fragile, just like you, so take care of them, go easy on them and treat them with love.
If you need more specific advice I write for founder Helen, at Crown Curly, I highly recommend her approach to curls find out more here I now longer buy any other haircare products. For me, this is the holy grail.
Other resources:
Pinterest — you can search by your hair type for ideas and styles
Instagram faves — @themonacut @paris_mcelroy @beeblondor
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