When y'all are well-nigh to get-go chemotherapy, people will often tell you: "Just shave your head, it's much easier". If you notice this a terrifying prospect, read on. You don't have to shave your head if you don't desire to, just information technology does have several benefits. Once you know what they are, you might find the transition to a shorter hairstyle less scary.

When should y'all shave your head if y'all're having chemo?

If you do choose to shave your head completely, at that place is no need to do information technology weeks in advance. Depending on the blazon of chemotherapy yous are having, hair loss volition usually begin after your starting time chemo session. "10 to twelve days after the first chemo", people often say, but it varies a lot from person to person. Don't expect all of it to fall out in one go, either. Hair loss occurs gradually and irregularly. Here'south a tip: as soon as yous've had your starting time chemo session, start thinking nearly what you want to do with your hair when y'all notice that it'due south falling out. Are you lot going to shave your head? The time to offset is as soon equally you notice the start hair loss.

chemo hair loss when to shave

If you lot have long hair, you might find information technology as well hard to function with it all at once. Why not add together an intermediary pace? Visit your hairdresser 2 weeks before your first chemo session for a shorter style. This is a good way of getting used to having 'less hair'. You can still shave your head when yous start losing the beginning tufts of hair if you want to.

What are the advantages of a buzz cut?

1/ Sense of control: A cancer diagnosis comes like a bolt from the blue for many patients. You feel every bit if y'all have lost control of your life, every bit if the ground has been cut from under your feet. Past choosing when to shave y'all caput (or have information technology shaved), y'all regain a certain amount of control. You don't take to dust your teeth and wait for all your hair to autumn out scrap past bit. Yous decide when to take this major stride. Many people have said that this sense of command empowers and comforts them.

2/ The hair loss is less confrontational: If y'all have already shaved your head, y'all don't have to face to long hanks of pilus coming loose. The concluding bits of stubble usually but rinse away in the shower. That means no tufts of hair in your comb, on your apparel, in your lid. And you won't be left trying to style dry, lifeless hair, with bald spots here and there, when your hair is really besides brittle to manner considering of the chemo.

chemo hair loss shave or not

3/ Like shooting fish in a barrel to intendance for: You don't demand to put much effort into looking after a buzz cutting. Once the chemo starts to affect your hair, it volition become deadening and fragile anyway. If yous do determine to go along it long, it is not a adept idea to blow-dry it very often or to utilize a hot setting. Combing your hair frequently is a no-no, every bit are styling products. So prepare yourself for a lot of bad hair days. You lot won't have to worry about whatever of those things with a shaven head. Your hair is dry in no fourth dimension at all, giving you more time to pamper your hands or anxiety with a hydrating cream.

four/ Getting used to your wig or chemo scarf: Women who shave their heads usually opt for head coverings from the starting time, or every bit soon as they find the first baldheaded spots. It's a great way of getting used to your wig or your chemo scarves or hats. Wearing them is also much easier when yous have short hair. Yous don't have to worry almost locks of dry pilus suddenly slipping out from underneath.

how to shave hair off during chemo

v/ A special occasion: If you choose for yourself when you are going to lose your hair, you can also choose the occasion. Exercise yous want to shave it off yourself or volition you ask someone else to practice it for you? Do you want get to the hairdresser on your ain or turn information technology into a quiet moment with your partner at home? Will you enquire your children to help as function of their acceptance process? Or volition you invite your best friends over and cleft open a canteen of bubbly? Y'all tin can do it whatsoever way you lot want: there are no rules. You're the boss.

So what did our customers practice? Did they shave their heads or non?

We asked the Rosette la Vedette fans on our Facebook folio and this is what they told us about losing their hair:

Evelyne: "Ii days after my second chemo, my hair really started to autumn out. I gave myself a buzz cut that very twenty-four hour period, and a week later, information technology was all gone! I've always had long hair but I was really glad I had shaved it all off! At least people didn't find as much that it was falling out. Now I take a brusque, snappy fashion and I'll never go back to long pilus ever again!

Kelly (shown here with her children): "When my pilus started to fall out, I let my children cut it. My hubby 'finished information technology off' with his clippers. I'one thousand happy with the pick I fabricated. If I had to lose my pilus, I wanted to make it a fun affair I did with my children. They loved being allowed to play hairdresser for one time. It was our way of turning a painful experience into a fun memory".

chemo hair loss when to shave

Gezina: "I've always had long hair, but it ended upwardly falling out in bunches and I was getting baldheaded spots. My boyfriend and I decided that he would shave information technology all off. It was a very sad moment, but it was likewise a very beautiful feel and I was happy that we were able to share information technology. I'1000 glad we chose to do it that way."

Bianca "I decided that I would get the clippers out as soon as I spotted the first hair loss, (or realised that I was pulling information technology out by accident, because I'one thousand always playing with my pilus). It happened during the third calendar week later on my starting time chemo session. I was sitting at my PC and suddenly I was holding a handful of hair. I called my best friend to tell her that it was time for the clippers and she was on my doorstep within x minutes (nosotros alive on the aforementioned street). My boyfriend shaved my head completely, and so he shaved my best friend'due south head too. We had agreed to go bald together. My swain was bald already. And I establish the whole matter a really lovely, funny experience and a huge relief."

Marina: "My long hair started to become paler after my third chemo session and so it began to fall out. My hairdresser suggested that he cut information technology all off. At present it's all behind me and I've gone for a brusk way. I've decided I like it brusk!"

Kathleen: "I knew from the outset that I would shave it all off. My cousin shaved it for me 3 weeks after my offset chemo session, and at present I vesture your hats."

Maria: "My pilus started to fall out after my second chemo session. The hairdresser came to our house to shave it all off. It's starting to grow in over again now, ane month later on the chemo. It's pure white and I intend to keep it brusk and finish dyeing it."

should i shave my hair before chemo

Practical tip: how to shave your head safely earlier chemo

If you choose to shave your head, utilizean electric trimmer or clippersand scout out for cuts. Beginning by cutting your long pilus brusk, and then use the clippers. This is easier and volition too feel more than comfortable. If y'all're non very good at using clippers, then ask someone else who is more experienced to assistance you or go to your hairdresser.

Want to know more than about hair loss afterward chemo?

  • Hair loss & chemotherapy: everything you lot demand to know >>
  • 8 essential questions nigh hair growth after chemotherapy >>
  • Losing your centre lashes during chemo: the viii most often asked questions >>