Coping with hair loss after treatment has ended

Scalp care

When your hair starts to grow back the scalp can become scaly. This is due to dryness. If the hair is very short you can wash the hair and scalp with aqueous cream, which can be used instead of soap to produce a lather. This moisturises the scalp at the same time. Your doctor can prescribe aqueous cream for you. It is also available from chemists.

Hair products

It is best to avoid medicated shampoos as these are unnecessary and can irritate the scalp. As your hair gets longer you can use very mild shampoos designed for frequent use – these clean the hair but do not contain chemicals that dry the scalp and hair.

Tinting, colouring and perming

Once your hair is long enough, you can tint or perm your hair if you want, if it and your scalp are in sufficiently good condition.

Do not use any chemicals such as perms or tints on your hair if:

• your scalp is scaly, sore, or irritated
• your hair is drier than usual
• your hair is rough to the touch
• your hair is lighter in colour than before your treatment
• your hair appears to be breaking or not growing normally.

If you want to colour your hair, you can ask your hairdresser for advice on natural products such as henna or vegetable-based colourants. It is best to try any colourant on a small, hidden area of hair first, to make sure that it will not damage your hair. Henna is safe to use, as it conditions the hair; the colour the henna produces may be more intense than before chemotherapy.

Hair weaving

Hair weaving is a way of adding hair to the scalp by weaving or braiding in extra human or synthetic hair. It is also called hair integration or hair intensification. The hair is woven into the root area of your hair so that it grows naturally with the hair. It is best to avoid hair weaving for a few months after chemotherapy and if you are taking medicines that weaken the hair, such as hormonal therapies or biological therapies.

Hair weaving is not suitable for people who have thin, weak hair because the process of hair weaving stresses existing hair and may make it fall out.

Patchy hair

If you have patches of hair that will not grow back (for example, after radiotherapy), a very fine mesh can be attached to your own existing hair. The mesh can then be filled with hair to cover the bald patch. The hair is mixed to a good colour match and washed and styled as you like. The procedure can take from 1–5 hours. Once in place, the net needs to be tightened every 6–8 weeks and this takes from 1–1½hours.

Fine or wispy hair

Hair extensions can thicken fine or wispy hair and can be clipped onto your hair. This is not suitable for weak or thin hair so is not advisable for people who have just had chemotherapy or radiotherapy.