Interesting article on hair dyes

Thank you for sharing this Londonmumof2.  This makes interesting reading and of course all information is helpful.

My hair is naturally curley with a real mind of its own, if I am to go anywhere and look near presentable I can't go anywhere near rain or damp places - otherwise I appear with a mop of frizz.  I say 'mop' loosely these days, its more like an old mop, as over the passed 2 years since taking the letrozole and I'm guessing having less oestrogen in my body my hair is so much thinner now with parts at the side wanting to disappear.  Its only the last two weeks or so that I have thought of trying to treat my hair a little nicer - I haven't bothered with it for over 9 years, I cut it myself and have started to colour it with a 'wash in' product that I think is safe since reading this article.  

I stumbled across a lovely product, that you put on your hair before washing, leave in for 5 minutes or so and then wash off. They call it a 'wash in, wash out conditioner. Its a small container, that will do for around 3 or 4 washes (more if you have short hair) and I think is fairly cheap (£1.99). It comes in various shades - from silver, cool blonde (that is the blue coloured one), honey blonde, warm copper brown, rich red, rich warm brown, it does not actually dye the hair, I suppose it stains it, there is no 'grow out' - it just slowly over the course of a couple of weeks disappears, dependant on how often I use this, I just slowly end back with my now natural grey/brown/blonde hair. I think it is a lot less harsh on the hair and I would imagine is 'safe' to use since reading the article.

If anyone is interested, it is sold under the chemists own brand name, the same name as the chemist, it's a Super  chemist.  I buy mine online as most of the stores don't seem to stock it.  If you want a 'colour effect' to brighten up your own hair or hide the greys, then choose the colour nearest to your own hair colour.  They cost £1.99 for 75ml. I think it would be a far less harsh product than some of you might use.

I am not telling anyone to buy this, other products are available and you must make you own chose if you want to colour your hair or not.

xxx

Thank you for posting this Londonmumof2  Friends had been making noises to me about what I do with my hair and I am in a real pickle, wondering where to go from here. I have had highlights in my hair for ... well, for as long as I remember - all of my adult life on and off. Since my BC diagnosis, my hairdresser won’t do them for me and I totally understand that and agree with it. But now that I am cancer free and have no further treatment, and my mousey hair is greying and I don’t like it, I am wondering what to do. One friend told me I was a bit mad to be considering having highlights again while being so strict on what I will eat, drink etc etc. Maybe some kind of organic method ? But as one who is now on hormone therapy, is this reasonable to want to fiddle with nature ??  My self image is taking a hit though. And then i start to berate myself for being vain ... oh it is so complex.

I asked the hairdresser at my cancer centre ( now retired) re hair dyed. She suggested organic but to check first with my CNS. I the end, I decided not to follow it up- too expensive to keep it up...

Can't say I'm surprised...mind you do bear in mind that so many things that we are surrounded by and consume many nasty chemicals which can't help but increase the incidence of cancer.

I've had my hair organically coloured for over 15 years but still have breast cancer.  I also use organic products all over and eat, whenever possible, organic food.  I'll carry on doing so and hope for the best!

Sam

I'm still having treatment so too early to dye but I have so e hair left and some regrouping which is dull brown and grey. I had a look in a health food store and they stack a range of chemical free organic natural hair dye. Dont think they as good as at hairdressers and would be all over rather than highlights but might give you a boost. Cant remember brand sorry but I think most health shop sell xxx

Hi, As far as I understand, the biggest problem is the mingling of the chemotherapy and the chemicals in the hair dye that are not supposed to mix, as the chemo will be in the roots and the dye chemicals will possibly go there too.

I've spoken with several women who didn't know and had their hair dyed (no cold cap treatment) and all went well, they still have their hair. However that risk was a bit much for me, so I asked my hairdresser if she could use foil instead, And that was fine, had my hair coloured yesterday and the dye did not touch the scalp once. So fingers crossed

PS has my chemo (EC) on Thursday, didn't know about the problem until nurse told me, already had my hair appointment and decided to go through with it with foil

Just my penny's worth

Can I ask is it just chemo that you shouldn’t have hair dyed while you’re having it or should you avoid it if you’re having radio as well?! It never even occurred to me! So far I’ve only had surgery (only! I’ve actually had three surgeries in three months & only doesn’t cover it!) & had my hair coloured last Sunday before surgery on Monday but I will be having radiotherapy in the future... my initial response to reading that was ‘Oh rats! My daughter is getting married in May & I definitely don’t want horrendous regrowth just in time for that if I had to stop now!!!’ :-/ 

Not sure anyone will give you a clear cut answer to this Nanny Dooie. Just as for me - post surgery is it ok to have my highlights done ? At the end of the day, I guess it is going to be up to me !!

Not sure anyone will give you a clear cut answer to this Nanny Dooie. Just as for me - post surgery is it ok to have my highlights done ? At the end of the day, I guess it is going to be up to me !! My hairdresser says that the foil method avoids any product touching the scalp. And also I totally agree that we are bombarded with all sorts of chemical stuff all the time so is this the major culprit ?? Another thing to worry /feel guilty about !

I asked a hairdresser at my local cancer centre some years back. She said she'd do it with an organic product  but advised me to check with my CNS. In the end, I decided not to bother n stick with  the bright white straight chair my meds (Pazopanib) gave me. I have kidney cancer, so that's not a chemo drug.