Calming my new curls

Try www.cancerhaircare.co.uk for advice - they know their stuff - hoping to have a head of curls myself in due course 

Hi. Thankyou for your message. Good luck with your hair recovery. Mine was a shock. Straight grey to blonde curls that are very unruly! 

I ditched shampoo and just used conditioning wash for about a year and then when it was a little longer, I added in a paraben/SLS free mild shampoo and good conditioner once a week.

I've used exclusively Curlsmith products since chemo  - really good stuff, though quite expensive. I find it all lasts for ages though and they often have sales.

They do some great leave-in products to help keep away the frizz, but the best thing for that is to use a mild a shampoo as possible, or preferably no shampoo and keep it free of all the nasties that dries your hair out. I just used water in the shower until my hair was an inch or so.

My hair has never been in such good condition!

Its not silly to be upset about your new hair. Sometimes the leftovers from cancer treatment are just one more thing. There is good news in that as your hair grows and lengthens it has more weight which pulls on the curls and makes your hair less fluffy. I have always had curly hair, but am trying to work out how to manage it as it gains that weight. 

I was always a fan of Paul Mitchell products as they last forever, esp when you need less than a pea sized amount for shorter hair. There's a product called awapuhi ginger styling treatment oil which I like and then the super skinny serum to deal with any bits that are too frizzy for my liking. Umberto giannini no more frizz from superdrug is quite good too and affordable. The most important thing for curly hair is to touch it as little as possible while drying and don't brush except when wet. I am using adult hair bands to hold the hair for now whilst it is growing. Its a beach style look, but works for now. I imagine in another 12 months that I will have a controlled bob of some sort. Its just time and patience with hair growing out. I agree with other comments that my hair is super soft, even if a little wild at times!

Thankyou so much for replying. Really helpfull.we get so much advise from oncology etc but nothing around this sort of thing which has got me down. I'm going to investigate immediately. 

Try to embrace it and don’t let it get to you. It’s hard I know as I get so frustrated and want my long hair back too. But there are solutions to help with curly hair, and you will find a style that feels like you. X

I hear you! 6 months on from chemo and I have thick frizzy curls! I use Cantu products from boots - curl activator and curling cream and I blow dry with a diffuser. Google Curly Girl Method for more curl advice xx

I have naturally curly (frizzy) hair. It's taken me years to find product which control it. Some can be pricey, but I think it's worth it.

Someone else has mentioned Cantu products, which I have used. I also like Twisted Sista - they have an intensive leave-in conditioner which I find effective. One of the best products at a reasonable price is V05 frizz free air dry creme (I never blow dry my hair - it just does an impression of a dandelion seed head!). I also use L'Oreal Elvive dream lengths curls - no-stop creamy curls leave-in creme, which I'd recommend giving a try. And I've recently invested in Noughty Hello Curls which I've only tried a couple of times but seems to work well (it's billed as 97% natural). I tend to use a combination of at least two of these products on wet hair. I shampoo my hair about once a week (Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo), but wet it every morning, brush it through with something like a Tangle Teezer brush, and then leave to dry naturally. I gave up on 'styling' many moons ago - my hair has a mind of its own!

I hope you enjoy your curls. My friend was also somewhere taken aback when she found she had curly hair as it grew back after chemo - it has now reverted to being a bit wavy. 

Good luck!