Capecitabine and hair colour

Judith

I've been thinking exactly the same thing. I'm on gemcitabine and carboplatin. If I don't lose my hair and it just thins, I would like my roots doing. I'm a bit of the same mind as you, can't really see what the problem would be.

hi both

as I understand it there are options with the range of colouring products available

I was always 'sensitive' but now found I am now much more sensitive to more products since chemo and it really does seem to be down to trial and error.  Obviously if you're going to have  reaction to the chemo drugs that's what the medical team are going to be focussing on and the last thing they need is another allergic reaction thrown into the mix, so I can see their point

but I'm not about to go around with grey roots

www.danielfieldmailorder.co.uk/.../

that one caught my eye but a quick google of 'natural' hair dyes finds quite a few

then there are the brush on ones, which I'd have thought would be less likely to cause a reaction but you'd just need to test them

The expense of buying up so many is going to be a bit depressing, I wonder if some would offer a free sample ??

perhaps it's a case of trial and error in the middle of a cycle so if you react it's not going to impact the treatment ?????  maybe ????

and patch test everything

Carolyn

xxx

Hi Ladies

You could try dry shampoo which has a colour in in for a quick fix. super drugs own brand is a good one.  I used the cold cap as I had docotaxel didn't loose my hair but having a white stripe did get me down but was too scared to colour it.  Once I had finished I used Holland and Barrett vegetable colour but if I do chemo again I think I would colour it with the vegetable colour, it had no smell to it at all, my hairdresser put it on for me and said there was nothing in it at all.  It is a personal choice whether to or not but I chickened out in the end until I was finished.

But as I say I would use it if I did chemo again which certainly will happen at some point.

Hi. I'm tagging ronstar who is our hair guru. 

Hi Kacang 

Thank you :-) Judith xx

Hi jmp

I fear Kacang has oversold me a little! I've been a hairdresser for many years and would always advise not to colour while on chemo - it's mainly an issue with skin sensitivity and, as someone who has dyed my hair for 35+ years, I now find my scalp is more sensitive than it used to be (18 months since chemo) - I also found that the colour didn't take properly after FECT chemo but that may not be the same for the regime you are on. You've already been given great advice about alternative products and you could look at semi- permanent colours which are gentler or a technique that doesn't touch the scalp - like highlights. Another breast champ often recommends the Trevor Sorbie charity my new hair. They have a lot of information on their website and a database of hairdressers they have trained to deal with clients who have/had chemo.

There is also a very good booklet by macmillan about hair loss - but it has a section at the back about "when hair grows back" which may be more relevant to you.

I'm trying to be flash but having trouble with the link - you can find it here

Obviously it's up to you if you take the risk - some people will probably be fine - others not. If you already have a hairdresser you trust then I'd suggest having a chat with them - they may or may not be prepared to do it for you but for a regular client, most hairdressers would try to find some sort of solution - there are lots of options in terms of products etc.

Hope you find an answer that works for you - let us know what you decide

R

Hi jmp

I'm on capecitabine now nearly finished 6 cycles.   I haven't lost and hair this time and went a head and ho!me co!lured with olia with no problem or side effects.  I hate having grey hair I just look washed out.  Some folk absolutely rock it.  Maybe test a little area first if in sure.  

Dear judity,

im in Cape tablets and use semi pennant colours on my hair to no ill effect. I have a tiny patch of greyvand don’t like it! Nice ‘n Esay is goof And Superdrug do something called Special Effects shampoo.,I put it on dry and leave it a while. Brilliant stuff

pepys xx

Hi Judith,

Havigcourg products are sometimes less effective and may not take at all . So it's a bit of a lottery.

Hope this helps 

Shazwah