4 replies to this topic

[jules]

Hi Everyone

Am after some advice, as some of you know I have been suffering with a serious lung disease. The treatment of which has involved very high dose steroids, one of the (many) side effects has been my hair has been falling out, I did have very thick hair, and at the moment it is coming out in handfuls all the time. I have already had 3" cut off but it is looking very thin and straggly again so I am going to have it cut again, what I am not sure about is how much to have cut off - do I go very short and then if I need a wig I can just put it over the top, or do I just have another couple of inches cut off and see how it goes.

I know this sounds very vain of me, but it is horrible just having handfuls of hair coming out all of the time.

Thanks for listening, and sorry if I am moaning on again.

Jules
xx

[ClaraTaylor]

I found that when I had my hair cut short (not as in skin head short - still a few inches so that it was long enough to look feminine if we messed about with it and some hair gel - thanks to a very trustful hair dresser who gave me a complete new look which boosted my mood too) after illness it was so much easier not only to manage (washing etc) but because the less hair I had the less hair there was to be on my pillow in the morning.

How brave are you feeling? How long is your hair now? It might be worth booking a hairdresser you know and getting them to keep cutting the inches off until you find a level that you feel comfortable with and don't want to go shorter (even if just yet).

Get family and friends to start hunting out likely local sources of silk scarfs and hats if you aren't going for the wig route just yet. (I went for the sillier the better but not everyone like looking like a muppet)

There is nothing vein about worrying about your hair, it can be such a defining part of who you are i.e. "the hot chick sat in the corner with the blonde hair" and what people first notice about you.

[nomis]

Judging from your photo you've got a beautiful face and that looks good framed by your long hair. But a beautiful face is further highlighted with short hair. I think you'd look fantastic with short cropped hair plus get the conveniences of it. And a pic here wouldn't go amiss.

[Hapahowlee]

Jules ~ I agree with Clara and Nomis. You are so beautiful and have the type of face that would look good with long or short hair. I bet it would look fabulous.

I don't know if you will have to take the steroids permanently or if this is just a temporary thing, but if it's only for a little while longer, your hair would most likely grow back even nicer if you cut it down short.

I'm sure you can find a good hair dresser who can do up a hairdo that will look great and be easy to manage.

Good luck and I wish you well,

Hapa

[StillFingers]

Jules,

Being a bit vain is okay...who isn't. Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand, and denying or ignoring our feelings is not a real healthy way to live; small or big, stuff does matter. And as nomis stated, you have a lovely face and short hair might be quite flattering.

Back in 1978 during rehab, a large blood clot was found in my left femoral artery. Two weeks of heparin, followed by 6 months of coumadin caused my hair to fall out in clumps as you described. The 60s hippie in me loved my long blonde hair, but as it began to thin badly I got it cut short and wore a baseball style cap. The short cut was easier to manage and clumps of hair did not get stuck in my comb/brush.

I know how frustrating this can be, your are a beautiful woman, do what makes you feel good now. After your treatments stop, your hair will grow back, and a wig, if you choose to get one, can simply go back in it's box.

Best wishes,

Jerry