Articles
Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Why does it occur?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: What should you expect?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Can hair loss be prevented?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: How to make the best of it
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Cover your head
Why does it occur?
What should you expect?
When will your hair grow back?
Can hair loss be prevented?
How to make the best of it
Covering your head
Radiation therapy also can cause hair loss
Content
What causes chemotherapy hair loss?
How long does it take to lose your hair during chemotherapy?
When does hair grow back after chemotherapy?
Can chemotherapy hair loss be prevented?
Can cold caps help with chemotherapy hair loss?
Can medicine help regrow hair after chemotherapy?
What is the best way to care for hair during chemotherapy?
Before chemotherapy
During chemotherapy
After chemotherapy
What are some ways to hide hair loss during chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: What should you expect?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Can hair loss be prevented?
Chemotherapy and hair loss: How to make the best of it
Chemotherapy and hair loss: Cover your head
Why does it occur?
What should you expect?
When will your hair grow back?
Can hair loss be prevented?
How to make the best of it
Covering your head
Radiation therapy also can cause hair loss
Content
What causes chemotherapy hair loss?
How long does it take to lose your hair during chemotherapy?
When does hair grow back after chemotherapy?
Can chemotherapy hair loss be prevented?
Can cold caps help with chemotherapy hair loss?
Can medicine help regrow hair after chemotherapy?
What is the best way to care for hair during chemotherapy?
Before chemotherapy
During chemotherapy
After chemotherapy
What are some ways to hide hair loss during chemotherapy?
Before chemotherapy
- Be gentle to your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don't bleach, color, relax or perm your hair. This can weaken it. Air-dry your hair as much as possible. Try to avoid heating devices such as curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.
- Consider cutting your hair. Short hair tends to look fuller than long hair. As your hair falls out, it won't be as noticeable if you have short hair. Also, if you have long hair, going short might ease the transition to total hair loss.
- Plan for a head covering. Now is the time to start thinking about wigs, scarves or other head coverings. Whether you choose to wear a head covering to hide your hair loss is up to you. But it's easier to plan for it now rather than later. Ask your healthcare professional to write a prescription for a wig. In the United States, the cost of a wig may be covered by health insurance.
