Tips For Helping You Save Your Hair While Going Through Chemotherapy
If you know someone who has gone through chemotherapy, there is a good chance that you have seen him or her lose his or her hair. If you have to go through chemotherapy yourself, you might fear losing your hair as well. Luckily, there are some steps that you can take in order to keep as much of your hair as possible so that you don't have to spend any time bald. Here are some tips for helping you save your hair while going through chemo.
1. Avoid Washing Your Hair
Washing your hair makes it softer and smoother, but it can also weaken your hair. In order to make sure that your hair is as strong as possible going into chemotherapy, commit to not washing your hair for a few days before. If you feel really gross, use dry shampoo during this period. Once you have gone through chemotherapy, your hair is going to be weaker due to the radiation. Try to avoid washing your hair for a few days after the treatment. Do not even use dry shampoo during this time because you might end up accidentally tearing out your hair follicles.
2. Don't Scrub
When you do wash your hair, be sure that you avoid scrubbing your scalp. This can result in more of your hair coming out than you would prefer. Be gentle and carefully work the shampoo through your hair.
3. Don't Wash Your Hair Too Much
Only wash your hair once or twice a week, rather than every evening or morning. This is because frequent washings can loosen your hair. For a week or two, your hair might feel extra greasy but that is just your body compensating for the showers. Once your body realizes that it does not have to produce grease to keep your hair hydrated as often, it will stop producing that grease and your hair will not feel as greasy.
4. Try Using a Cold Cap
Cold caps use dry ice to cool the blood vessels on your head to the point where they restrict and hold tight to your hair follicles. As a result, when those same follicles are exposed to the radiation of your chemotherapy treatments, they will take less damage. This will lead to you experiencing less hair loss. The cold cap will be uncomfortable for the first five minutes or so but your scalp will eventually get used to it.
For more information, talk to a company that specializes in chemo cold caps.
