[charisma4Participant]

Hello girls,

I am on my third cycle of MM trial. I am getting through it not too badly apart from feeling very tired, and looking slightly rounder and greyer!I do hope my question doesn't sound silly and trivial, but do any of you girls know of a hair colour that would be gentle on my hair ? It isn't all about vanity on my part, more the fact that my teenage grand daughters are noticing the changes in my appearance. I haven't told them of my condition yet, hoping to keep it from them for a little while longer.I know the recommendation is NOT to colour hair at this stage as it weakens it,but if anyone has any suggestions I would be most grateful.

Many thanks,
Lesley

[HelenParticipant]

Hi Lesley
I coloured my hair as usual during my chemo treatment and only stopped when I had my transplant date, the hairdresser did use a mild colour no bleach, now I'm going the whole 9 yards, it does wonders for the morale.
Love Helen

[tomParticipant]

Hi Lesley

I wondered why you made this ::: A question for the ladies ?? Then I looked at my photo and looked in the mirror and realized why you didn't ask me Ha ha.

Good Luck with it, our Grandkids don't know about my MM they just know Granddads got "Dodgy Bones" 😛 .

Take care and stay well

Love Tom Onwards and Upwards xx

[janwParticipant]

Hi Lesley

During my chemo, I stopped colouring my hair basically because like you I was so tired and had back pain from my collapsed vertebra. I wish someone had told me to get a haircut asap during cycle 1 or 2 before any possible side effects from the drugs kicked in. I had so many hot flushes and night sweats during treatment that my hair just looked lank and lifeless. By cycle three, I had just managed to get the nausea under control, but fatigue was still an issue. To wash and dry my hair more than a couple of times a week took too much energy and I would feel shattered afterwards. The weight of the hairdryer was also any issue due to my back and bone pain.

I asked my mom to cut my shoulder length hair before my SCT, especially as it was probably going to fall out anyway. My mom has always enjoyed cutting people's hair, but the cut didn't turn out as intended and I looked a complete mess!! Even my consultant couldn't stop grinning when he saw the odd lengths and shape of my hair. He politely asked whether I had done something to my hair! At least with a shorter cut, I could try on a few wigs and scarves.

After SCT my hair fell out and when it started to grow the colour was an extremely light bleach blonde colour. It looked as though I had tipped a bottle of bleach over my head! My usual shade of hair had been a dark blonde with some grey hair. This first crop of hair soon disappeared to be replaced by a thicker dark grey head of hair slightly curly, which stood up on end even when two/three inches in length. Initially, I couldn't control it, but when the hair grew a little longer it started to gradually fall into shape. But I was so disappointed in the shade and general appearance that I wore a wig everytime someone visited or I went out.

I got totally fed up with the dark grey colour that I returned to colouring my hair again about 18 months after SCT. Initially I was worried about leaving a bleach based colour on my head for a long period, so I tried some natural hair colours without ammonia. Unfortunately, none of these worked on my dark grey shade of hair. I then tried my usual Nice & Easy colourant, however it needed to be left 45 minutes on the hair and my scalp began to itch with some sore patches. At this stage I was concerned, so I began to look around for a product which needed only a short period of time to activate and would colour a full head of grey hair. I found Clairol's Perfect 10 which only requires ten minutes on any colour hair. (I know Sainsbury's and Superdrug stock it.) It works for me and manages to effectively tackle all of the grey.

Another possible suggestion is to use a mobile hairdresser and ask their advice about alternative methods of colourants. They will also have access to professional products which are only available to the trade.

Best of luck with the hair.

Jan

[charisma4Participant]

Hi Jan,
Thank you so much for replying.

Gosh you've have had a time of it haven't you .

I must say I am very tempted to put a colour on, I feel so dowdy.Also,I have always had poker straight hair and would be so pleased if, after SCT my hair grew back with a bit of curl !Every woman understands the confidence boost of a 'good hair day' – but from what you are telling me, it's going to be quite some time before I have that feeling again!

I think I will be having SCT round about the end of May,so I suppose I ought to looking at wigs soon.

I am having an 'everything is too much effort' day today, always the same when I come off the dex. However, if I manage nothing else today , I MUST wash my hair.

Thankyou for telling me your hair story and for the advise.

Wishing you all the best,
Lesley

[charisma4Participant]

Hi Helen,

thank you for taking the time to reply.

I think that I might do as you did and use a colour that doesn't contain bleach. After all, what's the worst that that can happen – my hair might fall out a bit sooner that expected that's all!

I agree about the morale factor, I am feeling so dowdy at the moment.So, in a few days time, when I'm back on the dex and have more energy, I think I will risk it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Love, Lesley

[charisma4Participant]

Ah Tom, I knew you would have to have a sneaky peek when you read the headliner !

Like you, I don't want to put a name to the condition when I finally tell my grand daughters, and 'dodgy bones' is a good one. I have the problem though that the girls live with me, and therefore witness my bad days however hard I try to mask it. Still, enough to worry about, so I'll cross that particular bridge when I come to it. Let's solve this hair problem first. (while I've still got some that is)!
All the best,
Lesley x

[tomParticipant]

Hi Lesley

Never been one to shy away from "Scary Headings" ha ha.

Yes Dodgy Bones works for us but to be fair Kids hear more than we think they do to be honest, mine have seen me in a few bad days and a few times when I got "Not too well" while we had them and had to send them home, but hey ho we all cope 😎

Good Luck with your Hair, and am sure you look just Smashing as you are 😀

Love Tom Onwards and Upwards xxx

[PatGParticipant]

Hi Lesley,

I think that this product would be Ok if you feel like doing it yourself as it does not have ammonia and is permanant. If you copy and paste into your browser it will give you all the gen.
http://www.garnierusa.com/_en/_us/our_products/range-haircolor.aspx?tpcode=OUR_PRODUCTS^PRD_HAIRCOLOR^OLIA^OLIA_HOME
I have stopped colouring mine just now as it very thin and I have got it cut very short. I bought a funky wig to wear when I go out or people visit. I had breast cancer in 2002 though and bleached my hair then – reasoning – it couldn't get much worse. It makes such a difference when your hair is looking nice and you can present a 'normal' looking face to the world. You could perhaps get one of your daughters to help you with the colour. Teenage girls do like to get involved in make-overs don't they. No need to say more about your condition if you don't want – spring make-over is enough. Hope the revamp works out well – it will make all the difference.
Keep well
Love Pat xx

[charisma4Participant]

Hi Pat,
thanks so much for replying.

I have decided to 'bite the bullet' and have taken your advise .I went out on Friday,and on your advise bought Olia AND I have chosen a more daring colour than I would normally choose. I am yet to apply it, as I have had a couple of not feeling so good days, am feeling a bit brighter today so….tomorrow may well be the new look me day he-he!As you say, it couldn't get much worse,(fingers and toes crossed) so what the heck.

Once again ,many thanks'
Love Lesley xx

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