Post-cancer hair growth tips

You’re finally done with treatment and your hair is growing back - such an exciting, surreal feeling! I don’t know about you, but I had beautiful, straight, long hair down to my butt before cancer, so losing it was extremely difficult for me emotionally. BUT it grows back and all my friends and family still loved me even when I was bald…I had to keep reminding myself that it doesn’t matter in the big picture of life, but it’s still insanely hard to feel like a part of you is gone and not because of your own choosing.

I’m not going to lie, I googled ways to make my hair grow back faster every single day for at least three months and I came to the realization that it just takes time. However, I do have some tips for you that may help in the process:

  1. Pomade is your friend! I never had to use it before, but then my hairdresser showed me how to style short hair and this stuff is key. I loved the Redken Mess Around gel because it was easy to play with and wouldn’t leave my hair feeling too crunchy.

  2. Bobby pins and clips…also your friend! Once your hair starts growing in, there unfortunately will probably be some awkward phases. Using bobby pins and cute hair accessories to twist back my hair made me feel like I was adding some feminine touches and it looked really cute!

  3. Consult with your doctor first before taking supplements, but I took Biotin every day and I swear it sped things up. I also had hair growing everywhere else at a rapid pace, but that’s besides the point. I took 10,000 mg every single day! (Again, consult with your doctor)

  4. Watch YouTube videos. I really had no idea how to style short hair, but watching videos helped me come up with some cute ideas I never thought I would try! I loved this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVQIIze-fzE

  5. Be patient. I know that’s the most frustrating thing to hear, but that 6-9 months of an awkward hair phase will fly by and YOU BEAT CANCER and you’re beautiful with or without hair, so who really cares.

I hope these are helpful - you’ve got this you beautiful human!

Madison Pollack