Why curly hair after chemo?

Many people report having "chemo curls," or different hair color and texture when it grows back after chemotherapy. This is because the chemotherapy medications can remain in your body and cause your hair follicles to behave differently.

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Why did my hair turn curly after chemo?

Some people report having 'chemo curls' – this often refers to new hair that is curly where as before chemotherapy treatment their hair was straighter. This can, in part, be explained because the shape of the hair follicle can alter during treatment and become twisted.

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Why do cancer patients have curly hair?

The drugs slowly leave the body, but the cells they affect recover slowly. As this slow recovery occurs in the hair follicles, they may produce different types of hair. The hair may be different from the typical hair growth and may include chemo curls.

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How long does chemo hair stay curly?

If you keep your hair short, in six to 12 months most of your chemo curls will be gone and you'll be free to try new styles with your short hair. For those who enjoy longer styles, chemo curls may last several years, or until you cut off the growth that occurred just after chemo.

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Can chemo make your hair curly?

In fact, one of the most visible side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss and changes in hair texture. This is sometimes known as "chemo curls." Chemo curls occur when a cancer patient's hair grows back after chemotherapy in a different texture, thickness or pattern than before.

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How to Care for Chemo Curls

23 related questions found

Why is my hair growing back curly?

Puberty, menopause and pregnancy all cause hormonal shifts that can make your tresses go from straight to curly hair. In fact, 40-50% of women experience major changes in their hair while pregnant or breastfeeding.

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How long after chemo does your body get back to normal?

A return to normalcy is typical, but it takes a while – usually six months or so. “All who have done chemo do finally get back to normal,” Patricia said. “Treatment for breast cancer can take a whole year, but six months after it ends, life comes back – incisions heal, hair grows back, chemo brain fog lifts.”

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Does hair ever go back to normal after chemo?

For most people who experience hair loss after starting chemotherapy, their hair almost always starts to grow back once their treatment is over. Sometimes hair may even start to grow back before treatment has finished. However, some people can experience permanent hair loss.

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Does hair grow back weird after chemo?

Your hair may grow back with a different colour and texture. When hair begins to grow back after chemotherapy, it will probably be slightly different in texture or colour to start with. Some people report having 'chemo curls', where the new hair is curlier than it was before chemo.

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Does hair grow back GREY after chemo?

Your hair can grow back an entirely different colour. Your perfectly beautiful brunette mop might grow back grey and vice versa. It's not uncommon to become a redhead after chemo when you were a brunette before.

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Why does cancer continue to grow after chemo?

This can happen because the treatment didn't destroy all the cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells by attacking cells that are in the process of doubling to form 2 new cells. But not all the cells in a cancer divide at the same time. Normal cells go into a long rest period between divisions.

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What illness causes curly hair?

About Curly hair-acral keratoderma-caries syndrome

Symptoms:May start to appear as a Child and as a Teenager. Cause:This condition is caused by a change in the genetic material (DNA).

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What is the best hair color for chemo patients?

You can ask your hairdresser to suggest henna dyes or vegetable based dyes for you. These are gentler on the hair than the other types of hair colouring. So hair specialists think it is safe to use them. Even with a vegetable dye, it is worth testing before you use it.

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How do you style post chemo curls?

How To Style Your Chemo Curls
  1. Use coconut oil. One of the holy grails for curly hair is coconut oil. ...
  2. Style with mousses, gels, and curl creams. ...
  3. Invest in hair accessories. ...
  4. Get a haircut. ...
  5. Avoid hair dye.

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What are the stages of hair growth after chemo?

Hair regrowth stages of hair growth after chemo
  • 3-4 weeks after chemo: fuzzy hair begins to form.
  • 5 weeks post chemo hair growth: new hairs become more visible.
  • Hair growth 6 weeks after chemo: the new hair become thicker.
  • 2-3 months of hair growth after chemo: an inch of hair may have grown.

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What is chemo brain?

A term commonly used to describe thinking and memory problems that a patient with cancer may have before, during, or after cancer treatment. Signs and symptoms of chemo brain include disorganized behavior or thinking, confusion, memory loss, and trouble concentrating, paying attention, learning, and making decisions.

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What should you not do after chemo?

10 things to avoid while receiving chemotherapy
  • Don't eat raw meat or seafood. ...
  • Avoid foods that may aggravate cancer treatment side effects. ...
  • Don't start taking any new medications or supplements. ...
  • Don't smoke or drink alcohol. ...
  • Avoid excessive UV exposure. ...
  • Don't risk pregnancy or chemotherapy exposure with sexual partners.

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What vitamins are good for hair growth after chemo?

Vitamins for hair growth after chemo – which are beneficial? Biotin, or Vitamin B7, is always the go-to vitamin when talking about healthy hair, skin and nails.

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What foods help hair grow after chemo?

Beans and legumes. They are also a source of protein, which helps promote hair growth, as well as iron, biotin and zinc. (Biotin deficiencies can occasionally result in brittle hair.) Avoid high-dose biotin supplements.

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Which cancers are most likely to recur?

Breast cancer: Women with breast cancer have an overall 30% chance of recurrence. Many cases happen within five years of completing the initial treatment. Cervical cancer: Of those with invasive cervical cancer, an estimated 35% will have a recurrence.

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Will my body ever be the same after chemo?

Most chemotherapy side effects are temporary and disappear once your treatment is over. For some people chemotherapy can cause long term changes in the body months or years after treatment. Many people feel more tired than usual for a long time after chemotherapy treatment.

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What are the hardest days after chemo?

For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.

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Why is my hair getting curlier as I get older?

As your hormones fluctuate, your body can change the shape of your hair follicles, which are responsible for your curl shape and pattern. Your hair might go from straight to curly, the other way around, or take shape somewhere in between.

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Why is my hair growing back coarse and curly?

Many people find that their hair grows back curly when it used to be straight. The shape of your hair follicle determines whether your hair is curly or straight. Your hair follicle may collapse when your hair falls out, which can cause your hair to grow back curly.

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