After Chemo and on Herceptin-Hair Dyeing Question

Cal-Gal · 09-16-2009, 04:40 PM

Hello-

How long do I have to wait after Chemo while still on Herceptin to dye my hair?

Completed chemo 3 & 1/2 months ago-have about one inch of black/grey growth-would like to go back to my light brown!!!

I am thankful to have hair--

Thanks--

Becky · 09-16-2009, 05:42 PM

I dyed my hair right in that timeframe. My last chemo was Feb 1 (05) and I dyed my hair that particular yr's Memorial Day weekend. in 2005, Herceptin wasn't available when I had chemo but I ended up getting Herceptin alone just a few weeks after that. When I went to get the first one (I'd say about mid June that year), my onc walked into the room and stood there and said, "you look so young". And that was all he said (I went light brown too from a very salty look). He didn't say anything else either.

Go for it. I dyed mine myself with a Garnier box but many here will tell you that you should go to the salon and that it doesn't take as well. I still just dye my own hair which is why I don't post a picture of myself

hutchibk · 09-16-2009, 08:07 PM

One of the resident hair dressers weighing in...

You should be fine. It's possible (but not probable) that color may not work exactly as you expect - but usually that is mostly limited to lightening hair to very light blonde shades, if at all.

(*guess what I didn't know but learned from my doctor? That Herceptin is actually chemotherapy. Targeted chemo, but still chemo...)

Paty · 09-16-2009, 09:57 PM

I also asked that question when my hair started growing back after chemo. My onc said that there was no problem at all to dye my hair whenever I wanted too. So I did. Everything was fine.

Terri B · 09-17-2009, 09:41 AM

I colored mine as soon as there was enough hair to grab the color. I didn't like the total silver. It made me still look bald. After I colored it, it made my hair look thicker!

I didn't ask permission. I didn't want to be told "no"

MJo · 09-17-2009, 10:39 AM

My oncologist said I could dye my hair as soon as I wanted to and any color I wanted. Still, I waited a whole year. Finally got tired of my gray-brown hair and dyed it plum.