Thin, Fine Hair- Loss and Upkeep

legaljen1969

I will first say I know I am very fortunate that I did not lose my hair completely. I know that is a whole other situation, and I am not trying to hurt the feelings of anyone who did.

Arimidex is starting to do a number on my hair though- thinning, drier, frizzier. I have a lot more shedding than before. I have always had somewhat thin hair and very baby fine in texture. Although it is curly. So I have quite a little bird's nest somedays when I wake up.

A couple of us were discussing some products and ideas to help protect our hair at whatever stage. Whether you are losing hair or growing it back, cancer treatments and the whole process can definitely change our hair. I just wanted to share a few things I have learned in the past couple of months. None are related to treatment or side-effects. Thesd are just aesthetic/beauty/pampering things. Hope someone finds it a little useful.

legaljen1969

MarcieB and I were discussing a silk/satin pillowcase. They can be a little pricey, but I got one by Kitsch at Ulta, The usual cost advertised in $19. I got mine as a "gift with purchase" promotion, otherwise I might not have tried it. It does seem to have helped a bit.

I had my hair cut on Saturday and I discussed products and tips with my stylist. She gave me some good information about my hair being thin and fine, oh and curly now, about how it needs some weight at the ends to keep it from frizzing. She was telling me to spray on some leave in conditioner after I wash it when I get out of the shower, to not really towel dry it but to use a microfiber towel or turbie-twist and just keep it up in that while getting ready in the morning. I bought a turban microfiber towel at Ulta (again, by Kitsch) for about $24. It's a great towel, but PRO TIP- go to some place like Marshall's or TJ Maxx. They had a whole rack of them for about $3.99-$7.99 each (and some were twin packs). She was saying how regular cotton towels tend to rub the hair too much, especially if you have thinner and finer hair.

Also, using sort of an oil/serum on the ends can help to keep that weight there and prevent those fine little ends from frizzing up and splitting. I am going to see how it works. I am also trying a new Redken bonding shampoo since my hair is bit damaged from coloring and heat styling.

Just thought I would put these little tips out there in case they help anyone else. I am sure some of you are beauty mavens and probably wonder what rock I called from beneath, but I am pretty much a wash and go girl. LOL

I do have to put in one more shameless plug for TGIN products (Thank Goodness It's Natural). The line was invented by a woman who went through Breast Cancer. I love their products, especially the curl enhancing ones. Good moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, leave in treatments. And they all smell amazing. They make me happy. (I get mine at Ulta. Yes, I have an Ulta obsession. LOL)

And my last little plug for "dash out the door" stuff. I have become a Boom cosmetics fanatic. It is pricey, but their products last forever and my skin has never been in better condition. I got my first Boom Stick trio last July and my color stick it is just now finally at the very end. I had gotten a second set in September before I went to Disney and use that just as my travel set. I also have a NARS bronzer stick. I use the NARS stick sometimes when I just want a bronze shimmer. Use it on my cheeks and eyes. If you are looking for easy- just some ideas.

I know sometimes "beauty" takes a back seat when we go into survival mode. Some of us are not make up people or hair people anyhow, but I have enjoyed playing around. It's my one selfish indulgent luxury.

Find a way to make your heart happy and peaceful. Whether that is through "cosmetic" pampering, or meditation or whatever. Do what makes you happy. Don't let the hard parts make your heart hard. It can happen. I definitely went through it for a few months. I just wanted to share a few things that perk me up.

andreacha

Thanks for all the tips. My oral chemo thinned by hair and that never changed. But now that I'll be having regular chemotherapy, I'll need all the help I can get.

legaljen1969

@andreacha, if nothing else- the satin or silk pillowcase would definitely be softer on your head. I am sorry you are going to have to undergo regular chemo. Bummer. I've been thinking about you. Trying to slow down my social media. I know that's not exactly what THIS site is, but I just don't visit here as much. You are never far from my mind.

omaalyce

I have a friend who developed an all natural line of hair products. They are a bit pricey but very good. I have tried several brands throughout the past 4 years and these don't cause my scalp to itch. I went from thick, curly hair to fine, straight mostly white hair after i finished my treatments. Since I developed rheumatoid arthritis I have kept my hair short-easier to blow dry etc. My hair changed from kinky curly after my treatments were done to loose curly to straight. She has a travel kit that you can purchase that allows you to try her products first.
VIP PRO BEAUTY PRODUCTS
www.vipprobeauty.com

ChicagoSandy

Menopause thinned my hair (also baby-fine) and 10 yrs later, letrozole (Femara) has thinned it further--with a greater tenency to frizz. Had been getting keratin treatments (Braz. Blowout) 3-4x/yr, but stopped after learning the extreme heat can change part of the product into formaldehyde, which is released as fumes. Another reason I stopped was that I developed an ocular melanoma (though my ocular-onc says that's not a cause). Still going to get my roots touched up, though, 4x/yr. Keeping it long (below shoulder) but get ends trimmed if they get scraggly.

I wash with a keratin-containing sulfate-and-salt-free shampoo (Braz. Blowout Volume or Anti-Frizz, or Giovanni), condition the ends with Elvive Miracle Water, then rinse. I blot gently and wear a Turbie Twist till ready to style. I apply Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Repair serum plus a light spritz of a blow-dry protectant spray, then comb through with a wide-tooth detangling comb. I blow-dry on low/warm with the dryer head of a Dyson Air Wrap (Christmas present from pre-pandemic), and then when almost (85%) dry use the "wrap" barrels to give a little shape. There's a tiny bit of frizz if it's humid out, so I finish with a spritz of anti-humidity shine spray (Living Proof or Garnier).

I also shampoo no oftener than twice a week (I wear a cap when I shower)--using a dry shampoo between.

ChicagoSandy

I get the Giovanni stuff (including the heat-protectant spray) at Whole Foods.

MarcieB

legaljen, thank you for this post! I lost my hair during chemo, but it grew in beautifully as well as my eyebrows and eyelashes. I was feeling great and then...da,da,DAAA...arimidex. blah. Now my hair is thinning, my eyebrows are scraggly and my eyelashes are much shorter. I feel bad to complain, but there it is. I also understand the medication can cause weight gain and I have re-gained all the weight I lost in treatment, and a few extra. I was blaming Covid, but now I am wondering if stress could be affecting my weight? I've had a lot of anxiety lately.

Thank you for all the products you mentioned (Chicago Sandy too!) I love trying different things. I usually use Nioxcin for my hair (it is formulated for thinning hair), but my hairdresser advises AG Hair Care product which used apple cider vinegar and all natural ingredients. I like it too. I am thinking about trying the Boom sticks? If I worked outside my home I probably would have by now. With the masks in place I figure no one see more than my eyes anyway.

You know, when this is over, and we don't have to wear masks anymore, we are ALL going to have to spend at least an hour plucking our chins! (how come THAT hair doesn't disappear?)

andreacha

Lots of great tips. Thank you all. Legaljen 1969 will try those pillowcases! And thank you for your kind words.

Molly72

My hairdresser swears that a supplement called "Biotin" helps grow hair. She says it is available at drug stores in the vitamin area. Biotin is also available in some shampoos. I've tried one, but it doesn't seem to be any different than any other shampoo, but then I only used it twice.

legaljen1969

@Molly72, taking a Biotin supplement has worked wonders for growing my hair and my nails. I have always been bad about biting my nails. COVID sort of took away the "hands in my mouth" temptation. But my nails were always so weak and flexible. Biotin has gotten them growing and they are reasonably strong now. My hair is getting longer too.

I have tried Biotin shampoos and they don't seem to help much for me either, but the supplement is definitely making a difference.

MarcieB

I know a lot of us are taking estrogen inhibitors. I am using the generic arimidex, but I know there are two others available and my doctor says they are interchangeable. It depends on how your body reacts. I suppose thinning hair is a side effect for all of them, but is it? Is there anyone who switched medication and had better luck with the hair issue?

Molly72

legaljen---Glad to have my hairdresser's comments validated. But I wonder, have you noticed hair growing on other parts??? Like legs, arms, and of course the dreaded facial hair!
Is your hair getting thicker, or just longer, quicker?
Also, how long before you noticed the change? What is the dosage you take?
Boy, I am nosey!

Biotin sounds like a wonder supplement. I am having trouble with regulating my thyroid hormones
after my thyroid was removed by radiation, and I am petrified of losing my hair.

ChildOfGod4570

When I experienced the dreaded hair loss during chemo, I used baby shampoo on what was left of my real hair, and I was sure to pat my head dry after showering. I also alternated days where I would use the baby shampoo or not wash and just wear a shower cap. When it was time to focus on regrowth, my sister ... a hair dresser ... got me some Avida natural shampoo, conditioner, and hair restoration solution. I also took Biotin for quite a while. I started chemo and lost my hair in the late spring of 2013. Finally, I was ready to go to church "unveiled" by late January, 2014! HTH HUGS and God bless.

ChicagoSandy

I took biotin for a while and then stopped...no difference. I guess it works better for some people than for others. BTW, if you are going to take a blood test for viral antibody titers (i.e, to test immunity to any virus), don't take biotin the night before: it might give a false-positive or a higher titer than you actually have.

legaljen1969

@Molly, my hair just seems to be getting longer more quickly. I think it's helping my nails more than my hair. I had a stressful end of the week, and the nail biting took away all of the beautiful progress I had made.
Also, I have always had low thyroid function since I was a small child. Of course, growing up my parents always made sure my health was managed and my levels kept in check. It took me until I was in college to understand what I needed to watch for. That can be a big cause of hair loss or extra shedding. It's usually one of my first signs that my thyroid levels are "off." I have lots of shedding, extra hair loss. I don't notice hair anywhere else growing particularly more quickly. Although I haven't really been paying attention. Just keep on it with trying to get your levels regulated. It can be a challenge, but you will get settled in. My thyroid levels being out of whack also causes my elbows to get extra dry and sandpapery feeling. My emotions are not well regulated either.
@ChicagoSandy, thank you for the tip about not taking biotin before a viral antibody test.

omaalyce

Thank you @ChicagoSandy for the warning about Biotin and Thyroid tests. I had just heard that from a specialist. Always check with your doctor first.

Zsuzsa

My hair was always baby-fine but not thin. After chemo it started growing longer, faster. Arimidex doesn't seem to harm it. Anyone know if Zometa affects the hair?

Molly72

Chicago Sandy--- Oh My! I just got lab results back from a thyroid test and there was a footnote noting that the results could have been "falsely elevated following intake of Biotin supplements" .
I have not taken the Biotin as of yet, but am grateful for your heads up warning.
Now I am a bit leary of taking Biotin, and will ask my doctor.

omaalyce

My Salon has started using Verb products on their patrons hair. The shampoo is great but it's the conditioner that I like best, It is much lighter than any others I've tried and doesn't flatten down my fine hair. They also have Ghost oil and spray that are lighter as well. I feel finding the right product for my hair is the best way I can handle my now straight, fine hair. Going from thick and curly to straight and fine has been a challenge for me.

MarcieB

Ladies, I have discovered a new haircut/new hairdresser, can do wonders. My previous hairdresser moved to a different salon so I just asked for whoever was available. I have not had my hair cut since July (!) Unless you count me snipping at it from time to time. (which I KNOW is a big no-no, but my hair has been growing very slow since my treatment, and who is going anywhere anyway?)

The new girl was wonderful. I told her all my concerns and as she was cutting she told me she didn't think my hair was thinning at all. She hadn't seen or worked with it before so to her it was fine. So I guess even if it is thinning, it is not balding - which is another thing.

She did confirm my suspicion that one side of my hair is curly and the other straight. It's not a huge difference so I always wondered if I were imagining it, but I am not. One side curly, one side straight. Goofy!

legaljen1969

@Marcie, I am actually long overdue to find someone who can do my hair better. My conundrum is that my stylist is one of our closest friends. She does a fabulous job with my husband's hair. She does an amazing job with my color and always keeps me "on trend," but the cut- she just can't get my vision. It looks fabulous the day she does it and then I have to wait until the next time she does my hair to look human again.
I told her the last time that she needs to let me see what she is going and explain everything to me, or I was going to take a picture of myself on my worst hair day and post it everywhere- Instagram, Facebook, etc and say "this is the work of ...... She does beautiful hair in her salon but the style is unmanageable otherwise." We shall see what happens.

MarcieB

@legaljen, I GET it. It is very hard to change hairstylists, one feels a kind of obligation to be faithful to them, right? I had a wonderful hairdresser who I stayed with for years. She knew my hair and she listened to me - she was also a terrible gossip and told me things about people she didn't realize I knew (!) so I kept my conversation light, but continued to go to her. Then, I lost my hair and she moved to Hawaii!! So when my hair grew back I had to find someone new and I am at the mercy of just taking a chance. There are a lot of hairdressers who attend our church, but I cannot go to them - if I don't like how they do my hair I am stuck.I know you understand - you are sort of in that very position right now.

But, it's frustrating. No one can ever replicate how nice a hairdresser combs us out, but we should at least be able to come close?

Molly72

Oh Boy, MarcieB & legaljen, you must be mind readers!
I have been going to the same hairdresser for many years, she is just OK, but very inexpensive and that is important. With the Covid problem & restrictions, she is great. Only one person at a time in her shop. She does coloring nicely & is a very good person.

But--- there is always a but! Her cuts are not so good. One time my hair looks ok, next month, I look like Moe from the Three Stooges!
We have a new salon in town, & they seem to be pretty good, I would like to give them a try, but I know my current one would be very hurt if I changed shops.
Does anyone know how to change hairdressers gracefully?

legaljen1969

My current hairdresser was convenient when I started going to her. She had Saturday appointments. I didn't have to take time off work. She could always make some time, even if I had to have a later appointment. Now, she owns her own place and her hours are cut WAY back. I don't begrudge anyone being her own boss and making her own hours. It's just not as convenient, but my husband adores going to her. Me, not so much- but it's the friendship that keeps us going back. She and her partner really are some of our closest friends. We have been through a lot with them. They have been there for us through some rough times and we have been there for them through tough times too. I have definitely decided that when I have the opportunity to move on, I will. And the next time I will certainly be nice and pleasant to the person who cuts and styles my hair, but I will not get to a close friendship place. It's just too hard.

Marcie, I know what you mean about the super gossipy hairdresser. I have run into that type too, and the current one was that way until I called her out on something. She is always saying she wants her salon to be a "safe space" where her clients can talk about anything. She likes "lively discussion" and controversial topics. I had known about my cancer for a couple of months before I told her about it. She asked why I hadn't told her before and I told her I just wasn't ready for the world to know yet. She said "Oh, I would never tell anyone. I can keep a secret." I laughed when she said it and told her that if I wanted something to be kept secret, she was the absolute last person I would tell. She seemed shocked. I told her I would tell Oprah Winfrey and have more confidence it would be a secret than if I told her. She asked me why I felt that way and I told her I have heard numerous really "juicy" stories told her about her clients and I felt certain they were not expecting the whole world to know those stories. I met one of her clients through another mutual friend. I was admiring her haircut and she said "Oh, I go to Savannah to this really great stylist named H." Well, she used the stylist's whole name. I said "What a small world. I go to her too." She looked shocked and said "Oh, you've probably heard all about me since H. can't keep a secret." It all clicked and I knew exactly who she was, but I tried not to let on that I knew her "confide in my hairdresser" story. So I told H. I had met that client and she (H) was all shaken up and said "I hope you didn't tell her you knew her story." I told her I hadn't said a word but the woman knew H. had told her a lot of people because she felt like she couldn't go anywhere now without someone laughing and commenting.

I keep my business to myself and let her do my color. The woman (H) has obviously never heard the old adage "God gave you two ears and one mouth so you can listen twice as much you talk." I think God gave her one ear and two mouths. LOL I hear an awful lot and say very little.

legaljen1969

She doesn't talk about people nearly as much since I told her how many of her clients I have met that have asked me if I knew about them, and how many times I have pretended not to know anything. I bet she hasn't gossiped in front of me in over a year. Maybe she has stopped altogether but I know she realizes she isn't getting anywhere with me. Once I told her I couldn't trust her with important information, I think it damaged her self-image a little to know that people felt like they had to keep secrets.
She started to say something tonight and I said I was going to just sit there and keep my two ears open and my one mouth shut. She got the point.