Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
When my oncologist told me that I had to go through chemotherapy, the first thing to go through my mind was losing my hair. That was one of my biggest fears of my cancer journey, and now it was a reality. I know hair is just a vanity thing, but for someone who is very active on Zoom calls, social media, podcasts, and a well-known influencer in my community, I was devastated.
In a previous post, I shared my journey of heading out to look at wigs as I started to prepare for my upcoming hair loss, and I was feeling pretty good about things. I decided to be proactive, so I cut my shoulder-length hair into a short bob in preparation for the day I would have to get my hair shaved. It made everything so much easier to deal with and I am glad I made the "cut."
I began asking everyone from nurses to fellow chemo warriors about the timeline for hair loss. 2-3 weeks after the first treatment seemed to be the average, and for me, it was right on the money.
I had my first infusion on 6/14, with my second on 6/28. The day of my second infusion, I started noticing that my hair was shedding more than normal. I slept that night with a bonnet over my head, and when I woke up the next morning, the bonnet was filled with hair. I also had severe scalp pain and it hurt to even wear a cap. From what I learned, hair loss is painful, and I was learning firsthand. I ran my hand through my hair, and it was now coming out in handfuls. The time was here, and I made the call to go get my head shaved.
I headed over to see Melissa at Custom Hair Tampa (read up on my initial visit with her here) and she did the honors. I felt very comfortable with her since she had been down this road before and also used to work at the cancer center where I go for my treatments.
I was pretty calm when I walked in for my appointment since I had already made peace with the situation. I knew what was coming and was prepared with a nice wig to wear when I left the shop. Melissa was great and took care of me right away. I could not watch her shave my head, so I kept my eyes closed for the entire time. When it came time to look in the mirror, I could feel tears streaming down my face. There I was....bald.
It was hard to look at myself. This was the moment I had been fearing and there was no turning back. It was time to face my fear head on and be as strong as possible. She immediately put a wig on my head and styled it. I felt so much better. It is amazing how a good wig can make all the difference. Speaking of which, I have learned so much about wigs. The ones on Amazon are not ideal for everyday use and do not look realistic, which is too bad because they are so affordable. A nice, synthetic wig can range from $400-$600, and a human hair wig averages about $2500. Clearly, I need a second job to be able to get a few wigs. The one in the photo below is one I tried on, but I did not purchase it yet. I hope to be able to get it in a few months.
So now I am counting down the days to my last chemo infusion, which will be November 1st. My hair should start to grow back in December, and I hope to have a short, bob style by next summer. Until then, I will be wearing wigs and having fun with different styles.
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