After severe hair loss, we become acutely aware of how it looks and feels when it returns. We notice every little difference, sometimes to our detriment as we then start mis-remembering what our hair used to be like. We think we remember absolutely what our hair was like – but maybe things were not quite what we thought? Quite as we think? Try to keep in mind the reality of what your hair was like. For example, did you colour it a lot and now find yourself amazed by the colour you are now seeing, overlooking the fact that you probably haven’t seen your natural colour in several decades!

WHAT IF MY HAIR COMES BACK DIFFERENTLY OR THINNER?

In about 30 percent of cases, chemotherapy will alter hair texture or colour. Sometimes however, it may come back curlier or straighter than before. To explain, the way hair curls and waves is due to the shape of the cuticle and the amount of protein fibres on each side of the cortex – the central core of the hair. Post-chemo, the distribution of the protein fibres may change, the reason some hair grows back curly or straighter than before. Mostly though it stays the same, although hair you may have deemed straight or wavy will initially come back with a stronger curl which will ‘straighten out’ as the hair gets longer and heavier.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS ONCE MY HAIR RETURNS?

You may be scared to do anything to your hair when it comes back, but as long as your scalp is fine you can have fun with your hair again.