The month of October is dedicated to breast cancer

• October 19 2022
• 10 min reading time

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What if your haircare is no longer relevant because of breast cancer? What should you do if you no longer recognize your own hair texture after chemotherapy, or if you have no hair at all? We want to pay attention to the power women who recognize themselves in this.  

In this blog, Noa (employee of Haarspullen.nl) and Anneke (her aunt) speak:

 

The week I started at Haarspullen, I was sitting on the terrace with my aunt Anneke. We talked about her short curly hair. She had breast cancer and was treated and operated on last year. She was very enthusiastic about my new job and the first thing she said was: ‘Ideal to have a niece at Haarspullen, now you can tell me exactly what to do with my short chemo curls!’  

And she is absolutely right, there should be more information available on this topic. A subject that often remains underexposed in the world of haircare, while it is a huge change for many women. That’s why we are doing a Q&A together with Anneke in which she shares her experiences.  

We understand that haircare is not a priority at all during a treatment process and that this can be a sensitive topic. Still, we can imagine that a daily routine changes a lot and that it’s good to pay attention to this. We talk with Anneke about the period when she got sick and the period when her hair grew back. 

 

What did your hair routine look like before you got sick and what have been the biggest changes? 

I washed my hair three times a week with regular shampoo. I used to always use a blow-dry brush and mousse to create volume because I had quite straight hair. The biggest change was that I bodywash started using instead of shampoo and oil to care for my skin after showering.  

 

Are there certain products you are no longer allowed to use once you start a treatment process? 

They didn’t advise me against any products. Actually, I wasn’t guided at all in that area. There are walk-in centers for people with cancer that you can visit later in the process. Workshops are given there on how to wear your makeup, for example, but I never went there.  

 

What do you think of the options available to prevent hair loss during the treatment? 

After the second treatment, my hair already fell out. Then I immediately shaved my head bald. I had already chosen my hairpiece beforehand. During chemo treatments, you do get an option to a coolingscap to wear. This cap gets very cold and you wear it on your head before, during, and after the chemo treatment. This reduces the chance of hair loss, but it’s not a guarantee. I didn’t do this.  

 

When you got a hairpiece, you wore it a lot. Did you also wash it during this period? If yes, with what? 

Definitely! I received a package with the hairpiece containing special shampoo, conditioner, hair balm, and a drying stand. My hairpiece was synthetic. I usually washed it every 2 to 3 weeks. When I washed it, I put the hairpiece in the sink and washed it by hand. Then I rolled it in a towel and placed it on a stand to dry.  

 

Have there been moments when you thought; I wish there was a certain solution for this specific situation? Could you explain this? 

Yes, especially for my eyebrows. At first, there were gaps in my eyebrows, and later they completely fell out. I didn’t want to draw black lines on my face with a pencil. Luckily, my daughter is a beautician. She got a product for me that made it look like I could draw real hairs on my face with a kind of mascara brush. I always made sure I looked good, for my grandchildren and the people around me, but also for myself. I really felt better when I looked as ‘normal’ as possible. This will be different for everyone, but I felt very comfortable with this and didn’t mind spending extra time on it. I have always valued selfcare moments, but during this period they became extra important to me. 

 

Did you feel the need for hair growth stimulating products? Did you use them? If you used them? 

No, not really. Of course, I hoped it would grow faster in the beginning, but in the end, you have to be patient. 

 

Has your hair color changed after your treatment course? 

I was already coloring it naturally, but on top of my head it suddenly became very white. So maybe my age has something to do with it, haha! Later I colored it again... 

 

Has your hair texture changed a lot after your treatment course? 

Yes. I now really have a full head of curls! They call these chemo curls. I was told this was temporary and that the curls would gradually grow out with haircuts. I have already had several haircuts and I feel like I am getting more and more curls. In terms of texture, my hair on top has become quite frizzy. I used to have straight waves in my hair, so I find it quite difficult to find the right products for my curls.  

 

I can imagine that showering and washing your hair with nice products can be an important self-care moment. Do you have certain products you like to use, and what do you look for in these hair products? (Scent, ease, extra softness, care). And what kind of products did you use during the treatment period?  

When I was bald, I used a lot of shower foam from Janssen. I found it very gentle on my skin and it smells really nice. I basically washed my head just like the rest of my body. The skin gets very dry from chemo, so I also applied a lot of oil after showering. Fortunately, I didn’t suffer from a dry scalp. I think this prevented a lot of itching while wearing my wig. 

I have appreciated these self-care moments during my treatment period more than ever. You feel human again, you make a little extra effort, and you feel better despite being ill. Even though I didn’t go anywhere, I found that nice. People don’t get shocked by you then. I just wanted to stay myself. Of course, you don’t have to hide it, but I felt much more comfortable this way.   

 

You now have a real head full of curls. You used to have almost straight hair. This is a big change for you in doing your hair. How do you deal with this? What kind of products do you use to style your hair after showering, for example?  

I am still very much searching. I now have Kis Keratin Infusion Shampoo given by my hairdresser, this is a thicker shampoo than I am used to. I also have a conditioner for this that I don't need to rinse out. This makes my curls fall a bit more naturally, but I still have very frizzy hair on top. I used another product before, but that made my curls too heavy. I am still experimenting every time. After washing, I now use a roller set and a round hair dryer brush. 

 

Do you think there is enough information available for women who lose their hair and for women whose hair grows back? What would you like to know more about when it comes to haircare for your situation? 

I would like to be offered more products. I could also use more explanation about what is good for my hair and about the change in my hair structure after the treatment. For example, they couldn’t tell me whether these curls are permanent or not. I have had it cut several times but still have a full head of curls. I got all the information about my hair care from my own hairdresser, so you are not professionally guided during the post-treatment period, while this is quite important for women. You are constantly busy being sick and getting better, but then you quickly overlook how you feel and how you look as ‘yourself’. This is a big part of your identity. In my opinion, you do need guidance when you have to completely change your routine.  

 

What would you like to say to women who are going through this?  

I accepted the situation as it was. Fighting cancer and losing to cancer did not exist for me. I did not resist. I divided the process into small steps for myself, day by day. This made this huge mountain more manageable for me.  

I am not afraid of hospitals, I’m lucky in that regard. You have to go with the flow of life’s waves, I actually don’t know how I did it either. Loving people around you are very important, my family and relatives have always given me all the support I needed and I have a sister who called me every evening. It’s nice to have people around you who listen.  

I have read a book, The Chemo Day Is The Best Day Of The Week, A Guide Through Cancerland. by Liesbeth Van Impe Pure recognition when reading this book. 

Anneke’s favorite texts from this book: 

• ‘Life is not a jacuzzi on a deserted island, with #perfecthappiness as a hashtag. Happiness is a snapshot that hits you when you least expect it.’ 
• ‘Care for those who care. You can never care too much for each other. You can never be too generous, with your time, with your attention. Every small gesture makes a difference.’ 
• ‘At the same time, there is fierce gratitude. Because I am still here, because the prognosis is good. Because I know I am loved. Because I am becoming myself again, because I am alive.’