Best Products for Curly Hair after Chemotherapy

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From Straight Hair to Chemo Curls

It's really a crazy thing. Before undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, I had super fine, long, STRAIGHT hair. After treatment, I now find myself with a head of fluffy curly hair! Managing the curls has been a learning process but now I think I've discovered the products that work for me without a lot of harmful ingredients! Let's take a look at my hair journey and hopefully it can help you find something that works for you too!

Click HERE to reveal the best product for curly hair!

1990s Permed Hair

My hair was naturally long and straight but I always wanted it to be curly. I spent many years, hours, and dollars on perms. (see my pic from Junior High!) Oh the irony!! The perm never gave me the wavy beach curls I wanted, but I did have nice hair nonetheless - at least for the 90s! It seems we always want what we don't have, right?! I think I still have a can of RAVE hairspray in my mom's bathroom!

Donating My Hair

Here is a pic of me at the salon getting my hair chopped off before I began treatment - long and straight. I donated it to Wigs for Kids, a program that provides hair replacement systems to children dealing with hair loss. I was hoping that my hair could help a child going through treatment and brighten their day. ​

Hair Loss from Chemotherapy

It took about 2 weeks after I started treatment for my hair to really start falling out. And I was never completely bald. I always had this thin layer of gray peach fuzz! When it started coming out in big clumps I had my husband shave the rest off  with these clippers so it wouldn't get all over the house or clog up the drain! For me, losing my hair wasn't the worst thing. I knew it would grow back in a matter of time and it never bothered me much. I did hate losing my eyelashes and eyebrows though. But those grew back too!  ​

Growing Hair After Chemo

When I finally rang that bell and finished chemotherapy I was ecstatic! It's one of the best feelings. I made it through some of the worst days and I survived! Praise Jesus! But the journey doesn't end there. It's a lifelong journey actually. Full of changes, doctors appointments, fears, and so much more. Navigating the changes to your body is an ongoing process. One of the many things that changes for most people is their hair. Chemo is a very powerful drug and it is killing the fast-growing cells in your body, including the good ones like your hair follicles. When the hair grows back, it's often a different texture, color, or curl pattern. At first, my hair grew back completely gray with a curl to it. They recommend not coloring your hair for at least 6 months after treatment to allow it to detox. I couldn't wait to color mine because everyone thought I was my son's grandmother! Sometimes I got angry but most of the time I smiled and let them know he is my son! 

Coloring Hair After Chemo

I was finally able to color my hair - just in time for my sister-in-law's wedding! I went to a salon that uses organic hair dye without ammonia to use the least chemicals as possible. I had to get rid of the gray! Since then, I use products without ammonia or use a salon that uses organic or natural products. And weirdly enough, my hair went back to being mostly brown after the first color and trim. I just have to deal with touch ups every 6 weeks or so. 

Managing Curly Hair

This is my hair today. It has been almost 3 years since my last chemo treatment!

I've learned a few things about curly hair in the last few years. I am a very low-maintenance kind of gal when it comes to my hair. I like to wash it and let it air dry. I don't spend a lot of time styling it. And living in Florida, there wasn't much point in it anyway! We're going for taming frizz and keeping it as healthy as possible. I wasn't aware until my hair dresser told me, but curly hair is much dryer than straight hair and requires more love. So, I tried several products and finally found the brand that works best for me! Trying to balance between something that actually works and a brand that doesn't use harsh chemicals has been challenging. If you'd like to see how your products stack up, use an app like Yuka or visit the Environment Working Group website to find verified products. That's where I found the Shea Moisture brand of products. They have a whole line of products for curly hair. I love the Curl & Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo and theCoconut & Hibiscus Hair Mask. They leave your hair silky smooth and super hydrated. After I started using these products my stylist commented on how much healthier my hair looked! After you shampoo and treat with the hair mask, finish your easy style with the Curl & Style Milk. This gives you a little definition while still remaining soft. Forget the 90s mousse and hairspray! Your hair will have that wavy beachy look you've always dreamed of! 

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