Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How to deal with hair loss from cancer treatment

For breast cancer patients, this can mean changes to their hair – from thinning to a complete loss of hair from the head or all over the body. Hair can also change in texture, colour or growth rate.

But if a treatment can save your life, why worry about your hair? Jennifer Young, who founded the specialist skincare brand Beauty Despite Cancer, believes addressing hair loss or changes is an important part of a woman’s cancer journey. It was the neglect of the often distressing side-effects of treatment on a person’s hair, skin and nails that inspired Jennifer to develop products that give those living with and beyond cancer a sense of comfort and relief.

Jennifer says,

“While chemotherapy is busy trying to do its job destroying cancer cells, there are other fast developing cells that get caught in the crossfire – including those that relate to skin health, hair growth and our nails.  Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, but many of the therapy protocols that are used do have this side-effect, which can range from mild thinning of your hair to partial or complete hair loss.

“Hair loss doesn’t just affect the scalp either, it can also include eyelashes, eyebrows, underarm, leg and sometimes pubic hair. If hair loss is going to occur, it usually happens two to three weeks after treatment begins and it tends to be gradual. While distressing, once the treatment ends, hair usually grows back,” she adds.

“Everyone’s feelings are different,” she explains. “For most women, there is a loss of identity that goes with losing their hair, and many also feel it’s a constant visual reminder of their cancer. Some feel guilt over being upset about something they perceive as being superficial when faced with the gravity of a cancer diagnosis.”

But it is possible to embrace any change to your hair with acceptance and positively – just as Ami Shirley, one of the stars of our current campaign, has done since her successful treatment for breast cancer.

Ami says,

 “I used to love my hair, then I lost it all after chemo. Now it’s crazy but growing. It’s not perfect – it’s thin and still way shorter than I’d choose, yet it’s so vibrant and the grey-white makes me feel like I’m wearing different clothes.

“This is a wonderful silver lining where now I’m free to reinvent myself based on how I feel, not on my age, size or how imperfect my body is. I’m in love with this new energy.”

Jennifer Young shares her advice…

“Many scalps are prone to breakouts and can become itchy, sore and tight – it also gets hot under head coverings, but a scalp care routine can be both soothing and improve scalp health.

Defiant Beauty Dry Scalp Treatment

“Using a natural cleansing balm (such as the Defiant Beauty Dry Scalp Treatment) will help to stop bacteria growing in the humid conditions under your wig, and will help clean pores, just like you would on your face. Gentle exfoliating with a hot cotton cloth or an exfoliating sponge to remove the balm will help reduce itchiness.

“A cooling spritz can be used like a toner, as well as any other time you’re feeling flushed. Then applying a moisturiser with gentle massaging techniques will not only feel nice, but will also reduce soreness or itchiness, protect the skin and help care for your hair follicles.”

Shop Beauty Despite Cancer

“Introducing a skincare routine will help to soothe your skin and having gentle, natural products will help to reduce the side-effects of cancer treatment. It won’t prevent hair loss, but it can help make skin feel more comfortable and support hair regrowth once treatment stops.

“Your skin in general comes under a lot of pressure through cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy, and looking after it has the impact of helping to relieve discomfort, and giving it the support it needs to recover faster when treatment stops.”

Be kind to yourself

“I think the most important thing is to take it one day at a time. If you’re sad about your hair loss, allow yourself to feel that grief and try not to feel guilty about it, it’s completely valid and it’s tied up with a lot of complex emotions. Equally, if it doesn’t actually bother you, that’s ok too.

“Take the small wins and make time to do nice things for yourself. I’m a big believer in the importance of daily, joyful rituals – not just because I make skincare products but because I believe in, and live by, the importance of those little moments of self-care. It helps you to feel as though you’re doing something nice for yourself amidst all the medical procedures – that’s good for your mental wellbeing.”

Win a Beauty Despite Cancer x Royce Lingerie bundle

To celebrate our latest collaboration with @beautydespitecancer we’re giving you the chance to win a selection of Royce Lingerie bras of your choice (worth up to £100) plus a Defiant Beauty Scalp Care Kit (worth £63) containing a luxurious balm, spritz and oil to keep scalps clean, soothed and refreshed. To enter, simply follow both @RoyceLingerie and @BeautyDespiteCancer on Instagram, ‘Like’ the competition post and comment saying why you would like to win or tag someone who deserves to win.

You have until Wednesday 18th October to enter, after which one winner will be selected at random and contacted through Instagram (so keep an eye on your DMs). Good luck!

Enter now

Just like our friends at Beauty Despite Cancer, we value self-care and want women dealing with breast surgery to feel supported and comfortable from the very first layer. That’s why we design post-surgery bras in consultation with breast cancer specialists and patients, that can be worn safely and comfortably following mastectomy, lumpectomy or other chest surgery, and can hold a prosthesis if required. Browse our range of stylish post-surgery bras, from Silver Post-Surgery for hospital to Maisie and Indie for recovery and beyond.