Short Hair Don't Care
Over two weeks ago I had my first chemo session. My hair was doing just fine, a little tingling but no hair loss! Around day 13 post-chemo I googled the estimated time it would take to lose hair on my specific chemo drug. Across all the forums and websites, everyone seemed to say Day 15 and like clock work I woke up at 4:30am on Day 15 with an achey scalp. Ladies and hipster boys with top knots may know that feeling when you tie a pony too tight and your scalp sort of hurts. Well it felt just like that - but all over my head. I gave my hair some gentle test tugs and well...it was a pretty unpleasant result.
This pending hair loss has been on my mind (haha) since the day it was confirmed I would require chemo. The thought of losing my precious locks reduced me to tears EVERY (and I mean EVERY) time I thought or talked about it. I have probably cried more over the possibility of losing my hair than I have about getting cancer or about having a boob chopped off. I know, I know...I really need to get my priorities in check!
But if you know me at all you will know that I love having long hair and I love all the maintenance that it entails. I love straightening and curling and styling and despite my hair never really looking thaaaaat good, I love it. I haven't been too adventurous with my hair over the years, mostly because every time I have it cut I usually have a meltdown. Colourwise I have been a bit more experimental recently - I had a few highlights in London and in Sydney I opted for a balayage do which I have been LOVING. It was with this hairstyle that I finally attained my goal hair, the hair of dreams...Jared Leto Hair.
As you will see from the above chart I managed to get Jared's coveted 2014 look and in the last 5 weeks I have gone from his 2014 to 2000 to 2007 to 2010 hairstyles.
As my hair isn't super long and is NOT in the mintest condition (split-ends for days!) I unfortunately was not a good candidate for hair donation. Ummmm can I not donate my hair to myself? Someone should really look into making wigs for people with their own hair! I digress! Anyway, if I couldn't donate it I wanted to turn this hair loss business into something that would help someone as well as making it into something positive and FUN for me. So I rang up the Stellenbosch Hair Academy and volunteered to have my hair cut by one of the students! I mean, if it was a disaster it wouldn't really matter as it would all fall out anyway!
I went into the academy 2 weeks before my first chemo and had my first cut by the lovely Nastassia. I definitely wasn't brave enough to chop it all off at once so we decided to do it over a few weeks which would ease my trauma and give Nastassia the chance to practice several different haircuts and techniques. The first trip to the academy, she did an amazing ombre lob which was the first time my hair has ever been Pinterest-worthy! The week after chemo she cut it into a cute little bob then something called a graduated bob and I was planning on going short short but felt too sick and had to go home. I returned a week and half later when it started coming out quite dramatically and she buzzed and cut it into a pixie cut.
My strategy was to cut it all off before it started falling out to try and minimise the trauma but I am sort of glad it worked out the way it did because by the time it got to the stage where my hair simply had to go, I couldn't get it off quicker. Before my surgery I found that I was almost excited for it (probs cause if you find out you have a tumour you just want it out!) and I found I had that same sense of excitement before the final hair chop. Surprisingly, not one tear was shed during any of my haircuts! Of course my hair hasn't fallen out completely yet so maybe those tears are just in storage or quite possibly I have just run out!
Right so I have been taking selfies since I had surgery and my plan is to take pictures all through my baldy phase and once I finish chemo so I can chart my hair growth. The main aim of this is to help give a guideline to other people who are faced with the tragic loss of their hair during chemo. Check out my new pixie cut with this little taster video of my journey so far. Turn up that volume...
What I learn from each step of this process is that my mind and the fear that I create is really my worst enemy. NOTHING has been as bad in reality. Losing my hair is terrible yes, but like all people in all crap situations, you adapt. I think I used to equate beauty with long luscious hair but since cutting it super short, whilst I do feel a little bit more exposed, I still feel girly and cute. I have loved each new haircut and I have this little pixie cut at the moment that I would never have had the courage to cut before getting diagnosed with Cancer, so that is awesome. Yes I am set to lose the majority of my hair. But it's hair! It will grow back eventually! Well it better anyway!
I also just wanted to send a little shout out to everyone who has been so supportive through this! Especially Nastassia, my candyfloss haired angel and super talented hairdresser, who has made this such a fun experience and who was so cool about creating a masterpiece before having to chop it off week after week! Nastassia (and Mia my Mum's hairdresser) also wanted to show their support by letting me buzz some of their hair off! My little pickle and fellow cancer conquerer, Vick, also cut off her beautiful (and I mean BEAUTIFUL) hair for charity and to show her support. You girls are all amazing so thank you so much!
This pending hair loss has been on my mind (haha) since the day it was confirmed I would require chemo. The thought of losing my precious locks reduced me to tears EVERY (and I mean EVERY) time I thought or talked about it. I have probably cried more over the possibility of losing my hair than I have about getting cancer or about having a boob chopped off. I know, I know...I really need to get my priorities in check!
But if you know me at all you will know that I love having long hair and I love all the maintenance that it entails. I love straightening and curling and styling and despite my hair never really looking thaaaaat good, I love it. I haven't been too adventurous with my hair over the years, mostly because every time I have it cut I usually have a meltdown. Colourwise I have been a bit more experimental recently - I had a few highlights in London and in Sydney I opted for a balayage do which I have been LOVING. It was with this hairstyle that I finally attained my goal hair, the hair of dreams...Jared Leto Hair.
 |
| Separated at birth? Nope - he is way prettier than me! |
As my hair isn't super long and is NOT in the mintest condition (split-ends for days!) I unfortunately was not a good candidate for hair donation. Ummmm can I not donate my hair to myself? Someone should really look into making wigs for people with their own hair! I digress! Anyway, if I couldn't donate it I wanted to turn this hair loss business into something that would help someone as well as making it into something positive and FUN for me. So I rang up the Stellenbosch Hair Academy and volunteered to have my hair cut by one of the students! I mean, if it was a disaster it wouldn't really matter as it would all fall out anyway!
I went into the academy 2 weeks before my first chemo and had my first cut by the lovely Nastassia. I definitely wasn't brave enough to chop it all off at once so we decided to do it over a few weeks which would ease my trauma and give Nastassia the chance to practice several different haircuts and techniques. The first trip to the academy, she did an amazing ombre lob which was the first time my hair has ever been Pinterest-worthy! The week after chemo she cut it into a cute little bob then something called a graduated bob and I was planning on going short short but felt too sick and had to go home. I returned a week and half later when it started coming out quite dramatically and she buzzed and cut it into a pixie cut.
My strategy was to cut it all off before it started falling out to try and minimise the trauma but I am sort of glad it worked out the way it did because by the time it got to the stage where my hair simply had to go, I couldn't get it off quicker. Before my surgery I found that I was almost excited for it (probs cause if you find out you have a tumour you just want it out!) and I found I had that same sense of excitement before the final hair chop. Surprisingly, not one tear was shed during any of my haircuts! Of course my hair hasn't fallen out completely yet so maybe those tears are just in storage or quite possibly I have just run out!
Right so I have been taking selfies since I had surgery and my plan is to take pictures all through my baldy phase and once I finish chemo so I can chart my hair growth. The main aim of this is to help give a guideline to other people who are faced with the tragic loss of their hair during chemo. Check out my new pixie cut with this little taster video of my journey so far. Turn up that volume...
What I learn from each step of this process is that my mind and the fear that I create is really my worst enemy. NOTHING has been as bad in reality. Losing my hair is terrible yes, but like all people in all crap situations, you adapt. I think I used to equate beauty with long luscious hair but since cutting it super short, whilst I do feel a little bit more exposed, I still feel girly and cute. I have loved each new haircut and I have this little pixie cut at the moment that I would never have had the courage to cut before getting diagnosed with Cancer, so that is awesome. Yes I am set to lose the majority of my hair. But it's hair! It will grow back eventually! Well it better anyway!
I also just wanted to send a little shout out to everyone who has been so supportive through this! Especially Nastassia, my candyfloss haired angel and super talented hairdresser, who has made this such a fun experience and who was so cool about creating a masterpiece before having to chop it off week after week! Nastassia (and Mia my Mum's hairdresser) also wanted to show their support by letting me buzz some of their hair off! My little pickle and fellow cancer conquerer, Vick, also cut off her beautiful (and I mean BEAUTIFUL) hair for charity and to show her support. You girls are all amazing so thank you so much!
Loved your pixie cut, and enjoying your blog. It is entertaining but poignant. We have been praying for you and thinking about you a lot. Keep up your spirit. Xxxx.
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