# And....there goes the hair **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624 "2008-08-02T19:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/1 "2008-08-02T19:41:33Z")
I’ve heard various things about losing one’s hair during chemotherapy, it will come out in clumps, when your scalp starts to tingle/itch/hurt, that’s when it will really start to fall out… After my second chemo, it became more noticeable, but the defining moment came for me this morning. When your falling-out hair gets tangled up in your not-falling out hair, causing great big rat’s nests that you’re reticent of combing for fear of pulling out the not-falling out hair…well, time for sacrifice has come. I did have one big rat’s nest, and when I did attempt to comb it, I got a HUGE clump of hair in my hand. A double handful. So, I wore a UCF baseball hat to my daughter’s play this morning and while we ran our errands, and when we got home, I sat down in the kitchen and let Ivylad do his thing. First, he cut my hair very short, then took the electric shaver to it, then covered my head in shaving cream and took his vibrating Mach 3 razor to it. Bless his heart, the perfectionist that he is, it took him an hour and a half…I’m thinking Demi Moore in _GI Jane_, swoop, swish, and we’re done. I was a bit weepy about it, the first time I took a shower this week and realized, no, I can’t fool myself into thinking that clump of hair in my hand is just random loose hairs, but then I got it. If the price of permanently keeping the Ladies is temporary hair loss, then that’s okay. I still have my eyebrows, so I don’t look too bad. Just call me Lt. Ilia from _Star Trek; TMP_, (although I have taken no Oath of Celibacy 😃 )and as soon as Ivylad is up to it, I’ll post the before and after pics. **Janis** , right now I’m wearing the pink camo do-rag you sent. **Solfy** , I have the cotton bamboo cap you sent me. It’s a nice neutral color, so I shall probably wear that more than pink one that I knitted. But Monday, I will wear my pink knitted cloche with my pink knitted shell and my newly taken in suede skirt (I’ve lost 19 lbs, go me!) and my big dangly earrings. **Baker** , I’m saving your beanie propeller cap for casual Friday, to wear with the t-shirt my step-mom sent me that says “I’m too sexy for my hair, that’s why it’s not there.” ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/2 "2008-08-02T21:09:08Z")
Aww I got teary-eyed reading this post. Go, go Ivylass! I bet you look fantastic and what a sweet man to take an hour and a half to do the honors. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/3 "2008-08-02T23:12:37Z")
Hmmmm, cloche, earrings, suede skirt… I’m picturing a combination of [Clara Bow](http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/brujaja/ClaraBow.jpg) and [Edie Sedgwick](http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd69/brujaja/IMG_58112.jpg). What could be sexier? ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/4 "2008-08-02T23:32:55Z")
Your hair may be gone (for now) But I can see that you have your spirit, your determination and your optimism… I don’t pray, but you have my warmest wishes and nothing but positive thoughts for complete success in your fight! I once heard that a simple four word phrase that was one of the most empowering things I ever encountered. I offer it to you: “I BELIEVE IN YOU” May your days be easy, may your recovery be complete, may your heart be strong, and may your friends and family be there just as much as you need them! Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/5 "2008-08-02T23:41:02Z")
sounds like you are knitting up a storm. that does help with the weight loss. keeping hands and mind busy. keep slopping and slapping. that august sun is wicked on the topless (tophatted is always in and sophisticated). ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/6 "2008-08-03T00:12:58Z")
[Obligatory Insensitive Male Remark] But Bald is Beautiful! [/OIMR] More seriously - I’m sorry to hear that the expected has happened. And glad to hear that you’re dealing with it with as much grace and determination as anyone could hope for. Keep us informed, and keep going! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/7 "2008-08-03T00:24:02Z")
As others have said, it sounds like you’re dealing with this with a good attitude. You have a lot of strength, **ivylass**. You’re in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/8 "2008-08-03T00:27:44Z")
Sorry to hear about your hair! Sending more healing thoughts your way. Keeping you in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/9 "2008-08-03T00:30:21Z")
> [@Full Metal Lotus](#): > > I don’t pray, but you have my warmest wishes and nothing but positive thoughts for complete success in your fight! Well, I do pray (no offense, **FML** ), so unless you object, I will keep you in my prayers as well as my thoughts! You have a very strong spirit, and you rock! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/10 "2008-08-03T00:35:50Z")
Like I always say, I’ll take all the prayers, lit candles, good wishes, and shaken voodoo sticks I can get! ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/11 "2008-08-03T00:47:26Z")
_shakes his voodoo stick_ {{ **ivy** }} ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/12 "2008-08-03T00:59:19Z")
I’ve got links to my chemo pics, but Ivylad is having issues uploading the GI Jane pictures. We’ll have to wait until my son gets home. [First day of chemo](http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee150/ivylass/Picture003.jpg), the hat is from **Baker** , the teddy bear is from **rocking chair**. [The beginning of my cloche](http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee150/ivylass/Picture007.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/13 "2008-08-03T01:16:20Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] If the price of permanently keeping the Ladies is temporary hair loss, then that’s okay. [/QUOTE] That’s the thing to remember: it’s temporary. If your experience was like my most recent bout of alopecia aerota, just as you start to become used to looking kind of strange, the next day you’ll wake up and realize “Hey, it grew back! When did _that_ happen?” My thoughts are with you. 🙂 FWIW, check out _Our Cancer Year_ by Harvey Pekar. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/14 "2008-08-03T01:31:03Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Just call me Lt. Ilia from _Star Trek; TMP_, (although I have taken no Oath of Celibacy 😃 )and as soon as Ivylad is up to it, I’ll post the before and after pics. [/QUOTE] Lt. Ilia,…mmmmmm…she was hot! Best wishes to ya. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/15 "2008-08-03T02:54:26Z")
If you get to feeling really adventurous, one of my bead-supply catalogs once featured pictures of an employee who had lost her hair to chemo and decorated her head with those stick-on bindhis in an elaborate pattern. She looked like a million bucks (and had a thousand-watt smile to boot). ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/16 "2008-08-03T03:33:40Z")
[QUOTE=norinew] Well, I do pray (no offense, **FML** ), so unless you object, I will keep you in my prayers as well as my thoughts! You have a very strong spirit, and you rock! [/QUOTE] By NO mean would I take offense in you offering any support, in any way you can.. any issue that you feel requires prayer, or that motivates me to offer my own support supercedes mere forms of delivery! Let’s just get behind and PUSH for the good thing anyway we can! FML ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/17 "2008-08-03T03:35:23Z")
> [@Full Metal Lotus](#): > > any issue that you feel rerquires prayer, or that motivates me to offer my own support supercedes mere forms of delivery! 100% in agreement. So we’re all good. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/18 "2008-08-03T03:41:22Z")
Take care of that noggin–don’t let it get too chilly in the evenings, and don’t get it sunburnt! It’s just hair, though it must be awfully strange to lose it, and if shedding it is the price to win, don’t let it get you down. Hang in there, and keep fighting! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/19 "2008-08-03T03:44:56Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] That’s the thing to remember: it’s temporary. [/QUOTE] Yep - it will come back :). You’re doing a damn fine job bearing up **Ivylass**. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624/20 "2008-08-03T03:50:06Z")
You go girl. As women, our hair is more than just a head covering. It has to be more than a little traumatic to see it come out in clumps like that. Keep that positive attitude of yours and nothing will overcome you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-there-goes-the-hair/458624.md?page=2)