Although this isn’t one of my favorite pictures of myself, it does show the wildness of my curls on a humid spring day. I took this picture this past May knowing that chemotherapy was approaching and that my hair would be gone.
After my first round of chemotherapy in June, my sister shaved my hair. I didn’t want to sit around and wait for it to fall out. I would have felt like a victim had I done that.
My hair started to grow back in over the next few months until I started a new chemo. I was in the hospital when it started falling out again so a nurse was kind enough to shave it off for me. Thank God.
Since June I’ve been wearing turbans on a daily basis. I rarely wear a wig unless I’m going out with family or friends. I feel as if the wig requires make-up and I rarely have a need for wearing make-up any more because I don’t go out that often.
Lately though, I’ve been missing my hair. I miss going to the hairstylist. I miss my Bumble and Bumble hair products even though they cost a fortune and the savings are huge WITHOUT hair.
I actually miss the difference between a GOOD hair day and a BAD hair day.
Maybe it’s the hairstylist that still lives deep down inside of me. I stopped doing hair in 1993 yet I still keep my license “just in case”. Just in case of what? I just don’t know.
Perhaps I’m just craving some normalcy.
However, if I had hair I’d probably just complain about what a pain it is to deal with…like on the humid May day. I’m never happy.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
When we were living in Memphis, My oldest daughter and I would grow out our hair, (her to her fanny, and me to my mid-back.), and then go down to the hair stylist to have it all cut off up to our napes, and sent to St. Judes. Did it every year for four years. Take my hair please! (for a good cause.)
Oh and you are so right about saving money on hair products when there is almost none there!
Blondefabulouss last blog post..Hut 1, Hut 2, Hut 3, HIKE!
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Blondefabulous: I think it’s AWESOME that your daughter and you donated your hair. Yes, the savings on hair care products is HUGE. Shampoo and conditioner are $50. Styling products are another $50. Insane.
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wanna cut my hair? i need a new do. layers.
hello haha narfs last blog post..Dreaming About You Lunatics
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I bitch about my hair every single day. It’s either too flat, too puffy, too crunchy, too curly, not curly enough… something!
I hope that you’ll be complaining about your hair problems soon too! We could form a club!
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hello haha narf: You have such gorgeous curl!!! You want to layer your hair?
Dawn: I miss bitching about my hair. I hope that I’ll be complaining soon enough as well but by the looks of it my hair isn’t coming back in any time soon.
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I shaved my head bald in March, and am seriously thinking of doing it again in March 09. I was blessed to be able to organize a St. Baldrick’s event for pediatric cancer. I felt free without hair, but I realize it was a choice on my part, and you didn’t have that choice. I didn’t feel like messing with my hair anyhow, with 3 kids around. I’ve set the next event for March 14th, a week before my c-section for my 4th and FINAL child. Figured it would give me one less thing to mess with. Although the event is for pediatric cancer, we try to get everyone involved who has (or had) cancer to support them. People give/donate money to see other people lose their hair. The proceeds we got from extra activities (concession stand, kids stuff, etc.) I donated to family last year who was struggling financially because of stupid cancer. I know it’s a bit in advance, but would you mind if we sent proceeds to your fund? I’m down in Texas and can offer prayers, but would like to help your family.
Ashley Hasts last blog post..Part Tres of the Disaster Days
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You are so beautiful. I understand, though. You can tell people you are having a bad scalp day.
Shellis last blog post..Love and Parents
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Funny how it’s the little bits and pieces of normal life we miss the most when the world’s been turned upside down.
I think it’s possible to have a bad wig day. And certainly a bad turban day. You know, if it’s the wrong color or something.
Finns last blog post..Is It Me?
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Wow… I bet before all this you never thought you would miss “bad” hair days as well, huh…
I should’ve gotten you a turband size scarf!!! (Sorry, heh)
DutchBitchs last blog post..The Tasting Routine
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Even though I’ve never lost my hair from chemo, I could relate to this post because my hair is naturally curly and oftentimes unruly. I spend lots of $$ on products and love the way my hair looks when it’s blown out and smooth. . . but lack the self-discipline to make it look that way on a regular basis.
Still, I’m sure if I lost my hair, I would miss it terribly, despite all the trouble it gives me.
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I love you. And I love you bald. Who needs dang hair?! It’s such a distraction from how beautiful people’s eyes are.
GirlintheCrosswalks last blog post..i’m back.
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Ashley: What a great cause to shave your hair for. I can also imagine that with a fourth child on the way you would want to pull your hair out so why not just shave it? If I’m still here in March (I’m thinking positive) then I’d be honored and humbled to accept the proceeds from your event. You have no idea how much it would help.
Shelli: That’s a great line.
Finn: I’ve had bad turban days. There are days when the turban just doesn’t look right…seriously.
DutchBitch: No, I never ever thought I’d miss bad hair days. Don’t worry about the size of the scarf.
Sharon: If you have curly hair then I totally recommend Bumble and Bumble hair care products. They are expensive but totally worth it.
Girl: You are incredibly sweet. Thank you.
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Oh Lisa…ain’t it the truth…we always end up missing what we bitch about…A loong time ago, my hair was sooo curly and now, I would love it back along with some color other than gray…I have been gray since I was 26.
Our kids’ band was given a goal to raise 3k for St. Baldrick’s and the band director said if they did, he would shave his head. They raised 3700. bucks. He and his assistant both shaved their heads at the Band Rally for the parents!! The Drum major, a senior girl also shaved her ‘do and she is absolutely stunning.
You have a great face for having a “high and tight”!! Go with it!! Do ya still have eyelashes? Use a tad mascara and accent them and you are ten times more so…bumbleless bee u tiful!!
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When my onco first told me that my hair wouldn’t fall out, but just merely “thin” a little, I didn’t think it was such a biggy, as I had pretty thick hair. I should have asked him to be a little more specific as to what “thinning” meant, but I found out soon enough what every male with “thinning” hair goes through. It thinned at my temples and just above my ears. I looked like a sad, single 50-year acccountant who lives with his mother and wears a Members Only jacket.
When the hairstyling got to be too much engineering and too little styling, I got it shaved off. I loved it. After YEARS of farting around with gels and mousse and whatnot, the freedom was thrilling. I tried the wig route, but found that since I was too cheap to buy a real-hair piece, the lesser-cost ones were hot and poke-y. I eventually went without. I was worried at first about how people would deal with it, but that became my litmus test – if you can’t deal, buh bye. Your problem, not mine.
Lisa, I’m going with Shelli on this one – you are beautiful, hair or no.
There’s still 6 months until muggy May comes around – mine grew back wicked curly, maybe yours will come back wicked straight?
Baroness von Bloggenschterns last blog post..Busy, Busy Baroness
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I agree with the ladies above. You are beautiful not matter what’s on your head. I’ve been all colors and all different lengths. 3 months ago I gave up up the $120 a month color now I’m super short and mostly gray. It takes me 30 seconds to do my hair. And i’m ok with that. You’re still here fighting and that is all that matters.
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I had my hub shave mine the day after my 2nd chemo cocktail (A/C) when my hair started raining. Then he shaved his.
However, I did not and have not shaved my legs since I found out I was going on chemo and it was going to fall out anyway. I ‘ve had 4 A/Cs and it’s not growing, but not going anywhere yet. I feel very European, actually, except for my arm pit hair, which did fall out, dang it.
The hair on my head was blonde, shoulder lengthish and looked a bit like Justine Henin (if you watch tennis) when I had my tennis cap on. But she retired this year, shortly before my hair did.
Cheers from Ohio,
Julie
Julies last blog post..Some Days I Feel Like Midas-Minus the Gold
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defendUSA: Wow, you turned gray at a very young age. That’s awesome that the band reached their goal!
My eyebrows and most of my eyelashes have fallen out. That’s part of the reason I don’t wear makeup anymore. My eyes look weird when I put eye makeup on them. Glasses are a great hide behind though.
Baroness: I like your attitude…if you can’t deal BUH BYE! That probably made it much easier for you to deal with.
I would totally miss my curls so I hope when it grows back in it comes back curly. That would be such a bummer. (Notice I’m skirting the compliment because I don’t do them well…thank you)
diva65: The savings is incredible, isn’t it? I am saving a FORTUNE on my hair. For $120 I can buy a decent wig that will last me forever.
30 seconds to do your hair? That’s some serious streamlining!
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I know (sort of) how you feel – I haven’t had hair in six years and I miss it every day. When I did have it, I hated it!
Louises last blog post..Mission Accomplished
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