Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Chemo?Chemo and Hair LossRegrowth After ChemoHair Care After LossFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Chemo?
Chemo and Hair Loss
Regrowth After Chemo
Hair Care After Loss
FAQs
People undergoing chemotherapy will notice different levels of hair regrowth. The speed of regrowth and thickness of your new hair will depend on various factors, including the individual, the drug (or combination of drugs) used, the dosage given, type of cancer, nutritional state, and pre-existing hair loss.
This article discusses how chemotherapy impacts hair loss and regrowth. It includes information about how long it may take for your hair to grow back, how it may look and feel when it does, and how to care for your regrown hair.
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What Is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapyis a treatment that uses strong medicines to kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells and normal fast-growing cells. It is a commoncancer treatmentand is often referred to as chemo.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
One of the most frustrating side effects of chemotherapy ishair loss. Because cancer cells and hair follicle cells are both types of fast-growing cells that divide quickly, chemotherapy will kill both types.
The extent of hair loss can vary among individuals and depends on drug type and dosage. Some people may experience mere thinning of the hair, while others may lose all of their hair.
Hair loss tends to begin after a few chemotherapy treatments. The hair may fall out gradually, or it may fall out in clumps. Some patients shave their heads—opting to wear wigs, scarves, or hats—so they do not have to experience their hair falling out gradually over a period of time. Any remaining hair might look dull or feel dry during chemotherapy.
Some patients lose more than just the hair on their heads—some lose hair all over their bodies. They lose eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic hair, and even arm and leg hair. Each person reacts differently to chemo, so it is impossible to predict who will lose hair or how much hair.
How to Care for Your Hair and Scalp During Chemotherapy
Hair Regrowth After Chemotherapy
Your hair may start to grow back while you are still undergoing chemotherapy, or you may not have hair grow back until after the treatment has ended.
While each person has a unique experience with hair loss and regrowth, looking at general timelines may help prepare you for what to expect.
After treatment ends, you may see the following regrowth pattern:
As a reference, healthy hair normally grows about 1 centimeter or half an inch per month.
Whenhairdoes grow back in, it may be a different texture or color than the hair you lost. For example, if you had straight hair, it may be curly when it comes back in.
Some people also find that their hair grows back gray at first, and then a few months later, it returns to its natural color as the pigment-producing melanocyte cells may take longer to repopulate the hair follicle.
Caring for Hair Regrowth
As your hair grows, use a gentle shampoo and conditioner. New hair growth is fragile and your scalp may still be very sensitive. Talk to youroncologist(doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating cancer) or yourdermatologist(doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) for more personalized advice on the topic.
For the first six months after therapy, you may want to hold off on undergoing chemical processes like perming anddyeing. Using a hair dryer, a curling iron, or a straightening iron may also damage the fragile new hair.
15 Expert-Backed Strategies for Hair Regrowth
Summary
Hair loss with chemotherapy and cancer treatment is common. You may experience changes to your scalp also. Most people do regrow hair eventually after treatment, but the hair growing back may differ in color, texture, or volume. It can take time for your appearance to return to what you were used to seeing.
A Word From Verywell
Cancer treatment can be emotionally difficult to handle due to the noticeable physical changes it can bring, including hair loss. Wigs, hats, and head coverings can all help to reduce the visible impact of hair loss. For some people, though, baldness is a proud sign of their cancer journey, and they prefer not to cover up their heads. Take the time to adjust to your new (but temporary) appearance, and do what feels right for you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsHair regrowth after chemo is different for each person. However, many people see hair start to return a month or two after treatment and have several inches back after their first year.Hair loss from chemo is different from other kinds of hair thinning or loss. There are no reputable studies that show vitamins or supplements are helpful in preventing hair loss or making it grow back faster.However, topical minoxidil may be recommended to help hair regrow after chemotherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hair regrowth after chemo is different for each person. However, many people see hair start to return a month or two after treatment and have several inches back after their first year.
Hair loss from chemo is different from other kinds of hair thinning or loss. There are no reputable studies that show vitamins or supplements are helpful in preventing hair loss or making it grow back faster.However, topical minoxidil may be recommended to help hair regrow after chemotherapy.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Hair Loss.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy.breastcancer.orgHair loss.StatPearls Publishing.Anatomy, hair.oncologynurseadvisor.comImpact of vitamins, supplements, and diet on cancer treatment-related hair loss.Javdan B, Pattison LM, Rangu SA, Tejeda E, McLellan BN.The validity of over-the-counter skin, hair, and nail recommendations for adult patients with cancer: a systematic review.Support Care Cancer. 2024;32(9):577. doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08735-5Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Coping With Hair Loss.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Hair Loss.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy.breastcancer.orgHair loss.StatPearls Publishing.Anatomy, hair.oncologynurseadvisor.comImpact of vitamins, supplements, and diet on cancer treatment-related hair loss.Javdan B, Pattison LM, Rangu SA, Tejeda E, McLellan BN.The validity of over-the-counter skin, hair, and nail recommendations for adult patients with cancer: a systematic review.Support Care Cancer. 2024;32(9):577. doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08735-5Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Coping With Hair Loss.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Hair Loss.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy.breastcancer.orgHair loss.StatPearls Publishing.Anatomy, hair.oncologynurseadvisor.comImpact of vitamins, supplements, and diet on cancer treatment-related hair loss.Javdan B, Pattison LM, Rangu SA, Tejeda E, McLellan BN.The validity of over-the-counter skin, hair, and nail recommendations for adult patients with cancer: a systematic review.Support Care Cancer. 2024;32(9):577. doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08735-5
American Cancer Society.Hair Loss.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy.
breastcancer.orgHair loss.
StatPearls Publishing.Anatomy, hair.
oncologynurseadvisor.comImpact of vitamins, supplements, and diet on cancer treatment-related hair loss.
Javdan B, Pattison LM, Rangu SA, Tejeda E, McLellan BN.The validity of over-the-counter skin, hair, and nail recommendations for adult patients with cancer: a systematic review.Support Care Cancer. 2024;32(9):577. doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08735-5
American Cancer Society.Coping With Hair Loss.
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