Changing makeup

Thank you so much for you advice and comments ladies, all of which are so welcome.

This is a scary time and it's good to have something to look forward to.

Yes, Ariadne, I too am missing my eyelashes but thankfully most of my eyebrows are still intact.

My very best wishes to you, Ariadne, and anyone else out there that is going through this god awful disease.

Hello, phizz! When my hair came back often chemo it was white at the from, and steel grey everywhere else. And curly - but in supernatural condition because it is, after all, new hair. You're advised not to use colouring products for a few months, I think.

I had always been blonde (helped by the hairdresser!) so I decided that I would do something different and dyed it what my friend called "menopausal mahogany". It was nice to begin with but soon became a flat colour. So I had it stripped down, went back to blonde with silver highlights with the intention of slowly letting the grey grow through. That was ten years ago. Still blonde....

Good luck - so nice when it's over. I missed my eyelashes and eyebrows most of all.

Good Luck. Whatever you choose hope it looks great

My lady vicar in our village is the most glamourous vicar ever, and she has beautifully-cut white hair to dye die for. She also looks very young for her age, which has completely changed my idea about hair aging you, simply because she uses a bit of blusher and a good long-lasting lipstick to add colour.

If you go to any beauty counter in a large store they will give you a make over for free. Ask them for advice.

Oh, I see, phizz, it's started growing back already!

I hope you're pleasantly surprised when it gets to a decent length - as others have said, there are toners for white hair and you can ring the changes as they're usually only temporary.

That's great phizz.

Again, thank you all for your encouraging comments. I'm fair skinned yet have worn sludgy green eye shadows but think the grey shades mentioned by glammanana will be far softer now. I've never worn a pale pink lipstick but shall perhaps give them a go and see how they suit.

Ana, I have been able to see my hair is now white as the regrowth has shown only too well. I was fair haired before I started to colour it but shall find it a whole new new ball game to be totally white.

Actually, after listening to you ladies I'm beginning to look forward to it, a new feeling for me after this past few months.

phizz You may be surprised and your hair grows back in a much better condition than it was I now mine did many years ago,if yours grows back thicker go for an elfin style and brighten up the colour with specialist colours advised by your hairdresser something gentle and chemical free such as vegetable dyes you will be surprised how quickly your hair will grow mine was back to my shoulders after 18mths and I have had it waist length for many years now and it has always kept its good condition,treat yourself to some funky scalves from one of The Macmillon charity shops they have some wonderful designs.

When I stopped colouring my hair, I wished I'd done earlier. As someone said , you have no idea what it will look like til you stop.I changed hairdressers and his first comment was 'loving the colour'!!having said that, I don't know how I will feel when it goes completely white.

I'm silver as well. I use aveda shampoo and conditioner. People tell me my hair looks nice

Good point, suebailey, I'm a lady with silver hair, as I prefer to call it. It's silver in front, but still more pepper and salt at the back - my mother's went the same way. I went blonde when I retired but it was just too much hasssle - and expensive - having the roots dI one every month, so I decided to go natural. I use a silver shampoo twice a week to get a shine into it. I use a bit of blusher and lipstick, but can't do eyes without risking serious injury!

Hello phizz - I love the look of white hair when it has a good cut and is kept well groomed - without conditioner it can get a bit dry. Look at Judi Dench - love hr hair and am plucking up the courage so stop dying mine and let it go - juts dread the in between badger look. As to make-up all the beauty makes with doo trial make ups for you - book one in on a quiet day and have fun trying out the freebies they give you. Good Luck with the chemo - hope its soon over for you. By the way you wont be a white haired old lady but a lady with white hair!

Another thought, Holland and Barrett for skin products.

My friend wore some beautiful scarves until her hair, also white, grew back in. She now really likes her cropped silver look and has kept that style. She really does look fabulous. She always wears light make up and after her treatment, treated herself to a session with a beautician for guidance on what to use for her new colouring.

Might be an idea to look through some hairdressing magazines for,ideas. Also, have a look at Simple beauty products which can be bought in supermarkets and Superdrug.

Best of luck with your treatment.

When my friend's hair grew back it was a much darker steel grey than she would have imagined. Like most of us, her hair had been coloured for so long ..... we don't know actually what colour we are.

She didn't colour it again. Instead she went for a funky, choppy, very smart short hairstyle and took to wearing statement earrings. It kept her modern without more chemicals, and a blast of the hairdryer and a touch of gel had her ready to go in 5 minutes.

Good luck

Still not clear - but I wish you every luck with the chemo!

Thank you for your comments.

I had been toying with the idea of letting my hair go white but if ever I mentioned it it was greeted with 'oh no, you're not ready for white hair yet'.
But now, after chemo, I don't think I could bear to put more chemicals in/onto my body and shall be looking for more simple skin products too.

Thank you particularly, HildaW. I shall certainly be looking into Aveda and Neal's Yard products.

Again, any more advice of the subject would be much appreciated.
Having cancer doesn't half concentrate the mind, prior to my being diagnosed I'd put any old slap on my face and never give it a thought.

I'm still wondering why you're so sure your hair will grow back white, phizz - unless of course it was white already and you were colouring it md-brown etc., in which case why can't you just carry on doing that?

phizz...you brave lady, hope all goes well and you are soon feeling a lot better.
Can remember when my dear Mum was poorly and we made sure the products she used were good for her. I'd recommend anything by Aveda or Neals Yard. There are other good 'no chemical' ranges about but I know those work. Initially I'd just aim at being a good healthy version of what ever you end up with, so gentle conditioning treatments to add strength and flexibility. Good luck. P.S nothing wrong with white hair, I always think Judy Dench's silver crop looks amazing.

Many good wishes to you for your Chemo ,PHIZZ.

I think you can still have a different "tone" on top of white hair. Someone I knew had naturally grey hair but she had used to have her hair done a lovely light beigey colour. I'm sure a good hairdresser would be able to advise you. I think there may well also be information on various cancer charity websites.

Good luck with your treatment.

I stopped having lowlights put in my hair when I stopped working and I love it being white now. The touch of silver shampo improves the colour [or lack of it] and it's in better condition than when I used to colour it.

How do you know it will grow back white? That doesn't happen to everyone after chemo.

Sorry to hear that phizz hope that your chemo goes well.When your hair does grow back, why not continue the same colouring [of your hair]?It may help you feel more like the old you.If you keep the white colour, maybe a silvery shampoo to give it a buzz, and then pale-ish make up, pink lipstick, grey eyeshadow etc.It all depends on your skin colour at the moment though. Good luck.