Using hair dye after chemotherapy

After a long period since our last oncology treatment session, and, of course, after listening to our doctor’s opinion, we may be willing to start showing the hair as we used to before starting chemotherapy, which inevitably includes dyeing our hair.

If it is your case, the first thing you should have in mind is that, as you have already verified, the new hair after chemotherapy is perhaps more fragile, does not have the same shape or perhaps the same natural color that you had before all this process.

Often, many women who previously had a completely smooth hair perceive how their hair begins to curl. Similarly, many women who have undergone oncological treatment have reported an alteration in the tone of their hair, now looking somewhat duller than before. That on the other hand is normal.

The latter is the reason why many women who did not dye their hair before the disease, seek information to know if they should dye it, how they should do it and, above all, what products should be used to recover the desired color or the one prior to the treatment.

It is important to know that, at first, there is no problem or inconvenience that prevents you from dyeing your hair normally. Therefore it would be a matter of time to see our hair strong and with the desired length in order to achieve an optimum result.

According to many women who have gone through this process before, the ideal time would be between 4 and 5 months after the treatment ending so that both the hair follicles and the skin of the scalp regenerate completely and are prepared to resist contraindications or possible allergies. If we wait prudently our scalp will respond better to the dye.

Although rare, there is a possibility that we may experience some allergy after undergoing oncological therapy. If so, we should attend our doctor or visit a dermatologist to know which component we are allergic to and obtain a dye that doesn’t contain it. However, if you want to avoid any problem as a preventive measure, use those that are composed only of natural products.

Regardless of whether you opt for one or the other, it is recommended that you do the so-called ‘test touch’ which consists of applying a minimum amount of dye on the skin then wait for two days to see if any allergic reaction occurs. If not there should be no problem to apply it on our scalp.

Type of colouring for the post-chemo dye

Vegetable dyeing: The only natural colouring that exists, beyond what is indicated on the packaging, it is henna. This dyes the hair and is removed with each wash. Using it will avoid having to appeal to hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and other substances that can damage your hair and scalp.

Oxidation Coloring: More durable than the above, it comes in two types: tone over tone and permanent. In any case, both need hydrogen peroxide in order to be applied.

It is not advisable to use complete bleaching, perms or straighteners to avoid damaging the new hair and the scalp that still remembers the consequences of the treatment.