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Hair today, gone tomorrow?

When I was told my lovely long tresses had a shelf life of about another week or two as a result of chemo, I knew I had to seize the opportunity.  I mean, what better time for a drastic makeover?  I saw this as the perfect chance to go out and get a super-cute short haircut - if I didn't like it or later regretted it, I wouldn't have to suffer the inconvenience of growing it out!

So I called my hair salon, sounded the "I need you" bell and gathered four of my closest peeps to accompany me.  My hairdresser, Nelson, who truly is a cut above all the rest was schoolgirl-giddy at the prospect of a makeover, and willingly humoured my mini entourage of supporters/paparazzi while he set to work with his razor.  About 90 minutes, one latté, a handful of photos and endless laughs later I emerged a newer (and substantially lighter) woman.  It felt wonderful!

Fabulous hair by Nelson Renouf

It's a keeper!  Umm...well...
Makeover support group
I didn't even have to part with my discarded hair as it had been carefully enclosed in a ziploc bag after each snip, at my husband's request.  His artistic prowess had shone through yet again when he requested that I salvage my fallen tresses for incorporation in to a painting of his in which I am to be the subject.  He also had the brilliant idea to fashion paint brushes out of my locks.  I wonder, will he use those brushes to paint me?  Now that would be a master "piece".  I can't wait to see it and will post pics when it is complete. 

Now the waiting game begins.  When and how will it fall?  Will it gradually loosen and shed over time or will it plummet all at once like a heavy snowfall?  Your guess is as good as mine, and it seems every individual has a different experience.  We remarked yesterday how a very small percentage of people experience no hair loss, and wouldn't it be funny if I fell in to that category after having chopped my locks off?  Nelson asked if I would feel badly and I wholeheartedly stated, no!

Assuming it does drop, I'm still at a loss as to what to do for head coverings.  Wigs to me, seem a bother, and if I were to opt for one it would have to be something purely entertaining, such as a period piece or a drastic blue bob (think Marva from Everybody's Famous)...besides, I've always been a scarf girl so may just upgrade my stash and get creative.
Too much?
Hmmph.  Hadn't really set out to do an entire post on hair, but it seemed forefront on so many people's minds, and the timing was right, so there you go.  Not my crowing glory, but I hope it put a smile on your face!

Oh right, blessings report:

Laughter makes the world go 'round
I can't tell you how far a sense of humour can take you when faced with an unwanted situation such as this.  If you or anyone you know has an illness and has not yet secured a good sense of humour, I would strongly recommend investing in one.  They are cheap and easy to maintain.  Not to say that any of this is a laughing matter, but rather, laughing matters. 

When I created this blog I threw around a few titles before settling on this one.  I did get many admirable suggestions and would love to share them with you, if only so you can see the kind of characters I am fortunate enough to call my friends.

Mama knows breast
Thanks for the mammories
The breast is yet to come...
The boobie monologues
My chemotions
Chemo and kegels and kids, oh my!
Cancer? I don't even know her!
and one of my favourites:
Cancer is a word, not a sentence.

Laughter.  The one infection we should welcome daily!
Ellen

Comments

  1. Haha, Ellen you're so punny!

    It's funny about the hair loss, I always thought it depended on what chemo drug. For the first 2 rounds, Greg's just started getting thin and falling out in patches until only the super fine baby hair was left. But the third round was a different drug. After a few days we tested it because he still had his full head of hair. It was SO weird, the hair still sat in the follicles but were't attached at all any more, so we could pull it out painlessly and in any pattern we wanted. We spent that afternoon giving him a series of "looks"... male pattern baldness, which became a faux hawk, then a mohawk, and eventually bald. We were hoping to freak out the nurse because he had a full head of hair when she was in the room and would be bald the next, but she hardly batted an eye...

    Your hair is super cute! And yes I think scarves are an awesome idea. I can't see you doing the wig thing, not colourful enough!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why are you not a published author? You really should consider it as a future endeavor!
    I <3 Ellen
    Karen

    ReplyDelete

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