Me: Post Buzz-Cut
My appearance has always been something that I value. I personally think it’s important to stay looking my best when I’m out and about. I don’t do it because I’m seeking approval by the masses; rather, it gives me confidence and helps me to love myself. Yes, it’s okay to love yourself. As a matter of fact, I recommend you try it.
As I mentioned in some of my earlier entries, one of my biggest fears upon diagnosis was how the surgery and chemo would effect the way I look. To me, the most frightening aspect of undergoing chemotherapy was hair loss. And, from the many talks I’ve had with other cancer babes during chemo, it seems I’m not the only one putting it at the top of the list. Fortunately, as time has progressed, I’ve come to accept the hair loss along with many other physical changes I’ve experienced. All you really need to stay feeling and looking fabulous while battling cancer is the ability to adapt to these changes. Here are my top 10 tips to staying beautiful inside and out while kicking cancer’s ass.
Hair loss is a big part of chemotherapy. It can be massively devastating if you don’t prepare yourself. If your doctor tells you you’ll probably lose your hair, he/she is probably right. Here’s how you can better prepare yourself:
Cut or buzz your hair. If your hair is very long to start with, you may want to consider donating it to an organization that makes wigs for patients who can’t afford them. Not sure where to donate it? Take a look at Locks of Love.
Honestly, you’re not going to want to go through the heartache of pulling your hair out in clumps when it starts to go. For most patients, hair loss begins 10-14 days after the first treatment. Prepare yourself by getting rid of it while you still have control. Maybe involve the family in the buzzing process and have a good laugh about it. As hard as it may be to rid yourself of your lovely locks, I promise it will make losing it much easier.
Rock the buzz. Adapt to your new look. When I buzzed my head, I contacted various photographers I’d worked with and asked if they’d want to take some shots of my new look. They were all thrilled. Apparently, buzzing my head was quite a fashionable thing to do. If you throw in some big jewelry and dress a little more funky than normal, your buzz will look intentional. Take the plunge and rock out!
Take good care of the hair you still have. I use Aveeno Baby Shampoo on the hair I have left. It’s lightweight and isn’t full of harsh additives or alcohols. I recommend you avoid using fancy shampoos and deep conditioners as they can tend to weigh hair down.
Only wash your hair once per week. It might seem like a dirty thing to do, but once you buzz it, it will stay pretty clean. So, if you can handle wearing a shower cap or taking baths instead of showers, I recommend you wash it less than normal. The water tends to force the hair follicles to fall out more quickly.
Buy a wig that makes you feel beautiful. Or buy a few and change your look with your mood. I went to a specialist and had a real hair wig made for me based on the measurements of my head, the pattern of my real growth, my color, and texture. When the wig came in, a stylist colored and cut it to match my look. I love the wig, but I must warn that it was very pricey. If you can’t afford to go that route, try out WOWwigs.com They have affordable prices in many styles. I purchased a few from there and have worn them all.
If you simply can’t afford a wig, ask someone at your oncology clinic to direct you to organizations that provide free wigs to cancer fighters. There are tons of them out there. Also, don’t underestimate the power of scarves! Cute scarves, hats, and bandannas are available to you for free through many different organizations. Again, talk to your oncology center about getting a list of local support groups and charities that will help you.
Keep your nails maintained. A crappy side effect of chemotherapy for some is nail damage. My nails have become dried and cracked. Some women lose their nails entirely. If you still have nails, cut and file them biweekly or more often if desired, and use a nude or sheer pink polish to freshen them up. Always use a clear top coat – it will help strengthen your nails and prevent them from breaking. DO NOT GO TO A NAIL SALON WHILE UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY. Your doctor may tell you this on day 1. Even though the tools at nail salons are suppose to be clean, you can’t be sure. All it takes is one little cut around your cuticles for an infection to begin. Do your nails yourself with your own tools, or have a sister or girlfriend paint them for you. It’s great girl-bonding to have a nail painting session in your pajamas over coffee.
If you lose your lashes, get some falsies and go glam! My eyelashes haven’t completely fallen out yet, but they’re much thinner than they were pre-chemo. Over a week ago, I decided it might be time to check out the fake lashes in the beauty section at my local pharmacy. The cost of lashes and glue can be under $5. As long as you remove and wash your lashes gently with soap after each use, you can probably get at least 10 uses out of one pair. Having long Marilyn Monroe lashes does wonders on the self esteem. Go for it.
Keep those eyebrows sexy! Hair loss from chemo does effect all the hair on your body including lashes, brows, legs, underarms, and yes, that bikini line you’ve always fussed about. While it’s nice not to worry about shaving anymore, you will need to pay a little extra attention to lashes, mentioned above, and your eyebrows. Mine have thinned to a point that makes me uncomfortable, so I use a medium brown eye pencil and gently fill them in with small hair-like strokes. You can also buy cheap brow kits from any beauty store and most beauty technicians can explain how to use them. Google has lots of good information, too. Try to stay away from any colors that have an orange tint. They make brows look artificial. Keep it simple and sexy.
Cover the bags under your eyes with an under eye concealer that is slightly lighter than your normal foundation. This helps to combat those bags that show up the moment you leave your first treatment. By doing this, you prevent yourself from looking like you’re sick. Brightening those bags under your eyes will make you look younger and feel healthier. Remember, a little goes a long way. Use dabbing motions rather than smearing it on. If you have a mineral foundation, you may apply it to the entire face after you use the concealer under your eyes.
Start blushing! In other words, get out that big soft blush applicator brush and go to town. The added color that blush provides gives the face an instant lift by inhancing the severity of your gorgeous cheekbones. Blush goes on after your under eye concealer and powder have already been applied.
Eyeliner and mascara make a big difference. If you’re losing your lashes but don’t want to wear the false ones, eyeliner around the top lash line and on the inner part of the lower lash line can create an illusion that you have thick lashes. Break up the lines a little with a Q-tip and smudge them very slightly. This creates a smokey look around the eyes. I don’t recommend wearing mascara if your lashes are falling out, but if you feel you must, (and sometimes I do), wear one that is NOT waterproof. They tend to be hard to wash off. Washable mascara is lighter on the lashes and comes off with warm water.
Lipstick is a girl’s best friend. On those days when you just can’t stand the girl looking back at you in the mirror, I beg you, pull out the ‘ole bag of lipstick and find one that makes you feel amazing. A little color can really brighten your face and attitude! It puts the focus on a part of you that is NOT being effected by the chemo: your lips. But keep in mind, you never want to look over done. If you’re going heavy on the eye makeup, nude lipstick or a sheer pink gloss is all you need. If you are going light on the eyes, rock out your favorite deep red!
Dress comfortably, but don’t neglect your overflowing shoe collection. Once in a while, you need to wear heels. What woman doesn’t love to have their curvy legs elongated by a hot pair of pumps? I understand all too well that many of your days post diagnosis will be spent in pajamas, but when it’s time to go out (and really, you MUST get out of the house frequently or you will go completely nuts), dress yourself up! Slap on the makeup, put on an outfit that you love, and wear those heels!
There are so many more tips I could recommend, but I said I’d give you my top 10 and there they are. A lot of my friends have commented that I don’t look sick at all. I think it’s hard for some of them to understand my fight because they only see me when I look my best. I have chosen to change the face of cancer in my case to one that suits me and makes me feel confident. You can make your own, too! You have the choice to make yourself as gorgeous as you want. Remember, no matter how hard it gets, you are still a beautiful warrior goddess inside and out.
For more beauty tips, makeup application guidelines, and inspiration, check out these websites!
