Hair loss is inevitable when undergoing chemotherapy. The hair loss could be barely noticeable or all hair may be lost.
“Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells—healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Hair follicles, the structures in the skin filled with tiny blood vessels that make hair, are some of the fastest-growing cells in the body. If you’re not in cancer treatment, your hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours. But as the chemo does its work against cancer cells, it also destroys hair cells” (BreastCancer.org, retrieved 11/22/13).
Knowing that my dear friend will be going through chemotherapy and will lose some or all of her hair, I volunteered to reduce my locks to a pixie cut or shorter ‘do. We were laughing during the conversation, but I let her know that I was serious. I would do that to support her, and I wouldn’t second guess myself about doing it.
My Hair’s History
I don’t have an attachment to my hair that most women have. In high school, my hair was down to my waist. I used to love it when other girls would French braid or herringbone braid my hair. It was so pretty! The initial reason for cutting it, however, was to make it healthy. I didn’t like having split ends. So, I asked the stylist to cut off 8 inches. She had a fit! She asked my mom if it was okay, and my mom replied, “It’s her hair. She can do what she wants with it.” Within a year, I went from medium length to shoulder length to chin length to rocking Halle-Berry-early-90s style.
Halle Berry – Strictly Business
I cannot even count how many hairstyles I’ve had over the past twenty years. It’s been super short numerous times. The one thing I learned from cutting my hair off…. IT GROWS BACK! I know. It’s an amazing thing – short hair can grow to be long hair. Wow!
Regrowth is Renewal
About ten years ago, I realized that I had a pattern in my hair cuts. Whenever I started a new chapter in my life, I would cut my hair short. It was a pixie cut when I started working at Walt Disney World and it was again when I became a flight attendant. Four and half years ago, it was significantly short again due to a major change in my life. To me, cutting off my hair means there is a new beginning and a fresh start. It’s the power cut that shows that I’m ready to take on the world.
The Short of It
My friend said that she appreciated my support, but cutting my hair off would not be necessary. I told my boyfriend that I had volunteered to do this and his reply was of complete understanding. He said, “I would get use to it. It’s important to support your friends.”
Take away the hair, make-up, accessories and clothing, and woman will still be the same. The true beauty is always on the inside.
“Do not let your beauty come from the outside. It should not be the way you comb your hair or the wearing of gold or the wearing of fine clothes. Your beauty should come from the inside. It should come from the heart. This is the kind that lasts. Your beauty should be a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it.” (1 Peter 3-4)
Balding for Breast Cancer. Photo by stephleupagus on Flickr. (This is not me.)
