Monday, August 6, 2012

Top 10 Reasons to Like Your Bald Head


I'm doing great today and have been for several days.  It is amazing how well the body bounces back.  Tomorrow I will be having my 3rd chemo treatment of taxotere and cytoxan.  I am dreading it as usual.  Since I've been bald for several weeks I decided to do a top 10 list of the reasons why I like my bald head.  This may help some of you that have to lose your hair to like it a little more.  I have to say that I haven't really missed my hair.  I'm strange though.  :o)  I think I just know it will grow back and this is just a part of the process.  Although, Kevan does miss my hair and I'm sure he cannot wait for it to come back.  I am also a little scared of how it might change when it grows back, but I am praying that God blesses me with straight hair since I had wavy/curly hair before and had to straighten it each day. 

Many have asked me if I have lost all of my hair (head hair, eyebrows, body hair, etc).  So, I wanted to give a little update before the top 10.  Before my chemo I was under the impression that it would all fall out at once.  That isn't the case.  As far as my head hair...it is pretty much all gone except for the annoying patches of hair behind my ears.  See ugly pic below.  lol!


Kevan wants to shave it, but I don't like the feeling of a razor on my head.  I have not lost my arm hair that I can tell, but have lost about 70% of my leg hair...but the remaining 30% is not growing because I haven't needed to shave in weeks...usually I shave every couple days.  I've also lost about 80% of my "other" body hair.  It would be a great time for me to go to the beach if I was allowed to be in the sun.  ;o)  I am losing eyebrows and eyelashes VERY slowly.  I have most of them still.  I am SO thankful for this.  This was my biggest worry when I found out I would lose my hair.  I am hoping I get through the last 2 treatments with my eyebrows and eye lashes.

Top 10 Reasons to Like Your Bald Head
    • The obvious, you will save money on shampoo, conditioner and other hair products.  You will also save money on coloring, highlighting, haircuts, etc.
    • You save a lot of time not having to do your hair.  It used to take me about 20 minutes to do my hair because I had to blow dry it and then straight iron it.  Now, it takes me about 2 minutes to put my wig or head covering on.
    • Your bathroom counter is a lot less messy.  I don't need a brush, hair dryer or curling iron.  So, they've been put away for now.
    • You have the opportunity to go to a wig store and try on all different kinds of wigs and hair colors.  I learned that red hair with black stripes does not look good on me.  But, it was fun to try it on.  I can see myself with bangs or without, black hair or blonde hair, short or long, pink or blue.....whatever you desire pretty much.  Take pictures so you can remember.  I should've taken pictures, but I always feel like the shop owner is too serious.  lol!
    • You can decorate your head.  Just think of the Halloween possibilities!  I will definitely be doing this if I don't have hair at Halloween.
    • It is the only time you will let someone tape your head.  Yes, my husband decided he was tired of looking at the hairs that had not yet fallen out.  He calls it my 5 o'clock shadow.  He thought tape would work.  So, he grabbed the pet hair tape roller and used it on my head. 
    Here is what the taped look like after a good roll.  Warning - it kinda hurts, but it is pretty funny.

    • When it is raining outside and you're leaving Wal-mart take your wig off so you don't get it wet and shove it in your sack.  Then, look back and see the amazement on everyone's face as they see this bald woman running to her car.  It is pretty funny.  Try it sometime. Also, you make it to the car without wet hair.  :o)
    • It may be the only time in your life that you can check the hair color of "bald" on a form.  I think that is pretty funny too.
    • When you are having a hot flash (which you will get from chemo if you haven't reached menopause yet) you can remove your wig or head covering to cool off extra fast.  I recommend only doing this at home.  ;o)  People are just too uncomfortable with a woman's baldness.
    The ultimate reason to like your bald head.
    • The shock on someone's face when you take off your wig or head covering and reveal your bald head.  I think it is hilarious and it never gets old.  lol!
    Funny story.  When I asked Kevan to take the picture above of my bald head he kept taking them and I kept looking at the result and saying, "I can't use that one...ewww!", "No way", "Haaaaaa!!".  I didn't like any of them.  Kevan says, "Now do you see why I don't like to look at your bald head?"  LOL!!  I guess it doesn't bother me because I'm not the one that has to look at it.  :o)  Oh well...at least it is temporary.  Both of Kevan's grandfather's are bald....so if he loses his hair....I'll have to look at it all the time and it won't just be temporary.  ;o)  

    5 comments:

    1. I have been shaved so long, it really bugs me when it starts growing out. It is just another one of the things in this life that we put great value on that makes no difference in who you really are.

      Blessings

      Will

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    2. Jayde, that was so cute!! Judy

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    3. Jayde, thanks so much for this post--it's funny, while giving insight to your inner being--still with the sense of humor, which is SO important. This made me think of two things.

      1) It was a little bit of a shock and quite funny as a new nurse to the "chemo" floor to see a patient lying in bed, WITH HER HAIR LYING NEXT TO HER on the bed!!! Something I've never forgotten.

      2) My sister in Christ, Carolyn, was treated in our office. She, her boyfriend, and her two children agreed on a wig for her. She, too, had long beautiful hair. They all agreed they should name the wig "Fluffy". Well, Fluffy didn't last too long--Carolyn was very active and liked to kayak, walk, etc. The look she chose was more the bald head with an "earthy" baseball cap. SO, Fluffy went up for adoption to a new home!!! By the way, Carolyn had a single mastectomy, chemo and possibly RT. She had her port removed almost immediately after her chemo and said she REFUSED to ever have cancer again. She's now married, a grandmother, and doing just great!!

      Be encouraged and blessed--JOY

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      Replies
      1. Thanks Joy. Life would be so hard without humor. I'm so glad God gave us the ability to laugh and to laugh at ourselves. :o)

        Regarding your #1....I can't believe how many women I see coming into the chemo room and they are trying to keep their hair and they only have like 40 long strands. It is pretty gross looking. They are always non-Caucasian women so I always wonder why.

        That is funny about fluffy. I totally understand. I don't wear my wig long. As soon as we are home I take it off. But, I am very glad I have it because it does make me feel good if we go out to dinner or on a date night that I can still look nice for Kev. I get to forget I look like a cancer patient for awhile.

        Love you Joy! Hope to see you and Dante for dinner once I'm feeling up to it.

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