On Chemo tablets - anyone recommend a hair thickening shampoo

bernie115

Hi

I have just started methotrexate and someone has mentioned that I should start using Nixion (i think thats what its called). I'm just a bit confused (not very difficult for me)! with all the different stages that they seem to sell it at. I just wanted a thickening shampoo.

Any suggestions please? Thanks

geminibabe

Sorry I cant help but will BUMP for you! Good luck! x

brians_daughter

bernie115 wrote: »

Hi

I have just started methotrexate and someone has mentioned that I should start using Nixion (i think thats what its called). I'm just a bit confused (not very difficult for me)! with all the different stages that they seem to sell it at. I just wanted a thickening shampoo.

Any suggestions please? Thanks

Hey there, i was on metho for 3 years.

What dose are you on and how are you taking it? Hope you dont mind me asking, but i saw a tricologist?? (hair specialist!) when i was on it and they rec'd various things based upon dose and if injected or orally. Its also used for many different illnesses so the dose can vary from only 5mg a week to over 100mg a week- obviously the more you take the more risk you have of loosing your hair

If you are taking the tablets i was told hair loss is probably not going to happen. I didnt notice any until i had been on treatment about 4 months, and then it was only minimal. I was looking through some photos of a holiday when the hair loss was 'at it worst' and my hair looks really good on the pics!

I tried many - and i mean many ! Both over the counter and prescription stuff... in the end i stumbled across boots own thickening shampoo and spray on conditioner. They are very cheap in comparison - about £7 for both of them and by far the best i came across.

Also, try the dry shampoos, dont wash the hair everyday. the dry shampoos really 'bulk' the hair up. So if you are going out for a special occasssion wash the hair the day before and the day you are going out dry shampoo it, hair looks lovely and full

HTH and i dont know what condition you are taking it for but good luck! The side effects do tend to get less over time, so although you may feel very very ropey the 1st few weeks it will get better, i hope x x x

ETA just read another of your posts and realise its for RA, so your doese will be minimal in comparison to treatment doses for other illnesses. I assume you will be on about 15-20mg a week, maybe less initially?

I would hope that your hair loss would be minimal, if at all. I help run a local support group for ppl with RA and have rarely seen severe loss with RA doses, hope that sets your mind at ease a little?

Do try the boots stuff. Its BOOTS EXPERTS. They do shampoos, conditioners and leave in conditioners. IMO the leave in spray ones are best as they dont drag the hair down!

Also worth noting as metho depleates the folic acid levels (as i am sur eyou know) its worth investing in a good multi vitamin esp for hair and nails, you will prob find your nails go very brittle too ...also dont be suprised iof your hair changes texture, or even goes from straight to curly.. goodness knwos why - but in some ppl it just does

If you wanna chat about anything or have any questions pls feel free to PM me and i hope you get results soon!

GotToChange

Hi - hope you are OK....
I am not in your situation, but - over the years - must have tried almost every product going, including Nioxin (not that great - for me). I have been driven mainly by vanity though so, in your case, your underlying health issues may have an impact as well as the chemo (
You know of course that SLS and parabens are best avoided so natural and organic should be the best choice, but I have found some of them to be bit of a dead loss (alove vera, olive oil, Dead Sea Magic....). Having said that, we are all different, so what doesn't work for one may work well for another blah blah. I HAVE found however, that cocount oil or coconut milk used as a conditioner (milk should be left on for a while [warm for a few seconds in m/wave, dab on roots - at areas of new growth] - wrapped in cling film - then rinsed; oil however can possibly be used as a leave-in for dry ends, it really can be a trial and error case).
Also, I have been pointed to Morrocan Oil (I got a little bottle from Amazon), which is again a leave-in. I have only used it 3x so far but results are pretty impressive for this dyed 2-tone blonde, prone to frizz, v fine hair...
Also - and again, of course you know - that shampoos and conditioners, no matter how good, are topical, so you need to help yourself/your hair out via the inside-out route - but again, aligned with your health issues. I could go on at length about my pet topic but shall save the lecturing for request...
Hope I have/can be of some help - in the case of hair, (almost) you name it, I've tried it - but again, because I'm vain, not because I have other issues, as in your case.
Lots of love
GtC

charlies-aunt

I have been on Methotrextrate for approx 6 years now - I take 15mg per week for RA. TBH I've not noticed any significant hair loss or thinning on that dose.
I do think that the contra-indications are a bit worst case scenerio or maybe I'm just lucky that apart from the dreaded constipation from the high dose iron, I've not had any bad reactions

glowgirl_2

Hi:) I would second the dry shampoo suggestion and also recommend Tigi Superstar volumising products, I'm sorry I don't know much about your medical condition but would like to wish you best of luck:)

bernie115

Thank you all very much for your replies. I'm sorry there has been a bit of a delay on me being here but have been really down about my condition. The thing is i feel i shouldn't complain because i know there are far more worse things to have RA but i'm really struggling coping with feeling so unwell all the time and having limited mobility. I'm on my 4th tablet - on 10mg per week as well as sulphasaline, diclofenic etc and had to phone in sick again today.

I used to have really thick hair and i have already lost a fair bit of my hair, really thinning out. My mum said don't be daft you are just imagining it and then my ds has just said your hair is definitely thinning at the front!! kids are so honest!

Don't feel that Nioxin is doing much so will try Boots own brands and also the dry shampoo - great idea. thanks Brian's daughter.

Gottochange - you are dead right about looking after the inside as well as out need to really address this cos lately i'm hitting the sugar like no man's business and i know this isn't good for me.

Thank you for all your replies.

GotToChange

Ah - poor you. Fully understandable.
You have some good advice and support on here; don't worry that you haven't posted for a while.
Sugar - a demon - and a mood-altering substance, you know that - and you will have physical consequences
All of it is easier said than done though, so I hope you can keep your spirits up - taking the best care of yourself (baby steps - and even then, one at a time) that you can.
x:)

poly1

Hello bernie115, I just wanted to say good luck with the treatment, I know how horrible it is to go from having lovely thick hair to nothing (yes literally I am bald cos of my treatment :eek: ) and it really has much more of an affect psychologically than people realise . I can't advise anything that works or not but if you find something effective let me know cos I have very fine fluff appearing now and would love to know if I can improve it when there is more of it !

EDIT: I just realised reading my post I might scare you into thinking I was on the same treatment, don't worry I am not so you wont lose your hair like me!

bernie115

thanks poly1 - i will let u know.

Hope u r doing ok. i didnt know i was so vain until my hair started thinning!

Good luck

poly1

Thanks bernie115, I know what you mean about being vain, I really didn't think I was at all, I wasn't one who was overly bothered by my appearance. So it was quite a shock to find that losing my hair affected me that much, also I spent ages on my nails cos at least then I had something feminine about me still and then they fell off :rotfl:. So was left bald, eyebrowless, eyelash less and nailless :eek:!!!! Now I can honestly say I am NOT vain anymore cos tbh I couldn't care what anyone thinks anymore but it takes a while to get to that stage believe me.