How to care for your hair when you fall ill?
How should you handle regrowth?
We asked our haircare specialist Sylvie for tips
on improving well-being during and after the fight
against cancer.

During chemotherapy

Hair loss is one of the most worrying side effects of chemotherapy.
There’s almost nothing to be done about it, and you can generally expect
to experience it two to three weeks after your first session.
As a result, the scalp can become damaged and dehydrated, and irritation
can occur because of wearing a wig.
But the hair bulb remains intact and hair will grow back at the end of the treatment.

Throughout this time, your goal should be to hydrate and soothe your scalp.
Embrace the no-shampoo movement and cleanse your scalp using a pea-sized
amount of Crème aux Fleurs, packed full of ultra-moisturizing and soothing properties.
Apply to a dry scalp and leave on for ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

The scalp tends to sweat under the wigs and scarves, you can refresh
it by using Lait Lavant à la Banane on a daily basis.
Milder than a shampoo, its delicious foam texture eliminates impurities.
After shampooing, massage a few drops of Huile Apaisante into the scalp
for supple skin and zero itching.
Tip: wear a cold cap during each chemotherapy session.
The coldness puts the hair bulb in hibernation mode, slowing down hair loss
and improving the quality of your regrowth once you are done with your treatments.
Hair will grow back stronger than ever.

At the first signs of regrowth

Once you have finished your last chemotherapy session, you will start seeing your
first regrowth.
The vials of Complexe Énergisant are full of amino acids and trace elements
to boost regrowth.
Apply one vial two to three times a week for three months, massaging in gently
to keep the scalp supple and boost blood circulation.

This is the time to really pamper yourself at the Leonor Greyl Institute:
make an appointment and treat yourself to a revitalizing session.
A custom-prepared treatment full of invigorating natural ingredients
and botanical oils is powered by suction pads to treat the scalp and strengthen the hair.

When your hair starts growing back, it often feels coarse and difficult to style.
Be patient: it will take at least a year to get your hair back to its state.
Meanwhile, reach for formulas that moisturize deeply, such as Huile de Leonor Greyl,
which you can apply as a pre-shampoo treatment to restore suppleness.
When it comes to shampoos, go for gentle, invigorating formulas like Bain Vitalisant B
or Shampooing Reviviscence, which are perfectly suited to the regrowth period.
For the perfect finishing touch, a pea-sized amount of Eclat Naturel day cream is ideal
for taming hair and make styling easier.

Related advice:
Understanding, preventing and treating hair loss
Does my dry hair need hydration or moisture?