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“Much Ado About Nothing”

“Much Ado About Nothing”

 I realize the Shakespeare connection is a stretch here, but somehow it works for me…

“Much ado” about what you might ask?

I would never call hair loss “nothing.” But this time my “much ado” is not about the loss of my hair or anyone else’s either for that matter. This time my “much ado” is about something else hair related, but we’ll get to that…

It seems people are always up for “hair talk.”  

We all know how important our hair is to us, even if we don’t like to admit it, even if we don’t have cancer, even if we don’t have hair.

And of course, hair loss is a serious subject, but having said that, this is not intended to be a serious post about hair or hair loss. In fact, it’s meant to be the opposite.

In cancer land (for those who’ve had chemo anyway), hair loss is a huge deal for obvious reasons.

However, I’ve discovered that hair loss is a sensitive topic even for those with cancer who have NOT lost their hair. Really, how can this be you might ask?

If you have cancer and still have your hair, you can’t really be all that sick, right?

Don’t you have to “look sick” to really be sick?

Wrong.

See what I mean?

And then there are those experiencing hair loss or baldness as a result of alopecia, aging or other conditions. I can’t even imagine how irritating it must be for them when others assume they must have cancer or when people say things to them like, “Oh, it’s only hair, it will grow back.”

Appearances can be deceiving. Indeed.

But back to the hair…or rather our obsession with hair…

Women are always fixing their hair. Men, too, I dare say.

When I visited my grandma while I was growing up, I used to watch her spend, what seemed to me anyway, hours in front of her mirror getting ready each morning. I often wondered, getting ready for what? To her it didn’t seem to matter what was planned for the day, she always spent the same amount of time in front of her oval mirror each and every morning “fixing her hair.”

On top of their own “fixing,” my grandmother and my mom made weekly visits to their local “beauty shops” to have their hair “fixed.” Getting their “hair fixed” was an event everything else in their week was scheduled around, or so it seemed to me. The funny thing was, when they returned home, they’d be back at the mirror for a few minutes anyway, usually somewhat dissatisfied, tending and “fixing” a little bit more.

Was this another example of “much ado about nothing?” Maybe. Maybe not. Who am I to say?

During one of my recent lying awake moments during the middle of the night (of which I still have many), I was unexpectedly surprised by a slight annoyance. I was being kept awake by something blowing in the breeze made by the fan I always have going.

(I should probably explain that I sleep every single night with a fan blowing on high speed; yes even during the month of January.  I started using this “white noise” sleeping aid a few years ago to cool me off during those unwelcome hot flashes and I soon discovered the added bonus – the humming drowns out hubby’s snoring!)

Anyway, on this particular night what I discovered was this:

My hair was blowing in the breeze! So much so, it was keeping me awake!

It’s been a long time since my hair was blowing in the breeze!

So yes, this post is completely and totally “much ado about nothing.” In the big scheme of things, my hair blowing or not blowing in the breeze isn’t much to get excited about.

But then again, maybe it is?

What’s next, a haircut??

Are you experiencing (or have you ever experienced) hair loss due to any reason?

Is there any “hair talk” you’d like to share?

Have you read Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing?”

 

Alli

Friday 3rd of February 2012

My eyelashes grew back but not as full as I once had the eyebrows the same, I noticed the first time I went to put on mascara, nearly poked myself in the eye lool..Alli......xx

Nancy

Friday 3rd of February 2012

Alli, Oh dear, I can relate. Applying mascara is quite challenging for me too now!

Alli

Thursday 2nd of February 2012

My mother and I would go to the "beauty shop" when I was younger I used to come out with this ridiculous poofy hair do..I think my mom called it the "bubble" yuck hahahaha. I always had good hair, before I began chemo my hair was down the middle of my back. Just that little wave that bore so many compliments. Second round of chemo I'm walking down the street a chunk of hair blew off. It looked like blonde fluff rolling down the sidewalk. I stood there laughed so hard, it really struck me as funny. At that point my hair was falling out by the handful. When I looked like Benjamin Button with a few strands as psuedo bangs time to come off. .I don't know how I felt. But once bald I felt liberated, my head felt great i wasn't an egg head nice round no bumps or lumps.It was more difficult when I lost my eyebrows & eyelashes. I was just a round head with eyes nose and a mouth. The expressions you made with your eyebrows was gone. I felt expressionless...Then I felt sad I looked like a poster child for cancer Gaunt so pale, the reality of cancer hit me at that moment. My hair has since grown back, thinner. It a little longish just at the top of my shoulders. I can be bald again I just don't like looking expressionless with no eyebrows... Love Alli xx

Nancy

Friday 3rd of February 2012

Alli, I know what you mean about the eyelashes and eyebrows. I hated losing my eyelashes almost more than the hair. My eyebrows hung on though they did thin out. Sounds like your hair was gorgeous, that must have made it extra tough to lose. I'm glad it's grown back and to shoulder length no less! Did your eyelashes and eyebrows grow back? Thanks for sharing so candidly, Alli.

AnneMarie @chemobrainfog

Thursday 2nd of February 2012

I was one of the "lucky" ones. Eight rounds of chemo and I didn't lose my hair. Therefore, I didn't get "real chemo" ... How could I be getting chemo and still have my hair..... Makes me want to spit nails..... Really... it's okay? I never lost my hair but my brain is so seriously traumatized, I've turned into a bumbling idiot who looks at deadlines and says, "who cares" ... and who is finding all sorts of math errors... and again, "who cares" ... It's all good. I didn't lose my hair. I had "easy chemo" .... Shakespeare.... No more. Not on your life. I'm lucky I get through Dr. Seuss and that's only because I can read it in one sitting....

Love ya, Nancy..

Nancy

Thursday 2nd of February 2012

Ann Marie, Yes I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for you - no wonder you wanted to spit nails! I beg to differ though, you are NOT a bumbling idiot! Far from it. And BTW, there is no such thing as easy chemo. Love ya back.

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden

Thursday 2nd of February 2012

My hair and I have always been bitterest of enemies. It refuses to hold a curl, but has no problem with sticking straight out. As I have gotten older, it has gotten thiner. Hairdressers always express sympathy over its fine texture and try to sell me on various lotions and potions to add volume. I resist. My hair is what it is and I need to make peace with that.

Nancy

Thursday 2nd of February 2012

Jennifer, Your hair has always been your enemy. That says a lot doesn't it? I'm glad you've made peace with yours. I'm trying to do that as my new crop of unruly hair is slowly returning. Some days it's really tough. Thanks for commenting.

Beth L. Gainer

Wednesday 1st of February 2012

Thanks! That's cool that you were thinking of me when you wrote this post. Yes, appearances can certainly be deceiving. I think losing one's hair is an awful thing to go through for many, and I am so glad I didn't go through that. But there were, of course, downsides. People judge by outward appearances.

Yep, you got it; I'm a Shakespeare lover!!