Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Laura Price

GET UPDATES FROM Laura Price
 

How to Lose Your Hair in 10 Easy Steps (Ideally During Chemotherapy)

Posted: 10/11/2012 00:00

Ok, let me first make it clear that I am in no way urging you to try these steps at home. Hair loss is one of the things we most commonly associate with cancer and chemotherapy, so I decided to make light of my experience and share with you the unfortunate steps of my road to bald-dom.

Here goes...

Loading Slideshow...
  • Step 1: Take picture of self with existing hair

    Take picture of self with existing hair.

  • Step 2: Ask friendly local hairdresser to create pixie crop

    Ask friendly local hairdresser to come in on her day off and cut locks into appropriate short style. Take photo of self, being careful to use same clothing, setting and lighting conditions to convey truthful Before and After pics.

  • Step 3: Tame "Something About Mary"-style morning spikes

    Wait approx 3 weeks and enjoy new hair style, being careful to tame early-morning "Something About Mary"-style spikes.

  • Step 4: Begin to pull hair out when ready.

    Begin to pull hair strands out gradually when ready.

  • Step 5a: The Forward Sweep

    When hair is thinning and ready for final chop, try out several punk hairstyles for experimentational purposes. Number One: <em>The Forward Sweep</em>

  • Step 5b; The Sideways Sweep/ Toupée

    Number Two: <em>The Sideways Sweep/ Toupée</em>

  • Step 5c: The Balding Mohican

    Number Three: <em>The Balding Mohican</em>

  • Step 5d: The Arrogant Jedward

    Number Four: <em>The Arrogant Jedward</em>

  • Step 6: Check oneself out in mirror one last time

    Check oneself out in mirror one last time.

  • Step 7: Pull hair out in bath or shower. Or skip to step 9

    Take long bath or shower and slowly pull out hair. Alternatively (and in hindsight) go straight to step 9.

  • Step 8: Examine new Baby-Chick hairstyle

    I give you... <em>The Baby Chick</em>

  • Step 9: Return to local hairdresser for full Sinead shave

    Return to friendly, accommodating hairdresser at short notice and ask for final head-shave. I give you... <em>The Sinead</em>

  • Step 10a: Don wig and adopt alter ego accordingly. Miss Candy Pink

    Don wig of your choice and adopt alter ego accordingly. (Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be... <em>Miss Candy Pink!</em>)

  • Step 10b: The slightly more understated Miss Valerie

    ...<em>Miss Valerie</em>

  • CAUTION! Wigs are highly flammable

    Be careful to remove synthetic hairpiece when attempting to cook perfect cheese, mushroom and tomato omelette. Wigs are highly flammable...

  • And finally... Here's one I made earlier

    Here's one I made earlier.

Being bald hasn't exactly been the best thing to ever happen to me, but it certainly is liberating. You can take your wig off when you get too hot, you can have a totally different look every single day, and you save a fortune on shampoo and conditioner (though it doesn't quite offset the money doled out on expensive wigs...)

 

Follow Laura Price on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bigscaryCword

FOLLOW UK LIFESTYLE
Ok, let me first make it clear that I am in no way urging you to try these steps at home. Hair loss is one of the things we most commonly associate with cancer and chemotherapy, so I decided to make l...
Ok, let me first make it clear that I am in no way urging you to try these steps at home. Hair loss is one of the things we most commonly associate with cancer and chemotherapy, so I decided to make l...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 31
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
04:26 PM on 11/14/2012
As a cancer survivor I appreciate your great sense of humor, the best defense against the big C. You are a real beauty in every picture. Shining on, Laura.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
05:39 PM on 11/14/2012
Thanks so much! Laura
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Martin Burkinshaw
03:03 PM on 11/13/2012
You could always take to wearing a pair of German Para Boots/New Model Army T shirt as well! :-) In a strange sort of manner, the bright wig actually looked more natural than the dark version...take care Laura. x
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
03:47 PM on 11/14/2012
Ha!! Thanks, yeah I do think I look a bit G.I. Jane-like with the bald head. There's certainly lots of scope for lots of different looks! Thanks :) Laura x
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Martin Burkinshaw
05:02 PM on 11/14/2012
If you do go for the GI Jane look, the site "Hot Chicks With Abs" should be your next stop...lol. There seems to be great interest in ladies with 6 packs nowadays on Facebook. :-) Just been to a blood donor session. Who would have thought it. The NHS have now gone all ergonomic with the bench, it is now a chair which they tilt you back in. To be truthful, before you think "That is very altruistic!" - I only go for the Red Berry Special K bars, you get with the coffee afterwards. No way am I paying those prices, but if they are going free...Why not? :-)
10:32 PM on 11/12/2012
Great article Laura, very moving. Keep up the good work and fantastic optimism! Also, Miss Candy Pink looks like a smashing character. :)
--Kate
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
03:47 PM on 11/14/2012
Thank you! Candy Pink certainly gets the most attention! :) Laura x
11:42 AM on 11/12/2012
Laura,you are an absolute smasher ,fantastic article from an amazing young lady,
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:31 PM on 11/12/2012
Thank you, Gary! Happy to please. Hope you keep enjoying the blog! Laura
10:13 PM on 11/13/2012
Excellent stuff.

Am well impressed by you.
02:30 PM on 11/11/2012
Wonderful girl, excellent writer! Absolutely recommend her blog.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:33 PM on 11/12/2012
Thanks, Fe! Perhaps you could distribute my blog to the Mandarim residents! Hehe... Thanks for being such a faithful fan. Big beijos
12:20 AM on 11/11/2012
the more hair I lose the more head I get........
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:39 PM on 11/12/2012
Ha! One could interpret that in a number of ways... :)
04:00 PM on 11/10/2012
You were beautiful at ever stage you showed us. You are a courageous human being. Be well.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
02:03 PM on 11/12/2012
Thanks so much! Laura
02:01 PM on 11/10/2012
After undergoing 8 months of treatment and complete loss of hair, I too was disgusted wearing a wig. In the summer it was hot, itchy and annoying. Its been two months since my last chemo and some hair has grown back. I have now taken off the wig and I am going "commando" I am very happy to walk around with whatever hair I have. After going through surgery, chemo, radiation and the maintenance drug, I feel that I deserve to be comfortable. Its only hair, the main thing is that I want to be healthy and live a long life.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
02:11 PM on 11/12/2012
Well done you! I hope you're happy with the way your hair grows back - please keep me posted. I am hoping to return to work next year without having to wear a painful wig and will just wear big earrings to take the attention away from my bald head! You're so right that the most important thing is to be healthy and I hope you're doing we'll now. Best wishes, Laura
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Amie Nogrady
you say witch like it's a bad thing
08:32 AM on 11/10/2012
My sister, also a Laura, announced one day rather matter of factly that she was done with her wig because it gave her the "head sweats". She bought a little kerchief with a fringe of bangs (golden blonde) a turban with bangs (platinum) and one odd little hat with bangs (reddish brown). Every time she started to get her hair back things would go wrong, so she finally said that hair was bad.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:36 PM on 11/12/2012
I hope she's doing we'll now, Amie - please send her my best wishes from one Laura to another! I found an awesome maker of beanie hats for cancer patients and I wear them all the time to keep my head warm: www.boldbeanies.co.uk in case Laura is interested!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Amie Nogrady
you say witch like it's a bad thing
11:24 PM on 11/12/2012
Oh that's so sweet, but sadly, I lost my Laura in August after bravely battling for a little over two years.
photo
kari412
Pluck a thistle, plant a flower.
12:54 AM on 11/10/2012
When a person has cancer, humor is of the utmost importance. Good for you, Laura Price. A young friend of mine once sent me a photo of herself after a double mastectomy as a chia pet with green fuzz on that bald head.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:38 PM on 11/12/2012
Sounds good! Yeah I absolutely agree humour and positivity are what see us through the worst things in life. I hope your friend is doing well now! Best wishes, Laura
08:46 PM on 11/09/2012
After all the billion's spent on cancer cures,it still take so many lives.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Laura Price
Yorkshire lass kicking cancer in the ass
07:38 PM on 11/12/2012
Tis true, but I'm going to make sure it doesn't take mine!
09:01 PM on 11/12/2012
Good luck.