Hair Growth After Chemo: Will It Grow Back the Same?

(I haven’t colored my hair since before chemo)

Hair Growth after Chemo, What Changes?

Ahhh, the question we all ask: "Will my hair grow back the same after chemo?" The answer? Yes and no. Here’s how mine changed—and how it didn’t.

Before cancer, I had always highlighted my hair—sometimes lighter, sometimes darker—but I was always known as blonde. I started getting highlights in fifth grade, so for most of my life, I’ve never seen it 100% in its natural state.

As my cancer progressed and my health declined, my hair—and even my eyes—became noticeably lighter. Looking back at photos from the weeks leading up to my diagnosis, it’s unsettling. I remember staring at my reflection, thinking, “What’s happening to me?” Something felt off, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint what. The contrast I had always known—my dark roots, deep brown eyes, and fair skin—had faded, blending into a washed-out version of myself.

At the same time, my once ridiculously thick hair had thinned dramatically. I went from being the kid whose friends joked I had “four heads’ worth of hair” to relying on clip-in extensions to fill in the gaps. It was still thick by most standards, but compared to what I was used to, it felt shockingly thin—something that’s hard to explain to a doctor. Looking back, it was just another symptom that got brushed off.

Losing my hair to chemo became a reset in more ways than one. It gave me a fresh start with my natural hair, which is now noticeably darker. Whether it was always this deep and just masked by highlights, or if chemo somehow intensified the color, I’ll never really know. But it’s dark enough now that most people who knew me before assume I’m dyeing it, since the cool, rich tone is such a stark contrast to the warm blonde hair I had before treatment.

The Early Days: What Happens When Hair Grows Back After Chemo

Early hair growth after cancer was a very cool tone grey - even my eyebrows struggled to regain color

In those first few months of regrowth, my hair came back soft and colorless—a cool shade of gray. The changes were immediate, but I soon realized they were temporary. Here’s why hair grows back differently after chemo:

1. Damage to Hair Follicles

Chemo targets fast-dividing cells, which includes both cancer cells and hair follicle cells. That’s why hair falls out in the first place. Once chemo stops, the follicles go into repair mode, but the first round of hair growth is often irregular as they heal.

2. Temporary Lack of Pigment ("Chemo Curls" & Color Changes)

Many people notice their new hair comes in white, gray, or lighter than before. This is because chemo temporarily shuts down melanin production, the pigment responsible for hair color. Over time, pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) recover, and hair usually returns to its previous shade—or something close to it.

Mine? It was completely colorless at first. I even had to buy a gray eyebrow pencil because my brows were gone. But after a few months, the color started returning.

3. Changes in Texture (Chemo Curls)

Chemo can also alter the structure of the hair follicle, which is why many people experience chemo curls—even if their hair was straight before.

I already had curly, coarse hair before cancer, but let me tell you—when it first grew back, my curls were tight. I went from a 2C/3A curl pattern to a solid 3C.

Almost everyone I’ve talked to gets some level of curl, but I like to say it’s relative to what you had before:

• Straight hair? You might see a soft wave.

• Wavy hair? Expect more defined curls.

• Curly hair? Get ready for some serious spirals.

For me, the extra-tight curls lasted about six months, and after about a year, my hair fully settled back into its normal curl pattern.

4. Differences in Density & Growth Rate

Your new hair might come in thicker, thinner, or patchy at first because some follicles recover faster than others. Some people experience slow regrowth, while others get chemo fuzz—a soft, fluffy layer of hair before the real growth kicks in.

For me? There was no fuzz. My hair came in thick. Like, really thick. It was almost too much to manage at first.

One thing to keep in mind—you can’t grow new hair follicles. What I personally believe is that most of us lose hair before chemo simply because we’re so sick, and when chemo is over, it’s just regrowing in dormant follicles. My hair now feels exactly like it did when I was a teenager, and I’m back to my four-heads-worth-of-hair self.

5. Impact of Hormonal Changes

If your cancer treatment affects hormones, this can also play a role in hair changes. Treatments that impact estrogen, thyroid function, or other hormones can influence hair growth, thickness, and shedding cycles.

At first, I didn’t think my three-year menopause (thanks, chemo!) affected my hair at all—probably because it was so thick. But around 3.5 years post-treatment, as my body slowly started producing hormones again and I began supplementing with bioidentical hormones, I noticed the telltale hormonal baby hairs sprouting around my forehead.

And honestly? I had to laugh. After all that, my reaction was just: “No more hair!!” 🤦‍♀️

Final Thoughs - Will Your Hair be the Same?

Probably not exactly—but for most people, the changes aren’t permanent. Texture, color, and density may shift in the first few months (or even years), but over time, hair usually settles into something close to what it was before.

That said, as I mentioned above, I’ve actually come to appreciate the reset. For the first time in years, I’ve let my hair grow naturally without coloring it, embracing its deep brown shade. I’m not sure I’ll ever highlight it again—the cost and damage are things I definitely don’t miss. Though, let’s be real—gray hairs are a lot more obvious on dark hair!

If you’re in the early days of regrowth, hang in there. The awkward phase doesn’t last forever, and your hair will find its way back. And who knows? You might even love the new version of it.