Your hair needs energy and protein to grow. Getting enough calories and protein can help support healthy regrowth. Not getting enough protein may lead to thinning or more hair loss. Tracking what you eat for a few days can help you see whether you’re getting enough.

If it’s hard to eat enough during or after treatment, a registered oncology dietitian can help you make a nutrition plan that works for you. Some people find drinking shakes and smoothies easier than eating full meals. “My chemo class teacher gave us a sheet full of protein smoothie recipes. The base is Carnation Instant Breakfast powder,” one member shared.

Check with your care team before starting supplements. Too much of some nutrients, including selenium and vitamins A and E, has been linked to hair loss, and supplements can also affect how some medicines work.

New hair can be fragile, and heat, chemical processing, tight styles, and rough handling can increase breakage. Try letting your hair air dry when possible, using a wide-tooth comb, and choosing gentle shampoo, conditioner, and loose styles.

Some members said both their hair and scalp felt different after chemo. “The texture is a bit different, but I can’t complain. So much better than no hair at all! But I have such a sensitive and sometimes itchy scalp. I’m using very gentle products and no heat,” one member wrote.

You may also want to wait before using hair dye, since new hair and the scalp may still be sensitive after treatment.

As your hair starts to grow back after chemotherapy, your scalp may still feel dry, itchy, or sensitive. Keeping it moisturized and avoiding irritating products can help protect the skin around fragile new growth.

If your scalp feels dry, try a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer, and protect exposed areas from the sun with a hat or sunscreen. This won’t make hair grow back faster, but caring for your scalp can help reduce irritation while new hair comes in.

If you develop ongoing discoloration, sores, or severe itching, tell your care team.

Minoxidil is a hair loss medicine that may help support regrowth after chemotherapy. Topical minoxidil is available without a prescription, but it is not very effective at regrowing hair after chemotherapy. Minoxidil pills are available with a prescription from your oncologist and are used only after chemotherapy ends. However, more research is needed to know how well it works for hair loss caused by cancer treatment.

Ask your oncologist or dermatologist before trying either form, since minoxidil can cause side effects such as unwanted hair growth, dizziness, and swelling.

If your hair is barely growing back, keeps thinning, or develops patchy areas, ask your oncology team if you should see a dermatologist. Hair loss from chemotherapy is often temporary, but some taxane drugs, including docetaxel and paclitaxel, can sometimes lead to longer-lasting hair loss. A dermatologist can look for other causes of hair loss, such as hormone therapy, thyroid problems, or low levels of certain nutrients. “It started falling off in the back of my head and now in the front,” one MyBCTeam member wrote. “Go to a dermatologist ASAP … The sooner the better.”