There is a way to try and help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy called scalp cooling.
Scalp cooling, also known as cold cap treatment, is a method to try and reduce the amount of hair loss as a side effect to chemotherapy so that you can maintain as much of a regular hairstyle as possible. Scalp cooling is the only known way to reduce hair loss due to chemotherapy.
Scalp cooling is suitable for all hair types including afro hair. There are not many studies about the efficacy of scalp cooling for people of colour. One study suggests that scalp cooling was not so successful. However at Cancer Hair Care we have observed people of colour (mainly females) having success as well as failures with scalp cooling. It is our opinion that at present there is not enough evidence to suggest that scalp cooling is not suitable. With this in mind, as with people of all hair types we state that you need to try scalp cooling to see if it may be successful for you. global scalp cooling manufacturer Paxman are very dedicated to ensuring scalp cooling is effective for people with all hair types. They have specific guidance for people with afro hair so that preparing and managing afro hair is made clear and understandable.
Women and men can try scalp cooling if they are suitable for it (there are several requirements) and their hospital or home care provider offers it. If you are wearing a weave, any type of hair extensions or tight braids, you will need to remove these in order to have scalp cooling. However you may be asked to gently plait or braid your hair in gentle, flat plait or very loose braid in order to try and keep your hair as flat as possible during the treatment process (when wearing a cold cap). Do look at the hair care guide from your scalp cooling manufacturer. You can look in our scalp cooling directory to find links to manufacturers.
Scalp cooling means that you need to allow additional time before and after chemotherapy treatment – additionally some scalp cooling providers recommend that people with afro hair have additional cooling time. If scalp cooling is something you are considering, ask your nurse or take a look at the scalp cooling providers information.
Not all cancer professionals are aware that scalp cooling is suitable for afro hair. Raising awareness that scalp cooling is suitable for afro hair is something that, along with scalp cooling manufacturers, we are trying to change. If you are advised that you can not try scalp cooling because of your hair type we recommend that you ask to speak to the nurse in charge and explain that you want to try scalp cooling. Please also contact us here at Cancer Hair Care we will support you.
Additionally, if you are wearing a weave, hairpiece or wig as a styling preference, your nurse may not be aware what your ‘natural’ hair type is. If scalp cooling is something you are considering then it’s well worth explaining to your nurse what your natural hair type is like. This is so they can make the best recommendation for you.
For more general tips about Afro hair please take a look at our Afro Hair Chemotherapy Guide.
Your experiences matter
At Cancer Hair Care we are dedicated to inclusivity and are proud that we produced the first ever Afro Hair Chemotherapy Guide. We continue to explore this subject and are grateful to the many patients, experts, brands, NHS and hair loss specialists who join together with us to inform our information. Please do get in touch if you have any views to share.
Content last reviewed: October 2022
Next planned review: September 2024