Will my hair grow back after cancer treatment?

Some types of cancer treatment might cause your hair to fall out. Find out more here about what happens when your hair grows back, as well as tips from young people on how to manage regrowth.  

  • Hair usually starts growing back after treatment finished  
  • You might find it comes back a different texture or colour  
  • If you’re worried about whether your hair will grow back you should speak to your care team   

When does hair grow back after cancer treatment?

Your hair will usually start growing back after you’ve finished treatment but it can sometimes start growing back during treatment as well.  

Remember there are lots of different types of cancer treatment and the short and long-term side effects for each can be very different.  

You can ask your care team any questions about your individual situation.  

How long does hair take to grow back?

Hair usually starts growing back once you’ve finished treatment, but sometimes it can grow back while you’re still having treatment.  

Find out more about hair loss here.  

Will my hair definitely grow back after cancer treatment?

It’s likely that your hair will grow back but some people might find that their hair grows back very thin or it may come back in patches. This is more common when you’ve had radiotherapy and hair in the area that was targeted with radiotherapy might not grow back.  

If you have questions about hair loss and re-growth you should speak to you care team who will be able to support your individual situation.  

How long does it take for eyebrows and eyelashes to grow back after chemo?

While your eyebrows and eyelashes will likely fall out at a similar time to the hair on your head and your body, it might take a little longer for them to grow back after treatment finishes.  

Find out more about eyebrows and eyelashes on Cancer Hair Care’s website.  

Will my hair look the same after cancer treatment?

Lots of people find that their hair looks and feels a bit different after cancer treatment.  

Cancer treatment can change the texture and colour of your hair and some people who used to have straight hair find that their hair grows back curly. You might hear this being called ‘chemo curls’.  

Tips from young people:

We asked other young people who have had cancer for their tips on managing hair growing back, this is what they told us:  

  • Start with baby shampoo or something gentle when your hair starts coming back  
  • When it grows back it might not be the same colour - I was blonde and now I’m brunette  
  • As hair grows back it might be different so experiment and try have fun with it  
  • Stick with it through the annoying stage while it grows back  
  • It might grow back a different colour and very different style (eg curly)  
  • It’s going to take a long time to grow back so embrace all the hair styles along the way!  
  • Baby comb to brush the new hair and massaging my scalp worked well to speed up regrowth  
  • Silk bonnet going to bed, really helps in the early stages of growth when hair is vulnerable!  
  • Use a scalp massager in the shower  
  • Your new hair has never been heat damaged/treated badly so it’s such good quality and fresh  
  • Celebrate every milestone, like feeling it blowing in the wind for the first time
  • Experiment! For some of us it’s the only time you will have hair at every length, play with it!

This information was created in September 2025. It will be reviewed in September 2028.