A few days ago I got my hair cut and colored as usual but the stylist left the hair coloring (a muted brown-red color) four minutes longer than usual so the color wouldn't wash out so quickly this time. She swears she used the same mix as last time but my hair turned out a strange orangey-red. She said the extra processing time shouldn't affect the color that way and was totally stumped as to what happened. At first I just thought she messed up and didn't want to admit it, but then I remembered Plaquenil and/or MTX can cause hair bleaching. But that just means new hair growth, right? How can hair that's already grown out be affected by meds color-wise? Is it possible that the color was affected by my medication? Anyone have a similar experience or can you enlighten me in any way? BTW, this is only the second time the stylist used this particular brand, but it was perfect the last time, so I'm totally confused.
Jesse88,
I have a very close friend who has been on Plaquenil for many years for Lupus. She used to have brown hair and now she's totally blonde. We were just talking about this the other day.
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I just realized I didn't even answer your question. Sorry Jesse88, I'm not feeling well today!
I have a strange hair experience too, although a little different. I have tried to get a permanent twice since having RA and it simply won't take. My hairdresser is very bewildered, as she did everything the same as the previous several times she's given me a perm. The ends of my hair are sort of frizzled. It's been trimmed a number of times and still frizzles so it's not the chemicals from the perm doing this.
My hairdresser (who also has RA) now handles my hair with kid gloves. Instead of curling irons, she sets it on rollers. And no more perms. But strangely enough, color still works. And I also get highlights.
Don't know now this relates to your experience, but thought I would pass it on. The first attempt at a perm I wasn't yet on any drugs for RA (hadn't been diagnosed yet) and the second time I was on prednisone and MTX. So who knows?
Plaquenil has turned my hair lighter but your hairdresser should check that
My reply has nothing to do with RA meds coz I'm not on any yet
But I'm naturally blonde and decided I'd like to go dark, my normal stylist was away and I got the supposed senior stylist. We chose a brown from the chart and she died my hair .... wait for it.... peach. I'm talking PEACH.
That said every since I've been on thyroxine (about 3 years) my ruler straight hair is now going curly and is frizzy. So meds do definitely have the ability to effect the hair.
And whilst we're on hair subject, do you think 'him up there' was having a laugh? Turned 40 and got hair on my lip, oestrogen levels plumeting, I'm going to get a full set (beard and tash) by the time I'm 50. I've made my son promise to get the tweezers out
We do a lot of coloring of hair in this house. Everyone is always looking for a new look or preparing for a character. We have had some interesting results, I'll tell ya! The best was the time my daughter's hair turned out to be bright orange - it was the exact same shade as a box of Tide laundry detergent. It was totally by accident.
I can remember her looking in the mirror saying, "What am I going to do Mom?" I said, "I don't know - maybe get a big red nose and some giant floppy shoes?"
She was performing in Little Women at the time. You should have seen the look on the directors face when she walked in the door - he started yelling at her, because he thought she did it on purpose! Just doesn't fit with the look of the mid-1800's!
Keep trying, it's always fun to try something new!
My color has been coming out strange as well. I have worn a bob like you are talking about Lindy for the past 5 years. Have had very straight hair all my life. As of a year ago, it has developed all sorts of waves all over. Which makes it much harder to blow dry, since the dryer hurts my wrist and I am sweating the entire time I blow dry.
So, for the last 6 months I have given up and not cut it. I pull the front half back and let the back half go wavy and its not too bad, but like you, its not my hair, not by a long shot.
I hadn't thought about it much, but since I have been on the meds, I stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear hats. I know that I have less hair from the MTX but when I went to my sisters birthday party this weekend, everyone asked if I had started highlighting my hair. I haven't. I know it is not the sun, but didn't think it could be the meds. Hmm, interesting. OK everyone, I want to be sure I'm understanding this correctly. It seems that your changes were gradual, right? I mean, hair that was already grown out didn't suddenly start acting weird, did it? It was a gradual change as the new growth was affected by the meds and eventually the whole head of hair was different, is that what you're all saying?