The Bald & the Beautiful

On Sunday, my hair slowly started to fall out. And by “fall out” I mean if I would tug lightly on my hair, 5-6 strands would come out straight with the hair follicle. From this I new my days were numbered before the big chop would come. My oncologist warned me that my hair would start falling out on day fourteen after my initial cycle. The nurses working at the Breast Resource Center also said that hair usually starts to fall out between 10-14, for sure there would be drastic loss by day 18.

I did not want to watch my hair fall out more and more each day, to a point were one big chunk would just drop off my head. On Monday night, the night before my second chemo cycle, we decided that I would shave my head the next day. Watching my hair fall out when I would brush my hands through it, was not easy. I would get emotional every time. Before the shaving was even considered I choose to get a very short hair cut the day before my mastectomy. This was one of the best decisions during this processes. I always wanted long hair, past my shoulder blades, but I knew I would soon begin chemo and I would have nothing left. If I wouldn’t have cut my hair then the change would be too drastic for me and I don’t know how I would have handled it. In fact I don’t even care to wonder.

My thinning hair on my Pathology book with the help of my tugging. I’m a little behind folks on my reading. 🙁

My mother called her hair stylist, Sam, and she agreed to come the next day for 3pm. Thankfully Sam and my mom had discussed this difficult procedure when my mom went in for her hair cut a few weeks prior. I was extremely nervous the night before about getting this new do and also nervous about my next session. I kept getting emotional and thinking how hard it would be to see my little strands of hair that I had left fall to the floor. 🙁

The day of chemo and my hair cut. I think God sent me an angle from the heavens. While Nikita and I were siting in the waiting area to register for my chemo throne, I saw a young woman walk by with her mother toward the infusion center. The young woman was bald. She had no hair, she wore no wig nor a scarf! I was truly amazed. She looked so beautiful, so courageous. I admired her, she inspired me. After seeing her, I felt a sense of ease to the whole procedure. It’s as if God showed me that bald is beautiful and that I have nothing to fear. I felt so peaceful and thought to myself “if she could walk around bald and tell the whole whole that I’m not ashamed, then so could I. No doubt.”

After lunch, we came home and wait for the lovely hair dresser Sam to arrive. When she came, we quickly made our way into my parents bathroom for the spa treatment to begin! She first buzzed my hair with a trimmer, by doing that she let me see a few stylish cuts that I could have one day. Then she buzzed it all off and nothing was left except for short stubs. We decided to shave the rest of it off so that the hair falling out would not follow me everywhere I went. I have three hair pieces that needed to be trimmed and Sam was kind enough to do those as well. During the exfoliating hair process, I was joined by my mother, my sister Anna, my twin Natalie via Skype, and my boyfriend Nikita. The whole time we were laughing and making jokes. It was painless!

I am now a Bald and Beautiful young woman and I am not ashamed to share my road to recovery with anyone. I had my doubts at first about posting these photos, but I must admit I look pretty damn good for a bald chick. My boyfriend has no problem with the way I look, I still turn him on 🙂 :* The shape of my head isn’t bad either 🙂

I’d like to give a special thanks to my hair dresser Sam

“Thank you for making this process a fun and silly one! much love! XOXO”

: My thinning hair turned into a mustache!

: Nikita was afraid of my mustache.

: In the cutting chair. so cheery 😀

: my first do. I kinda like it 🙂

: view from the side.

: and its coming all off!!

: Trimming the bangs off my hair piece.

: all done with 1/3 of the hair pieces.

: Bald and Beautiful!! thank you Sam xoxo

: Some sisterly love from Anna xoxo

46 thoughts on “The Bald & the Beautiful”

This was my favorite entry. 🙂 You always put a smile on my face when I need one. You rock the look! Before you know it you’ll be going for your monthly trims, dragging me with you :D.

See you soon! MWA MWA MWA!!!!

Kathryn Z says:

May 22, 2013 at 9:11 pm

Thanks Nat. Love you and miss you.

Reply

You look beautiful, as always, Kathryn! Thanks for sharing these pictures. 🙂

Kathryn Z says:

May 22, 2013 at 9:12 pm

Thank you Caroline! Hope you’er enjoying grad life 😉

Reply

Beautiful girl, beautiful smile 😀 thanks for sharing cuz xo

Kathryn Z says:

May 22, 2013 at 9:12 pm

Thank you Irene! 🙂

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Kathryn,
Let me start by saying, you are beautiful, inside and out! I am so amazed by your strength. I will continue to pray that God wraps you and your family in his loving arms and heals you. I am honored to have met you and to have been asked to be a part of your journey. Stay strong!

Kathryn Z says:

May 22, 2013 at 9:13 pm

Thank you very much Sam for being there for my family and I. You have a wonderful heart. Thank you for the warm thoughts.
God Bless!

Reply

Great job! Great spirit! Great attitude and amazing YOU!!!

Kathryn Z says:

May 23, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Love you xoxo

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Anna posted your blog on her fb and I read some of your blogs, you are very courageous and look simply stunning with hair or not! Keep your head up <3 Wishing you and your fam all the best!

Anna says:

May 22, 2013 at 10:33 pm

Thank you Asia for visiting and your words of encouragement! All of us appreciate your care and concern 🙂

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Kathryn Z says:

May 23, 2013 at 12:09 pm

Thank you for the encouraging words Asia!
God bless

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You are gorgeous as always! Keep fighting girl! You are in my prayers!

Kathryn, I have just read all your blog posts. These stories are truly inspiring and are really touching. When going through difficult periods of life, it may seem as if things cannot go any worse, but I believe that going through hard times will make one a stronger person in the future. I will pray for you that you will fully overcome this period. God Bless 🙂

~Jeffrey

Kathryn Z says:

May 25, 2013 at 9:36 pm

Jeffrey,
I shall be the strongest person you know 😛
Good luck with finals
God Bless

Reply

Hi Kathryn,

I’ve been following your blogs since the beginning and this is by far my favourite one. I’m so proud of how strong you are and your positive out look on everything. I also am a medical student in Poznan, Poland from Canada, around the time I was beginning to follow your blog, I was just finishing up my last section in Pathology on breast patho. Funny coincidence.

I know you’ll beat this nasty thing and get better soon. You’re stronger even than you know and you will get through this! Good luck with you and your studies!

All the best,
-Margarita S.