I had a cocktail of different chemo drugs, each with their own list of side-affects but I was very lucky that none of them caused complete hair loss. There was a lot of hair thinning, and I did start loosing it along the hair line on the second round of treatment (post surgery), by which stage my hair became quite damaged and brittle.  My rich curls gave way to a wiry mess, neither straight or curly and would break at touch.

After treatment, I chopped it short and kept cutting to stimulate growth and cut out the affected hair.  It’s taken a while to bring those bouncy locks back to life, it’s taken a change of hairdressers and all sorts of attempts at miracle ‘hair fixers’.  And now I’m finally at the stage at growing it again. Happy days!

I’ve had a lot of interest in post treatment hair management, which I will be covering.  Today I’m starting with the less obvious choice – the hair on my face. My eyebrows!  ‘cos these thinned out a fair bit too.

During treatment, I shaped them when I could with the odd threading appointment but on the whole left them to do their own thing, catching stray hairs in DIY jobs at times of bed ridden rest.  With the whole Cara Delevingne look in Vogue, I got away with it looking more like a fashion statement then laziness.

Coming out of treatment and wanting to start grooming properly again, I knew eyebrows were a good place to start.  A simple eyebrow shaping session can lift the whole face and make a big difference.  Eyebrows frame the eyes, and work with your cheek-bones to structure the face. Even without much make-up, you will look groomed and polished. However, no one seemed to get it right.  I went to all the threading bars I visited pre-treatment, but always came away with rounded weak eyebrows – and although they weren’t awful, they never gave the subtle lift to the face that a good job does.

I spent most of last year making up for this with Benefit Brow Zings Shaping Kit, which is a wax and powder combo.  It ‘s a great cheat product, which I highly recommend.  However, I wear substantially less make-up these days and there are times I want the groomed look without having to reach for the make-up bag, so I even started to look into eyebrow implants. Yep, who knew such a thing existed?! Honestly, there’s a procedure for everything these days!

Not convinced I wanted to go down the needle route (it seemed quite drastic), I parked the idea for a while.  It was during this time I stumbled across a post on instagram by George Northwood (a salon I lust after) on a new eyebrow service.  On impulse, I booked myself in and am so glad I did.  With simple tweezing and tint, a wonderful lady called Magda gave me back the brows I use to have.  Moving away from the rounded shape that threaders tend to navigate to (unless you tell them otherwise), Magda worked with my natural arch.  Plus, the addition of a tint gave the illusion of fullness without any product.  Overall, it was natural and lifting.  People commented on how well I looked, unable to pin-point what had changed – now that’s what a good eyebrow job is suppose to do!

Magda also used an Eyeko pen to give that added fuller affect.  I never thought of using a pen before, it lightly colours the skin on any patchy areas and gives a lighter affect then the pencil I was use to.  Using product is particularly good on make-up days, to complete the overall look.  However, once home, I personally didn’t have a great experience with this Eyeko product.

After one use, the pen dried out. I returned it, got a replacement and it happened again.  This time it was explained to me that I shouldn’t use the pen on a brow covered in face powder or foundation – that I need to clean the brow with a cotton bud before applying.  That made sense, so off I went – with the same replacement pen, which I haven’t used since as it’s still dried out.  I always ‘click’ the cap back on and keep it in it’s original box out of sunlight, so I’m quitting with this particular brand and back on the hunt for another pen.  Any recommendations welcome.  In the meantime the shape and tint alone is strong enough without an additional product, so I’m in no mad rush.

If you’re starting to think about personal grooming again, or want a little pick me up for the festive season, my advice is to start with an eyebrow session.  Seek out a local beauty therapist who will take the time to sit and talk with you, tell them your story and what you’re after. It’s their job to know the best brow shape for your face, so let them advise you here. If you’re not happy with what you come back with, move on to the next salon until you find the right one.

A good indicator of the beauty therapist’s work is her own eyebrows.  If they are over-plucked / over made-up / too dark, make your excuses and get outta there.

If you are in the London area, I highly recommend Magda at George Northwood.

Address: 24 Wells Street, London, W1T 3PH

Tel: 020 7580 8195

Talking of which, I’ve got to love you and leave you to scoot over there now for my very own appointment.

Lulu xx