Tips For Using Penguin Cold Caps

As I mentioned I wanted to share more about my experience using Penguin Cold Caps to keep my hair through chemotherapy.  I in no way work for the company or anything, I am just a patient that used them and had success.  I want to help other women that may be considering using the cold caps to keep their hair through chemo.  Here are a few tips.

Supplies For Chemo Days:

• Extra thick moleskin (I used this on my forehead and at my temples while wearing the caps to keep the cold off my skin).  I pre-cut the right sizes I would need the night before and just put them in a baggy.  That way they were ready to go when I got to the infusion center.
• Panty liners - (yes, I said panty liners!)  I cut these to the shape of my ears and stuck them on my ears while wearing the caps so my ears would not freeze.
• Hair pick - I made sure to lightly comb through my hair and change my hair part every time a changed my cold caps.  This prevented me from getting any frostbite along my part line.
• Hair rubber band - I had long hair and I loosely put the rubber band in to keep the hair out of the way so it would not get stuck in the velcro on the caps.
• Ativan (I asked my medical oncologist for a prescription) - this helped keep me calm and helped me tolerate the cold while wearing the caps
• Extra Strength Tylenol - I was afraid I would get a headache from the cold so I took some before my first cap (I did not get any headaches)
• Electric Blanket - I purchased a twin size one from Amazon.  I wrapped it around me all day and it kept me warm!
• Socks, knit gloves and sandwich baggies - I decided to ice my fingers and toes during taxotere to avoid neuropathy.  I filled the baggies with ice (four) and put two on the floor.  I put my foot on them and then folded half of the baggy up over my toes to keep my nails and toes cold.  For hands, I put on my knit cloves and grabbed a baggy full of ice in each hand.  I pushed my fingers down into the ice and then had my husband pull a sock over my hands/forearms.  This way I did not have to hold the bags the whole time.  They would stay in place from the socks. 
• Scissors (in case I needed to cut more supplies)

Supplies To Have At Home:

• Hair pick or wide tooth comb - no use of hairbrushes while going through this.
• Organic Shampoo/Conditioner - I wanted to avoid parabens, sulfates and as many chemicals as possible.  I used Burt's Bees and Organix brand products through chemo. 
• Colormark - I used this to cover my roots.  It is applied like a mascara and washes out when you wash your hair.  I bought it at Ulta.  It is not the best but it does help cover roots.  At the beginning it worked fine but as the roots got super long it was harder to cover them!
• Soft Covered Elastic Hair Rubber bands - the Penguin Cold Cap website does not recommend using hair rubber bands but I did.  I exercised daily and had long hair.  I was very gentle with my hair when I used them and made sure not to put them in tight or pull on my hair when removing them.
• Thin, soft elastic headbands - I used these to just keep the hair out of my eyes.  I got them at Walmart in a six pack cheap.
• Deodorant - PCCs recommends you use organic, chemical free and aluminum free deodorant while using cold caps.  I used Bumble and Bee (I ordered this online) and also Nature's Gate deodorant (I got this at Meijer's).
• Organic or Chemical Free/Aluminum Free Mascara - I figured if PCC's tells you to avoid chemicals in the hair under your arms, why not for your lashes?  I used Physician's Formula Organicwear Mascara for a while.  It was OK bur ran horribly if you got it wet.  It was easy to get off though without using much soap or any tugging on the lashes.  Later I switched to Tarte mascara (from Ulta) which is not organic but avoids aluminum and most other bad chemicals.  I managed to keep my lashes through chemo but they fell out about 7 weeks after finishing chemo.
• Latisse (I had my medical oncologist give me a prescription).  My lashes stayed through chemo but fell out later.  I started using it regularly after finishing chemo.  My lashes grew back so fast and were super thick and long.  It is expensive and not covered by insurance but I believe there are generic and over the counter options available too.  I also used it on my eyebrows which thinned but never fell out (yea!).
• Organic and Chemical Free Hair Styling Products - PCC's probably does not recommend use of these items but for special occasions when I needed to look better I did try some Giovanni and Organix hair styling products to get the frizz under control.  I did also use Aveda's Be Curly to wear my hair wavy/curly on humid day.
• Cute, Lightweight Hat - I know PCC's does not recommend use of hats during chemo but I did use hats on the really bad hair days.  I experienced no ill effects from it and it made me feel better about how I looked. 
• Thick Cotton Headbands - again PCC's probably does not recommend the use of them, but I did wear them to help cover roots as my hair started growing out towards the end of chemo (my roots were at least 1 1/2 inches long as my hair continued to grow at a normal pace through chemo!).
• Satin Pillow Case - I did use this since I had long hair to help prevent pulling on my hair while I was sleeping. 
• Hair Extensions - I had some clip in real human hair extensions I got at a local beauty supply store.  I know PCC's probably does not recommend the use of these, but I did use them towards the end of chemo and after chemo when my long hair looked thinner at the ends. 
• Handheld Shower Sprayer - I got one that attached to the tub faucet and that had a sprayer on it.  I found it helpful to wash my hair since it was so long.  It allowed me to get the cold water right at the roots of my hair easier than using a cup and pouring water over my head.  I washed my hair leaned over the tub once a week with cold water as recommended.

Hear is what I looked like with moleskin and panty liners on before putting my first cold cap on:  (this is definately not me in one of my finer moments in life...)

Once I got my moleskin and panty liners on, I took that ponytail out and put a very loose, low ponytail in to keep my hair out of the velcro on the caps.

Here I am with my first Penguin Cold Cap on: