Althouse: "At first, my hair came back as you’d expect, as the softest stubble. At about half an inch, though, there started to be a distinct ripple. The ripple evolved..."

August 19, 2025

"At first, my hair came back as you’d expect, as the softest stubble. At about half an inch, though, there started to be a distinct ripple. The ripple evolved..."

"... into ’90s Billy Crystal (I clearly was not specific enough when I wished for the hair in 'When Harry Met Sally…'). There was a Nancy Reagan moment. And since then, it has gotten darker — and more and more (and more) poodle. I call this the haircut nobody asks for, or Baby’s First ’Do. It has changed the shape of my face. Old friends don’t recognize me. They seem to share some of the discomfort I feel standing in front of the mirror: Who is this? It’s like I uncanny-valleyed myself."

Writes Rachel Manteuffel, quite charmingly, in "Cancer changes you, but I never saw my new hair comingIt’s not clear why chemotherapy gave me curls, but when life gives you Garfunkel..." (WaPo).

20 comments:

Jersey Fled said...: My granddaughters are losing their curls. It makes me sad.; 8/19/25, 9:04 AM
Randomizer said...: Curls are fluff. This isn’t where we should spend our disappearing science funding.

I disagree. A significant number of scientific advances come from noticing a phenomena, and meticulously investigating.; 8/19/25, 9:09 AM
gilbar said...: i never had cancer; but,
before my motorcycle crash (and head injury) i had shoulder length hair,
which was wavy and wind blown (i NEVER wore a helmet).

about half of my scalp was ripped off in the crash (and then stapled back on by the docs). Because of this, they cut off all my hair (how short, i don't know.. i was in a coma).

So; when i came out of the coma, i had NO memory of Ever not being on the brain rehab ward.. with short hair (and staples)

As my memories came back, i realized that i once had long hair.. And i'd see pix of this guy with the long wind blown brown hair.

When the hair came back, it came in straight (and darker (and with gray)).
To This day when i see pix of old me i don't recognize him as me

ps. I've recovered all my memories, except the day before the accident and the next 2 weeks. I still have memories of being in the hospital, and not only having NO MEMORY of not being there, but not thinking that was strange (since i'd ALWAYS been there; to the best of My Recollection); 8/19/25, 9:17 AM
Peachy said...: For some - there is an option to freeze your scull while you get chemo. this helps preserve your hair.; 8/19/25, 9:19 AM
Tom T. said...: Maybe she's just been using a different shampoo.; 8/19/25, 9:19 AM
Lazarus said...: More about General Manteuffel's battle with cancer:

Electing to suffer
A medical diagnosis forced me into a decision I didn’t want to make. Maybe this election is doing the same to you.
October 30, 2024
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/30/cancer-diagnosis-election-trump-harris-choice-undecided-voter; 8/19/25, 9:43 AM
wendybar said...: I had bone straight hair when I was really young. In high school, it was slightly wavy. NOW, my hair is extremely curly, blonder and down to my butt. (no cancer, just natural)
It is the hair I always dreamed of having...but on an old woman. My body, my choice. I don't care. I like it!!; 8/19/25, 10:01 AM
William said...: "quite charmingly"

Nice turn of phrase. Thanks. 😊; 8/19/25, 10:03 AM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: ". . . when life gives you Garfunkel...."

Life imitates Art.; 8/19/25, 10:08 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: This happened to me after my stem cell transplant. Unfortunately it was back to straight after my first haircut; 8/19/25, 10:34 AM
rehajm said...: My wife’s hair has evolved from way straight to way too wavy. She like the pricey Dyson my niece told me to buy for her…; 8/19/25, 11:20 AM
Quaestor said...: "...but when life gives you Garfunkel..."

embrace superfluity.

Yes, yes... I know having cancer grants you civic beatification, but ask yourself, didn't Manteuffel deserve it?; 8/19/25, 11:20 AM
hombre said...: I suppose when the press no longer publishes real news it has to go for filler.; 8/19/25, 11:32 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Jeez, gilbar. Be careful!; 8/19/25, 11:33 AM
Geoff Matthews said...: After chemo, my cowlick changed. And the indention my c-pap makes is much more noticeable.; 8/19/25, 11:52 AM
narciso said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/19/25, 12:57 PM
Pawtampa said...: I loved my "chemo 'fro" while it lasted. Mostly just glad to have hair.; 8/19/25, 2:23 PM
John Scott said...: I went through throat cancer treatment a few years ago. I had Chemotherapy and radiation. While I didn't lose hair due to the Chemo I did lose facial hair and about 2 inches off of the back of my hair line from the radiation. The hair below my jaw line never grew back. I was 59 and had my share of grey hair. When the hair on the back of my head grew back it came in solid brown. The rest of my facial hair came back a bit darker too.; 8/19/25, 2:26 PM
Mary E. Glynn said...: Gene Weingartens' mistress.
Maybe Gene's seed is making her hair darker and kinkier like his?; 8/19/25, 3:32 PM
Aggie said...: @gilbar, as far as things go for helmet-less motorcycle-riding crash victims with head injuries, it sounds like you happened to be extremely fortunate. After an experience like that, I imagine you wake up every day already giving thanks.; 8/19/25, 5:16 PM