How long does it take for hair to grow back after chemotherapy?

After chemotherapy, hair often grows back in 2 to 3 months after treatment has ended, according to the National Cancer Institute. After radiation therapy, hair often grows back in 3 to 6 months after treatment ends.

Your new hair will be very fine when it starts to grow back. Sometimes it can be curlier or straighter than before—or even a different color. In time, it may go back to how it was before treatment.

There is one exception with radiation: if you received a very high dose of radiation, your hair may grow back thinner, or not at all, on the part of your body that received radiation.

As your hair grows back, it helps to be gentle with it. Avoid too much brushing, curling, and blow-drying, and you may not want to wash it as often.

Your health care team can give you a better idea of what to expect based on your specific treatment, so it's a good question to add to your list before a visit.