Haircuts, Waxing, Facials and Tattoos — During Treatment

Yes — a simple haircut is safe throughout cancer treatment. There is no skin break and no infection risk from a cut alone. Many people find it helpful to cut their hair short early in a chemotherapy course, before hair loss begins, so the transition feels more gradual. Avoid vigorous scalp massage if your scalp feels sensitive, and let your stylist know you are in treatment so they can be gentle.

Waxing breaks the skin surface, which gives bacteria a route in at exactly the time your body is least able to fight an infection. Chemotherapy often lowers white blood cell counts and can also reduce platelets, meaning small skin bleeds take longer to stop than they would outside of treatment. Both of these make waxing — anywhere on the body — a risk that most oncology teams advise avoiding for the duration of active treatment.

Threading does not use heat or chemicals and is generally considered lower risk than waxing. It can still cause redness, minor irritation, and occasionally a small break at the skin surface. Whether it is appropriate for you depends on where you are in your treatment cycle and what your blood counts look like at the time. Ask your oncology team before your appointment rather than assuming it is safe.

Some facials are fine and some are not — it depends on what the facial involves. A gentle, fragrance-free moisturising treatment from a therapist who is aware of your situation is unlikely to cause harm. Steam, extractions, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and high-frequency treatments all stress or break the skin in ways that are not appropriate during active treatment. Tell the salon you are in cancer treatment and ask exactly what each step involves before agreeing to anything.

No — getting a tattoo during active cancer treatment is not advisable. The needle breaks the skin repeatedly and introduces ink into the tissue, which is a significant infection risk when your immune system is suppressed. Healing also takes longer than normal, and a poorly healed tattoo site can become a source of ongoing infection. ASCO and NCCN guidance advises waiting until treatment is fully complete and blood counts have returned to a normal range before considering a tattoo.

The general guidance from oncology bodies is to wait until treatment is complete and your blood counts have recovered to a normal range. Your oncologist is the right person to confirm the timing for you, because it varies depending on the treatment you received and how your body has responded. Do not rely on a fixed number of weeks after your last dose — get your counts checked and ask your team directly before booking.

A simple manicure without cutting the cuticle is generally lower risk than waxing or a facial. Chemotherapy can affect your nails — making them more brittle, more sensitive, and more prone to infection around the nail bed — so cutting or pushing back the cuticle, and using acrylic or gel nails, are all worth discussing with your team before you go ahead. If you do get a manicure, tell the therapist you are in cancer treatment, and bring your own tools if possible.

Most oncology teams advise waiting until treatment is complete before using permanent hair dye. The scalp may be more sensitive during treatment, and the chemicals in some dyes can irritate already-sensitive skin. Temporary or semi-permanent colour that coats the hair rather than penetrating the scalp is generally considered lower risk, but discuss it with your team before using anything during active treatment — they can advise based on your specific regimen and how your scalp is responding.