Beauty treatments during and after cancer: how to find an oncology trained therapist

Quick answer: Many beauty and wellbeing treatments can still be enjoyed during and after cancer treatment, often with gentle changes. Massage, facials, manicures and reflexology can all be adapted. The key is to talk to your oncology team first, because timing, blood counts, radiotherapy skin and surgery all affect what is right for you, and to choose a therapist with oncology or cancer touch training. A trained therapist will ask about your diagnosis and treatment, adapt pressure, products and positioning, and work alongside the advice your medical team gives you.

When cancer arrives, ordinary things can suddenly feel complicated. A haircut, a manicure, a massage you used to book without thinking. Some people are told by a salon that they cannot be treated at all, which can feel like one more thing taken away.

You are far from alone in asking these questions. The World Health Organization's cancer agency estimates there were 20 million new cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2022, and 53.5 million people alive within five years of a diagnosis. Many of them want to feel like themselves again, and a calm, caring treatment room can help with that.

This guide gently walks through the questions people ask most, what oncology trained therapists do differently, and how to find one near you.

Start with your oncology team

Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse knows things no therapist can: your blood counts, where you are in your treatment cycle, any surgery or radiotherapy sites, and whether you have, or are at risk of, lymphoedema. A quick conversation before you book means you can relax and enjoy the treatment.

Timing matters. Macmillan Cancer Support explains that your risk of infection is usually highest around 7 to 14 days after chemotherapy, when white blood cells are at their lowest. Many people find it easier to book treatments for the days when they feel stronger and their counts have recovered. Your team can help you find that window.

The questions people ask most

Can I colour my hair during chemotherapy?

Breast Cancer Now suggests avoiding hair dyes, perms, relaxers and other strong chemical treatments during chemotherapy, as hair can become dry and fragile even if it does not fall out. Gentle care helps: a mild, unperfumed shampoo, warm rather than hot water, a soft brush and less heat styling.

After treatment, Macmillan advises waiting until your hair is about 2.5cm (1 inch) long and your scalp is in good condition before any chemical treatment, with a skin test 48 hours before and a strand test, even with a product you have used before. New hair can take colour differently; Macmillan notes henna may look more intense after chemotherapy. Tell your stylist you have had cancer treatment so they can plan with you.

Is scalp cooling worth trying?

Scalp cooling, often called cold capping, chills the scalp to reduce blood flow to the hair follicles so less chemotherapy reaches them. Cancer Research UK explains it only works with certain drugs and is not suitable for everyone, including people with blood cancers or those having radiotherapy to the scalp. In one US trial of people with early breast cancer, 50.5% of those using scalp cooling kept their hair, compared with none in the group without it, among 142 participants assessed. Ask your team whether it is offered with your treatment. If you are cold capping, your stylist can help with gentle cutting and care routines that protect the hair you keep.

What about wigs and headwear?

Cancer Research UK notes that hair loss from chemotherapy usually starts two to three weeks after treatment begins. Many people find it helps to plan ahead, perhaps with a shorter cut first and a wig fitting before hair loss starts. A hairdresser can cut and style a wig so it looks like you, and many will do this in a private room. In some countries, health services, insurers or charities help with the cost of a wig, so ask your treatment team what is available where you live. Scarves, hats and going without are all equally valid choices.

Can I still have my nails done?

Chemotherapy can make nails weak, ridged or prone to lifting. The American Cancer Society suggests keeping nails short, pushing cuticles back gently rather than cutting them and checking with your team before booking a salon manicure or pedicure, because broken skin around the nail can let infection in. When your team is happy, a gentle manicure with a nourishing polish can be lovely. It is usually kindest to avoid acrylic extensions and heavy filing while nails are fragile.

Is massage safe?

Macmillan says gentle massage can help with relaxation, tension and mood, and that research has found no evidence massage spreads cancer. A trained therapist will use lighter pressure and shorter sessions, often 20 minutes or less during treatment, and avoid areas over a tumour, affected lymph nodes, wounds, central lines and areas having radiotherapy, during treatment and for a few weeks after. If you have bone involvement or bruise easily, check with your team first. Lymphoedema needs a specialist, so ask your team about manual lymphatic drainage.

Reflexology is a gentle option many people enjoy; Macmillan describes it as a safe therapy that can help you relax. Our reflexology guide explains what happens in a session.

Can I have a facial?

Skin often becomes drier and more sensitive during treatment, and radiotherapy can make the treated area especially delicate. The American Cancer Society suggests checking with your team before trying new skincare products and wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. An oncology trained skin therapist will choose gentle, fragrance free products, skip heat, steam, strong exfoliants and machines, and keep well away from any radiotherapy area. Read our facial guide to see what a treatment involves.

If you love aromatherapy, Cancer Research UK says some oils can irritate sensitive skin, and people with oestrogen sensitive cancers should be careful with repeated use of lavender or tea tree. A qualified aromatherapist will dilute oils and choose with care. See our aromatherapy guide.

What about lashes and brows?

Chemotherapy can affect eyebrows and eyelashes as well as head hair. Brow pencils, powders and stencils can recreate your shape, and a brow artist can show you how. The American Cancer Society suggests asking your team which adhesives to avoid if you want to wear false lashes. Lash extensions, tints and microblading are best left until your team is happy, as anything that irritates or breaks the skin carries a higher infection risk while your immunity is low.

What an oncology trained therapist does differently

Oncology trained, or cancer touch trained, therapists have studied how cancer and its treatments affect the body. In the US, MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests looking for a licensed massage therapist with at least 24 hours of oncology massage training. You can expect them to:

• ask about your diagnosis, treatments, surgery, medicines, blood results and how you are feeling that day
• adapt pressure, position, products and treatment length to suit you
• avoid areas affected by surgery, radiotherapy, lines, ports or lymphoedema risk
• offer pillows, bolsters and seated options if lying flat is uncomfortable
• be happy to pause, shorten or rebook if you are tired on the day

Australia's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre makes a helpful point in its guide to finding a therapist: if a therapist does not ask about your cancer history, medicines and health, they may not be the right fit for you.

Timing after treatment

There is no single date when everything is back to normal. Skin, hair and energy recover at their own pace, and your team will tell you when it is safe to return to treatments such as lash extensions, peels, laser or microblading. Breast Cancer Now notes that hair usually regrows after chemotherapy, sometimes starting before treatment ends, and that it is worth seeing a dermatologist or registered trichologist if it has not regrown well six months after treatment. Start with gentle treatments and build up, and keep telling every professional you see about your treatment history, even years later.

How to find a trained therapist

• Ask your cancer centre. Many hospitals offer complementary therapies or keep a list of local therapists they trust.
• Look for oncology training. Examples include therapists listed by the Society for Oncology Massage in the US, the Oncology Massage Training directory in Australia, and therapists trained in Made for Life Cancer Touch Therapy in the UK.
• Check registration and insurance. Macmillan suggests choosing a therapist who is registered and insured; in the UK, the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council can help.
• Ask questions. Where did you train in oncology care? How will you adapt the treatment for me? Will you talk to my team if needed?

FAQs

Can I get my hair coloured during chemotherapy?

Most cancer charities suggest waiting, as hair and scalp can be fragile. After treatment, Macmillan advises waiting until hair is about 2.5cm long, with a skin and strand test first. Check with your oncology team.

Is it safe to have a massage during cancer treatment?

Gentle massage from a therapist trained in oncology care is widely considered safe and can help you relax. Talk to your team first, especially if you have bone involvement, low platelets or lymphoedema.

Can I have a manicure during chemo?

Check with your team first, as infection risk rises when white blood cells are low. If they agree, choose a gentle manicure with no cuticle cutting.

What is an oncology massage therapist?

A qualified massage therapist with extra training in cancer and its treatments, who adapts every session to your health on the day.

Find someone who understands

The right professional will welcome you, ask the right questions and make the treatment feel easy. Every profile on our directory shows verified qualifications and insurance, so you can find a verified professional near you and look for oncology or cancer touch training on their profile. Explore our reflexology and facial guides, and always check with your oncology team before you book.