As president and founder of ROgHA Hair System, I set out on a mission: to provide people with a gentle, safe, effective way to care for their hair and scalp.
Long before becoming a Certified Trichologist, I spent years behind the chair as a Licensed Cosmetologist/Salon Owner, listening to my clients share their stories, from the day-to-day at home with their families, at work, including the unexpected conversations such as a new medical diagnosis that not only changed our conversations but would also impact their hair and scalp care needs. It was then I knew that becoming a Certified Trichologist, along with my Cosmetology and Cosmetic Chemistry background, would be the next step to helping my clients.
In 2006, my personal day-to-day conversations changed while at a doctor’s appointment with my dad, when he was told, “Bob, you have cancer.” Our lives changed forever. We couldn’t change the diagnosis, but we could learn everything there was to learn about the options that were available. Knowledge truly is power! It not only helps us understand our choices, but it can also give us a sense of control, especially during a time when all control feels lost.
Following my dad’s diagnosis and every day forward, he faced each day with extraordinary courage and strength. Growing up, my dad would always share his advice and life lessons with me. I never expected one of the most impactful lessons I would learn from him would be one that was unspoken: courage and strength. Following my dad’s passing after his courageous battle with lung cancer, I was determined to keep his light of courage and strength alive. It was then the CASTLE was created.
CASTLE, Courage and Strength Through Life’s Endeavors®, is at the heart of my mission.
The first CASTLE fundraiser took place in 2007, with all the proceeds being donated to the hospital where my dad received his care. Throughout the following years, the raffle proceeds were used to purchase toys and games during the holiday season that were donated to the oncology department at Children’s Hospital Boston in memory of my nephew, where he received his treatment.
Then, in 2016, we heard the words again: “You have cancer.” My mom was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, cholangiocarcinoma. She and I had many questions following her diagnosis. However, the one question I didn’t expect was when my mom turned to me and asked, “Am I going to lose my hair?” It was then that I realized that being able to answer her question could help lessen some of her unknowns, making this stressful time feel a little more manageable.
In memory of my mom and building the CASTLE mission, I launched Hair and Scalp Wellness During Chemotherapy and Radiation.
This program empowers oncology patients with valuable knowledge and compassionate guidance that focuses on scalp and hair wellness throughout all stages of chemotherapy and radiation. It is a program that patients can count on as a reliable resource to answer all their hair and scalp care questions, alleviating some of the unknown.
Building the CASTLE
Over the years, the CASTLE’s purpose has stayed strong and steady: to honor the courage and strength we see in patients, families, and caregivers, and to offer support when it’s needed most. Today, the CASTLE not only supports patients through various fundraising events, but also empowers patients with knowledge through our educational program and offers a gentle, effective hair care product that focuses on hair and scalp health. The CASTLE will continue its mission as a beacon of light and a reminder to all: no one travels a cancer journey alone.
“Every day is filled with making choices. We may not always get to choose what each day has in store for us, but we still make the choice of how we approach it.” - Courage and Strength Through Life’s Endeavors®
The power of education
As a Trichologist, I’m often asked how to address or even prevent some of the most common scalp and hair concerns, such as scalp itching, dryness, flaking, hair loss, and excessive shedding. My answer always begins by sharing knowledge.
“Knowledge is your best friend, when making your best choice.” - ROgHA® Hair System
At ROgHA®, our Dermatologist-Tested, Trichologist-Recommended formulas were created to deliver gentle, effective scalp and hair cleansing and re-balancing that everyone can benefit from. We purposefully omitted many of the common additives that can irritate the scalp, including ingredients that are found to be carcinogenic. Those are ingredients I believe we can all do without.
ROgHA Hair System focuses on cleansing and re-balancing to support an optimal scalp environment while preserving the integrity of the hair. For patients, a proper routine and gentle products can help reduce discomfort that’s often experienced during treatment.
The courage it takes to keep showing up, and the strength it takes to keep choosing how you will conquer each day, is real for each patient, their family, and caregivers.
Courage and Strength Through Life’s Endeavors® is the light we can shine and the strength we can share. The CASTLE is about making a difference together, keeping the light alive, while being a reminder that no one travels a cancer journey alone.
What I recommend during treatment
One of the questions I hear most from patients and caregivers is simple: what should I use? My answer is a routine that is gentle, consistent, and easy to follow, so there is one less thing to think about.
- Daily Cleanse Shampoo: gentle, pH-appropriate cleansing (pH 4.5–5.5) that is mild on a sensitive scalp.
- Re-Balance Treatment: applied to the scalp and hair after rinsing, it helps support weightless hydration without waxes or silicones (pH 4.0–5.0).
Daily Cleanse Shampoo followed by Re-Balance Treatment is all that is needed to help maintain a comfortable, healthy scalp environment during chemotherapy.
How often to wash your hair during treatment can vary for each person, especially if you are using scalp cooling, so follow the guidance of your care team. A gentle, pH-appropriate routine can help support scalp comfort each step of the way.
Ingredients worth avoiding during treatment
During treatment, the scalp can feel more sensitive than usual. These are common ingredients I recommend avoiding in your hair and scalp care routine:
- Synthetic fragrance (parfum), a common source of scalp sensitivity
- Synthetic color, added for appearance, not for your scalp
- MCI and MI (methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone), preservatives known as common skin sensitizers
- Sulfates, strong cleansers that can leave the scalp feeling dry
- Silicones and waxes, which can build up on the hair and scalp
ROgHA formulates without all of these. Every product is also Formulated Without parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, PFAS, and gluten, and is third-party tested. You can see the full list on our Why ROgHA page.
I recommend this same gentle routine, and avoiding these ingredients, for anyone with a sensitive scalp or anyone looking to avoid common irritants, whether or not they are receiving treatment.
Questions I hear from patients and caregivers
Is ROgHA safe to use during chemotherapy?
Yes. ROgHA has been used by men, women, and children during all stages of treatment. Our products are Formulated Without synthetic fragrance, synthetic color, and common skin-sensitizing ingredients.
Will shampooing cause more hair loss?
Shampooing does not cause treatment-related hair loss. Hair that comes out while washing has usually already been released by the follicle. A gentle routine helps keep the scalp clean and comfortable, and your care team can tell you what to expect with your specific medical treatment.
Can children use ROgHA during treatment?
Yes. Daily Cleanse Shampoo and Re-Balance Treatment have been used by children. ROgHA is not tear-free, so please avoid contact with the eyes.
How can my oncology center request the free education program?
Hair and Scalp Wellness During Chemotherapy and Radiation is a free educational program for patients and caregivers. It is currently offered at the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. If you would like to bring it to an oncology center near you, let’s connect here.
ROgHA is a gentle, effective, non-medical, cosmetic hair and scalp care system.
Every act of support counts
If you’re reading this and would like to help build the CASTLE, or would like to see our FREE oncology program available at an oncology center near you, let’s connect. I would love to hear from you! If you read this post and would like to share it with a family member or friend who can relate to the CASTLE mission, please share it! If you are on social media and would like to help grow awareness about the CASTLE, mention or share this post. We appreciate you!
Every action, big or small, helps build the CASTLE.
To everyone who has donated, volunteered, or shared our mission, thank you! Your kindness reaches further than you know. It brings comfort to families, empowers patients with knowledge, and keeps the legacy of courage and strength alive in doctors’ offices, treatment centers, and homes across our community.
Help us continue our mission. If the CASTLE has touched your life, or if you would like to make a difference in someone else’s cancer journey, I invite you to support the cause. Together, we will build the CASTLE, keeping the light alive for every patient and family, reminding them that no one travels a cancer journey alone.
Join me in building the CASTLE!
Sharon Clohesy - Founder, President & CEO, ROgHA® Hair System
Learn more about ROgHA® Hair System products here.
Donate or learn more about the CASTLE here.