Visiting the hair salon

[Lernica]

How do you manage getting your hair cut/styled/coloured without sitting???

[TracyB7777]

Luckily I have a 6+ foot hairdresser. I make sure my hair is washed, clean and dry before I go in so I don't have to sit to have it washed. I used to LOVE having my hair washed but just can't deal with the pain anymore. I've done a variety of things to get through the appointment. I raise myself up with my elbows on the arm of the chair and push up with my feet too. Very awkward so the next thing we are trying is for me to kneel on a regular chair. (Kills my knees but much better than trying to sit!!) You could even ask your hairdresser to use a step stool while you stand in front of them.

Good Luck!!

[nyt]

I bring an ice pack to sit on that way I can sit about 30 minutes and I take a little extra pain medication (1/4-1/2 tab). I remind the woman who cuts my hair that I can't sit for too long. Fortunately, it rarely takes more than 45 minutes to wash, cut and dry my hair. I have really curly hair, ringlets, plus I am extremely lazy when it comes to doing anything to it so I always ask the hairdresser to give me an easy simple cut to deal with ie wash and gel, that is the extent of my routine.

[Emily B]

I bring my cushion and grit my teeth.

Emily B.

[Lernica]

Thanks for the tips, ladies. I have above-the-shoulder curly but straightened blonde (-ish) hair. I have learned to schedule the coloring and the cutting at different sessions, usually two weeks apart. I can't believe I used to sit for three hours straight. But the sitting pain has been getting worse and I'm really having a hard time thinking about sitting for the hour it takes to cut and dry my hair. I'm thinking of kneeling on the chair backwards (i.e. facing the back of the chair). Bad for the knees, I know. My hairdresser is a busy pro and I can't imagine her standing on a stool and moving it around me as she goes. She's short, to boot.

Washing my hair at home is a good idea but then it will probably be dry by the time I get to the salon and plus my hairdresser won't cut it dry. Plus I do love the hairwash and the salon shampoos. Sigh. I guess at some point vanity will have to give way.

Thanks again.

Lernica

[Amanda]

Lernica

Its important to keep up your image but at the risk of causing more pain is it worth sitting for too long?
i have my hairdresser come to my home and she cuts my hair dry, then applies the colour, i have shoulder length hair which is now blonde....I kneel while she applies the colur then do my chores and then wash it off myself and dry it whenever I like or leave it to dry itself...i have wavy hair.The wonderful thing about getting my hairdresser to come to me is that i can plan my meds and ice around her arrival...and that it costs much less...if i choose to have her dry my hair on specal occasions i sit on an ice pack....! We do need to keep up our image regardless of the pain but the World doesnt need to know about it!

[Emily B]

I've been thinking about the salon thing. I think your best bet would be to ask your stylist what solutions she can come up with. If she can't really come up with any ideas, ask her if she knows of any other stylists who have worked with disabled clients in the past. Just be honest with her and see what you two can come up with.

You don't have to go into details about your condition if you dont' want to. You can keep it simple by saying that you have extreme nerve pain when you sit.

Emily B.

[GraceUnderFire]

I don't go. I have not had my hair cut or highlighted since the day before my hysterectomy, June 16, 2008. I cannot sit at all without pain so I save my "sits" for necessities. Needless to say my hair is ridiculously long now, but I put it in a pony tail or bun or "updo" of some sort most of the time. Of course my husband is thrilled. I think he must have Rapunzel fantasies

I cannot wait to go back to the hairdresser someday!!!!

Grace

[Celeste]

I don't go. I have not had my hair cut or highlighted since the day before my hysterectomy, June 16, 2008. I cannot sit at all without pain so I save my "sits" for necessities. Needless to say my hair is ridiculously long now, but I put it in a pony tail or bun or "updo" of some sort most of the time. Of course my husband is thrilled. I think he must have Rapunzel fantasies

I cannot wait to go back to the hairdresser someday!!!!

Grace

Actually I was thinking that just letting it grow long so you could have it trimmed standing up, might be a way for women to cope with it. Of course that's not so great for somebody who is new and who has a short cut that would take a long time to grow out.

Maybe an answer is to have a driver and take some extra Valium beforehand? I don't have a complicated hairstyle or any coloring anymore, but I do empathize with the desire to look your best, whether you can still go to work or not.

[TinyDancer]

I haven't gone to a hair salon for 6 years. It is also long and I trim it up myself. That's easy because my hair is very, very wavy and no one can tell if I miss a little. I can't stand to style my hair for the half hour that it takes, so pig tails are my new style. On a 62 year old it's not very flattering.

Kate