Dealing with long hair while in the hospital

[Etm5676]

I’m planning on having surgery later this summer, and they think I’ll be in the hospital for 3-4 days. My immediate concern was how best to deal with my (BCL) hair during surgery and the subsequent days.

I normally sleep in one single braid, and I’m usually a side sleeper. I’m not worried about my hair getting dirty—I only wash once a week, so it’s not a big deal. I’m more concerned about keeping it from getting tangled up. It’s an abdominal surgery (I’m donating a kidney), so I’m not sure how much my ability to move my arms will be affected.

Has anyone experienced this? Do you have any tips? Thank you!!

:flower:

[AmaryllisRed]

This question comes up occasionally and I wish there were a single thread with advice, but I don't think there is. Maybe there are several that could be merged? (Reporting my post for mod attention.)

Personally, I haven't been hospitalized with hair as long as BCL, but I have worn my hair in a single braid for too many days at a time. I get soooo many tangles at my nape when I do that.
I'm thinking maybe a French braid, or your regular braid with a wide headband to contain the nape hairs, or maybe a low side ponytail that you braid. I know hair taping is a popular choice for hospitalizations as well.
When my daughter was in the hospital for a few days, my hair got so dry and frizzy from the dry hospital air and sleeping on the pleather couch. I tried to rebraid it once without any hair tools. It was not fun.

[squirrrel]

Yes: hair taping your hair or even just clipping into a coronet with some basic claw clips. Cover with a sleep cap/satin lined hat (beanie if you have) for extra protection.

[lapis_lazuli]

I haven't experienced it, but I have thought about it. For minimal tangles, I think I'd want to have my hair in a very tight French braid and contained within my silk cap where it could last for many days. I don't really know about hospital protocols, but I'd want to reduce the need to handle it as much as possible.

Best of luck! :flower:

[Glitch]

I've experienced this several times! Most recently, I had a rather severe case of covid just a couple weeks ago and as I was too nervous to infect others in the home, I just stayed in my room like a hermit and didn't/couldn't shower (I have a partial bathroom in my room, so I literally just didn't leave my room). It lasted 5 days like that, extremely sick and bed-bound. I just kept my hair in a bun and honestly, time flies in terms of caring for hair while recovering in general, surgeries included.

During surgeries I've had, it's been the same. Hair in a bun and just out of the way until I'm well enough to properly shower etc. I've personally found that braids become pretty tangy and ruin my hair if I keep it in one for a long time, especially for days, but I know everyone's different. My best advice overall is to take a satin pillowcase along with you if possible. It makes the temporarily neglected and possibly messy/dirty hair remain tangle-free and soft.

Wishing you a speedy recovery! :flower:

[Etm5676]

Thank you everyone! Amaryllis, I did a search as you suggested (should have done this before starting a thread, *cringe*) and found older versions with lots of advice. I hadn’t considered a silk cap, so I just ordered one so I can try it out at home and see how I like it. And I’ll find out if I’m allowed to bring my own pillow and/or pillow case. Covid has changed a lot of rules at hospitals, so I’ll have to find out if they’ll let me.
I’ll also experiment with braids and see what holds up better for me.

Thank you!
:flower:

[embee]

If it were me, I'd put my hair in a topknot bun with spin pins (which might not be allowed during the surgery because of metal), and also consider a silk cap. One that ties on like a baby bonnet might be best as it won't slide off. I spent 10 days in hospital with an injury and could not sit up at all - or even turn over. A kind off-duty nurse came and dry shampood my hair and put it in a topknot. At that time my hair was only BSL, but long enough to become a mess, tangled and matted. Best of luck with the surgery, you are a god-send to someone. Stars in your crown for sure! :)

[Arciela]

I recently did DJS and had to stay in the hospital for a week, then had an emergency surgery for it which extended my visit, fun times! During that time I just did a LWB with a small hair stick on top of my head. Somehow it just stayed the entire time. I wasn't able to wash my hair that entire time, so I eventually switched to a loose french braid once blood stopped coming out of my mouth/nose and it was safe. My hair is about the same length as yours fwiw :flower:

[embee]

One major advantage of a topknot bun is that there will be no lump of hair for you to avoid lying on and no long braid to get caught under something if you get to turn over.

[Etm5676]

I’ll have to experiment with a topknot bun. I typically jam my shoulder into my feather pillow, so my head and neck are encased, so I’ll have to see if I can manage a bun that doesn’t get in the way. And I’ve seen spiral pins but I’ve never tried them… another trick to play with.
Thank you!

[embee]

It might be good to check with the surgery place about what they want you to do with your hair during surgery. When I had cataract surgery (all of 10 minutes!) I was not to have *any* metal in my hair - barrettes, pins, etc. So I had one wooden hairstick holding my topknot so my head would be flat on whatever surface they wanted without any lumps.

[Etm5676]

It might be good to check with the surgery place about what they want you to do with your hair during surgery. When I had cataract surgery (all of 10 minutes!) I was not to have *any* metal in my hair - barrettes, pins, etc. So I had one wooden hairstick holding my topknot so my head would be flat on whatever surface they wanted without any lumps.

Good call! I’ll ask when I’m closer to the time.

[Kat]

Don't forget about the plastic Good Hair Days pins. They're my go-to anyway, but especially times for when I don't want metal in my hair.

[draysmir]

I second squirrel's hair taping suggestion, I think it would probably give you the most sturdy hairstyle without having to use any metal pins, elastics, etc. I've kept two ribbon wrapped dutch braids in for 3-4 days in a row before and it stayed together well. :) I personally find braids a bit more comfortable on the back of my head compared to buns.

[Obsidian]

My grandmother had a kidney removed in her 80s and they had her up and walking the next day.
You shouldn't be completely bed bound and able to move your arms around carefully

[embee]

Wow. Now *that* ^ is a most helpful and encouraging comment! :) Hope it works out that way for you Etm5676.

[Etm5676]

Don't forget about the plastic Good Hair Days pins. They're my go-to anyway, but especially times for when I don't want metal in my hair.

I’ll check these out! I don’t think the hospital will care about metal in my hair since it’s abdominal surgery, but it’s good to know my options.


I second squirrel's hair taping suggestion, I think it would probably give you the most sturdy hairstyle without having to use any metal pins, elastics, etc. I've kept two ribbon wrapped dutch braids in for 3-4 days in a row before and it stayed together well. :) I personally find braids a bit more comfortable on the back of my head compared to buns.

I’ll have to read up on hair tapping for sure. I’ve encountered it in medieval/historical hair styles, but haven’t tried it or looked beyond that. I’m not good at braiding other than simple English braids, so that would also require a bit of practice.


My grandmother had a kidney removed in her 80s and they had her up and walking the next day.
You shouldn't be completely bed bound and able to move your arms around carefully


Wow. Now *that* ^ is a most helpful and encouraging comment! :) Hope it works out that way for you Etm5676.

Obsidian and embee, you’re so right! All I could think about was being in a hospital *bed* for 3-4 days, not the reality of sitting, standing, walking. I think I still want to consider how to avoid having to mess with my hair, since I know it can be physically exhausting to brush or braid my hair when my body is stressed or in pain, but they’ll have me up and about as soon as they can to keep my blood moving and heading for healing. :flower:

[lapushka]

I think the Elling woman might be a great style. It's 2 Dutch/French braids, and then interwoven in the back. I think this one would be great! Hmmm, but then I think you need to be comfy on your head, so test out if that's comfy to lay on.

[Pouncequick]

My personal preference for surgeries or other hospital stays I know about in advance is to make French/Dutch pigtails and then wrap them around my head and secure it using hair taping with a skinny and soft ribbon. This has only happened twice so far. The first time I did a single French braid which was not enough and tangled horribly at the nape, though that does seem to work for others. I was also not allowed to wear any metal during my abdominal surgery so you may want to discuss what is allowed with your surgeon in advance. You can sew in topknot style buns just like braids if you prefer that. Since you have some time I would do a couple of test runs to see what styles you find comfortable to wear for a few days. You may also want to consider what styles your loved ones can help with if you will need their help to undo the style when the time does come to wash or brush your hair. I tend to recover more slowly than others so a week post op I still find it hard to undo any style or brush my hair.

ETA: I totally forgot that the Magic Grip pins are plastic. Those are amazing and even easier than hair taping. Unfortunately I need to tape my hair to wear it up for days because pins give me headaches, but maybe that isn't an issue for you. I hope you find something that works!

[Kat]

I’ll check these out! I don’t think the hospital will care about metal in my hair since it’s abdominal surgery, but it’s good to know my options.



I’ll have to read up on hair tapping for sure. I’ve encountered it in medieval/historical hair styles, but haven’t tried it or looked beyond that. I’m not good at braiding other than simple English braids, so that would also require a bit of practice.

I think they prefer no metal anyway. I had to have a surgical biopsy and asked when I scheduled it if my nostril and industrial piercings would be a problem (I wanted to know if I needed to put in retainers). They said no, but when I got there the nurses who were helping me get ready weren't entirely happy and taped over my nose stud (I think the surgical cap covered the industrials). I told them I'd specifically asked and been told it was okay, and they said technically it's best not to have any metal.

For hair taping, my understanding is that you're basically making a coronet or milkmaid/Heidi braids with one or two braids, then "sewing" that to your scalp hair. I think "simple English braids" skills should be just fine? (Someone who's more familiar with hair taping than I am correct me if I'm wrong, though.)



ETA: I totally forgot that the Magic Grip pins are plastic. Those are amazing and even easier than hair taping. Unfortunately I need to tape my hair to wear it up for days because pins give me headaches, but maybe that isn't an issue for you. I hope you find something that works!

Yes, that's the only thing with these, though that might be just me, too (I can't stand anything pressing into my scalp for very long, which is part of the reason I so rarely wear my hair up).

[Pouncequick]

For hair taping, my understanding is that you're basically making a coronet or milkmaid/Heidi braids with one or two braids, then "sewing" that to your scalp hair. I think "simple English braids" skills should be just fine? (Someone who's more familiar with hair taping than I am correct me if I'm wrong, though.)


That's right. I've found more braids are better for preventing tangles so I'd probably use at least two. I sometimes make braids out of smaller braids when I really need something that holds up. If you don't like your hair secured you can use really long ribbons and tie pigtails around your head. It won't hold up for long but it will be fine under the surgical cap and it's very easy to take down.

Here are some youtube videos that can help with some pinless braided options:
Braids tied to head by Pretty Shepherd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqh7VdDut6Y
Hair taping by Loepsie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_djSvzoHEIA

And here's a mom sewing a ballet bun to her kid's head. It's easier on them than using bobby pins. Just ignore any need for styling sprays and put it way on top of your head so you can lay down with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGrCP4At56Y

Of course you could also use any hair stick bun with a short, plain stick to hold up a braid or braids for the surgery and pull it down for recovery so your hair is in a more comfortable style while recovering.

[embee]

If you are not used to a topknot, you might want to get used to it now before using it in hospital. Many people complain of "hair pain" or "scalp pain" when changing to a completely different placement of a bun. I alternate between a low bun, a topknot, and a single braid or low ponytail. My hair/scalp hasn't hurt for some years now. :) It's become used to hair changing position every day.

[AmaryllisRed]

If you are not used to a topknot, you might want to get used to it now before using it in hospital. Many people complain of "hair pain" or "scalp pain" when changing to a completely different placement of a bun. I alternate between a low bun, a topknot, and a single braid or low ponytail. My hair/scalp hasn't hurt for some years now. :) It's become used to hair changing position every day.

I second this. I tried sleeping in a top knot once. Woke up in the middle of the night with my scalp on fire.