These brilliant hair care tips for disability will help you through the many challenges of caring for your hair while also living with a disability.

Learning how to care for your hair when you’re disabled can be tricky. You might not have the energy to brush your hair or apply styling products. Your mobility may be limited. You might not have the energy to spend more than a few minutes styling your hair. And if your condition leaves you with intense chronic fatigue, you might not have the energy to wash and style your own locks. Fortunately, there are ways to take care of your hair when you have a disability.

With your disability, you may find that you likely have sensory issues. You may be extremely sensitive to certain products and to touch in general. It may be harder than normal to keep the shampoo and water out of your eyes or face. You may also be sensitive to the sound of water or tools used such as hair clippers. But these hair care tips for disability will add joy to your hairstyling routine.

Taking care of your hair will help you look your best and feel confident. It will also make it easier to cope with the challenges that come with living with a disability. Plus, you’ll have a full head of beautiful, lustrous hair!

First thing is to – if at all possible – get the help of a professional hairstylist to help you with the styling. Then it will be easier for you to do the daily maintenance on your own. 

Next…

Here are our top 7 hair care tips for disability, so you can continue to look your very best  – even when you’re not feeling your best!

1. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Choose the Best Position

A poor position is the one thing that you must avoid while caring for your hair. Don’t stress your back, neck or shoulder muscles by doing so.

Washing, styling and applying your hair products should be done in a comfortable position. You can try sitting – using a stool. chair or cushion to relieve strain/ pain and help you save energy – in an ideal position that’s comfortable for you.

2. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Choose the Best Pieces of Equipment

Second in our hair care tips for disability is the tools of the game. For comfortable washing, you will need any one of hair shields, long-handled comb/ brush, electric scalp massager, inflatable shampoo basins, handheld showers, standing mirror or shampoo caps. The hair shield protects your face while you wash your hair. A handheld shower makes it easier to apply the water and shampoo basins/ trays can be used to channel the water while cleaning your hair.

Here is a list of other tools you may find useful for your hair self-care:

Inflatable Hair Wash Basins are designed to allow for transportable hair washing. You’ll find it ideal if you have limited mobility. It also allows for assisted hair washing in bed.

No-Rinse Waterless Shampoo Cap allows you to wash your hair without water or wetting it. This makes it an ideal solution if you find it difficult or uncomfortable shampooing or conditioning your hair. Or have sensory issues around running water.

It is easy to use and contains shampoo and conditioner. This cap ensures that your hair gets a wash that is as thorough as a full-wet wash. It also leaves your hair clean and healthy.

WaterProof Electric Scalp Massager can be a great addition to your shower routines. It does more than just relax the scalp, it encourages hair growth, reduces product buildup, and improves your scalp health. PLUS – stops your arms from getting tired!

The benefits of a scalp/ head massage are numerous, no matter if you do it yourself or have it done professionally. A head massage is a great way to relieve tension and stress. It can help relieve headache pain and migraines, lower blood pressure, increase circulation, and promote hair growth.

Freestanding/ Hands-Free Dressing Table Mirrors is my personal favourite in our list of hair care tips for disability. It helps make everyday tasks such as combing and styling your hair or applying a finish easier. It saves you the energy of holding a mirror and frees your hand up to focus on styling your hair with greater ease.

Long-Handled Hair Comb/ Brush is an ideal alternative to a traditional comb or brush. They make hair combing/ brushing easier, if you have restricted arm or shoulder movement.

With their ergonomically designed extra-long handles, they eliminate the twisting motion needed to reach your entire head. A longer handle also allows the comb/ brush to be held close to your body. And their non-slip, easy-grip handle keeps them steady in your hand.

Dry Shampoo is good for disability hair care in that it doesn’t use water to wash your hair. This makes it more convenient for those days when you have little time or energy for your hair. Powder-based ones are kinder to your hair than their alcohol-based counterpart.

One thing to keep in mind when using dry shampoo is that it can build up and leave your hair looking dry and rather dull. It can also cause skin irritation, dry patches, and dandruff. While it may save you time in a pinch, frequent use without breaking it up with wet shampoo and water can cause more problems.

Hands-Free Hair Dryer Stand is perfect if you have upper-arm disablement, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. It usually features a flexible, hands-free, heavy-duty base to make it easy to use. And makes it easy to style your hair, without having to worry about a bulky hairdryer.

You can simply slide the hairdryer into its holder and then let it dry. Ideal if you have limited mobility. Flexible gooseneck pivots and bends allow you to position your hairdryer at the best angle to suit your needs.

No-Rinse Shampoos and Conditioners make your hair easy to clean and freshen, without the need for water or rinsing. The good ones usually have a pH balance that is gentle on the scalp and doesn’t cause irritation. They help keep your hair shining, clean, soft, and manageable.

If necessary, you may use it daily. You might want to wash your hair with water at some point though. This is to avoid product buildup.

Hair Self-Cutting Tools make it easy to trim your hair and keep it in shape. Top tip: Use talcum powder on your neck when cutting your hair. The talcum powder helps the hair blow off your head/ body without being itchy.

And if you’d like a few tips on how to DIY cut your hair to fool even the professionals, Here are 2 videos showing you how. Enjoy!

CreaClip Hair Cutting Tool for Long Hair: Video

Long Hair

And Short Bob Styles

How to Cut Your Own Hair Short At Home: Video

3. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Choose the Right Hair Care Products for you

Hair care products such as dry shampoos, no-rinse conditioners, shampoo bars, gels, mousses, etc

The first step in choosing your hair care products is to determine your hair type. Knowing what type of hair you have will help you choose the right products. Many hair problems are caused by using the wrong products, so knowing yours can help you avoid bad hair days.

If you are unsure about your hair type, it is best to ask your hairstylist for recommendations. There are many different hair types, so it is important to choose products that will work for yours. If you have dry or damaged tresses, it’s important to use the right products. These products should address your hair’s need for protein and moisture, and the amount will depend on your hair type.

4. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Pick An Easy Hair Style for the Day. Keep It Short… Or Long!

Fourth on our hair care tips for disability list is your choice of hairstyle. If you are looking for a style that is easy for you, this is the best option for styling. You can experiment with a variety of hairstyles, and find the one that works for you best.

With a disability/ health condition, short hair is the way to go. It requires minimal maintenance and is always ready to go. Whether you are wearing a hat, scarf, or bob, short hair is easy to style and catches the eye. It also looks good in a variety of styles.  no need to spend hours every week combing and styling. Plus, It’s soo much easier to shower.

However, if you love your tresses long, you might find it easier to keep them in a bun – of all shapes and styles.

Here are 3 videos showing some cool quick-and-easy styles. Beware though – For long hair, washing, applying hair treatments and drying can quickly drain your energy. And maybe achy arms? Just a note 🙂

Long Hair

8 Heatless 5-Minute Hairstyles for Long Hair: Video

Short Hair

10 Easy and Quick Hairstyles for Short Hair: Video

And if you like your hair curly – Or naturally are curly-haired, this next one is for you!

12 Quick and Easy Curly Hairstyles: Video

For Super-Short Hair…

3 Easy and Quick Hairstyles for Super-Short Hair: Video

5. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Don’t Wash Your Hair Too Often

You know you should shower at least every other day, same goes for your hair – wash it every other day as well. Surprised? It’s true! You should wash your hair no more than once to twice per week. This is because shampoos strip hair of its natural oils, drying it out and causing an itchy scalp.

Keep your hair moisturised. A moisturising conditioner should be used after you have washed your hair with any shampoo. And if you feel like it needs a wash more often, simply wash with only a good conditioner and water – no shampoo. You can’t ever over-condition your hair 🙂

A natural shampoo that contains fewer chemicals is always recommended. And you don’t need to shampoo twice during a hair wash.

6. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Don’t Be Rough With Your Hair

Whether dry or wet, hair needs extra gentle care. But wet hair is in the most delicate state of all. Wet hair is also much more prone to breakage and damage. This is why it’s important to be extra gentle when brushing it. This tip is soo important in our hair care tips for disability list.

Be careful to brush wet hair gently. While your hair might be soft, it’s still very fragile. Use a wide-tooth comb and be gentle with it. If your locks are extremely long, use a Wet Brush, which is designed for wet hair.

A Wet Brush makes it easier to prevent hair breakage, split ends and hair loss from pulling, pulling, ripping and tugging – especially in wet hair.  You can start brushing at the ends of your hair, and then work your way up.

Normal brushes, which you probably use, are not as gentle as they should be with wet hair. Their bristles can damage hair. Wet Brush bristles are flexible and bendy but still firm enough to easily brush your wet hair, unlike traditional brushes. And can be used with both wet and dried hair.

Be gentle while towel-drying your wet hair…

7. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Don’t Use Too Much Heat

While you obviously love your long, flowing tresses, using too much heat on your hair is actually harmful to it. It zaps moisture from the inside of the hair strand, leaving it brittle and dry. Excessive heat also breaks the bonds of the hair, making it prone to breakage. High heat may also cause curly strands to fall flat and lose their natural bounce.

To keep your tresses healthy and shiny, it is important to avoid heat damage. You really want to avoid blow-drying it too much. And remember to apply a heat/ thermal protection spray to your hair every time you use heat on it.

Also, air-drying your hair naturally is best. When you use a hairdryer, keep it at a low heat setting to prevent frizz and dry ends. The same applies to your hair straighteners – you shouldn’t straighten your hair too frequently.

Lastly, avoid showering in piping hot water as the heat is bad for your hair (and skin!).

And as a Bonus, here’s hair care tips for disability number 8.

8. Hair Care Tips for Disability – Just Love Your Hair!

This last one on our hair care tips for disability list is actually – in my humble opinion – the first and most important tip. Just love your hair however it is. Everything else will follow 🙂 Don’t you agree? 🙂

Have we left anything out you’d like to add? Leave a comment below. Or simply share your fav. hair care tip, and how that makes living with your disability easier…