a kind of silly question..but it'd be nice to know..

[lelc2002@yahoo]

For post-op girls: Did you get your hair cut/colored at a salon & how early on after surgery?? I'm going on 7 weeks... I know this is not the most important thing thru all this by any means..but honestly I would soooo like my hair colored & (will need it) by oct/nov...& that's pushing it! I'm sure I can go & get a cut where they just spitz my hair to get it wet but I would think for coloring to rinse you, they have to lean you back-right??? any suggestions????????or should I just go white--ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Ly :p :p :p
http://lynnebackattack.blogspot.com

[bbest]

Lynne -

I colored my hair at home last week. I did not go to the salon because I was afraid I would be uncomfortable in the chair. I don't know if you ever color your own hair, but it was super easy and I was able to rinse in the shower. Before surgery, I had my hair professionally colored and highlighted on a regular basis. I didn't think I was ready for the salon just yet.

[Cakedec]

Hi Lynn,

It's so funny that you wrote about this subject. I keep my hair colored, also, and did it just before the surgery. This Sunday on our way home from services, my 21 year old son told me that I was going gray and needed to re-color my hair!! Thanks a lot, son!! Actually, he's great, but likes to pick at his mom sometimes.

My hair really hadn't been a high priority lately, if you know what I mean! Plus, like you, I wasn't sure how I would be able to get it done. Didn't think that I would be able to bend over to the washbowls at the salon or lean forward into the sink at home to rinse out the dye. After thinking about it, I did just what Brandi did and colored it myself with a kit at home, then stood up in the shower to rinse it out. I was a little worried about the chemicals going down my back that they might irritate the skin, but just washed off good with soap afterwards and I was fine. The hair color came out fine.

But you weren't fused up as high as I was, Lynn, maybe you would be able to lean backwards enough for the bowl. Just try it while sitting in a chair to see how far you can go (carefully). Take care,

Deb

[lelc2002@yahoo]

deb,brandi---thks...I know it's not the most important thg in the world, but I would like to be able to have it nice from October on thru the holidays! I think the only way is in the shower...I hate thinking of those chemicals getting all over me but I might just be able to do the roots which would be less hair dye to rinse... I am hoping by Nov/Dec, I might be able to have my hair cutter do it. Hopefully by then, I can lean back-in my brace without bending??? I may check with my surgeon's nurse at that time....Ly :eek:

[LindaRacine]

Hi Lynne...

I think you need to check with Dr. Boachie's office. I suspect that if your fusion goes into the high thoracic or cervical area, they'll tell you to wait a little longer.

Regards,
Linda

[Singer]

Lynne, I'm glad you're asking this question because it's of the utmost importance to me !!! Who wants to be recovering from scoliosis surgery AND sprouting gray hair at the same time?? No way!!!

[Marcia]

I plan to get my grey roots covered next week right before my surgery and then for awhile just use the root touch up by Nice n Easy. I have already been using it to extend the length of time between hair-coloring. My hair colorist says it is no problem. That should get me to about 3 months after my surgery I think. Then will have to see how I am after that.

It is a good question that many of us will have!!! Getting our hair looking good will be a good 'picker-upper' for our spirit!

[makaylasmom]

I was just trying to figure that one out myself!!!! Thanks for the ideas girls.. I think I will do it at home in the shower....

[sweetness514]

Ok, this is the perfect question for me ;)

Over the years post op I did lean backwards a few times at the salon, but after a while it hurt my neck and thoracic spine and so what I do now is I wash my hair at home and go to the salon with wet hair-or she wets it and cuts it. But Lynne maybe it won't hurt for you since you're not fused as high in the thoracic part, told you that has it's benefits ;)

Now about the hair dye, I rinse it in the shower, but I didn't want to get dye on my scar(for extra caution) so I put a Saran wrap, taped it with that waterproof tape that I got from the nurse(or pharmacy), and even kept my plastic hairdresser cape(mom was a hairdresser) in the shower so none of it would go on the scar, so that way you can do your color now if you want :cool:

[abhbarry]

I hope you don't mind if I add another hair question to this thread. . . I'm pre-op, not post-op, and I was wondering how much of a pain it is to take care of your hair post-op (in general). I know hair is not nearly your #1 concern, but I've always had long hair and was wondering whether I should chop it before surgery to make it easier to deal with?? If so, I want to grow it long enough to donate to locks of love. My family doesn't like the idea of me cutting my hair, but I want to do whatever will be easiest for me to deal with post-op. Any thoughts?
-Anya

[LindaRacine]

Hi Anya....

I personally think long hair is better, at least for some, as it can be braided. Super short hair is also convenient.

Regards,
Linda

[Suzy]

Hey Lynne could you take your brace off just for the rinse out/shampoo part of hair color at the salon? I took a big pillow with me not only for the rinse/shampoo part but for the regular chair. It worked great! There is nothing better then getting your hair done for a post-op pick me up. You might think about that as you would only be out of it for a few minutes. Unless, it is too tough to get in and out of........

[Cakedec]

Dear Anya --ahbarry,

About the hair care post-op, it is difficult the first few weeks to care for your hair by yourself. You can't bend your back or neck or lift your arms up to your head very well or for very long to fuss with it. When you are at the hospital, they will help you brush or clean it when t hey do your daily clean-up care. They have a waterless shampoo that rubs into your hair and just towel dries out, also something else that allows them to wash your hair when you are lying down.

When I came home, my husband washed my hair for me as I sat in a chair in the shower. By 3 or 4 weeks post op, I was able to raise my arms up enough to wash it myself--(although I could comb it before that).

My hair was shoulder length and I had it cut to chin length before surgery for ease of care. Two months later it has almost grown out again. But you don't have to cut your long hair off if you love it and don't want to. Wash it up right before surgery and put into braids, twist, or a bun. The nurses will help you in the hospital with it and your home caregiver can when you're home.

Hope that helps.

Deb

[lelc2002@yahoo]

Hi girls---thks again...
I think I will also check with Dr. Boachie's nurse when I'm ready to do hair color. She may feel it's ok for me to lean back at the salon in my brace..although it may be a bit uncomfortable! I may be ok since I've been fused T-11 to L-5...
Just a note: when I met his nurse, she had a head phone set on & was beseiged by calls..probably from pre-menapausal scoliosis patients like myself calling w/ whacky questions...the poor woman,On second thought-- I think I'll leave her alone & just bring her some biscotti & other treats when I have my appmt in Dec!!!! Of course my hair will be colored by then--gosh!!!!! Ly :cool:

[sweetness514]

I hope you don't mind if I add another hair question to this thread. . . I'm pre-op, not post-op, and I was wondering how much of a pain it is to take care of your hair post-op (in general). I know hair is not nearly your #1 concern, but I've always had long hair and was wondering whether I should chop it before surgery to make it easier to deal with?? If so, I want to grow it long enough to donate to locks of love. My family doesn't like the idea of me cutting my hair, but I want to do whatever will be easiest for me to deal with post-op. Any thoughts?
-Anya

I have long hair, but I had it cut so it can be just a bit longer than my shoulders, that way it was easier to wash and not heavy on my back. I twist it in a bun with a clip. I used the waterless shampoo for the first ten days and then washed it myself in the shower.

[makaylasmom]

I have very long hair- and I must say it is a pain in the behind now. Whats hardest for me is the length of time it takes me to dry it! I am seriously thinking about getting a good majority of it cut off. How does one donate to that charity? Locks of hair?

[LEELEE85]

Angela - How come its a pain now??? Are you just over long hair or since you've had an op its more harder to look after????

Cos my hair is long i think it ends exactly half way down my back and i really dont want to cut it or get rid of it.....

Lee :)

[bbest]

My hair is shoulder length and super curly. I had a wonderful nurse in the hospital who would comb it for me and put it in a ponytail. When I got home, I would twist it and clip it in place with one of those hair clip things everyone wears these days. I just didn't feel like messing with it.

[abhbarry]

Thanks to all who replied to my question about cutting hair before surgery. I'm still undecided, but to answer another question, Locks of Love is a charity organization that makes wigs for those with cancer. There is a website for it: http://www.locksoflove.org

It gives directions on how you can donate. Your hair must not be colored though. :)

Best,
Anya

[CurvySAT05]

After my first surgery we (my mom and I) decided to use the waterless shampoo to keep my hair clean. That stuff worked wonders. Another tip to keep it looking fresh is baby powder. If you sprinkle just a little bit up towards the roots it can make oily hair look fresh again (just a little something I picked up along the way) just make sure to work it all in the hair otherwise you will look grey and then there goes your hairstylists work.
After my second surgery I decided to stray away from the waterless shampoo and go to the salon. I didnt want to just put chemicals in my hair that would not wash out for 2 weeks, I needed to feel clean. The amount of time that it took to wash/rinse was not that bad for me (and I am fused T4-L2). I guess it all depends on the person. That day they washed, dried, and straightened my hair. Probably took an hour. This was less than 2 weeks post op. It will depend on how you are feeling, but if you are up to it and it is ok with your surgeon, I dont see why you couldnt go have your hair colored. Get yourself pampered. Maybe even get a manicure and a pedicure (on a different day of course so that you are not up for too long).
Good luck with that and I hope your nurse enjoys her biscotti.

[Shari]

I think the hair thing is an important issue for us. When our hair looks good, we feel better about ourselves. Some salons now have ways to wash your hair without leaning backward or forward.

I got a perm right before my surgery, thinking it would look good for a while without having to mess with it. I couldn't hold my arms up long enough to do my hair for several months. For me, my hair was an issue.

Shari

[sweetness514]

Some salons now have ways to wash your hair without leaning backward or forward.

Shari

That's interesting, never heard of it. I am going to the salon today to get a haircut and it hurts my neck too much to lean backwards so I will ask her to wet it with a bottle(spray), hope it works well. I'll ask about if they ever heard of this you're talking about but knowing them they'll be clueless, :cool:

Edited to say: I asked and they were clueless lol :rolleyes:

[lelc2002@yahoo]

I had another question for my surgeon's nurse so I did e-mail her about the hair question...she said I could do it in the shower because at 7 weeks, the incision is well healed up...or go to the haircutters/salon & I would be fine leaning back(straight) WITHOUT my brace(yippee) so she says...think I'll try the shower thing first.........Ly

[SandyB]

I made arrangements with my hairsytlist to come to my house after my surgery. It was probably about 6 or 7 weeks after. She cut it on my porch; I didn't ask her to color, but I have very thick short hair and needed a haircut desparately. She was very nice to come, but I paid her well. It went straight into her pocket as it was not through the salon.

[katiev25]

I was getting foils by week 4 and just this weekend i was able to go fully back to blonde. The hairdresser's didn't want to do it too early because the peroxide and aneasthetic apparently react badly together and your hair can fall out. Happy to say, It's all there. As for the sink to have your hair washed over, I was practically sitting upright with packed towels in between me and the basin.

[sweetness514]

Since this is a hair thread, I had been wondering if any of you had experienced hair loss for the first year after surgery. It never fails, with all three surgeries it happens to me-I lose a lot of hair, nothing that is too dramatic but a pain to pick up-and it's like when a woman gives birth, with the hormone changes the hair falls. I read this when it happened to me the first time after I had stopped taking birth control in my twenties, and on a panflet about hair loss it said that anesthesia causes it. Just another one of those weird side effects.

[summer]

Hmmmm.......I thought my hair was falling out more than usual. I colored my hair at home and went to the salon 4 months post-op without a problem.
I cut my hair short before surgery and was soooo glad I did. I just felt it was easier to manage

[Shari]

I had quite a bit of hair loss after my surgery for several months. I would comb my hair after washing it and find a lot of hair. Everyone told me it was because of the anethetsic. That problem went away after a few months.

The ones that grew back at my age are now mostly gray. :)

Shari

[lelc2002@yahoo]

shari----glad you said that! I just noticed yesterday while going to Phsyical therapy, I was combing my hair in the car & could'nt believe all the hair coming off on the brush!!! thought it was related to the surgery....Ly

post-op-about 8 wks...& bored now...want to do more & can't.....!!!! :mad:

[Shari]

Hi Lynne,

At first my husband helped me with my showering, and the combing of my hair. When I finally started to do it myself, my comb and brush would be full of hair. When I asked him if it was happening when he was combing my hair, he said yes, but he didn't want to tell me.

It does stop after a while, but it did make me a little nervous at the time. I would take a shower, then go sit on the deck to let my hair dry. Every time I would run my hands through my hair, I had hair in my hands.

Shari

[JoAnn5]

My hair came out by the handfuls too... but it's back to normal now. When i was about 3 months post-op i went to the beauty salon and sat in one of the reclining chairs to have my hair washed.... when it was finished, the sylist walked away and said, "ok, come over here to this other chair"... I couldn't move.... i don't know if it was a spasm or if i was 'locked up'....lol... i just had to sit there a minute before i could get up. I tried not to show that i was in pain, and i don't think anyone else noticed... the stylist just turned back to look at me like.... well, are you coming or not???