My 94 year old m.i.l. suffers from dementia and is living in a nursing home. She has pin-straight, baby-fine hair. She always wore her hair pretty short, but would set it in rollers. Setting would give her hair a tiny bit of body. Of course, now she can't set her hair and the aides do not have the time for that. The hairdresser comes to her dementia unit only every other week. So she really needs a wash and wear do. I, myself, have curly hair and no experience with her hair type. Would a body-wave help or would that need to be set? Her present short hair cut looks very mannish. She was always an attractive, stylish woman and this just hurts me as another loss of her identity as a person. I would like to include photos, but don't see a way to upload images here.
Many thanks to any who take the time to respond with suggestion.
Is M IL concerned or is it mostly you?
You can get dry shampoos that would be easy for you to help her with.
Unless she says or acts like it is driving her nuts, leave it alone.
The added problem is that my hair tends to grow forward so unless it was constrained by a barrette or elastic, it covered my face when long, which I hate. I've had perms, "Dorothy Hamill" and high-maintenance "Flock of Seagulls" style in the 80's. For many decades now I've just kept it shoulder length and pinned back by a barret or in a pony or up in a hair clip. The problem for your MIL now is growing it out in order to be able to do this. I personally love when older women have buns, but someone would need to so this for her.
My 92-yr old mom has course, wavy hair and now wears it quite short but a good stylist will know how to make it look less "manly". Like BarbBrooklyn suggested, take pictures with you so the stylist has a better idea of what you want.
https://www.amazon.com/AG-Hair-Curl-Re-Activator/dp/B002YJ5CHQ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=recoil%2Bby%2Bag&qid=1641844885&sr=8-2&th=1
I put about a nickel size dollop of it in my palm and then smooth it through my hair, comb, and let it air dry. I wind up with very curly hair once it dries. With very straight hair, I doubt your MIL would wind up with very curly hair after using it, but she might wind up with waves and more body. It's worth a try, I think. I would not get her a perm which is what a body wave really is, at least not before trying the Recoil. I've also had perms myself through the years, some turned out great and others not so great. Consult with the hairdresser beforehand, of course, and maybe a light perm with bigger rods would work.
Good luck!
https://shorthairmodels.com/best-hairstyles-and-haircuts-for-women-over-70/
can be very attractive, ask the hairdresser what she recommends for your mom's hair.
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