Hairstyles for late Alzheimer's ladies?
My mother had long hair we did not cut for the last 2 years. She lives in a memory care where the aides kept it in a ponytail. Her activies include sitting in a wheelchair and lying in bed. Last week, the facility called and asked if the new hairstylist could cut her hair and what would I like and I said a nice short wash and wear.
Our hospice aide and nurse were both distressed the next day and sent me photos. The stylist simply pulled the bun up a little and cut it off! She claims she couldn't do anything else as mother would not hold still. It was horrible so I went over to try to fix it. I used a DVD of a kids' dog movie from redbox to keep her from noticing I was messing with her hair, just like with little kids. I have 30 years experience cutting my husband and 4 sons' hair, but none in ladies', and she has a great businessman's special now! What can I do to make it more feminine next time?
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I had a fuchsia pink weave done many years ago to help hide a hideous haircut.
My mom had a perm a few times a year and a weekly wash and set for as long as I can remember, when she could no longer manage the hairdresser I took over the wash and set and periodic haircuts (like you I had experience with men/boys hair but not women's). I finally gave up the curls altogether and went with a simple short style that was long enough to be brushed back behind her ears - 3 or 4 inches? - but not so long that it would fall forward in her face.
Why would she have done that? She could have taken the band off to check your mothers length - actually the GD was pretty lazy. 1/2” in some places - wow.
I cut hair for seniors in care homes and I think that bangs around the face are a more classic feminine style, or a nice shag that is very simple to achieve. I always try to leave length in the back with any cut for a woman.
The short part from the bun removal was right at the peak of the curve on the back of the head - the hair there was not more than 1/2 inch, so I made everything at that level a bit longer to try to camouflage the hole. The hair surrounding her face naturally grows backwards, and I have no idea what to do when bangs would not go forward on her face. It's always swept back like she was standing in front of a strong fan for too long!
The nurse took up the bad cut with the administrator who said the hairdresser would touch it up in two weeks for no extra charge. I think they'd had words based on the reaction that I saw when I arrived. I was pretty steamed and they could tell I was unhappy. The owner tried to minimize and I told her I'd seen the photos already, and I told her not to put mthr back on the list EVER. I was too hot to say much else. I reminded them both to not let the hairdresser touch mthr when she came back as I left.
I think I'll write a letter detailing my concerns tomorrow morning and telling them to make sure that she is not billed since I took away from my family almost 3 hours to get there and work on this mess. I certainly had better things to do since we were leaving for our college freshman's family weekend events that night.
Oh, if it has grown out or re-cut by then, she had an interview with the new hairdo in Sept..
Edit....Oh, I see it changes often, her hair. But anything by TIA Leone looks great.
Maybe I should wait, my hair is long now.
A simple “A” line with the back short and the front sides long forming the “A” might work.
Nowadays, the sleek look is real popular. You can achieve that look with products and don’t have to have a lot of styling beyond a “good” cut.
Why on earth didn't she just refuse to do a cut if your mom wouldn't sit still? This is completely absurd! If she wouldn’t sit still that means she either didn’t want her hair cut or didn’t like the hairdresser! Totally unethical! And I don’t see why they had to call you either. Why not wait til you were there again?
Charlotte
I don't go often to see mthr. I'd been there the week before and I think they were looking for clients for the hairdresser to get her to come out.
colored tips. fake braid. go to a makeup discount store or .99 cent store and look at hairstyling products.. ribbons...
Dont' point it out to her, you don't want her to obsess with her hair. You do not want that to be her focal point....
If she does, try drawing her attention elsewhere... start applying makeup, or dress pins.. keep her away from noticing her hair...unless you add something nice to it.. not much you can do about it now... My mom always yelled at the barber for giving her son a PIXIE CUT.
Grace Kelly had that combed straight back, although wavey. Maybe?
Some people just really suit ponytails. Once the top grows you could do a mini top bun like a cool Japenese man-bun - it's very popular here ie also known as the *Scandi look*.
This stylist has not worked with the elderly. My GF works at an AL and has never done something like this. Her clients at her shop are mostly over 70.
I'm not someone who knows what to do other than wash and wear hair, so all your suggestions have been absolutely wonderful. Once it gets longer (if), I'll see if a hospice volunteer hairdresser can give her a **good** style! Thank you all! Feel free to keep the ideas coming for others who may follow who also need good haircut advice. I never knew what to ask for when I took her out when she was mobile and I wish I'd known all these ideas then!