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My relative needs a haircut, and there are no hairdressers on site. I could take her to a hair salon, but it would be challenging. Any tips from anyone who has cut their loved one’s hair while in a nursing home? I need tips for cutting hair and what tools I would need. My loved one is not able to put her head back in a sink. Would use a spray bottle to wet hair if needed.Thanks!

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My mom lives in a memory care assisted-living facility. The person who cut her hair when she was living at home comes to the facility and cuts her hair. The managers and staff do not have a problem with this.
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Reply to Rosered6
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My mom's memory care facility allows hairdressers to come in and do hair on site. We pay ahead of time to get on her list. It's a nice benefit. Ask your facility if they will allow you to hire a hairdresser to come in.
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Reply to JustAnon
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Why don't you ask your hairdresser to go cut your loved ones hair, as often they are more than happy to help?
Years ago one of my employees was in critical condition in the hospital and needed something done with her hair, and I asked my hair dresser to go help her out, and she did. I of course paid her well for doing so, but this same hair dresser also volunteers with hospice to go cut hospice patients hair for free when needed.
Also one of the homebound ladies who's 90 that I visit has her hairdresser come to her home to cut and perm her hair when needed, so there are options out there, you'll just have to search for them.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Geaton777 May 4, 2026
I don't think facilities allow this because of Dept of Health issues and also licensing, liability, blah blah (which is what I was told). Even if they're doing it for free. I wanted to have a nail tech come and give my MIL a pedicure just to massage her feet and trim her nails but they gave me a hard no.

Stylists going into someone's private home is not the same as going into a facility. I think the OP will need to tell the facility a "therapeutic fib" and have a hairdresser discretely come in to do it. Then the OP tells admins they did it, if they question it. Sad but necessary in some states I suppose.
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I am 70, and there are no salons near my over-55 apartment complex. That makes it hard to find a hairdresser I like if I have to try several different salons. So, I bought a Flow-bee hair cutting system on Amazon. I absolutely love it! The Flow-bee has many attachments that allow me to cut my hair to the lengths I prefer.
I cut my hair when I think I need it, where I need it, and my cuts get better everytime I use the Flow-bee. If your relative cannot manipulate the machine themselves, you could easily do a really good haircut for your loved one. The Flow-bee has many attachments that allow me to cut my hair to the lengths I prefer. And, I've even been complimented on some of my new cuts.
Within three haircuts, my Flow-bee paid for itself and I can maintain some independence and self-care more easily, too.
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Reply to Forgotten2
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I cut my husband's hair and mine using a clipper (Wahl) from Amazon, about $40. I just put a sheet around his shoulder and cut away. I use a 1/2" attachment and then taper around the ears and in the back. There are several attachments in the set, plus comb and scissors. I use the scissors to fix stray hair. I wash his hair in the shower or in the bathtub, using a cup to gently drop water on his head while covering his forehead with a towel, but if opposes it I will cut them dirty. I don't think it makes a difference at home or in the nursing home. For my short hair, I trim them dry "sculpting" with the cutter and tapering the neck, using two mirrors to see front and back. With a little practice cutting hair is very easy, unless you want something fancy. The blades of the cutter deteriorate, but Amazon sells spare. They last a couple of years, depending on the usage. The cutter itself has lasted 6 years and is still going strong.
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Reply to AnnaKat
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Animallovers May 11, 2026
When working with animals I always use clippers because there is less of a risk of cutting them by accident if they move. I think clippers are a great idea! I like Wahls as well! It is definitely safer with anyone who is likely to move suddenly and unexpectedly.
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Hi, I cut my mom's hair. It was very thick and wavy. Just get a good pair of hair cutting scissors and a fine comb. I used a spray bottle. You know the way hair is cut - lift a portion up with the comb and snip an inch off. Keep doing that and just trim the back straight. It's not going to be the best haircut, but it's going to be shorter! Here's a video: https://www.google.com/search?q=describe+how+to+cut+hair&rlz=1C1JZAP_enUS967US967&oq=describe+how+to+cut+hair&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDY4ODdqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:c540e25f,vid:uduIU8X7z5Q,st:0
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Reply to jolobo
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In my husband's facility there's a small salon room with a hairdresser's sink for washing hair. There are also other tools for styling. The hairdresser is there certain days of the week to cut and style the residents' hair. She's been doing this for years and wheels them into the salon, cuts their hair and has them back in the commons area in 20 minutes. She charges $15.

The good thing is that she's very good at handling them when they are scared, and after a few times, they trust her. I don't see why your relative's facility wouldn't agree to have a hairdresser visit regularly! They may even have a place onsite where a previous hairdresser worked, but once that hairdresser left they didn't replace her. Ask. There was an onsite hairdresser at every memory care facility I considered for DH.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Sometimes you can find someone who will visit the NH to cut hair. I cut my mom's hair once right at the beginning of COVID before the NH (illegally) banned family caregivers.

I just did the best I could. It worked out pretty well; it didn't look bad 6 months later when I was able to start caring for her again. There are also gadgets that can help, and videos to watch.

Here are two gadgets - as examples:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4454798491/hair-cutting-clip-diy-haircut-tool-at?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm
https://www.amazon.com/HairFin-Haircut-Tool-Cutting-Guides/dp/B08BY22TN1/

Washing her hair sitting up should be no problem with towels and a sprayer. Just make sure to get all the soap out. You could also wash it with a no-rinse shampoo cap.
https://www.amazon.com/Scrubzz-Bedridden-Patients-Waterless-Microwavable/dp/B0BWPRB2NH/

Best to you.
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Reply to elisny
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I discovered a "traveling hairdresser" who would come to my husband's facility. It might be hard to find but it's out there.
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Reply to Revajane
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Maybe a Cosmetology student would be willing to do it for experience.
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Reply to NinjaWarrior3
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