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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!

Ask the administrator or social worker.
Some professional haircutters make a career out of making 'house' calls.
If a hair school in the area, call and see if a student will come over.

Use dry shampoo. Can she get her hair washed in the shower or however she baths?

What do others do there that cannot put their head back in a sink?

I googled:

Essential haircutting tools include professional-grade clippers for bulk removal, trimmers for detailing and lineups, and sharp shears for precision cutting, with popular, reliable options available from brands like Wahl, Andis, and Conair. Key accessories for home or professional use include guide combs, neck dusters, styling combs, spray bottles, and mirrors for self-cuttin

Gena / Touch Matters
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Reply to TouchMatters
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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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you can have a hairdresser come in every week or every two weeks for thier. hair cuts
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Reply to shaughnna
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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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Animallovers 8 hours ago
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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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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Maybe a Cosmetology student would be willing to do it for experience.
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Reply to NinjaWarrior3
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Not exactly answering your question but would like to say. My husband is still at home so I cut his hair and shave his face. I now have a CNA from home health to shave him which helps me out. I have a friend who is an RN that trims his nails; I did it for years, but I cut short, which he dislikes.

At the long term care I worked at for 14 years we had a hairdresser and barber on and off. No family was allowed to cut their loved one’s hair, shave them, or trim their nails. No licensed barber/beautician was allowed in either. Some family did take their loved one out for such services.
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Reply to Foamergirl
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I cut mom's hair. Take a spray bottle, towel for over her shoulders, comb, hair scissors and a brush and dustpan if the weather is not good. If it's a nice day I wheel her outside and cut it. Takes 10 years off her face.
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Reply to CarylorJean
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My moms nursing home has a hairdresser to cut residents hair, but when she was still at home it was very difficult to get her out to an appointment. I asked my hair girl who lived close if she would be willing to come to the house and do my moms hair. She was more than willing to help and she was able to make a little money on the side. Plus my mom liked a visit by someone other than me lol..Maybe you could ask around and see if anyone is willing to do it?
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Reply to MDR317
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This brings up memories of when my mother was in hearthomes, and my niece (who is a hairdresser) used to, I discovered, fix my moms hair, spray it with half a can of hairspray, and tell the staff not to touch it or anything untill she came back the following week. When I went to see her, I noticed she was scratching her scalp with a painful look on her face. That is when I realized her hair was plastered with hairspray, so I brushed it out. My niece got very upset, and told me not to do it again. She actually said that. I told her you are making her very uncomfortable and I will do whatever I wanted. She is my Mother. My point is, styling her hair or whatever is fine, but not allowing anyone to brush it for a week and the half a can of spray is too much, Unbelievable.
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Reply to Isabelsdaughter
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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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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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Oops, I hit "post" twice, lol.
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Animallovers 8 hours ago
I’ve done that before as well!
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Does the facility have a place set aside for doing hair? The one Mom was in allowed personal hairdressers to come in for a fee. Call around and see if there is a hairdresser willing to do it. I would get a style very easy to care for. Aides don't style hair. I carried around a small brush and travel size hairspray and did Moms when I visited.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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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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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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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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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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What is the main problem with her hair now? Is it falling in her eyes or food?

Can she sit up in a chair or would she have to remain in bed?

I would not worry about style. Just buy a scissor kit on amazon and make a straight cut and even bangs if it helps. No one is going to maintain her hair in a facility.

I'm dreading this a little for myself... I have hair long enough to put in a pony most of the time because my hair is very straight and grows forward towards my face so doesn't stay away. I look terrible in bangs so my hair is all the same length. When I had a surgery on my dominant arm and couldn't use it, my husband was incredibly terrible at putting it in a pony for me. I later learned this is a common problem. I even saw this comic moment in a romcom I was watching. Boyfriend trying to make a pony on his GF and failing. We still laugh about it.
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