Easy Salon Visits for Older Parents and Grandparents

Choose a salon that makes it simple

Close to home matters more as we get older. A nearby salon with parking near the door and no steep steps turns the visit into a pleasant outing instead of a tiring trip. Call ahead and ask the plain questions: where to park, whether there are steps, and where the restroom is.

Notice the pace of the place, too. A busy salon with loud music and blow-dryers going at every chair can be tiring, especially for someone with hearing loss. A calmer salon, or a quieter time of day, often suits an older client better.

Book a time that fits her day

Mid-morning is often the easiest time. It leaves room for breakfast and any morning routine, and it avoids the after-work rush. If your parent tires later in the day, ask for one of the first appointments, which are less likely to run behind.

Keep each visit to one or two services when you can. A wash, cut and blow-dry is a comfortable length for most people. If color is part of the routine, ask how long the whole visit takes, and whether it could be split into two shorter visits.

During the winter season, roughly November to April, many salons in Palm Beach County are at their busiest. A regular, pre-booked time means she keeps her usual slot even when the calendar fills up.

What to tell the salon ahead of time

A quick call before the first visit helps the stylist plan. Share only what your parent is comfortable sharing, and let her speak for herself whenever she can. Useful things to mention:

• If leaning back at the shampoo bowl is uncomfortable. Some salons can wash hair with the client leaning forward, or skip the wash.
• If she uses a cane or walker, or needs a hand getting in and out of the chair.
• If she hears better on one side, or likes people to face her when they talk.
• If she gets cold easily, since salons tend to be well air-conditioned.
• If strong scents from sprays or color bother her.

Low-upkeep cuts and color

Ask the stylist for a shape that still looks neat between visits and that she can manage herself, or that looks fine when it air-dries. A soft, layered cut at chin or shoulder length is often easier day to day than very long hair or a style that needs a round brush.

Hair often changes with age, becoming finer, drier or a different texture. If your parent notices sudden shedding or patches of thinning, that is a question for her doctor or a dermatologist rather than the salon.

If she has colored her hair for decades, a skin patch test is still worthwhile, especially at a new salon or with a new product. The FDA recommends a patch test before every use of hair dye and notes that sensitivities can develop over time, even after years without a problem.

Small comforts during the visit

Pack a light sweater, her reading glasses and a bottle of water. On longer color days, a small snack helps. If she wears hearing aids, ask the stylist to let her know before the wash so she can take them out and keep them somewhere safe.

If you can stay, sit within sight but let her enjoy her time with the stylist. Many older clients love the conversation as much as the cut. If you cannot stay, leave your phone number with the front desk so they can call you when she is ready.

When getting to the salon gets harder

If the trip becomes too much, ask whether the salon offers home visits, or whether it can suggest a licensed stylist who does. Some families alternate, with some visits at home and others at the salon, so she keeps the social outing on days she feels up to it.

Whatever the routine, the goal stays the same: a visit she looks forward to, and hair she feels good about when she walks out the door.

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Hair Dyes

This guide is general information, not medical advice. For scalp, skin or hair-loss concerns, see a dermatologist.