Washing hair with ME/CFS

Washing your hair drains more energy than you would expect. Shoulders and arms can ache from the sustained movement, leaning forward or tilting your head can be a strain for your back or neck. This is all a lot of energy used, even more so if you attempt it directly after a shower.

Treating hair washing as a separate task from showering is one of the most effective changes you can make if you have ME/CFS.

Doing both on the same day in the same session is rarely a good idea at moderate or lower energy levels. The options are:

Different days. Shower on one day, wash hair on another. This keeps each task within a more manageable cost.

Different times of day. If washing hair and showering on the same day, leave a rest period in between rather than doing them back to back.

Neither approach requires a fixed schedule. The point is to avoid doing one too soon after the other.

In the shower, seated

Using a shower stool is the best way to reduce the physical cost of washing your hair. You can sit under the shower head if needed, or if you have a handheld showerhead you can tilt your head back.

Overall there is less strain on your legs, back, and neck. Shoulders and arms might still cause some strain but if you go slow, you can limit the energy risk.

Over the bath or a basin

You can sit on a chair or stool next to the bath, and lean over the edge. This removes the heat and temperature exposure cost, as well as removes standing entirely.

Using a plastic jug can reduce the number of movements needed to rinse. You can fill it up from the tap instead of running the shower over your head, which allows for more control and reduces total effort needed.

A small folded towel on the bath edge reduces discomfort from leaning.

At the sink

Leaning over a basin works for some people, though the sustained forward lean can be tiring. If the bathroom or kitchen sink is the right height and you can sit while leaning, this is a lower cost option.

A handheld attachment that fits standard taps is fairly cheap and makes rinsing much easier.

Drying is often the most demanding part.
Holding a hairdryer above head height is a significant sustained effort. Even towel drying your hair can require sustained arm movement which can drain your energy very quickly.

A hooded or bonnet dryer. Sits on the head without requiring you to hold anything. This takes longer than a handheld dryer but the physical cost is much lower.

A microfibre towel. Absorbs significantly more water than a standard towel, reducing the time and effort needed to dry. Wrapping rather than rubbing also reduces friction and fatigue.

Air drying. The lowest-effort option. Wearing a microfibre wrap while resting means the hair dries during recovery time rather than requiring active effort.

Seated hairdryer use. If a handheld dryer is needed, sit throughout and rest the elbow on a surface to reduce the sustained arm load.

Ask someone to help. If this is an option for you, having someone else use the hairdryer for you can be a way to avoid all exertion in drying your hair.

On lower-energy days, air-dried and unstyled is absolutely acceptable. The goal is to save energy wherever possible.

Reducing wash frequency lowers the overall cost without requiring any particular technique.

Dry shampoo. You can apply at the roots the night before and brush through in the morning. Most people find it extends time between washes by two to three days.

Loose styles. By keeping hair loosely tied back, you can reduce how quickly it needs washing. Tight styles or leaving it down can increase oiliness.

Silk or satin pillowcase. Reduces friction during sleep, which can extend how long hair stays manageable between washes.

On very difficult days, dry shampoo and a loose hair tie will cover most practical needs. Hair that has not been washed recently is not a problem, and saving your energy is more important.

This could even be the case for a longer period of time, depending on your severity level and struggles. It’s OK to let things like this slide when you need radical rest.

For more on personal care within your limits, return to our personal care guide.