Shoulder Replacement Recovery | Managing Hair and Grooming Tasks

This video provides solutions for challenging hair and grooming tasks when attempting to complete them 1-handed (as would be necessary during shoulder surgery recovery, traumatic arm injuries, or hemiplegia from stroke recovery). These solutions can also be used following various shoulder surgeries or injuries such as total or complete shoulder replacement, athroplasty, rotator cuff repair, shoulder labrum tears, or general shoulder joint or socket pain resulting in an immobilized shoulder. These techniques are meant to be simple, low cost, and safe to maximize independence!

0:00 Shoulder Replacement Recovery: Managing Hair and Grooming
1:40 Pony Tail Techniques
7:22 Hair Dryer Technique
9:36 Makeup
10:51 Shaving
12:10 Washing Hair

Check out other videos about products that maximize safety and independence on my channel EquipMeOT and please consider subscribing to get my most up to date video content!

If you prefer written tutorials, I have a written version of this video and others (with photos) over at my website:

Product Links:
Mini Elastics

Elastic Shoe Lace Kit with Toggle

Gooseneck Hair Dryer Holder

Pump Tops

Electric Razor

Electric Toothbrush

Shower Hair Massager

[carlsimpson]

Thank you so much! My wife is having shoulder surgery and has been trying to teach me how to put her hair in a pony tail. Apparently, I rip it out by the roots, she's screaming and we both were ending up frustrated. This is awesome!

[paulabrady]

Just found this video. I'm 10 wks post dominant side total shoulder. Found your other posts pre-op. I guess I didn't look hard enough. Recommended them to my surgeon.
Your videos are extremely well done and helpful. I live alone so being able to finally groom my hair without asking friends for shampoo help is greatly appreciated. Bless you.

[MarkBlangger]

I am preparing for torn rotator cuff surgery. I'm very glad to have found your very informational, thorough, and easy-to-understand videos. Thank you!

[anitaw]

Home health nurse here and I'll be having non-dominant and then dominant shoulder replacement. I watched all your videos and you really did a nice job with these - just wanted to say thank you!!!

[kellybenammar]

Thank you for this. I have been trying to figure out how to do a ponytail for weeks, these tips made it possible!

[gmaellen]

The shoelace worked easiest for me! I’m 73 years old, and have just for the first time in my life grown out my bangs, but they are not long enough to be completely manageable yet. I’m having left shoulder replacement soon. This ponytail with the shoelace is awesome! Once the ponytails in, then I can use a clip to get my bangs pulled back. My hair is also to the middle of my back and I’m thankful to find a style that doesn’t make me want to cut my hair every other day into a pixie!😂😂😂 Thanks so much for the video!

[sherrydaniels]

This is a godsend, I’ve been so worried about how I’ll manage my hair. Thank you so much for these tips!

[lisagd]

I'm 5 weeks post-op after rotator cuff surgery on my dominant side. I'm growing my hair to donate--it's past my tailbone--and one of the things I miss the most is being able to braid my hair or put it in a bun to keep the ends from getting damaged and breaking off. I've had my physical therapist and a barista at my local Starbucks braid it for me a couple times. 😂 i tried your tip about the rubber band, but I just couldn't get all the hair through without it ending up a mess.

I already used a shampoo bar before surgery, but it has been really helpful post-op. I start lathering my hair with the bar, then use one of those scalp massagers to get a nice lather. They're great for travel, too--no worries about spilling or getting through security at the airport!

Thanks for another helpful video!

[hopecorsette]

So glad I found this channel since I'm going to have rotator cuff surgery on my dominant side in July. Very helpful. Thank you!

[geetasadashivan]

Thank you so much! The ponytail technique with the tiny rubber band got the job done!

[sharondunavent]

Preparing for mastectomy. Problems I never thought of yet. Daughter found these videos. Thanks!

[girlgeek]

You are AMAZING! I'm preparing for rotator cuff surgery on my dominant hand, and the hair dryer tip is the BEST. It never even crossed my mind that there might be a clamp out there! THANK YOU for your tips!

[kimmarieullrich]

OMG. I can't believe how great all of this information! I'll be alone three days a week after week one so this really provided me with some relief.

[cathyrackowski]

I’m getting ready for rotator cuff surgery today I tried one handed hair care it was a major fail. Thank you for this real life information I feel more confident that my hair won’t be a total hot mess lol. I’m so happy I found your tips before this surgery, Thank you!

[LCooper-pi]

Thank you so much! Had a severe rotator cuff tear in my dominant arm. I have a huge mess of long curly hair and I never go out without makeup. I've been crying tears of frustration every day since my fall. THANK YOU for these tips!!!! Will allow me to at least, not look like a crazy woman!!!

[abby]

Thank you so much for doing these videos. I've watched some of them several times. It's a good feeling to be prepared and help make this stressful period be as frustration-free as possible!

[veronical]

I’ve had RA for 45 long years and am facing replacements of left shoulder and left elbow in the coming months. Thank you so much for your very helpful and often ingenious demonstrations for self care! Perhaps it’s not for everyone, but I use my mouth quite a bit to stabilize loosely tightened screw top lids and turn the container part with the non operated hand. Another way is if the jar lid is too big for my mouth or even my hand, I’ll sit down and stabilize the jar part between my knees and then turn the lid with my non-operated hand. Of course the whole family helps out by barely tightening anything I may need in the fridge or bathrooms. One thing that still stumps me though, is applying deodorant to the non-operated armpit when the other arm or hand not functional. I have discovered that gel antiperspirants glide on MUCH easier than solids which helps immensely, but with one arm immobilized, how do you tackle applying it?

[lynnebortot]

Having dominant right sided rotator cuff repair in two weeks and have started watching your videos. Appreciate all the clever ways to make things work!

[jeanbeanofthewoods]

Great tips. Thank you. My dominant arm is believed to be torn. Waiting for my MRI. I’m definitely nervous about not being able to use this arm for a long period of time, if surgery is needed. My doctor is quite sure that I will need it based on clinical tests. Your tips are very helpful for early preparations.

[macloanu]

Thank you so much for this video. I had wrist and elbow surgery in my dominant hand and was struggling on getting my grooming done so I could be independent. Most people said it didn’t matter just couldn’t bear it until you can use your hand again nobody cares what you look like but I do thank you.