How to Wash Hair in Bed With No Mess

Some people need to wash hair in bed due to limited mobility

Some older adults can’t bathe using a tub or shower because they have limited mobility or have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and stubbornly resist bathing.

When someone isn’t able to get into the shower or bath, it can seem impossible to keep their hair and scalp clean and fresh.

No-rinse shampoos, dry shampoo, or wiping with wet cloths are helpful, but just aren’t as good as a thorough hair washing with water.

A real wash with water and regular shampoo will make your older adult feel more comfortable and keep their scalp healthier. 

We found a fantastic, free 3-minute video tutorial and an inexpensive product that helps you wash someone’s hair in bed without getting water everywhere.

We list the supplies you’ll need, give an overview of the steps shown in the video, and share links to hair washing shampoo basins for use in bed.

How to wash hair in bed without a mess

This helpful 3-minute video walks step-by-step through the process of washing your older adult’s hair in bed. 

Watching how it’s done in the video makes it easier to know how to do it yourself without getting water everywhere. 

Here, we’ve summarized the supplies you’ll need and the steps to take.

What you’ll need:

• Shampoo basin for hair washing in bed (see suggestions below)
• Garbage bags and/or a few towels to line the bed and keep it dry
• Washcloths
• Towels
• Mild shampoo
• Bucket of warm water
• Cup for scooping water
• Empty bucket to drain dirty water

12 steps to washing hair in bed:

1. Lay out all your supplies so you know you have everything you’ll need
2. Line the bed to keep it from getting wet
3. Fill one bucket with warm water
4. Gently place the person’s head into the inflatable basin
5. Make sure the basin is set up to drain into the empty bucket
6. Scoop warm water from the full bucket to wet their hair
7. Use a small amount of shampoo to wash their hair – using too much will make it difficult to rinse out
8. Scoop warm water to rinse hair completely
9. If hair is very dirty, shampoo and rinse again
10. When hair is clean, gently remove their head from the basin
11. Wrap their head in a dry towel to keep them warm and comfortable
12. Make sure the basin is fully drained – you might need to tip it over into the bathtub

For extra comfort, consider:

• Plugging ears with cotton balls to keep water from getting in
• Lining the neck opening with a small towel to protect from any hard or scratchy plastic seams
• Giving them a washcloth to hold on their face if they’re concerned that you might get water in their eyes
• Using a soothing lavender-scented shampoo for a relaxing experience

 

3 hair washing shampoo basin product suggestions

• $16 Duro Med DMI Portable Inflatable Shampoo Bowl
• $16 DMI Portable Inflatable Shampoo Bowl
• $20 DMI Portable Shampoo Bowl

 

Next Step  See a step-by-step demonstration of how to wash hair in bed for someone with limited mobility (3 min)

 

Recommended for you:

• How Often Should Seniors Bathe? 3 Essential Health Tips
• 7 Tips to Get Someone with Dementia to Shower
• 9 Enjoyable Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility

 

By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: Amazon

 

This article wasn’t sponsored, but contains some affiliate links. If you buy through an affiliate link on our site, we may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, and we appreciate your support. We never link to products for the sole purpose of making a commission. Product recommendations are based on our honest opinions. For more information, see How We Make Money.

---