How long can you not wash hair after mastectomy?

Depends on your doctor. Mine let me shower after 48 hrs. Some don;t allow it until your drains come out. The chairs at the salon should be OK, but they do sell a shampoo funnel at Sally Beauty Supply for using at a sink if you want to go that route. W/ it you can sit upright and put the end in the sink.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/shampoo-funnel/SBS-260815,default,pd.html

I bought one to use for my mother when she was too weak to bend over the sink to wash her hair (could not wash it in the shower, didn't like to get water in her ears or on her face).

My PS allowed me to shower and wash on day 2 after surgery. Daily showers but no immersion. Not sure when I can go back to my daily hot baths, but looking forward to that hopefully soon.

Scottie

I considered going to the salon & letting someone else wash my hair(it needed cutting anyway). I ended up washing it in the sink. It was quite long at the time.

Like others have said, it depends on your surgeon, and they are all different!!!

My PS said no showers while my drains were in, and they were in for two weeks.

I didn't mind, I had plenty of baby wipes, and took "birdie baths" with a washcloth just to feel fresh.

I normally only wash my hair twice a week anyway, and it's very short and curly, so I didn't think about it too much.

One day I did let DH try to wash it in our kitchen sink (with one of those pull-out faucets) and he almost drowned me. Thank goodness for the big bath towel I covered my face with.

Many ladies take advantage of salons for a nice hair wash and blow dry right after surgery. You shouldn't have any problem laying back in the chair at the sink.... but I would make sure that someone can help you sit back up. They can put their arms behind your back and push you up.... never pull you by your arms.

Either way - you can do it at home with help if your doctor lets you, or you can do it at the salon with a bit of assistance.

I wanted to chime in, because all surgeons are different. I wasn't allowed to take a shower for 6 weeks! I have long very curly hair so I had it washed/blown out the day before surgery and again at the salon after surgery. At day 10 I managed to wash it myself in the kitchen sink, but it took forever. I wasn't uncomfortable in the salon chair after surgery. So don't despair if you have to wait longer for a shower.

Mydoctor said 48 hours facing away from the shower spray. I needed help with the shampoo the first time, but was fine on my own 2 days later. My incisions were superglued so no bandages

My surgeon said no showers until drains are out... I wore a windbreaker so that I could shower my bottom half. My husband washed my hair in the kitchen sink with the sprayer and also with the hand-held shower head in the shower (with wind breaker on and towel around neck). I could wash my own, but it took much longer - especially rinsing.