It’s all about me

I have to admit that this week has been all about me, as things start to open up, I have taken advantage of being in Wendover for my physiotherapy, and had a sneaky trip to the Adorn where I had my eyebrows waxed and my nails painted. Thank goodness for DLA, I take full advantage of the care component as this pays for my luxuries.

 

Yesterday we made our way up to Buckinghamshire for what was going to be a really happy day. Firstly, we met our good friend at the CMSC, and sat on the patio and had a good old chat whilst soaking up the sun.

Next was the event that I had been counting the days down for, yes it was haircut and colour day! It may seem a little strange that we travel 97miles to go to the hair dressers, but it took hubby several months when we moved to Aylesbury to find a hairdresser that had a portable sink, which meant my hair could be washed whilst I was sitting in my wheelchair. Also I have a lovely hairdresser called Nicola, I hope you agree with me that once you find a good hairdresser you do not want to let them go.

I remember last year going to Ruby Lane when it opened for the first time after lockdown, and being so impressed with all the precautions that had been put in place, so I was comfortable that it would be the same this time. What I hadn’t prepared for was sitting in front of the mirror and looking at myself, and seeing the consequence of eating lots of chocolate for the past 6 months.

 

 Once over the initial shock, Nicola and I got down to the business of catching up with each other’s lives. It always makes me sad when I have a colour because colour is put on first, and the foil is applied, and I think to myself, once my hair is washed it will be cut and so much of the hair that has been coloured will be chopped off!

I then sit for 35 minutes while the colour takes hold, this is when I noticed one of the biggest changes because of Covid, there are no magazines to read and certainly no cups of coffee. Hubby and I sit and chat whilst Nicola attends to her next client. The salon is full of women who are so relieved to see their hairdressers, but of course the maximum number of clients allowed in the salon is half that of pre Covid. In between each station is a Perspex screen.

It was now time to wash out the colour, wash and condition my hair, this is where the clever bit comes in. We remove my headrest and tilt the chair right back, and the portable basin which is on a long stand then fits through the hole where my head rest would go. I’ve tried to describe it the best I can but it’s probably best just to look at the pictures.

Now to the bit I’ve waited for, for 4 months… cutting off my excess hair. My hair not only grows downwards, but also outwards. It really was so thick, once cut and blow dried Nicola straightened my hair, and then she worked her magic with the thinning scissors. 



Three hours later all was complete, and I was so happy with the result. All that was left to do was to pay for it, this was made easier as I had a gift voucher given to me by a previous PA as a leaving present.

In future I will be attending physiotherapy and then having my hair cut so it can be done all in one day, and hubby won’t have to drive up to Buckinghamshire twice in a week.

The important message to take from this is when a hairdressers advertise their business as an accessible one, check it out if you are a wheelchair user and unable to transfer because 9 times out of 10, it’s not. Hubby contacted 15 hairdressers before he came across Ruby Lane in Bedgrove, Aylesbury.