FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING

1. Performing Hair Washing
-Khyati Chaudhari

2. Definition
• Hair washing defines that is one of general care provided to a client
who cannot clean the hair by himself/ herself.

3. Purposes
1. To maintain personal hygiene of the client
2. To increase circulation to the scalp and hair and promote growing of
hair
3. To make him/her feel refreshed
4. To keep hair clean & healthy
5. To prevent loss of hair
6. To prevent itching & infection

4. 7. To prevent tangles
8. To clean hair after pediculosis treatment
9. To enhance personal appearance & self-esteem
10. To observe the scalp
11. To provide sense of well-being

5. Contraindications
1. Head & Neck injuries
2. Spinal cord injuries
3. Surgeries on back & neck

6. Equipments required
1. Mackintosh(2): to prevent wet (1) to make Kelly pad (1)
2. Big towel(2): to cover mackintosh (1) to round the neck (1)
3. Middle towel (1)
4. Shampoo or soap (1)
5. Hair oil (1): if necessary
6. Brush, comb: (1)
7. Paper bag (2): for clean (1) for dirty (1)
8. Cotton boll with oil or non-refined cotton

7. 9. Bucket (2): for hot water (1) for wasted water (1)
10. Plastic jug (1)
11. Cloth-pin or clips (2)
12. Steel Tray (1)
13. Kidney tray (1)
14. Cushion or pillow (1)
15. Clean cloth if necessary
16. News paper
17. Trolley (1)

8. Procedure
Care action Rationale
1. Perform hand hygiene • To prevents the spread of infection
2.Gather all Equipments. • Organization facilitates accurate skill
performance
3.Check the condition of client. Explain the
purpose and the procedure to the client.
• Proper explanation may allay his/her anxiety
and foster cooperation
4. Bring and set up all Equipments to the bed-
side
• To save the time and promote effective care
5. Help the client move his/her head towards
edge of the bed and remove the pillow from the
head.
To arrange appropriate position with considering
your body mechanics

9. Care action Rationale
6.Put another pillow or a cushion under the
bending knee. Make him/her comfortable
position.
• Putting a pillow or a cushion could prevents
from having some pain while the hair
washing process
7. Setting mackintosh and towel to the client:
1) Place a mackintosh covered a big towel
under the upwards from the client head to
the shoulders of client
2) Have a big towel around his/her neck
3) Roll another mackintosh to make the shape
of a funnel, by using the way to hold from
both sides in a slanting way. The narrow
end should be folded and put under the
client’s neck and the free end should be put
into the bucket to drain for the waste water.
4) Put the folding mackintosh under the
client’s neck.
• To prevent the sheet from soiling
• To prevent the cloth and the body from
soling
• To induce water drainage

11. Care action Rationale
8. Washing:
1) Brush the hair.
2) Insert the cotton balls into the ears
3) Wet the hair by warm water and wash it
roughly
4) Apply soap or shampoo and massage the scalp
well while washing the hair using fingernails
5) Rinse the hair and reapply shampoo for a
second washing, if indicated
6) Rinse the hair thoroughly
7) Apply conditioner if requested or if the scalp
appears dry
• To remove dandruff and fallen hairs, and make
the hair easier washing
• To prevent water from entering into the ears
9. Wrapping the hair:
1)Remove the cotton balls from the ears into the
paper bag and mackintosh with the towel from
the client's neck.
2) Wrap the hairs in the big towel which are used
to cover the client's neck part.

12. Care action Rationale
10. Drying the hair:
1) Wipe the face and neck if needed
2) Dry the hair as quick as possible
3) Massage the scalp with oil as required
4) Comb the hair and arrange the hair according
to the client’s preference
5) Make the client tidy and provide comfortable
position
• To prevent him/her from becoming chilled
• To increase circulation of the scalp and
promote sense of well-being
• To raise self-esteem
11. Clean the Equipments To prepare for the next
procedure
• To prepare for the next procedure
12. Perform hand hygiene • To prevent the spread of infection
13. Document the condition of the scalp, hair and
any abnormalities on the chart with your
signature. Report any abnormalities to senior
staff.
• Documentation provides coordination of care
• Giving signature maintains professional
accountability