12.3.4: Procedure- Shampoo in Bed

Washing a patient’s hair helps to promote good hygiene, comfort, relaxation, and self-esteem. It also provides a chance for Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides to assess the condition of their patient’s hair, skin, and scalp. When washing a patient’s hair in bed, Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should ensure that the bed linens and patient clothing are protected by using towels or waterproof pads under their shoulders. Always assess allergies to products being used, and style hair according to patient preference. Take care to not pull on hair, which could damage the patient’s scalp. Older patients may have thinner, more fragile hair, and extra care should be taken.

1. Explain the procedure to the patient.
2. Wash and dry your hands. Don gloves.
3. Assemble equipment (shampoo, conditioner, bath towel, hand towel, pitcher, shampooing basin, or disposable shampoo cap).
4. Ask the patient for preferences of products and ensure the patient is not allergic to products.
5. Position the patient in a supine position. Place a waterproof pad or towel under the patient’s head and shoulders. Place a towel over shoulders and chest area to keep this area dry and warm. Ensure the rest of the patient’s body is kept warm and covered with a blanket.
6. Protect the patient’s eyes and face from getting wet. Wet hair by pouring clean, warm water using a pitcher over the patient’s hair, starting from hairline at the scalp and working towards the neck.
7. Apply shampoo to your hands and rub them together. Work shampoo into a lather, working from the front of the patient’s head to the ends of their hair.
8. Use your fingertips to massage shampoo against the patient’s scalp, using a circular motion. Take care not to use your fingernails or scrape the patient’s skin or scalp with your nails. Ensure soap and water does not get into patient’s eyes or ears.
9. Rinse hair thoroughly until water runs clear and no suds are visible. Rinse from the scalp line at the patient’s forehead to the ends of their hair, protecting the patient’s eyes and ears.
10. If using conditioner, repeat steps 7 through 9.
11. If using a shampoo cap, follow steps 1 through 5. Apply the shampoo cap to the patient’s hair, tucking in any loose hair ends so that all hair is within the cap.
12. Massage scalp so the dry shampoo is evenly distributed throughout hair. Allow 1-5 minutes for shampoo to fully saturate hair. Remove cap and discard used cap. Dry and style patient’s hair as you normally would.
13. Wipe water from patient’s face, head, and neck using a dry towel and a blotting motion.
14. Dry and comb hair, according to patient preferences. If using a blow dryer, ensure that the hot air and the tip of the blow dryer is not placed onto or too close to the patient’s skin or you could cause a burn.
15. When working on untangling hair, hold a section of hair above the tangle. This avoids painful pulling on the scalp. Gently comb through the tangle. Conditioner or a detangler could be applied to assist with removing tangles.
16. When brushing hair, brush hair in sections, brushing from root to ends of hair. Be gentle with your strokes, taking care not to harshly scrape the patient’s scalp or to yank on hair, which could cause injury to the patient’s scalp.
17. Once finished with hair care, lower bed to its lowest height. Ensure side rails are up for safety.
18. Clean the area and store equipment.
19. Remove your gloves. Wash and dry your hands.
20. Document completion of task and record any changes in condition or behavior. Record any changes in condition of the patient’s skin, scalp, or hair.