Hi Guys
Its been a while since my last visit and I need some help...
Last night I broke a bone in my right hand (2nd Meta-carpal). All of a sudden, you realise how many things require two hands. Tying Shoe-laces, typing (left hand hunt 'n' peck technique going on here), washing under your arms and of course tying your hair in a ponytail!
Any tips on one-handed ponytail techniques? Or types of hair tie that can be fixed one-handed? Very breezy here at the mo, so wearing my hair loose is not really an option, less I want to look like Cousin It.
Any advice?
David
In Warm but breezy Tenerife.
Hey Sorted,
Sorry to hear of your injury.
When I wear halftails (the non-braided variety) I often use a clip instead of a tie. I realize it could be perceived as a bit on the feminine side but it might be easier for you to secure your hair with just one hand.
Hi Jason
How's things?
What type of clip do you mean? Gotta Pic?
Regards
David
Hi David. Things are going pretty well, thanks.
Here's a photo of me wearing the clip I was referring to. If you wanted one to hold all of your hair, you'd have to get a bigger one.
halftail secured with clip
Gotcha, its a small neutral looking 'butterfly' clip. You pinch the levers to release. Good idea if I could find one like that, trouble is most of them u see in the shops look way too femme.
I agree you'd need a black one. I'm surprised there aren't any available like that where you live.
Can you use your right hand at all, just to hold the ponytail or whatever in place while you adjust your left hand? Which is your dominant hand?
It may be tricky for a while, but try making the ponytail on one side or the other.
On the showering issues, when I've been unable to use one hand/arm or the other, I've used a bath brush or a scrubby-poof on a stick to get the right angles. Now, for applying deodorant, you're on your own.
I'm right handed and as it my index finger's meta-carpal, I can manage little more than a light grip of my hair, I can't pull the hair tie over.
Some type of clip or clasp may be in order, or do they make such things as an elasticated piece of cord with two small balls on the end which can be twisted an tucked to tighten?
Ask a friend?
Bit short of them at the moment. Especially those who would even "know" how to tie a ponytail.
Even if you had lots of friends, they would never be on hand everytime you needed them. I tried to put mine in a tail with one hand - impossible.
Have you seen 'Buff' they can be made into bandanas, caps, tubes, lots really - they are very cool indeed especially for longhair/outdoors types.
EVERYONE should get one (or 5).
http://www.buffwear.co.uk
~ Dave
Sorry to hear of your injury, David. We use our hands a lot. That is a tough one to have.
Baseball caps are easily put on with one hand. If you keep the top of your mane held down, as a cap will do, the causes of wind are tolerable. It is very windy here in San Francisco and I find a bandanna gets rid of 95% of the nuisance that one experiences outside with loose hair. If it is so windy that the bill of a ball cap will cause it to blow off, a bandanna offers much less wind resistance and is thus an option but it will require some use of both hands, more to tie it than to put it on afterwards. Once it is tied (which someone else can do) you can put the band on and off several days by yourself. Eventually, though, it will get too much sweat on it and it will have to be untied and washed.
Bill
Hi David,
I'm sorry to hear about your injury and hope it gets better soon. How long do they reckon it will take to mend?
I've tried to have a go and pull my hair back and it's not easy, still there are some great tips from Bill and Jason for sure.
Always good hear from you and things are well on this island.
Cheers,
John.B
Bill had a great suggestion about hats, with a ball cap you can even reach your hand through the hole in back and pull a loose ponytail through. The archives may have more suggestions since I can recall this problem coming up before.
Speedy recovery, David!
Elizabeth