UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi
Sorry to interupt the important stuff but...

I am asking for advice on an issue which may seem trivial complred to some others discussed here (probably because it is ) but it is becoming an issue for me.

i have very straight brown hair which I have (for most of my adult life) worn cut below the shoulder. When I wash it, which is most mornings, I have a problem of how to dry it.

If I use a dryer with my lenses in the the sensation of the air on my eyes irritates them and dries them as well. If I don't have my lenses in then I cannot see what I am doing. If I don't dry my hair then I go out in the cold then I get a headache (I live in the grim north remember!) and as another winter draws ever closer I think my head might freeze.

I have considered getting my hair cut shorter but my memories of short hair (circa 1987) was that it took even longer to style and entire cans of spray (which my eyes and the environment could no longer tollerate).

I don't know what to do. I am not vain by nature but feel that I have already given up on mascara, eye shaddow and foundation powder - if i have short hair as well I will look like a bloke!

The OH's only suggestions have been get up early so my hair has time to dry by it's self or wear a wooly hat! He's a great help

Brigid

Brigid,

Two ideas instantly spring to mind;

1) Shave your head and wear a wig, wash the wig at night it will be dry by morning

2) Again this will sound daft, but what about wearing some form of eye protection. Homebase do goggles and the 3M ones I have for DIY have a vent only at the top which is directed towards the face so any air blowing towards the face can not get behind them as it is deflected upwards.

Just remember to remove them before leaving the house for work

Hey there!

I use a hairdryer as well but find that i don't have a problem so long as i use it in a well ventilated room with the window open so that there isn't a lot of heat. I also make sure that i don't blow hot air across my face.

Using the cooler setting on the dryer helps as well. Your hair will take longer to dry but hot air isn't really good for our hair anyway!!

I blow air sideways and from a height so it isn't close to my face and eyes at all. Hope you find a good technique soon!!

Also i wear eye shadow and mascara, is it because of removing them that you don't want to wear them? i don't have any problems so long as i am really careful with removing it! I did stop when i had a graft but a year and a half later i am back wearing it! Missing out with foundation though as it was never good for my skin and i don't really need it!!

Sweet X x X

Thanks Sweet I shall try varing my drying technique.

I don't use eye make up and foundataion because I find my eye lids have become very sensitive. Also mascara is a no go because my eyes water so much. Waterproof mascara worries me because of removing it, as well.

Gareth - you're about as useful as mi Andrew. Showering at night is just not the same.

Brigid

Will not enquier about the showering not being the same

However it is nice to know I am in good company with you fella

It's amazing how well you can dry your hair with your eyes closed! But I like the 'goggles' suggestion!

By the way, I would hardly class Manchester as 'in The North', probably due to the fact I'm from Northumberland!

Fair comment Val - I am originally from Edinburgh so Manchester is not completely North -I accept, but there are some people from south of Birmingham (who live in desert like conditions with hose pipe bans etc.)who just don't understand about wet hair and winter weather.

Gareth - I think I may have already said to much about showers

Brigid

You have my sympathy, when I had waist length hair I have the luxury of it not being straight anyway and I tended to wash at night and use a shower cap in the morning, mind going to bed with it wet does cause aches and pains as well.

Would a blast of systane not do the trick, before using the hairdryer and swimming goggles might look and seem a bit weird but maybe at least you can avoid the problem.

Manchester is the grim up North just not as north as Northumberland, but it rains more here.

Tam

This thread is becoming distinctly northist! I am hoping someone posts from Iceland!
In all seriousness, these matters are not as trivial as you think. Starting the day looking like, feeling like normal has to be important!

I am lucky in the fact i live in leafy warm berkshire. Even more lucky is that my hair dries in about 5 minutes (10 tops).

Speaking of hair driers though....I have the same problem with the heater in the car.

I just have to sit in the cold or direct the air down towards my feet. I cannot have it (warm or cold) blowing on to my face. It has a weird sensation on soft lenses. Makes them almost sticky, so when you blink your eyelids kind of pull the lenses up a bit. Its more the feeling and vision than the pain....but its not nice.

I either don my nightrider sunglasses or have the window open a tiny bit when the blower is on. Personally I think having the window on does more psychologically rather than actually physically, but it works for me.