Still Enjoying the Little Things

I am very interested in adding more lifestyle content. I desired to do so much with this blog that I felt overwhelmed trying to do it all and ended up doing nothing for long stretches. My health definitely played a part, but it was not the only thing holding me back. It was also a little thing called doubt. I wrote about before and struggle with it still. I follow some really bright people who will give with nothing but the facts and I love that. Then there are others who make excellent videos highlighting their daily struggles as well providing education. I think my niche is just showing people that you can live your life with chronic illness and still thrive. Because I don't know about you, I am seeking to do more than just survive. I strive to still find joy in the little things that are still within my ability to perform.

In order to do anything these days, I have to spend time negotiating with my joints to decide if they are going to cooperate. Then then I put it to the nerves who take issue with anything that I try to do. Then in what feels like 3-5 business days, we have a plan...allegedly. One thing that I find quite therapeutic is doing my hair. I've been doing it since I was maybe 6 and I have maintained the practice since I got sick and I continue to do even today. Though even in this, I have made modifications because POTS doesn't like you keeping your hands above your head for any reason nor does it like me bending and changing positions. Washing hair in the kitchen sink is like a national past time in many Black American households but POTS won't let me be great, so I have to get it done in the shower. Well, that brings up another set of challenges, but I've developed a plan to get through the entire process. Here are the challenges: The heat and humidity in the shower will make me tachycardic and it means that I can't take a long shower to wash my hair. Putting my hands above my head for any length of time will most definitely make me faint so I have to be quick and strategic. Oh yeah, standing the shower will take me out because POTS doesn't like me standing still more than five minutes or my blood will pool and then we can go back to the first point. These three things alone make washing my hair potentially impossible.

I have already lost so much to POTS and I was not willing to concede one more thing. Mind you, natural hair care at home is not quick work even for people who are not disabled. But it's not that hard, you just need a good routine and a plan to minimize the process and maximize results. Here is how I get it done on a typical wash day:

1. I have low porosity hair, so I let it get fully wet under warm water for about 5 minutes. This can definitely be a problem because of potential blood pooling and this why I don't even attempt to wash my hair if I am not already well rested. A shower chair would be a great idea, but my current tub/shower combo doesn't make much room for a chair right now.

2. I shampoo my hair twice. Once with a clarifying shampoo, if needed and again with a moisturizing shampoo. I take my time to minimize having my hands above my head by taking breaks and also making sure that my hair is properly detangled beforehand. I leave the moisturizing shampoo for three to five minutes while I resume regular showering activities. This 2 for 1 lets me clean up and get the moisture into those strands.

3. BREAK TIME. I used to push passed this and would regret it for days to come before I realized that I needed to rest. After rinsing out the shampoo, I come out of the shower and have a seat in a cool place to allow my body temperature to come down. Another side effect POTS that I suffer with his lack back body temperature regulation. When I am hot, my can't really cool itself down. I can have symptoms like a heat stroke just from a shower so it's extremely important that I take precautions. During this time, I apply my deep conditioner which usually takes about ten minutes. I do want to add that I do this while seated.

4. If decided that I was able to continue with the deep conditioner, I leave it on for thirty minutes after application. Low Porosity hair does well with heat but POTS does not. I can't handle sitting under a hooded dryer for long and opt for a steam cap that I put in the microwave. However, most days I skip it and let my body heat do the job under a plastic cap.

5. By now it has been almost an hour out of the shower and I am usually okay. I reenter the shower, rinse out the remaining condition in less than five minutes and come out of the shower for the last time.

6. At this point I can style my hair now or seal in the moisture and style the next day, if needed.

This is a standard wash day that I repeat every 1-2 weeks. The amount of energy that goes into this is like planning a whole workout. There are many days that I have to make a choice to do one activity and if I choose my hair that means that I can't cook or clean or run errands. I have to forfeit just about everything else just to care for myself in the most basic way. Salons are an option, but they can be expensive and overstimulating. Then you have to consider the energy getting there, being there and getting back home. Still, I refuse to give up the small things that bring me joy. The things that still allow me to hold on to my identity before I was who I am now. A recent situation made me consider abandoning doing my hair all together because it caused such a horrible, prolonged flare up. But I am still, stubbornly some may say, holding on.

Just to add a bit of information. I am very much into Ayurvedic Treatments for my hair and scalp. This bridges the gap between a good routine and the ravage of my autoimmune and chronic conditions. This adds additional steps to my wash day, and I gauge my health on that day to see if I can do an Amla mask or Henna treatment. These can take an additional 1-4 hours, based on what I am trying to achieve. There are other masks as well and they assist to make a huge difference in the output shown below. That is another post on its own and if you want to know more about how I go about it, let me know.

Some 2025 wash day results.

Until we meet again 🩵