Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55: Previous Next
My profession is Mech. Engineering.
I have finally been able to reach mid-back length. I wear my hair in a pony tail when at work. When I go into the plant I adjust my "hard hat" to accomodate the tail. No problem.
I have had no hassel with my hair length.
My age is 59. I am now retiring and plan to do consulting.
It looks like I will be doing a little traveling now.
Problem:
I only have one hand. My wife does my pony tail each morning.
Does anyone know how I can do the tail with one hand?
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Resonance on December 30, 2003 at 17:46:28: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
Does anyone know how I can do the tail with one hand?
I couldn't properly appreciate how tough it would be until I tried it myself. The only thing I can think of is to buy a metal cuff that you could squeeze over your tail to replace a band, but I doubt it'd hold very well.
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Cathryn Whitmire on December 30, 2003 at 18:38:24: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
That's a tough problem ... we have not been about to solve it.
Cat
Cathryn_Whitmire@consumerbest.com
: My profession is Mech. Engineering.
: I have finally been able to reach mid-back length. I wear my hair in a pony tail when at work. When I go into the plant I adjust my "hard hat" to accomodate the tail. No problem.
: I have had no hassel with my hair length.
: My age is 59. I am now retiring and plan to do consulting.
: It looks like I will be doing a little traveling now.
: Problem:
: I only have one hand. My wife does my pony tail each morning.
: Does anyone know how I can do the tail with one hand?
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by ahren on December 31, 2003 at 03:01:37: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
I tried for about 20 minutes and this is the best thing I could come up with.
I started with a rolled up bandanna. I leaned forward so all my hair fell in front of me. I put the bandanna across the back of my neck then grabbed both ends in front of my face. Then I pushed it up till touching my hair in front and back instead of my neck and forhead. Next I stood straight up and flipped my hair back behind my back while still holding onto the bandanna. Now the hair is all bound in the bandanna but the only thing holding it was my hand, so then it gets tricky. I twisted it a few times to try to keep it there while I went into my pocket to get a hair clip to clip the bandanna. It's not the prittiest thing I've ever done, but I have been wearing it like this for about 30 minutes as I brushed my teeth and a few other things. So far none of the hair has fallen in front of my face yet, and I haven't touched it with two hands once. Hope this helps, after reading your post I just had to try it. Don't give up man.
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Sorted on December 31, 2003 at 09:40:54: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
Dude that has gotta be one of the trickiest problems in the world.
I had a mate who has a paralysed arm, watching him do all the stuff I did with just one hand just filled me with awe, so I have no doubt its possible. And I think that was a really good try from Ahren...
Although its not really a solution (more a work around) Based on Ahren's idea I'd suggest avoiding hairbands and using a clip instead. Much easier to fasten with one hand.
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Bill on December 31, 2003 at 10:07:45: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
It looks like those who've tried this have failed. Therefore this is likely something you'll just have to ask someone to help you with. If you stay in a motel or hotel, there will be people around. Even if you stay in a campground there will be people around. Employees of such places are accustomed to meeting unique needs of various guests all the time. I've gotten bandages from them, scissors from them, spot remover from them, and the like, when something unexpected came up. But even fellow travelers will help. They, too, know and appreciate that one isn't going to have all the comforts of home (such as your wife) on the road. How could anyone with an ounce of compassion turn you down, if you walked up to them and said, "I have a predicament I need someone to help me with because I don't have two hands. It will take just a second. Can you help?" When they say yes or ask what you need, say, "I'm going to a business meeting and I need someone to tie my ponytail."
I presume you will be dressed for business and your hair will be clean and not greasy looking in the morning, so touching it should not be a turnoff for whoever you ask. And make sure the tie is clean and unfrayed, and that it doesn't have hairs clinging to it. You are going to be handing them the thing.
You certainly won't have to explain your need for help, but you will often need to explain how to tie a ponytail. This is something easily learned by a two handed person to do behind his head, so it should be very easy for someone to do in front where he can see it. Your wife can help you come up with your request since she does this all the time, but something like this should do it: "Gather my hair together down low behind my head without pulling it too tight, pull it through the band, twist the band into a figure 8, pull the tail through the empty half of the 8, then neaten up the band." Practice your spiel on a few different friends to be sure you have a workable request down pat.
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Pete_J on December 31, 2003 at 22:43:11: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
: Problem:
: I only have one hand. My wife does my pony tail each morning.
: Does anyone know how I can do the tail with one hand?
It's not clear if you are able to use a prosthesis for the missing hand. With a prosthesis, I believe it might be possible as follows:
1. Wrap elastic loop around your hand, and hold hair between thumb and finger against your head.
2. Drag elastic across the hair with the prosthesis, and use your hand to pull the hair through the elastic so that you now have all the hair going through the elastic loop.
3. Now use the prosthesis to hold the elastic against your head, and use your hand to loop the elastic around the hair a second time to tighten it up enough to hold.
If you are unable to use a prosthesis, it might be just possible to use available objects (building corners, tree trunks) to serve as a temporary prosthesis!
In any event, making it look really tidy might be very difficult, so having a friend help would be a preferable solution if available.
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by Nick on January 01, 2004 at 00:32:45: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
How about if you used a hair thing like Duncan McLeod used in
the Highlander TV show? (It was like a leather that he
used to tie his hair in a pony tail).
A challenge, what fun!
Posted by Elizabeth Regina on January 01, 2004 at 00:34:46: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
It really depends on what you have to work with both length and bodywise. I ended up discovering several ways to accomplish a pontyail one handed with the assistance of the other arm's forearm and sometimes wrist. Doing a bit of experimentation with my own hair I found I could use one forearm under the hair to assist the other hand in making a ponytail which could be wound around the wrist to tighten the tail then claw clipped into a pontyail. This would not work for mid-back length because you probably need a lot of length to get it wound.
Having the advantage on the board of more hair toys than most to play with, and this while on vacation no less, I used a satin ribbon and tied it loosely around my hair like a headband with the aid of a forearm to hold a loose end steady against my head while the hand in use did the simple cross over and under tie like the beginning step of a shoelace. I held one loose end steady with my teeth and used the hand to pull the other end and the headband moved back down my head as it tightened and made a temporary ponytail. Holding the tail flat against my neck with my wrist I was able to bring in a clip from the side and secure the tail above the ribbon. This clip latches to create a perfect circle and looks less obtrusive than a claw clip. The ribbon was slipped down and off the tail and it looked pretty neat for a first try.
A hair bunjii sounded neat to prevent multiple pull throughs but was hopeless to tighten without the band rotating.
I even took a stab at a one handed application of a regular ponytail band and found it can be done (neatly even!) if you can cuff a straight tool on in place of the absent hand. My hand being in the way I held a hairstick but I believe this is still doable if a pencil or some similar object is strapped to the forearm. Here is what worked for me:
Forearm rests under the hair (tool already attached for later use)
Hand with ponytail holder strung between thumb and forefinger forms ponytail with forearm assist from arm below
Forearm comes out from under ponytail being held entirely by hand and tool is used to shift outer portion of ponytail band off fingers and on to hair, band is not around the ponytail yet, just a circle sitting on top of the ponytail held by hand
Use tool to catch under ponytail and bring the hair through the loop
Use forearm to hold loose tail to neck while hand lets go of tail, picks up band and pulls loop tight then makes first twist to be placed over the tail again by thumb and forefinger
Repeat the process of moving the band off fingers and pulling through with the tool until tail is fully tightened
With all but the last attempt the results were a tad imprecise. For business use I'd suggest wearing it loose if not hazzardous and claw clipping upward to go into the hard hat when necessary. The only thing unprofessional about long hair at work is when it becomes a distraction due to the wearer playing with it or repeatedly moving it out of the way.
Thanks for the challenge. If interested I can take photos of the steps and post them for much needed clarification.
Elizabeth
Re: Pony tail with one hand ???
Posted by elektros on January 02, 2004 at 00:25:21: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
: My profession is Mech. Engineering.
: I have finally been able to reach mid-back length. I wear my hair in a pony tail when at work. When I go into the plant I adjust my "hard hat" to accomodate the tail. No problem.
: I have had no hassel with my hair length.
: My age is 59. I am now retiring and plan to do consulting.
: It looks like I will be doing a little traveling now.
: Problem:
: I only have one hand. My wife does my pony tail each morning.
: Does anyone know how I can do the tail with one hand?
I think I have seen it done. I'm not sure of the details, but it seemed to involve twisting the hair. That probably doesn't help much!
This works!
Posted by Reflective on January 02, 2004 at 08:24:58: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
I tried this, it works and it's pretty easy to do! Get yourself one of those portable clothing hooks that you can hang right over the top of a door. Put your schrunchie over the hook. Put your fingers through the schrunchie from the door side. Back your self up to the door and your head up to the schrunchie. Use your fingers to gather your hair and pull it through the schrunchie, using the hook as your "other hand". Twist the schrunchie and repeat as necessary.
I read your post, thought of this potential solution when waking up, tried it and couldn't believe how well it worked the first time I tried it!
Consult a Physiotherapist
Posted by Gollan on January 02, 2004 at 19:20:26: Previous Next
In Reply to: Pony tail with one hand ??? posted by dstet on December 30, 2003 at 17:00:55:
I suggest you consult with a physiotherapist. This specialist is trained to work with patients who have physical limitations to develop alternate ways to perform common daily tasks, sometimes with the use of specialized equipment. A physiotherapist can teach you to tie a ponytail and do any other hair grooming you require. Good luck, and let us know how things turn out.