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A woman with silver-streaked hair cupping warm water at a stone basin, a towel and a wooden brush beside it

Skin & hair · 20 min

Do each other's hair

A comb, a few ties and twenty minutes. Brushing, braiding or styling someone's hair is one of the oldest ways of spending time together.

20 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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In many families and cultures, doing each other's hair is a time for talking, telling stories and being close. It needs no skill to start: a comb, a few hair ties and twenty minutes together.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Ask someone you are close to if they would like to do each other's hair: a child, a grandchild, a friend, a partner, the person you care for.

  2. Sit so one person is comfortably in front of the other, with a comb, a brush, a few soft ties and a mirror.

  3. Take turns: brush, then try a simple style, a braid, a twist, a bun. If you do not know one, ask them to teach you, or look one up together.

  4. Swap over. Afterwards, take a photo if you both like, or just look in the mirror together.

The reason

Why it helps

Gentle touch and close attention are comforting, and doing hair gives both. It is also a natural time to talk, side by side, without having to look at each other. Learning a style from someone, or teaching one, passes something on.

A gentle variation

If someone's scalp is sensitive or they find it hard to sit for long, keep it to brushing for five minutes. Short hair can still be combed, massaged or styled with a little product.

Neighbours setting a long table in a green garden

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

This is a practice for two. For someone you care for, it can be a calm moment of connection that is not about care tasks. Let them choose the style and the music.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

This week, ask someone close to you if they would like to spend twenty minutes doing each other's hair.

Add it to your day

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