My version of Chinese confinement do’s and don’ts, the modern way part 2

This is a continuation of part 1

I guess the number 1 no no during confinement is washing hair.

Why can’t we wash hair?

After experiencing it, now i finally know why and i would like share and explain this belief. Let’s go back to the past. Long long time ago in China where the weather is freezing cold, women gave birth and there were no electric water heater. In fact they even have to well the water up when they need it. There for, it was inconvenient and of course if you want hot water you will need to boil it. Which leads to chopping wood and making a fire (all this in the freezing cold weather) Wouldn’t it be easier to just not do it. After all in cold weather you don’t sweat, and you don’t smell. After giving birth pores in your body are all open, especially the pores on your head. There are many tiny pores where your hair is growing. Unlike your skin, there are very small and there’s a whole lot of them. You can imagine where all the hair is coming from. This is why, when you wash hair the wind will easily get in the body or in your head to be exact, resorting to getting a headache later on.

My experience

I could only last for 5 days of not washing my hair. It’s my itchy scalp that’s killing me, not the hair. Ever since i was preggers i have oily hair and my scalp was very itchy. First, bath then wash your hair separately (either bath first, or wash your hair first, not together) What i would do is bath then wash my hair, so right after that i can blow dry straight away. I love to take hot bath but warm is good  too. You can feel that the pores in your head is widely open because when the water hits, you feel there’s a cooling effect. Ya very strange but that’s how it is. Right after, quickly blow dry your scalp don’t focus on the hair. You want to make sure that your scalp is dry throughly. I’ve been doing that and so far so good, no headaches or pain. Until one time…..

It was already 1 month i was taking a shower in my mom’s bathroom and she left the air condition on. I blow dry my hair with the air condition on thinking it’s hot and it’s been 1 month so it should be fine. Boy was i wrong. 1 Hour later i was feeling this nagging pain on the left side of my head. It feels like migraine off and on the entire night. I start to massage it and it felt like a bruise (like when you rub a black and blue) I remember when i blow dry my hair the left side is facing the air condition. Wind must have gotten in on the left side. Had the discomfort the whole night, didn’t even sleep well. I was so worried, shit lor this time dunno when it will go away. LUCKILY….. it went away the next day. Whew!  Lesson learned, after that i dare not do the same thing again. Never had a headache like that again.

So the conclusion is that getting wind out is very important. But not to the extend of not washing your hair for 1 month. Just have to do it the right way. Wash your hair and blow dry it immediately.

Should you cut your hair short?

I didn’t cut my hair, after i gave birth it was pretty long (until bra strap) If you have short hair it is definitely more convenient. Like washing hair, you can prolong the days of washing it since it’s short. After awhile i find myself lazy washing my own hair. It gets oily real fast and my scalp is super itchy. It just seems so long and such a hassle. Almost had it cut, but i didn’t (got a perm instead, hehe) With short hair it’s more convenient when carrying a baby. Won’t be in the way. Of course with long hair, i always tie it up. So all the talk about cutting hair, it’s just for the convenience nothing to do with any beliefs

Don’t go out during confinemet

Hibernating in the the house for 1 month is very boring. You just can’t wait to get out. I went out after 2 weeks. Well not on purpose, need to get some baby stuff so i quickly went to a mall and buy some stuff. It was not a very good experience. The mall was filled with people and i quickly try to buy what i needed and head home. Half way through i felt a little dizzy and my feet was very tired. I think my body has not adjusted. Felt a little light headed and i thought to myself, OK this why people don’t go out, lol.  The body really do need to recover and re-adjust after giving birth. All the hormones are hay wired and a little off. Conclusion….do stay home for the first month. Even though you feel well,  let your body recover first.

Opps! another long one… gonna stop here, check out part 3 ^_^

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