Hair Cut Affects Mask Fit

[Art Stan]

Hi everyone:

I've had a very strange issue for the almost ten years I've been using CPAP: about 4 weeks after I get my hair cut, I start having pain in my upper jaw. I assume this means that my hair's grown thick enough that my strap is too tight. The problem is, if I loosen it enough to feel comfortable, I tend to get leaks.

The result has been that I get my hair cut every 4 weeks, to eliminate the problem. But this is too frequent. My hair has gotten shorter and shorter, and sometimes I've gone in for a cut and had the stylist say, "I'm not sure what you want me to do here."

This has improved since I got a DreamWear mask last year - I've gone up to two months between hair cuts, and it's grown out a fair bit. (I was using Zest or Mirage FX before - all had the same problem.)

But now I'm having the pain just three weeks after a trim. It makes me feel dopey too - not unlike a high AHI night, though that is not the problem.

Any advice here? Both my sleep doctor and machine/mask supplier have just told me to adjust my mask, but as I say, I can't seem to find a good compromise there.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Hydrangea]

My hair definitely affects how my masks fit. Since I have long hair, it causes the headgear to slide off/around, which causes leakage.

I've had to figure out how best to wear my hair, to make each mask fit the best.

I've assumed men have it easier, with shorter and pokier hair to not be so slippery.

But yeah, I can definitely understand your predicament. I wonder if it changes the angle of the straps the tiniest bit.

[GrammaBear]

I have noticed a similar thing when I get my hair cut. I have short hair and even that affects how my mask fits after a hair cut. I try to time it so I can change my long, short hoses and mask thereby hoping to avoid the 'adjustments' I need to do. I have not noticed any pain elsewhere in my face, but I can understand your frustrations.