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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you say

25 replies

Whythough78 · 21/09/2026 00:30

Someone who ends up with very matted hair that cause is most likely to be autism rather than mental health related

OP posts:
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EverydayProfessional · 22/09/2026 19:41

Whythough78 · 21/09/2026 00:30

Someone who ends up with very matted hair that cause is most likely to be autism rather than mental health related

Not necessarily. It could be possibly due to depression or any mood disorder as well.

cartagenagina · 22/09/2026 07:37

No

ToKittyornottoKitty · 22/09/2026 07:31

Whythough78 · 22/09/2026 01:00

Because it can sensory issues

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So can a fair few other things.

puppysleepdeprivation · 22/09/2026 01:56

I think I'd need more information before I'd make a guess. I'd be looking for other clues before jumping to any conclusions. As others have mentioned, age and hair type are important factors. I'd also be looking at their behaviour, demeanour, etc.

Original poster
Whythough78 · 22/09/2026 01:00

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 12:59

Why would anyone assume autism from that?

Because it can sensory issues

OP posts:
fumingrightnow1 · 21/09/2026 13:15

No my first thought would be depression. I have bipolar and when I go through a depressive episode my hair always ends up an absolute state

ToKittyornottoKitty · 21/09/2026 12:59

Why would anyone assume autism from that?

PenguinofAntarctica · 21/09/2026 12:58

Catza · 21/09/2026 08:30

Why the fuck would you think that?!
I used to work in hairdressers and my conclusion is the following : the number one risk factor for matting is being under 10 years of age. The second biggest factor is having curly hair.

Thank you!

OneInEight · 21/09/2026 11:07

When ds2 had matted hair he was both autistic and very depressed. The autism made it difficult for him to go to the Barbers and he hated the hair clippers. The depression meant he did not give a damn about his appearance and did not care about the hair being matted.

OriginalSkang · 21/09/2026 10:56

No, not at all

Itsasecretnow · 21/09/2026 10:56

I think more than likely due to depression, I’d say this is the more common reason it happens. But I guess autism can possibly cause someone to not like brushing/washing their hair due to how it feels, or something like that, but I wouldn’t say it was particularly a common trait and is more likely depression.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 21/09/2026 08:48

No

Catza · 21/09/2026 08:30

Why the fuck would you think that?!
I used to work in hairdressers and my conclusion is the following : the number one risk factor for matting is being under 10 years of age. The second biggest factor is having curly hair.

Wajeehakamran · 21/09/2026 07:17

Not necessarily. Matted hair can happen for lots of reasons, including mental health difficulties, executive functioning issues, sensory sensitivities or simply struggling with self-care. Autism could be a factor, but it wouldn’t be enough on its own to assume that.

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 21/09/2026 06:57

No.

It could be any one of many reasons.

sparrownetsuke · 21/09/2026 05:11

My daughter is autistic and when she was profoundly depressed, she let her curly hair go into mats.

Katemax82 · 21/09/2026 05:06

My daughter is autistic and very obsessive about looking after her hair

HelmholtzWatson · 21/09/2026 04:46

PollyBell · 21/09/2026 00:37

Why autism? That ia not the answer to everything in the world

it is on MumsNet.

Millytante · 21/09/2026 03:57

Clinically depressed, more like.
Or the ‘person’ is one of my cats, who grew extremely fat and could not groom herself and now she’s svelte again, hasn’t taken it up again. I’m scissoring off little twirls of fur on her belly any chance I get (ie when she hasn’t observed my approach with a weapon)
Seriously: a person might have experienced some psychological trauma and left off self-care while deeply depressed, and when recovered to herself again, still leaves one or two details of grooming to Providence.

(Another possibility is that the person is a small red-headed girl of quasi-royal degree, whose parents never brush her hair! 😈)

Releasemeplease · 21/09/2026 03:38

I would never have even thought of associating matted hair with Autism and I'm Autistic.
I would assume depression or possibly some other mental health condition.

SilenceInside · 21/09/2026 00:48

No, not at all. Nothing about autism would mean matted hair is likely. Any one individual with autism might have an issue with hair washing or brushing due to sensitivities around the sensations. But that isn't a common feature of autism.

I'd likely think the person was depressed or had another mental health issue, rather than that they were autistic.

BeigeCardiganOfDoom · 21/09/2026 00:44

No.

BibbityBoppityTwo · 21/09/2026 00:38

Could be either - depression causing a lack of concern for basic personal upkeep, or autism creating sensory issues with not like hair brushing - or neither. Impossible to tell.

PollyBell · 21/09/2026 00:37

Why autism? That ia not the answer to everything in the world

VanGoghsSunflower · 21/09/2026 00:33

I think the first thing people think is that the person could be depressed.

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