Autism - advice for hairdressers

[LittlePineapple]

I'm getting the chance to talk to some hairdressers about autism (myself and kids are autistic).

However I know my experience is just my experience....

Id love to know what other advice you'd give hairdressers about a understanding autism or what would really help you/your child when having your hair cut.

My DC always takes some polo's to the hairdressers and socks on them. Theor hairdresser times him.on how long it takes to finish one. Takes 2-3 polo's per hair cut. Helps them focus on a different sensory sensation, distraction of someone touching their hair.

My DC cannot stand silence so for him low background noise is fine, can't stand silence as they hear the lights buzzing, chairs moving, scissors snipping around their ears amplified.

I think it would be helpful to explain options and that these are all choices.

When I started going to the hairdresser as a young adult, I booked a cut and blow dry because that was what my mum had always booked for me. I couldn't have articulated that I thought that was the rule (my autism was diagnosed much later) but it was what I thought was supposed to happen.

I didn't enjoy the hairdressers because I didn't like the lack of control and didn't like having my hair washed because it was uncomfortable and I never knew how to make small talk with the junior who did hair washing.

One day, the hairdresser was running late and asked if I minded having a dry cut instead. I still remember the relief of finding out that I didn't have to have the hair wash.

For other autistic people there may be different things that they think you have to do but which are just preferences.

I take my daughter to an independent hairdresser who works from her house as my daughter just couldn’t cope with the noise of a busy salon. It’s made such a difference to her.

my 16 year old is going around at the minute with scraggly hair cos he hates it so much and needs days to mentally ready himself. He once got a tiny bit of hair in his mouth when he was small and it put a fear into him!

I can't phone up and often can't wait for an appointment as I need it done the day I decide to and executive functioning makes planning ahead really difficult.
Atm it's too hard because of all the social anxiety involved in going, so I'm basically cutting my own hair badly at home.

This is all so helpful thankyou. I'm going to be talking to hairdressers that are training and I'm hoping this will at least make them aware - and some may go down specialising in this area maybe.

I am so not a hairdresser or anything like that just a lot of experience of autism and keen to talk about it!

Thankyou everyone.

My DS likes them to take it slow, and the hairdresser he used to have would check with him constantly, so that not too much was taken off. She also would put his music on to make him feel comfortable (it was a small salon, no more than 1 or 2 at a time). I find hairdressers a really boring place to be, it takes so long when I think I could be doing other things, and knowing what to say is hard. It's fine if I find a hairdresser I can relate to, but I need to find a hairdresser who's into more alternative things. I do love the hair washing though, I get a lot of sensory stuff from my scalp. I usually now dye my hair at home, and visit the hairdresser just once a year when it needs cutting.

I hate the hairdryer so always ask for a dry cut. I found a lot of hairdressers reluctant to do it (I only have a medium bob, no restyling) but I have found one who is happy to dry cut. I also hate the small talk; it makes me feel so uncomfortable. I wish I could explain why but I don’t have the skills.

the biggest thing autistic people need their hairdresser to do is listen - if I say my DC is quite uncomfortable with chat so please talk to me re that hair not them and they just chat away to the child regardless I am never taking my child back. It’s the very basic respect we need, not to be ignored bc someone else thinks they know better.