Does your neirodiversity affect how you keep your hair?

[ofwarren]

I have to have a wash and go type of style. It's mainly long with no fringe as I can't stand the feel on my forehead. I generally tie it back though. I use hair clips or headband on a windy day because I get so angry when my hair blows onto my face.

I don't dye my hair so I have some greys showing through now.
I'd love to be able to have colourful hair but I wouldn't be able to deal with the upkeep. I also like curly hair but I can't stand the feel of products in my hair.

Just noticed the typo in the title.
Annoying.

I do go to the hairdresser even though I hate it.
I have naturally brown (greying) hair but I choose to be blonde. I can’t do this myself, I have tried it looks shit.
I go through phases of thinking ‘be natural’ but I hate it. I was always into different hair/clothes, a bit goth etc when I was younger and I suppose that has just carried through.
I don’t like the feel of products either. I like it too feel really soft. I always leave before they do the whole blow dry thing. I know they think I’m a bit weird 😁
Have I even answered the question?! I don’t think I ever answer the question 😂

Yes. I find it odd that the uniform of the visible internet autistic seems to be a high-maintenance, uncomfortable hairdo that requires daily intensive styling with copious product, frequent application of uncomfortable, strong-smelling chemicals, and regular trips to the hairdresser's, all to send a complex social message with your hair. But then I guess not all autistic people have sensory sensitivities and those who do will have different ones.

Yes exactly. Aesthetically I think it looks wonderful because I really sensory seek visually, I love bright colours, patterns and especially rainbows but I couldn't deal with any of that. They must have to go to the hairdressers at least once every 2 months to keep the colour fresh.

Yes I have to have very short hair otherwise I have issues washing and brushing my hair
I cannot go to a hairdressers so I have a mobile hairdresser come to me
he comes and cuts my hair every 6 weeks which keeps it manageable for me

I have to have an easy layered style that can grow out a bit because sometimes I can't face going to the hairdresser for a while. I need it fairly short because it gets too tangled and hard to look after if it's too long. It's going grey naturally because I haven't got the commitment to keep the roots done. Apart from not being able to go to the hairdresser sometimes, I don't know if it's due to my ASD or laziness.

I have grey roots more often than not because I just can’t manage to organise myself to make a phone call and schedule an appointment.

I always feel exhausted after the hairdresser.

I cut my own hair, as I can't deal with the hairdresser. Too many smells and noises. And it is naturally wavy, but there's a stage when hair is airdrying that I hate - soaking wet is fine, dry is fine, partially dry with very wet underneath makes me want to tear my hair out.

I have naturally very curly hair (Type 3A/B, for CGs!) and, after years of blow-drying and straightening it in an effort to look 'normal', I went full curly girl during lockdown.

Now I just co-wash it a couple of times a week (an added bonus, as I don't like getting wet), put some stuff in it - I don't do 'full' CG, it's too much faff - and leave it. I'm going a little grey, but because of the texture of my hair, it isn't that noticeable.

I get my hair cut twice a year at most by an excellent curl specialist who doesn't faff, massage my scalp or insist on talking to me.

An added bonus of having reverted to my natural hair type is that, for the first time in my life, when I look in the mirror, I look like me.

Very short hair here, getting naturally grey - I had my hair coloured for my wedding 8 years ago and said never again:) In lockdown my wife has discovered hairdressing skills so she cuts my hair now which is a massive relief as I hated going to the hairdressers.

Yes - I won't let anyone else anywhere near it. Last time I went to a hairdresser was under parental duress in 1989.

I'm ADHD rather than autism but I have quite a lot of sensory stuff. Fringes make me shiver! My problem is remembering to brush my hair. It has a natural wave so I try to tell myself it just looks 'natural'. I get highlights and cut 3 times a year and then ignore it in between. It helps that I love my hairdresser as a human - when she retires I'm screwed.

I also tie my hair back from my face quite often as it gets in the way and makes me feel hot, which then gives me the rage!

I often forget to go to the hairdresser for ages, and when I do I explain that the most I can do is blow dry my hair upside down - anything more complicated is an automatic no-no! I've just had my hair coloured for the first time ever. Worried about the upkeep and the cost but actually love the colour as it is matched to mine just to cover some grey.

I do love the sensory experience of going to the hairdresser though. Like having my hair washed and I think it's fascinating watching hair being cut! I'm very bad at the small talk though

yes.

long, tied back. must get a head band for windy days

I always have it fairly short, over the first lockdown I shaved it all off and then let it grow out. But never let it go below my chin, grims me out when I can feel it hanging or near my shoulders.
Never go to a hair dressers, always cut it myself, it's curly so never comb it apart from after washing it and I don't own a hairdryer as the noise is urgh

My hair is just as it grows. Not cut in years. Wash and go. Never blow dried. Rarely brushed!

Same! I wash it once a week and tie it back. It doesn't seem to need brushing.

Oh god yes, fringes feel awful. Ice tried to have one a few times as I genuinely like the look but I just can't deal with the feel of it.

I feel awful saying this because I think Claudia Winkelman is absolutely beautiful but I can't bear to look at her because THE FRINGE makes me feel like I'm screaming inside 😬😂Because when I look at her I can FEEL it and the feeling makes me want to scream / sob / rip my own skin off lol.

Yes, I recognise this is a total me being weird issue but it's a relief to find people who might understand!

And yes to tying it back, mine is mostly scraped back in a ponytail except when I need to be halfway 'dressed' in meetings.

Actually not even a ponytail, it's too dangly. A sort of bunched up ponytail like a really terrible bun.

A bit like how I can't bear it when they have sweaty people on the telly, because it makes my eyes sting and my skin itch in a kind of sweaty mirror neuron nightmare?

😂
I am amongst my people! *fist bump

🤜🤛

I do the bunched up ponytail too! We have the same hair 😆