Sensory and Haircuts

Hair salons can be very difficult for sensory children. For one, they have several people coming and going from a small space. They also have a lot of noise including clippers, hair dryers, loud talking, and music in the back ground. Not to mention, it is not a place that people go very often, so it might be considered “new”. Here are some tips that have made haircuts more successful for us:

·        Call ahead and see if you can arrange a time when your child can come before they open or after closing to avoid crowds coming and going from the salon.

 

·        Ask if they can turn down or turn off the music.

 

·        Have your child sit in a parent’s lap so they feel safe.

 

·        Allow your child the option of not wearing the cape.

 

·        Tell the stylist no clippers or hair dryer- scissors only.

 

·        Give your child a distraction like a sucker/ gum, snacks, phone, or tablet.

 

·        Give your child a calming item like a critter vibe, fidget, sensory bottle, weighted lap pad, or weighted animal.

 

·        Read a social story about going to get a haircut.

 

·        Watch a video about getting a haircut.

 

·        Talk them through the process of getting a haircut before you go.

 

·        Ask them what makes them nervous when getting a haircut and try to ease those fears.

 

I hope these ideas help make your child’s haircut more successful. Good luck!