Imagine a stranger with a sharp object in one hand and a scratchy tool in the other coming towards you, then drenching you in water and blasting you with loud, hot air – unsettling, right? For many autistic children, getting a haircut can feel like a waking nightmare.
That’s where Sarah from Lavelle Hair steps in. As a hairdresser who specialises in sensory-friendly haircuts, Sarah has visited the children at the AEIOU Logan centre every six weeks over the last year, working with therapists to transform a stressful experience into multiple positive – and super cute – haircuts.
Sarah says creating a positive haircut experience for kids with sensory sensitivities begins with a relationship based on trust.
“I start by taking away the ‘scary’ from the tools I use. I’ll give the child the hairbrush, so they can feel the bristles. I’ll let them look at the scissors, and we’ll listen to how they sound when they cut.
“I’ve used a vibrating toothbrush to help children get used to the buzzing noise of clippers being close to their ears and on their head. We explore this space at their own pace before I cut a single hair.”
For a smoother salon visit, Sarah encourages families to familiarise their child with the whole haircut experience ahead of the big day.
“Build play into your hair washing and brushing routine. Show them the clothes they’ll wear at the salon to keep those prickly hair trims away, like the cape or a long-sleeved T-shirt if they prefer.
“I also invite families to drop by the salon with their child before an appointment, so the child can see and be in the space without the pressure of a haircut that minute,” Sarah says.
With a little preparation and communication, a haircut for a child with sensory needs can go from hellish to a sensory-friendly dream.
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