Autism Acceptance Month: Finding the Right Salon or Barbershop for Someone on the Spectrum

Finding a salon or barbershop that provides a safe space for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can make a significant difference for not only your children, but your entire family. Often, getting a haircut can feel like a tug-of-war for neurodivergent children and their parents, so we wanted to share some tips recommended by other parents of children who are on the spectrum to alleviate some of that pressure. First, let’s clear some things up.

Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, or autism is a developmental disorder that can affect communication & behavior and can begin to show in children before the age of three. It's called a spectrum because there's a wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience, which is often misconstrued. Although ASD is present from birth and usually diagnosed in early childhood, sometimes diagnoses are made later in life.

While the effects of ASD are different for everyone, there are numerous things, big and small, you can look for in your child’s barbershop or salon that help make them more inviting for individuals with autism. Here are some helpful tips you can use for finding those hairstylists or barbers, as well as some pre-haircut tricks to try, all from parents and loved ones of those who are on the spectrum.

What to Look for in Barbers & Hairstylists

Silent Appointments or Quiet Clipper Options: As you probably know, individuals on the spectrum can be especially sensitive near the ears due to auditory sensory overstimulation or discomfort. By going to a barbershop or salon that has options for quieter clippers or tools, you can ensure your child remains as comfortable as possible and help prevent any sudden motions or surprises that might otherwise ruin the haircut or service being provided. You can even consider looking for something called a silent appointment, where chit-chat and conversations with the client are kept to a minimum alongside the use of quiet tools.

Get Your Child Involved: Ask the barber or hairstylist if your child can get involved with their haircut! Doing so can help ease anxious thoughts or worries and shows that what the professional is doing is safe. The type of involvement is completely up to you (and the professional, of course!) but can look like allowing the child to turn the clippers on, try on different bibs, or even smell the different products that’ll be used. All of this, of course, is contingent upon what the child and/or barber or hairstylist is personally comfortable doing and will absolutely vary from person to person. So, find what works for you and your child! At the end of the day, you want to look for an environment where the professional is doing the service with your child, not to them.

Michael Deallfordii, Vagaro’s Customer Loyalty and Engagement manager—and more importantly, father to a child who is on the spectrum—recalls how his son’s barber had grown his own hair out so that he could cut it alongside Michael’s son during his appointment to show him that it was okay. Gestures like this are the epitome of empathy as a professional, and the type of thing you should keep an eye out for in your child’s barber or hairstylist.

Use Visual Elements & Incentives: Arguably one of the most important things you can do for your neurodivergent child is provide them with some sort of visual element or stimulation during their haircut service. You could let them watch their favorite movie or TV show (given the shop has a TV or streaming device), or even bring things like coloring books for them to work on. We’ve even heard of hairstylists offering water play during a haircut with a cup or small bucket. All of this can help keep the child focused on something other than the haircut itself and allows the professional to be as efficient as possible during the cut.

On top of fun visual elements, you could collaborate with the barbershop or salon to incentivize your child with treats, toys, or even something as simple as a sticker! Ultimately, you’re allowing haircuts to be an experience your child can look forward to, rather than something to fear. Mike mentions how his son loves mac ’n’ cheese, so his barber will sometimes give him a coupon for a local restaurant that serves it after a fresh cut. Now that is awesome.

Make Sure the Stylist is Comfortable with Pivoting: When providing a haircut to a child or someone on the spectrum, it’s paramount that, above all, the hair professional keeps an open mind and remains flexible in the face of any potential obstacles. By doing so, they’re creating an environment that your child feels welcome in and would want to return to. Some stylists will even get up and follow their client around the space if it’s difficult for them to sit still, cut hair at a sink as they partake in water play, or simply taking breaks as needed. Your stylist or barber’s ability to adapt and think on their feet can be the difference between a successful haircut, needing to go back for another service, or finding a new barbershop or salon altogether.

While it might be tough to find a salon or barbershop that’s able to be flexible and accommodate your child in the ways they may need, we encourage you to continue reading to see what you can do to reduce the amount of friction caused between you and your child when it’s time for their next haircut.

Pre-Haircut Tips from Parents for Parents

Create a Practice Haircut at Home: By familiarizing your child with the haircutting process at home, you remove some of the pre-visit nervousness from the equation. More importantly, your child can get adjusted to the sound and sensation of the clippers on their head, which is often the biggest cause of discomfort for children with ASD. If there’s anything your child is curious or anxious about, they can use that practice time to ask questions and acquaint themselves as best as possible.

Have a Routine: Though it’s different for everyone, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder often respond well to consistency and routine. Whether it's watching the same video, listening to the same pre-haircut music playlist, or wearing the same comfy haircut clothes, establishing a routine that your child can lean on and be familiar with during their experience can make the process that much more comfortable.

Be Realistic with Your Expectations: There may be times when your child can’t finish their haircut, or it might not turn out the way you envisioned due to some unforeseen events that occurred mid-haircut. That’s okay—we can’t stress that enough. Keep your expectations—both of your child and the barber or hairstylist—realistic and embrace the fact that there’s something to be learned with each new experience. Start off small; take baby steps. Try going to the barbershop or salon during its slow hours, letting your child use ear buds during their haircut (preferably Bluetooth so wires aren’t an issue), or incentivizing your child with something they’re interested in for after the service.

Using these few strategies at home, the salon, or the barbershop can make a hugely positive change in the haircutting experience for your child, yourself, and the hair professional involved. As we kick off Autism Acceptance Month this May, we hope to help ease the haircutting journey for your child & family and reinforce a more inclusive and understanding society.

Want to find professionals in your area who post their details & work upfront to give you a better idea of what kind of experience they offer? Look no further than the FREE Vagaro Marketplace!