Cartoon Cuts

Buzzing clippers, chatty customers, having to sit still for a long time — haircuts are hard for a lot of neurodivergent kiddos.

Most salons or barber shops can be adjusted to make them more sensory friendly, but it’s important to find a hair stylist who is open to these accommodations. It’s a good idea to call the salon or barber shop before you arrive and see what they can do to make the experience more sensory friendly. For example, are they able to dim the lights? Have they worked with neurodivergent children in the past? Can they do a haircut without clippers? Etc. 

Sensory-friendly haircuts accommodate people with sensory sensitivities (like autism, SPD, or ADHD). If you’re cutting your child’s hair at home or taking them to a professional, here are 7 things to consider for a sensory-friendly haircut: 

1. A calm, quiet, familiar environment
2. Softer lighting
3. Sensory-friendly tools
4. Accommodating sensory needs
5. Visual aids
6. Flexibility and patience
7. Communication and cues

To read more, check out our sensory-friendly haircut checklist.

We wrote a whole article about this. Check out A parent’s guide to giving a sensory friendly haircut at home.