ASD and hair cuts

[twoprettybabies]

Hi everyone,
 I am just curious to know how many of you find it difficult to bring your asd child/children to the salon. Also I would like to know what you do instead if you find you cant go to the salon. Please satisfy my curiosity. Thanks a bunch!......Monica 

[Dylansmom115]

Hey I am a hairstylist and yes it is very common. My son screamed even when I did his hair. I do have a couple suggestions. Do you have a place where they only do kids? We have a place here called Kids Cuts. They have a little more patience since they only deal with kids. Plus the kids can play video games or watch movies while they are getting trimmed. Buzz cuts are the fastest and easiest.  Tell the stylist they are Autistic  so they have a little more compassion instead of getting frustrated.

[gccmom]

wow - at one point ,it was crying for us too.  We take in his favorite candy and his focus changes to that object.  I have used the I-Pod with the T.V. screen in it to play the movie Cars.  This way it also /off sets/ the sound.  The earphones do not go over his head.

[EveryoneReading]

Now that my son is 16, we no longer have sensory issues with the haircuts. Instead, the issue is haircut appearance over the course of the day. I can make sure he starts the day with his hair in place, but he refuses to comb it during the day, and runs his hand through his hair. Left to his own devices, it would NEVER occur to him to look in a mirror to check the state of his hair. We finally went with a buzz cut - not because it looks wonderful (it doesn't), but because it isn't as noticeable that he does nothing at all with his hair. A suggestion for the younger children: My other son, although he doesn't have AS, always screamed when he got his preschool haircuts. We finally realized that it was the hair on his face and in his mouth (worse when he screamed because his mouth was more wide open) that was bothering him, so we gave him a small towel he could put over his mouth. For him, that was what he needed, and the screaming stopped.

[sallyyd]

My son did not like hair cut until he was almost 3 and half. We did try lots of things,  but it only work for him when he was ready. Maybe we should just wait. He still hates shampooing his hair. Sally

[BAMzMommy]

My son has ADHD & ASD & isn't afraid of much but doctors, dentist, & haircuts send him into frenzies.  Now that he's 5 does so much better with haircuts.  I pretend I'm a barber with a funny accent.  I have him sit on a bar stool that's high like a barber chair, and I put a sheet over his clothes just like a barber.  Every time he starts fidgeting or getting annoyed I would say something in my funny accent & he cracks up.  This is the only way I can make him comfortable with haircuts.  As for doctors & his dentist... I'm still searching for help on that.

[Tiffany6996]

Metal on metal send my son into fits and that even mean sissors so we have to do hair cuts at home and thats with 2 people holding him. So when find something that works please let me know

[justgrape723]

 I cut my sons hair in shifts. one day its the front , the next day the sides, the next day the back, the next day the top then a clean up cut the next day if needed.

I find as he gets older it has gotten easier.

When I do go to the salon, I try to go to the salon on slow days (call ahead, speak to the owner/manager explain what is going on ) I find being upfront and frank goes a long way. the owner can steer you to a stylist who is better able to cope over one that may not be as good with our kids

[TinkerNVA]

With my son we have to do it at home he has gotten much better. but he Hates to have his hair washed you would think i was cutting him or somthing to put water on his head.  we talk him through it ask him if it is ok and have him "help"me cut his hair have him hold something.  we are getting better but still hard people out side think i am beating my kid. so when it is nice out i cut his hair on the frount portch so they can see that i am not beating him he just HATEs things touching him exp his head.  for Aiden thinking he is helping goes along way

[gccmom]

I went in and talked to the person that cuts his hair- the day before.  It goes very well if the person knows that your baby is just a little different. 

[gigibell_2000]

hi,

its a nightmare for me and my son connor. I feel so bad doing it to him but its one of the things that need to be done.