Haircuts for Asperger children

Helen - posted on 03/12/2010

My fiancee's son, practically my step-son is 6yrs. and has a mild case of austism. I've know him since he was 3yrs. and he's has always hated haircuts. We usually try to cut it ourselves with clippers, just simply shaving it to keep easy. It definitly took sometime and LOTS of patience, but he is 6 now and allows us to cut his hair with little fight compare to before. The keys is to make them feel helpful and show him it doesn't hurt. Let him hold the clippers and show him the vibration and noise isn't harmful. My fiancee would actually cut his own hair at the same time and allowed his son to hold the clippers against his own head. After cutting their hair together and helping each he puts up no fight and takes it as father son time. Its amazing how much he has progressed with haircuts and letting his dad cut his hair. I certainly don't miss the days of being punch in the eyes trying to give him a haircut, but patientence and making feel a apart of the process helps. Good Luck!

Trudy - posted on 03/11/2010

I tried to keep my son's hair short to help with the maintenance. My son screamed for years and it was very hard to handle the situation but there were times when I just had to wash his hair. Now he's 21 and he shaves his head himself. Go figure!

Sandy - posted on 03/11/2010

My son hated the clippers. I think it was the slight vibration that bothered him. I have no snip-its here (too bad it sounds awesome), but I finally found a lady who is very patient and uses only scissors. She has another child that sits still for her ( only for her) since he gets a mini-massage after his haircut. I tried this with my son, but it did not help. But she takes her time with him ( very important) and I understand that when he is done, he is done, even if his hair is not perfect.

Renee - posted on 03/11/2010

I also take my son to Snip-its one of the stylists told me she tok a haircutting workshop for cutting hair of children with autism. I would ask around without bringing your child until you find someone who understands.

Donna - posted on 03/11/2010

my son has been cut no thanks to hair dresser. from then on it was even worse to get it cut, I started to do it my self. now that he is almost 14 I take him every couple months he gets a treat for letting them do it and I make sure I let the hair dresser know to be easy let them know why. I get very rude back when it comes to my son there is no need in telling him they cut or drown him.

Meredith - posted on 03/11/2010

I take my son to a chain called Snip-Its which trains its employees on working with kids with sensory processing issues. They've been great with my son. They have tv screens and toys to distract him, they usually keep a hair dryer on for background noise (but they never blow it on him), they use a very quiet electric shaver thingy instead of scissors, and they're very patient. Here's a link to their list of locations:

http://www.snipits.com/locations/StoreLo...