Guides

Haircuts with an autistic child: how to make haircut day calmer

The cape, the water spray, the buzz of the clippers, hair on your neck and a stranger standing close: haircuts can be a lot. A little preparation goes a long way.

Show what will happen

Read a short visual story about having a haircut a few times in the days before. Then take a strip of the steps with you: wait, cape on, water spray, comb, clippers, mirror, say thank you, all done. Point to each step as it happens, so your child always knows what comes next and when it ends.

Practise at home

• Wear a towel as a cape while watching TV.
• Play with a spray bottle in the bath.
• Let your child see, hear and hold the clippers, switched off and then on, before they go anywhere near their head.
• Do a short pretend haircut with a comb and a mirror.

Talk to the hairdresser first

Ring ahead and ask for a quiet time, often the first appointment of the day. Say what helps: no water spray, scissors instead of clippers, short breaks, or cutting while your child sits on your lap. Some salons and barbers offer quiet or sensory-friendly appointments, so it’s worth asking.

On the day

• Bring comfort: ear defenders, a favourite toy, something to watch.
• Agree a stop sign, and stick to it when your child uses it.
• A short haircut done calmly beats a perfect one that ends in tears. You can tidy it next time.

Kits that go with this guide

• Now and Next board (£3.49): A big Now and Next board, take-along strips and 45 picture cards.
• Haircut story (£2.99): A haircut visual story, an 8-step poster and step strips to take with you.

Written by a dad to an autistic son with ADHD. This is everyday parenting advice, not medical or therapy advice. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your GP, health visitor or school SENCo.