Autism-friendly haircuts: sensory adjustments and choice

M’s Hour: Making a Hair Salon More Comfortable for Children with ASD

By Gee · Originally published 31 January 2018

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Original article and dated context

Style Em for Hair’s Gee recently introduced M’s Hour at her salon, so that children and youth who typically struggle getting haircuts can now get them done in a more comfortable environment. The salon has since closed, but it’s a wonderful initiative that we wanted to continue sharing.

For some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), haircuts can be an uncomfortable experience. Not so long ago, we witnessed this at our hair salon, Style Em For Hair, when a wonderful young boy simply refused one.

Despite this, we knew that there must be a way to make our salon a more comfortable environment. After a short conversation with the young boy and his mum, we made some adjustments and had a really successful haircut.

This inspired us to make a regular change and begin M’s Hour, to ensure children and their parents feel more comfortable in our salon. So, what changes did we make and what can we all learn from the experience?

What do we do?

We offer M’s Hour every second Tuesday afternoon, although we make sure that times and days can be flexible if needed. When people make their bookings, we also consult with them to gain as much information as we can – for example, is there a particular part of a haircut that is disliked?

During the hour, and after much research, we decided to make a number of adjustments to make children with ASD feel more comfortable, including:

Playing no loud music
Making sensory toys and IPADs available
Offering colouring books
Allowing 1-hour appointments (to account for breaks if necessary)
Having only two children in the salon at one time
Preparing a schedule and social story for the appointment.

[Clickability update, October 2026: These are the salon’s practical experiences, not universal instructions. Autism Association of Western Australia strategies emphasises individual sensory needs and choice. Agree changes with the child and family, including whether the parent stays.]

What have we discovered?

We’ve only recently started M’s Hour, but we’ve come up with some practical tips to help make haircuts easier. Parents will probably know many of these things, but here we go:

If children dislike the sound of buzzing caused by clippers, we encourage parents to bring ear plugs (that is, if ear plugs are something that work for the child of course!)
We recommend developing a routine for haircuts, so that appointments can be scheduled on the same time and day.
We tell parents not to hesitate in bringing a child’s favourite food or toy along to a haircut–this can often be used as a reward.
We provide a visual supports and schedules so a child can see the routine of the cut and become prepared (click here).
We believe it’s important to keep a child’s haircut simple to start with–as a child develops a relationship with our stylists, they can then request more style in the cut.
We encourage parents to step away from their child and stylist after the first few minutes (if possible), so that the stylist can work with the child independently.
We also allow parents to bring their child for a casual visit to the salon so that they can become familiarised with it. We get parents to ring beforehand so we can ensure the salon is not too busy and overwhelming.

What can we learn?

By transforming our salon for children and youth who struggle with haircuts, we’ve made it become a much more comfortable place. And the important thing? These little hints and adjustments aren’t just limited to salons. A lot of these changes can be made in other areas or sectors..

It’s all about thinking outside the box and coming up with new ideas to ensure more and more people feel comfortable.

Clickability editorial update: October 2026

Prepare around your child’s preferences

Ask what part of a haircut feels difficult: the sound, touch, smell, waiting or uncertainty. Share the useful details with the salon and ask what can be changed. A quiet appointment or familiarisation visit may help, but choose the options that suit this child.

Agree how the child can signal a pause or stop and whether they want you nearby. A social story can explain the sequence without promising that every step will feel comfortable. Keep the ordinary haircut cost separate from any eligible disability-related assistance.

Offer adjustments without requiring one standard routine

Before the appointment, ask about communication and sensory preferences. Explain what can be changed, including timing, noise and breaks. Avoid assuming that every autistic child needs the same preparation or that a parent leaving is the goal.

Check consent as the appointment progresses and respect a request to stop. Discuss what worked with the child and family, then record agreed preferences for a future visit. Autism WA’s support strategies offer ideas for adapting environments while keeping choice central.

Questions readers ask

Can families book the original M’s Hour salon?

The original article states that the salon has closed. Its schedule is historical.

Should the parent always step away?

No. Decide with the child and family; the original suggestion is not a requirement.

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