Getting a haircut for most people doesn’t take much thought. It may be the highlight of your month to go to the hair salon and be transformed into a fresher “new” you! However, if you are a parent who has a child that struggles with sensory sensitivities, getting a haircut can be the worst part of your month.
Take a step back and think about all the sounds of the hair salon: buzzers buzzing, various people chattering, music playing in the background, blowdryers, water for the shampooing, a vacuum all going at once. Now imagine being a child who had difficulty processing all of these different stimuli at once. Can you see how going to just any salon on just any day can be a bit overwhelming?
Lisa, a stylist at Shear Artistry, Personalized Hair Care in New Holland, found herself personally needing a change of environment for her child with sensory sensitivities. After talking with other parents who have children with similar needs as her own, she decided to take matters into her own hands and begin exploring how to start “sensory-friendly” hair cuts for those who desperately needed it.
In April 2018, Lisa began to bring her dreams to life. She has seen many children who were not able to get their hair cut before, finally able to get their hair cut! There are children who are now actually looking forward to their next visit with Lisa, instead of being afraid and anxious about it.
One client said “It has been a godsend to have people like Lisa from Shear Artistry offering sensory sensitive haircuts for children with special needs. Before I would take my daughter maybe 1-2 times a year for a haircut because anywhere you go it’s either really noisy and you have to always wait. Being able to come on a Sunday just me and my daughter and working with a stylist like Lisa who understands your child and is able to quickly and efficiently get her haircut and make her feel at ease is a blessing.” -Nicole, Gia’s Mom
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So what does a Sensory-Friendly appointment look like? If you find yourself in need of this type of appointment, you contact Lisa at sensoryfriendlyappts@gmail.com and she makes a personal call to you to find out what your family’s specific needs are. She asks a lot of questions such as, what are your child’s likes and dislikes, are they ok with a blow dryer/clippers/lights, and other questions to make the environment comfortable for the child. A personalized social story is also available upon request.
The family will meet on a Sunday with Lisa in the empty salon, just the family and Lisa will get to work! The child can sit on a parent’s lap, they can choose the music or have no music on, they can walk around and see all of the different things in the salon to feel comfortable with the area, whatever is best for the child, Lisa will make happen!
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Lisa has seen a great response to this service she has been offering and many of the parents are rebooking for additional appointments. She is one of the many people in our community who see a need, and then instead of waiting for someone else to fill it, she filled the need herself and is doing an incredible job!
If you are interested in learning more about the Sensory-Friendly appointments you can email Lisa at sensoryfriendlyappts@gmail.com.
Stay up to date by following Lisa and Shear Artistry Personalized Hair Care on Facebook, Instagram, and their Google Business page.
