Our Son's Haircut Journey: Finding the Right Barber

<p><em>This is one mother's personal experience. Every child and family is different.</em></p><p>For many families, a haircut is a small errand. For our family, it became one of the most stressful parts of the month.</p><p>My son is six and non-verbal. Haircuts have always been extremely difficult for him. The buzzing clippers, loose hairs on his neck, the cape around his body, bright lights, unfamiliar people, and someone touching his head can all feel overwhelming. What looks like a quick haircut to others can feel like far too much for him.</p><p>This has been a long journey for our family. It did not become easier quickly, and we did not find the right approach straight away. Only recently have we begun to feel more settled, after finding a barber and a routine that better support our son.</p><p>As his mum, I wanted to make it easier. But it was my husband who slowly became the person who took on the haircut journey with him.</p><h2>In the beginning, every haircut felt like a battle</h2><p>We tried different places. We arrived with toys, snacks, videos, and all the encouragement we could think of. Still, he would become upset before the haircut had properly started.</p><p>In the earlier days, my husband and I would go together. I would stand beside our son with my phone in one hand, playing the songs that sometimes helped him feel calmer, while my husband held and supported him in the chair. We were both trying our best, but it was a real struggle for all of us.</p><p>Some days, we simply had to leave because he could not sit through it. We would come home with hair that had a style all its own — uneven, sticking out in strange directions, and far from a finished haircut. Sometimes one section would grow much longer than the rest, because that was all he could manage before we had to stop.</p><p>Looking back, those moments showed us just how overwhelmed he was. Sometimes the barber was kind but unfamiliar with sensory needs. Sometimes they were in a hurry because the salon was busy. Sometimes the clippers came too close, too quickly — and each rushed or unfamiliar visit only left him more worried about the next one. It was heartbreaking to watch. But it took me far longer to truly understand <em>why</em> it was all so much for him.</p><h2>Why a haircut can feel so overwhelming</h2>