A sweet friend comes to my home to cut my hair. It’s been a lifesaver. This week she also cut Parker’s hair.
Easy Peasy, no?
Not even close.
First is to have Parker assume the special haircut position. Yes, this indeed required the help of both of Parker’s older brothers.
Then come the clippers. Along with the yelling. You’d never know a kid with pulmonary hypertension could make so much noise..
The 22 year old wanted to give Parker a Faux Hawk along with letting him grow out a hair ‘tail’ just like his. I told him no, that one person in this family with an utterly ridiculous haircut was enough.
I have no words.
Tthe sixteen year old often leaves me speechless. He’s trying to act all buff and tough here. He’s not quite ready to go prime time with this look. At least by this time the haircut was almost finished.
What is it about many kids with special needs and hair cuts? Sensory issues? Personal space issues? Fear of being forced to sport a Bieber ‘do?* This kid has had a lot of haircuts and the entire experience is only getting worse. No sooner than my friend walks in the door and Parker is waving goodbye to her while making a beeline to anyplace she isn’t.
What about your child? Do they have issues with getting their hair cut? How have you solved these issues?
*I could NEVER be that cruel to one of my kids. heh.
Twitter: Alicecrumbs
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YES! Exactly the same! Clippers are quick and safe but the howling and fighting make it seem like we’re killing him. Urgh.
U s too!!!! It isn’t just him though. We all go at the same time to get our haircut. He absolutely does NOT like the stylist to cut my hair at all. I don’t know if he thinks she is hurting me or not. Sigh…….
Steph and Christopher
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Our Liam is the same way. We have started showing him a special dvd that is only for haircuts that has helped some. (doesn’t get to see it any other time) He hollers and fights us so it is a whole family affair. But now that we started that dvd thing he will actually go find the clippers and bring them to me because he wants the dvd. I am hoping this is progress. He is due for a haircut soon so I will let you know “
We haven’t attempted to cut Em’s hair yet, but my son was awful!! No he doesn’t have any special needs but he sure was not into having his hair cut. We were basically banned from every hair cutting place in RI. Total and absolute fear of the whole process. He would leave crying and shaking and I ‘m sure we left a couple of hair stylists in tears too. He has since grown out of it but I was left to do the hair cutting for a few years … not good.
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Sorry to hear about the haircut struggles. Both Joey and Isaiah don’t mind haircuts. I usually sing Barney or ST! songs while I’m cutting/buzzing or we put the DVD player in front of them. A time or two for Joey required an older brother to sing and dance in front of him to keep him happy and giggling. Hopefully things start getting better for you and not continue the downslide of getting worse. Oh and I have a couple of those boys who act all buff and tough. I know EXACTLY what you mean when you say “I have no words”. I can so relate. Al least you have a little girlleness going on in your household…mine is full of boys.
I know I shouldn’t be laughing – but recounting of the event just tickles me……
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Jax doesn’t have this problem, but he doesn’t understand what we are doing. With him its more the hands to keep his head up, because he can’t on his own. Although Tanner, my autistic one, still to this day hates haircuts. He doesn’t scream like he used to, but he whines and asks every 5 seconds if I’m done. The hair on his neck and back make him nuts as well!!
He finally out grew it and now really likes going to get his haircut from one of his favorite “girls”. It was a really long hard time coming though. I found a person who had an autistic child that was really good with him, always took Cherish, always had a picture of a bribe (usually McDonald’s fires and a Hollywood movie coupon back when those were the two favorites, later it became “RED BOX”) and it was still traumatic! Good luck, hope the trauma ends for you sooner than it did for us
It’s only been in the last year that I’ve been able to cut William’s hair while he is awake. Before that, I had to wait until he was asleep and then would cut it. We tried once, years ago, to use clippers but he freaked out at the sound and we had to wrap him in a towel so Robert could hold him while I zipped the clippers across his hair. William broke out all over from the stress so we never did that again.
The way it’s worked for the past year is I put on a movie or show he really likes, he sits on the ottoman, and I try to be as quick as possible. By the time I get to anywhere near the ears or back of the neck, I get 20 snips of the scissors so I have to make ‘em worthwhile. Otherwise he goes into sensory overload and I can’t finish. The counting gives him the control he needs so I can finish up. There was a time when he went to school with mullets before I figured that one out.
He did actually sit in our hairdresser’s chair the last time Robert went, and William let her take a few snips of his hair, cleaning up some places I didn’t get to at his last haircut.
Sarah is pretty good about getting her hair cut, but I’m guessing it’s because it doesn’t involve buzzing machinery right by her ears. However, getting her teeth looked at/cleaned is a whole other story. She had her appointment this week and as soon as she sat in the chair, she was saying “HURT, HURT!” and waving bye-bye.
It always takes at least two days to complete a haircut on Max. Nightmare!
Obviously, you struck a nerve based on the amount of replies! I started doing Nana’s myself because I couldn’t find anyone patient enough here in CA after we moved. I tried once, but the lady made us feel like crap, I tipped her too much for her ‘trouble’ and her hair looked bad. So, now I park her in front of Backyardigans on the floor, wait until she’s mesmorized then sneak in with the scissors. As soon as she gets tickled by the scissors, though, all bets are off. I have to wait for her to get over it. That’s why we cycle between half way down her back and chin length bob! I don’t have it in me to trim her every 6 weeks!
We have the same problem with J and cutting his hair. I have found that wrapping him up in a towel where he can’t grab anything helps.
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my nine year old daughter has sensory issues, she used especially dislikes having her bangs trimmed. since bringing her to the hairdresser, she has gotten better but still fidgets alot. maybe you could use ear plugs to cut down on the noise. a favorite stuffed animal or blanket to let him cuddle with?
We use a flowbee. Sounds crazy, but I use it all on my boys’ hair. It’s still loud, so that’s annoying, but it doesn’t touch the head like the clippers do and it’s pretty hard to mess up with it so your kid can move all over the place without causing any real problems. I usually do Samuel’s by myself so that should tell you something since he’s always wiggling, rolling, and swinging his arms and legs. I find if I give him a few seconds to get used to the sound before I start, he’s better.