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Sensory Friendly Hair Salons Near Me – FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21) – From the outside, Saturday haircuts are routine for Erin Brown and her two sons. Although it appears to be a regularly scheduled errand, cutting hair was one of her son Bode’s greatest sources of terror. “He must have been restrained or held down somehow,” his mother told us. “Just a lot of screaming, crying and we stopped going anywhere and did them at home.” You see, Bode has autism. The sights, sounds and sensations of getting a haircut were a big deal for him, as well as others with a similar diagnosis – until they found Sensory Cuts.
Now, Bode and his brother are healing quite well during a trip to the barber. First they choose a snack and a drink. They then select the show they want to watch or the game they want to play on the tablet. The owner, Taylor Talamantes, connects with each child client on a personal level. Using a visual chart, she guides them through each step of the cut, allowing her clients to use her bottle spray, relax with bubbles, and even pick out a toy when they’re done. An example of how a simple task can change a family’s life. “Just seeing him grow and being able to experience more things and be good at them,” Brown said tearfully, “just makes me happy to know that’s what his future should be.”
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Talamantes is more than just your average licensed barber. He also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Before she cut her hair, she worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician. Already interested in cutting hair, Talamantes saw a need in the autistic community to help children with an activity that often overstimulates them. Last year it launched Sensory Cuts. “I took the plunge and thought why not … why not try opening a business that specializes in cutting hair for these individuals because it’s a super difficult part of their lives,” she said. “More often than not, families are dealing with issues like frustrations. In other barbershops and salons, they get frustrated because there isn’t a lot of education involved. So few people understand how to deal with individuals on any spectrum.”
Autism Program’s Hair Clinic Is A Cut Above
As of February 2021, 70 people have completed her therapy program. “Kids can come — if they’re scared, they’re afraid, they don’t like the sounds, they don’t like the feeling of their hair falling on them,” Talamantes explained, “they go through a step-by-step process where I present them with sounds, noises, textures, it’s just slow I imagine they get used to it. Every session we get better and better and better.” Depending on the child, they may not get a haircut the first few visits. She emphasizes building trust with them, making her studio a safe place.
Brown isn’t the only family to see their child transform. Emma Frericks also brings her son, four-year-old Daxton, to Talamantes. When the barber approached the boy in the Lux Suites lobby, he was jumping up and down excitedly saying, “I’m ready!” That wasn’t always Frericks’ experience. “I was so nervous because our previous experience with haircuts, honestly, was not good,” said the mother. “Her patience is amazing, seriously. There was a drastic difference in him from start to finish.”
“Her work that she was doing with him and making him more comfortable in the chair, more comfortable with the sound of the scissors and even the scissors – he was against it in the beginning,” she continued. “It’s been amazing to watch the transformation and it’s actually been a lot faster than I expected.”
“Building a relationship with each of these kids is so rewarding,” Talamantes said. “I’m so happy that they can trust me and look at me as someone they like to see and not someone they’re afraid to see.” Sensory Cuts currently operates out of The Lux Suites on DuPont Road. Her dream is to train others in the same service and eventually have her own building for business. “I am here to help every family I can overcome the fear, overcome the problems and challenges that come with cutting hair.”
Why Visiting A Hair Salon Is Tough For People With Trich
Sensory Cuts are $40 per child, but Talamantes offers a scholarship program to those who may need financial assistance. More information can be found on the company’s website here. Each child’s experience with haircuts is different. Some are excited and look forward to every visit to Pigtails & Crewcuts, but for others the experience can be overwhelming and even a little scary, especially for our friends who may have special needs or sensory differences. At Pigtails & Crewcuts, we strive to make every haircut a great experience and our stylists are ready to work with you and your child through the wiggles, tears and fears to ensure they look and feel great when the haircut is complete. See how we can help make haircuts better for children with special needs and sensory differences, as well as some tips to try before and after each haircut.
First, know that most of our stylists have experience working with children who may need a little more time and attention when it comes to their haircuts. We do it every day, so it’s nothing new for us. When planning your child’s haircut, call us ahead of time and let us know if your child has any special needs or sensory differences that have made styling a challenge in the past. For example, if your child’s trigger is noise or bright lights, if you let us know in advance, we will be ready to work it out for your child’s hairstyle.
Also, keep your child’s schedule in mind and schedule your haircut for a time of day when he’s less likely to feel overwhelmed. Immediately after school may not be the ideal time if your child is coming home from school overwhelmed by the day’s activities or very tired. You can also talk to the stylists at your local Pigtails & Crewcuts to find out when they are peak, so you can plan to come when the salon is less crowded and less noisy. Some of our locations also offer special hours specifically for clients whose children have special needs or sensory differences to make the experience smoother.
We always take cues from you as the parent as to what your child is comfortable with – we take care to remove anything that makes your child feel afraid or uncomfortable. Our stylists will take the time to discuss your child’s specific needs at the start of the haircut and help you choose the hairstyle that will suit them best. For example, if your child doesn’t like his ears being touched, we can recommend a hairstyle that covers his ears.
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The most important thing to remember is that we need open communication between you and your stylist. This will help create the best possible experience for your baby and you. If you know that there is something that your child is uncomfortable with or could be a nuisance, don’t be afraid to speak up!
Our stylists will also leave you with a few tricks to help calm your child’s fears or nerves and distract them from the haircut. From bubbles to games and silly songs and even haircuts sitting on the couch or on the floor, we’ll do everything we can to make your child feel comfortable so they leave with a great haircut and a smile.
Once the haircut is over, we can all celebrate your child’s brand new haircut and praise them for being brave and doing a great job even when there are tears. For some kids, getting a haircut is a really big deal, so a little praise can help set the stage for the next salon visit. We will also reward your child with a visit to the treasury for a special prize for a job well done!
We recommend taking some pictures to help your child show off their brand new ‘do. Not only do the pictures capture the memory, but they can also be used to remind you of your child’s great experience before their next visit to Pigtails & Crewcuts.
Autism Friendly Haircuts
We know that haircuts are not easy for every child, but our goal is to make each haircut better than the last. The tears and nerves may not go away in one visit, but we promise to work with you and your child to take what was once a scary event and turn it into something special over time. Contact your local Pigtails & Crewcuts today to find out how we can make hairstyles for children with special needs and sensory differences better.
If you have questions about caring for your child’s hair between haircuts, ask another Pigtails & Crewcuts stylist
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