Published on 12, July, 2020
Just been for my first hair cut in more than 2 years.
Since the lockdowns I've enjoyed the quiet, the routines, the lack of pressure to be out in busy places socialising.
Went back to somewhere I have been before and I was totally unused to it. Pains, sensory overwhelm, couldn't understand convos, went into my shell and could have agreed to anything (but thankfully a day later I can see I didn't have my head completely shaved or anything too drastic, haha, phew.) When I eventually got home I was ready to meltdown. Fearful of the sudden change to my hair.
Last time I was there I had no idea I was autistic. I don't remember SO much overwhelm, but I do remember it being a 'bigger' experience but couldn't pinpoint how. Yet I also remember some times of complete quiet - which tended to be when there was lots of white noise from hair dryers, etc. I could zone out, kind of an out-of-body experience, but also ran the risk of getting disorientated and forgetting what I'm supposed to do, leading to panic.
I totally understand that hairdressers and barbers could be hugely overwhelming places now, and I'm seriously considering cutting my own hair, but I don't think I'd do well with that at all so for now I'll continue putting myself through this as infrequently as I can...
What are your experiences with hair cuts - especially before and after the lockdowns?
Also, have any of you ever confided in a hairdresser / barber about being autistic? Did it help?
This is a great post. I have found a local hair stylist who is not a chatterbox, and who has a small salon where the noise level is a lot lower than most other salons. He's a really nice guy and a marvellous barber who sets the tone of the salon. Calm and concentrated. He's more interested in getting your hair right than in interrogating you about your private life; or gossiping about other customers. And any conversations that go on in the salon are in English, so there's no extra fatigue involved.
Quiet hair stylists are like gold! Especially the calm ones.
I just realised that the last time I went to my hair dresser I was the only customer there and don't remember background noise. This time there was also a radio on and another customer & hair dresser with multiple convos going at any one time across the floor, plus phone calls, the front door bell (a literal hanging bell), etc. Makes sense now that it was even more sensory stuff than before, on top of it being after a long break!
I actually like when people speak in a language I don't know - I have an excuse to not listen and not pick up on cues!! Some cultures are also more clear and frank with their language - For e.g. I find some English people can be the worst at not saying what they really mean. It's like an art how they can dance around a topic without mentioning what it is! I can honestly appreciate this art... as long as I'm only a spectator (listener) on the outside haha!
I'm much prefer the sounds of the French language, or an American accent to a British one, but the minimum is that it has to be all the same language (or accent).