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Adult haircutting experiences

Mantra

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?

  • in reply to Caelus

    barbers is owned by a person i know from my wing chun classes so made it easier like that. although first 1 or 2 times i went i had plenty to talk about and appear normal. last time i went i had nothing to talk about so i kinda felt awkward like she probably thought i was silent treatmenting her. this is usually what happens tbh, i always have things to talk about with a person at first but when i know them theres nothing to talk about no more.

  • dont really care about hair cut tbh... i usually go to barbers once a year so my look varies from short neat hair to shoulder length jesus hair lol

    used to have a mobile hairdresser who now i compare to others i realise she was pretty bad. she used to pretty much lift me off the chair by my hair she was so rough and he scissors where rusty and blunt so you feel a twang and a plucking of your hair most of the time and it was a bit stressful.... oh and she also ended up missing somehow and stabbing the scissors into my neck one time, which lucky they are so blunt that they didnt pierce the skin due to how blunt they are haha she also cut my dads ear one time too.... god mobile hairdressers are aweful.... i go to a barbers now and its total difference, no twanging of the hair, its pleasant all the way through, no needing to lift you up by your hair too as they have chairs they can pump up and down.

  • I hate my hair being touched. Had my hair cut by a family member last week and it was great. No chit chat, comfortable environment,  limited touching. 

  • in reply to Nick Squiggler

    I find it more tiring to be around people speaking other languages. My brain seems to try to translate even though it obviously can't. Part of my job involves using translators and it is exhausting. 

  • I used to live in Birmingham and went to the barber in my nearby Pakistani area, all the other clients were Pakistani chatting away in Urdhu, and I didn't understand anything, still noise but less information coming in. I don't have much hair so a quick buzz was all I needed.

  • I was just about to visit a barbers in March 2020 and the first lockdown went down. So I cut it myself and made a right mess.

    In July 2020 I visited my usual cheap barber.  Other barbers were appointment only, or £4 surcharge on top normal price for masks and extra cleaning etc.

    Cut my hair again twice,. Made a total mess again.

    Finally visited barber in May 2021,  there were very few people and business as normal.

    Now other barbers are almost back to normal, appointment systems have been abandoned and it's walk in only.

  • I hate getting my haircut. It's always a noisy environment with too many conversations happening and I hate when they try to talk to you.