Hair Care
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The head is particularly sensitive to touch, which can make hair washing, brushing and cutting an uncomfortable and sometimes distressing experience for some children. For a child over-responsive to vestibular inputs, moving their head out of vertical can be very distressing; making hair brushing, cutting or rinsing difficult. Some children may struggle to screen out touch sensations and as a result the feeling of hair on their necks is distressing. They may interpret the feeling of water on their head, a hair brush on their scalp, or scissors near their neck as dangerous.

Ideas to support Hair Care
- Engage in movement and heavy work activities prior to or during hair care tasks.
- Ensure your child is seating with their feet on the floor to support feelings of safety and grounding.
- Place a pillow behind the child for them to push back against during hair cutting.
- Consider alternative sitting positions for haircuts e.g. sitting on a bean bag, on a therapy ball, in a supportive chair or on your knee.
- Use a spray bottle instead of head tilting to wet the hair for hair care.
- Use a snug cap, beanie or sweatband for 15 minutes prior to hair care to provide firm, maintained touch pressure that can be calming.
- Try a lycra/neoprene vest or wrap your child firmly in a blanket or lycra during hair care.
- Massage their head and use downward pressure on the shoulders before, during and after hair care.
- Use a weighted lap bag or shoulder wrap during hair care.
- Use a wet towel on your child’s shoulders during hair washing.
- Use a handheld showerhead or cup to rinse and minimise water on your child’s face.
- Try washing hair using a wet flannel.
- Experiment with a variety of hairbrushes to find one that works for your child.
- Detangler spray can be helpful to help with tangles.
- Offer hand fidgets or mouth chews before and during hair care.
- If appropriate offer your child a lolly, chewy foods or chewing gum.
- Try hair cutting hair at home or at a home salon.
- Cut hair in the bath so that the hair can be rinsed off immediately.
- Check with your child if they prefer scissors or the clippers to cut their hair. Show them the scissors and clippers and let them feel each safely.
- Have a mirror in front of the child so they can see what is going on during hair care.
- Use soft, calming or unscented shampoos and conditioners.
- Offer swim goggles, a washcloth or a water visor to keep the water out of their eyes
- Use ear plugs to minimize sounds and water in their ears.
- Use tear free or no rinse shampoo to keep soap out of their eyes.
- Minimise sound if your child is sensitive to it or play slow, rhythmical, calming music during hair care.
- Dim the lights if the child is over sensitive to sensory inputs.
- Tell your child what you are going to do and give definitive time limits for tasks e.g. 5 cuts or brushes and end the task at that point even if the job isn’t complete.
- Use a visual timer to help the child know the end point of the activity.