Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircuts
😊 We are so excited to share some wonderful news! 😊
Our Cool Cuts for Kids team has recently completed Autism Awareness Training, delivered by the fantastic Child Autism Charity, and we are proud to be recognised as an autism-awareness-trained hair salon.
Our team has many years of experience working with children of different ages, personalities and abilities. This training has helped us develop a deeper understanding of autism and the different approaches that can make haircut experiences more comfortable and positive.
We believe every child deserves to feel welcome, understood and supported.
We welcome children who:
- Are autistic
- Have ADHD
- Have sensory sensitivities
- Feel nervous or anxious about haircuts
- Have other additional needs
- Simply need a little extra time, patience and reassurance
🌈 Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircuts
Extra Time. Extra Patience. Extra Encouragement.
Available Monday to Thursday
This 40-minute appointment allows children extra time to settle in, become familiar with their stylist and feel comfortable in their surroundings.
During these appointments we aim to offer:
- Extra time for children to settle in and become familiar with the salon environment
- Step-by-step approach to build trust and confidence
- Visual communication cards to help non-speaking children express their feelings, preferences and needs
- Breaks whenever needed
- Sensory adjustments, including changes to lighting and sound wherever possible
🌈 A Little Treat to Celebrate! 🎈
At the end of their visit, every child gets a little treat from our selection, which may include:
- 💅 Nail painting and a pretty ring
- ✨ A sprinkle of magical fairy dust (hair glitter)
- 🦋 A couple of colourful butterfly hair clips
- 🎨 A fun temporary tattoo
- 🍭 A lollipop or a pack of raisins
- 🎈 A colourful balloon
Because every child is a star at Cool Cuts for Kids! ⭐
🤝 Free Meet the Stylist Visits 🤝
We understand that visiting a new place and meeting an unfamiliar person can sometimes feel overwhelming.
That's why we offer free 10-minute meet-the-stylist sessions, available Monday to Thursday for autistic children and children with additional needs to explore the salon and become familiar with the stylist.
Book Now🕙 The Best Time to Visit 🕙
For autistic children and children with additional needs we recommend visiting during our quieter days, Monday to Thursday. Children can benefit from the quiet environments, at certain times we have only one stylist working during these days, meaning your child could even have the salon to themselves.
Our busy days are weekends and school holidays and it can get very crowded and overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities.
📖 Helping Your Child to Prepare for Their Visit 📖
Help your child feel more familiar with their upcoming haircut by reading their social story before visiting.
We recommend reading this social story up to three times a day in the days leading to their appointment.
You can also:
- Show your child photographs of the salon they will be visiting
- Bring a favourite comfort item to the appointment
- When booking your appointment, please let us know three of your child's favourite things in the booking comments. This could be their favourite character, toy, animal or activity
🌈 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
1. Does my child need an autism or additional needs diagnosis to book?
Not at all! Our Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircut appointments are open to any child who would benefit from extra time, patience and reassurance.
2. How long is an Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircut appointment?
Our dedicated appointments are 40 minutes long, allowing extra time for your child to settle in, become familiar with their stylist and take breaks whenever needed.
3. When are these appointments available?
Our extended haircut appointments are available Monday to Thursday at our Crouch End, Kingston and Brent Cross branches. These are generally our quieter days, making them more suitable for children who may find busy environments overwhelming.
4. What if my child cannot sit still during their haircut?
That's absolutely fine! We understand that every child is different. Our stylists take a patient, flexible approach and can offer breaks throughout the appointment. We aim to work at your child's pace without unnecessary pressure.
5. What happens if my child becomes upset or overwhelmed?
If your child needs a break, we can pause the haircut and give them time to feel more comfortable.
6. Can we visit the salon before booking a haircut?
Yes! We offer free 10-minute Meet the Stylist visits, available Monday to Thursday.
7. Can you accommodate my child's sensory sensitivities?
Where possible, we can make adjustments to the salon environment (sound and light) and haircut experience to suit your child's individual needs.
8. How can I prepare my child for their haircut?
We recommend downloading our Cool Cuts for Kids Haircut Social Story and reading it together before your visit.
Download Your Child’s Haircut Social Story Here9. Can I stay with my child during the appointment?
Of course! Parents and carers are welcome to stay with their child throughout the appointment and offer reassurance and support.
10. How do you communicate with children who are non-speaking?
Our team can use visual communication cards to help children express their feelings, preferences and needs.
11. Will my child receive a reward even if their haircut isn't completed?
Absolutely! 💗
At the end of their visit, children can choose from our available treats and rewards, which may include:
- Nail painting and a ring
- Magical fairy dust (hair glitter)
- Colourful butterfly clips
- A temporary tattoo
- A lollipop or raisins
- A balloon
12. What should I tell you when booking?
When booking, please mention three of your child's favourite things in the booking comments. These could be favourite characters, toys, animals or activities.
13. Are your stylists autism-awareness trained?
Our team has completed Autism Awareness Training delivered by Child Autism Charity.
14. Should I wash my child's hair before the appointment?
We recommend arriving with clean, dry and as tangle-free hair as possible to help keep the experience smooth and comfortable for your child.
15. What if my child's hair has lots of knots or tangles?
Don't worry! We also offer a Hair Detangling Service, where our stylists carefully work through knots and tangles using a gentle, patient approach.
Please note that extra detangling time is charged as £10.99 for every 10 min.
16. Can my child watch their favourite programme or play games during the haircut?
Your child is welcome to enjoy their favourite TV programme on Netflix or play games on Xbox during their appointment.
17. Do you use scissors or clippers for children's haircuts?
Our stylists can adapt their approach to your child's individual preferences, using scissors or our quiet baby clippers, which are designed to produce very little noise.
18. What should I bring to the appointment?
Bringing a favourite toy, comfort item, snack or anything familiar can help your child feel more settled and at ease.
19. Will haircuts become easier for my child with regular visits?
Many children gradually become more comfortable as they get to know their stylist and become familiar with the salon environment.
20. Can haircuts be done in stages or over multiple visits?
Yes — we are happy to work at your child's pace. If a full haircut isn't possible in one visit, we can discuss a staged approach over multiple appointments.
21. How do I book an Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircut?
Simply select Autism-Friendly & Additional Needs Haircut when booking your appointment at your preferred Cool Cuts for Kids branch. If you would like to discuss your child's individual needs before booking, please contact our friendly team.