Strategies for Hair cutting

Desensitization

Removing the Fear of Sight and Sound of Clippers/Scissors

• Slowly introduce clippers/scissors placing across the room and moving closer as tolerated
• Once tolerated nearby, slowly introduce sound by turning clippers on across the room and moving closer as tolerated
• Present preferred activity for distraction during introduction of clippers/scissors
• Utilize vibrating massager to desensitize sound of clippers

 

Removing the fear of the touch with clippers or hair

• Use of vibrating massager progressing from tolerating touch on extremities progressing to tolerating touch on various locations of head/neck
• Use of feathers and other items similar in texture to hair to play a game encouraging tolerating touch to different parts of the body including neck, arms, back, ears.
• Brushing protocol
• Encourage messy play
• Deep pressure/massage to scalp

 

Use of tools to reduce noise

• Headphones or earplugs
• Preferred music

Additional Strategies

• Use of scissors if clippers can’t be tolerated
• Wet hair instead of dry
• Use of something to prevent hair from touching skin
  • Visor
  • Turtleneck or towel
  • Clippers that collect hair
  • Hairdryer to blow hair
  • Showering immediately following haircut
• Use of calming strategies during task
• Weighted blanket/compression clothing
• Fidget
• Preferred activity
• Brushing protocol
• Tip
• Allow child to have some control by providing choices with use of compensatory strategies.
• Use of social stories
• Watching videos on hair cutting
• Pretend play with dolls or stuffed animals
• Playdough hair cutting tools
• Use of rewards
• Favorite activity for distraction
• Step by step picture schedule
• Timer
• Hair cutting apps (ex: Hair Salon)
• Slow, fun, non-pressured progression of steps
• Engage child in activity by giving them a job (ex: hairdryer)
• Establish pleasant memories of hair cutting and replace unpleasant memories
• Increase frequency of task to keep pleasant thoughts in recent memories

For more information, visit http://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com