More Than Just a Haircut

Every month, like clockwork, we set up the shop.

Not a real barbershop not the kind with neon signs or waiting chairs. This one’s in our home, in our safe space. It’s just me, my clippers, a cape, and my son Sheamus, sitting tall in the “barber chair” we turn the kitchen stool into. But to him, it’s the real deal. And to me, it’s one of the most meaningful rituals we share.

Haircuts haven’t always been easy for Sheamus. Like many autistic kids, he used to struggle with the sensory overload the buzzing clippers, the loose hairs, even the pressure of sitting still. Salons were too chaotic. The sounds, smells, and strangers didn’t help. So years ago, I decided: why not bring the barbershop to him?

Now, it’s a whole experience our experience. We call it “Barbershop Time” I greet him like a customer walking in for a fresh fade. “What we doing today, young king? A little line up? A taper?” And he smiles. It’s a roleplay, but it’s also real. I let him choose the music (usually some chill hip hop or video game soundtracks), and he even helps set up the tools.

For Sheamus, this is more than a haircut. It’s control over his environment. It’s trust knowing I won’t rush, I’ll explain each step, and he can ask for breaks if he needs to. I keep it sensory-friendly: I talk softly, let him hold the brush, and always show him what’s coming next. The cape goes on gently. No surprises.

We joke. We talk about stores, Toy Story or his homeschool lessons. Sometimes we sit in silence, and that’s okay too. But every time, he gets up afterward with his chest a little higher, his confidence glowing. The way he admires his reflection, you’d think he just stepped out of a luxury barbershop in Times Square.

These moments remind me of how far we’ve come from meltdowns over haircuts to laughter and connection. And it’s proof that when you meet your child where they are, magic happens.

Barbershop Time isn’t about perfect fades. It’s about love, patience, routine, and building safe spaces where our autistic kids can just be respected, seen, and fresh.