What I Wish More People Understood About Sensory-friendly Haircuts
When people hear the term “sensory-friendly haircut,” they often assume it means the person getting the haircut is the problem — that their sensitivities need to be “fixed” or trained out of them in order to tolerate something the “typical” way. But I don’t believe that’s the goal at all.
The way my clients perceive the world — sounds, textures, movement, space — is simply different. Not wrong. Not broken. Just different. My job isn’t to isolate that struggle and make it disappear. My job is to understand those differences and adjust my approach so the experience is safe, manageable, and even empowering for them.
That’s what makes Mane Characters, my sensory-friendly haircut studio in Decatur, Georgia, different.
I’m not here to “desensitize” anyone or push them through a meltdown to prove a point. I’m here to offer an entirely different model — one that was designed for people who experience sensory information differently from the start.
What many people don’t realize is the very real trauma that can come from haircuts — especially when they’re forced. Over the years, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories of people being held down, strapped into chairs, put in headlocks, or having their heads forcibly shaved just to “get it over with.” I’ve heard of kids being physically restrained while fighting with everything they have — their voices ignored, their bodies overpowered, and their autonomy taken away.
It’s not always done with cruelty. Most of the time, it’s parents or professionals doing what they thought was necessary — because they didn’t know there could be another way. And let me be clear: I hold zero judgment for parents who share these stories with me. Only gratitude. Gratitude that they’re here, now, looking for something better.
Because for a long time, there wasn’t a better option. And even now, it can still be difficult for families to find a sensory-friendly haircut specialist in Atlanta who truly understands what their child needs. That’s why I created this space — for them.
One thing I wish more people understood is that when that kind of trauma has happened, trust doesn’t come back overnight. It takes time, effort, patience, and a whole lot of compassion to rebuild.
But I can say from experience: the work is worth the reward.
I’ve seen kids who couldn’t tolerate even sitting in the chair now come in ready, regulated, and sometimes even excited. Not because they were “fixed” — but because we worked together, slowly and safely, to make the experience something they could own and control.
If you're a parent in Decatur or the greater Atlanta area looking for a gentler approach to haircuts, I see you — and I’d love to help when you're ready.