Seven-year-old Alex, who is in the spectrum of autism, was afraid of hair salons. Every time he needed a haircut, he trembled and made sudden moves, while he was upset by the noisy environment with the conversations and the dryers.
His parents discovered Blade Inclusive Salon in Lowstoft, Suffolk County, in Great Britain, a hairdresser specializing in clients with neuro-differential needs, according to BBC.
Although they moved from Norfolk to Aberdeen in 2022, they still travel about 850 km to Suffolk four times a year – combining the journey with visits to Grandpa – so Alex can get a haircut there.
'We travel 530 miles so our son can have a haircut' https://t.co/ElBnN2Lbuk— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 17, 2026
"We go down at Easter, summer, October and Christmas," his father says.
"It works so well and is so calm. In fact, he wants to go there for a haircut, while up here we haven't found anything good.
In other places the haircut can become a real battle. But Blade's sensory room has made a huge difference.".
A hair salon made for people with special needs
The salon is owned by Caroline Parnis and has been operating for almost 20 years. Seven years ago he created within this Sensory Studio, a specially designed space.
There are touch games, cars, animals, books and projections on the walls.
Its aim was to create a calm environment away from the noise of the central area, so that those with increased sensory needs would feel comfortable.
Today customers travel from Kent, Norwich, Berry St Edmunds, Dartford, Kings Lin, and of course Aberdeen.
"It's not just the haircut," Caroline explains. "There is the issue of hair falling on them, the cape, the hair-cutters.
I usually start with scissors and then move on gradually. The important thing is to build a relationship of trust.
Most customers have experienced traumatic experiences with haircuts in the past, so we are trying to break down these obstacles.".
From panic attacks to impatience
Alex used to have severe seizures during the haircut. Today he enjoys it.
"If he was upset or overexploded, he could leave in the middle of the haircut and stay with half a haircut," his father says.
"But Caroline adapts to children's movements. If they move or blow their heads off, she follows their rhythm. This is the key to us, along with the calm environment of space.".
"From fear to love"
Gary Newman has a 14-year-old son, Oliver, who is autistic and non-verbal. Oliver once felt so pressured at the salons that he reacted by knocking or kicking. Gary makes every time a 340 km round trip and six hours drive to Blade. "It's worth 100%," he says. "We went through to be afraid of every haircut to worship it. At first we had to keep him in the chair. Now he's sitting alone. That's the trust she's built with Caroline over the years. We are eternally grateful to her." Before they met her, some hairdressers were even afraid to approach Oliver, lest he inadvertently hit them with his hands or legs. Now he sits down, walks around, takes off his shirt so they don't stick hair on his clothes and returns to the chair. "It's really beautiful to see it," says his father. "He now asks when his next haircut will be and notes it on the calendar".
"Forgets That She Haircuts"
43-year-old Haley Ingram has been taking her son, Noah, to the salon since she was five. Noah, currently 13, has severe non-verbal autism and sensory treatment disorder. "Noa doesn't like people easily, but he bonded with Caroline. It makes him forget he's getting cut," his mother says. "We have been going every six weeks since then and has been cut to the main area of the salon. If they told me when he was five, I wouldn't believe it." He couldn't stand his presence in a salon. "Life with a disabled child can be very stressful and haircuts were one of the biggest difficulties. The noises were too much, the environment was pushing him and we had to go. But now there is no fear or anxiety. It's a wonderful experience.".
A place that changes lives
In the United Kingdom, more than 700,000 people are in the spectrum of autism, according to the National Autism Society. Many children and young people with autism are having a particularly difficult time with haircuts, because this is an intense sensory experience.
Caroline says she became even more sensitive when her own daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy at the age of six. "Me and these parents have been through a lot together," he says.
"There are many tears, because sometimes it takes years for a child to sit in this chair. But when he gives you a hug, a kiss or a "high five", it's the most wonderful feeling.".
From January to the end of April, Caroline – who has ADHD – performed 284 sensory haircuts.
He even created the Eden Room, a separate space for anxious customers of all ages.
"There are many women who find it very difficult to get a haircut," he explains.
The hairdresser has been nominated for a National Diversity Award, while she believes that more and more hairdressers are looking for ways to make their spaces more environmentally friendly.
"I hope to open a barber training academy and offer lessons from here," he says.
"I hope within the next year to make some of these dreams come true and contribute to public awareness".