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Is managing hair a sensory overload for people living with autism, especially during this Coronavirus lock down?

  • Hair in my eyes or ears feels bad…

  • I hated having my hair brushed as a little kid..

  • I keep my long hair in a bun 99% of the time. I do not like when it touches my face or tickles my shoulders or arms.

  • My long hair is one of my sensory stims..

  • I find short hair worse because the sharp ends touch my face, neck and shoulders too much…

  • I started shaving the sides of my head in the summer…it decreases the sensory input.

  • I have to shave everyday or I go mad…

  • I had short hair and I was happy. Since the lockdown, I could not get it cut for more than a month, so now it is against my neck and too short to pull up…I hate it!

  • I like to part it in the middle of my neck and around the front of my shoulders/plaits (Indian – ‘two chotees’) …after this I do not touch them too much.

  • I use hat and bandanas all the time to keep the bangs out of my face.

  • Getting my hair cut and shaving are sensory hell for me, so I let them grow.

  • My daughter has long hair and she will not let me brush/disentangle it…I had to cut a small piece out as it was knotted.

  • I use long hair as a curtain to hide my face.

  • My obsession with clean hair (behavioral) led to having crew cut!

 

Clear neck area, face and shoulders seem more comfortable to people with autism.

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Monica (Managing Editor) is the quintessential researcher - she thrives on showcasing overlooked aspects that form the foundation blocks of people, places and issues. She is a social scientist by profession with masters in Economics and loves to travel.

By Monica P Singhal

Monica (Managing Editor) is the quintessential researcher - she thrives on showcasing overlooked aspects that form the foundation blocks of people, places and issues. She is a social scientist by profession with masters in Economics and loves to travel.