A social story for getting a haircut

A haircut story names the cape, the spray, the snip of scissors, and the buzz of clippers before anyone sits in the chair. Read the example below on an ordinary afternoon, then change any line that is not true for your salon or barber.

For the definition, see what a social story is. The rest of this is the haircut: waiting, the cape, water, clippers, and words to use in the chair.

What the chair feels like

Someone stands behind the chair, where eyes cannot follow them. A cape snaps at the neck. Water can be cold. Scissors pass near the ears. Clippers buzz. Loose hairs itch. The ask is to hold still until the cape comes off.

Autism Speaks' haircutting guide tells families to prepare ahead of a haircut: a less crowded time, pictures of the steps, and practice of those steps at home (Autism Speaks). We checked that guide on November 2, 2026. It also tells stylists to speak in a calm, low voice and not to surprise a child from behind.

Only write what this shop will do. If the appointment might run long, say that it may take a while. Do not promise a quiet room or a two-minute cut.

Example: "Getting a Haircut"

Getting a Haircut

Hair grows a little every day. When it covers ears or eyes, a haircut can help.

We go to the hair place. There may be a wait. Other people may be talking. A name gets called.

I sit in a seat that may rise so the person cutting hair can reach.

A cape goes around the shoulders. The cape keeps tiny hairs off clothes.

A spray bottle may mist the hair. The water can feel cold. That can happen.

Scissors go snip, snip. Clippers may buzz near the neck. The buzz can tickle. A hand to hold, or a small toy to squeeze, can help.

The head tries to stay still. If a pause is needed, the words are "break, please."

The cape comes off. The mirror shows the new hair. Then we go home.

Eight short parts, one picture each. Read it a few times in the days before, and once more on the way.

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Make every line true for this shop

• Use the real shop and the real person. A photo of the doorway, the seat, and the barber or stylist beats a generic drawing.
• Match the tools they actually use. Scissors only? Leave the clippers out. A sink wash? Add the warm water, the seat leaned back, and the towel.
• Mark anything that varies. "May" and "on some visits" keep it honest. Kids notice a version that was not true.
• Offer one coping move they already like. A toy, a show on a phone, or a pause. Do not invent a prize.
• End where the afternoon really ends. Home, a snack, the playground. Write a treat only if it will actually be there.

Words to use in the chair

Keep the words the same as the example.

• During the wait: "Another person is in the chair. Our name will be called. The toy can stay in your hands."
• The cape: "It goes around your shoulders so hairs stay off clothes. The neck can feel snug."
• The spray: "A little water can land on your hair. It can feel cold."
• Clippers: "They buzz. You can hear them on a hand." Ask the stylist to stop there if that is enough.
• A pause: the example already gives "break, please." Tell the stylist that phrase means stop.
• Scissors only: if the buzz is the problem, ask for scissors and a warning before anything buzzes.

Autism Speaks also suggests one visit just to see the room, with no cape and no cutting that day, and rehearsal of the steps at home.

Rehearse the sensations at home

• Play hair place. A towel can be the cape. A spray bottle mists the hair. Fingers pretend to snip.
• Meet the buzz. An electric toothbrush against the back of the head is a gentler stand-in for clippers. Stop when they have had enough.
• Call the shop. Ask for a quieter hour, someone who is used to nervous kids, and whether your child can watch another haircut.

A picture to hold in the chair: a free first-then board for a haircut. First the haircut, then a sticker, and only if that sticker is real.

If appointments keep getting canceled because the fear is too big, tell the pediatrician. Preparation is not a treatment.

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FAQ

When should I start reading the haircut story?

Many families read it once a day for a few days, plus once on the way. If a long countdown makes the worry bigger, start the day before and keep it short.

What if clippers are the problem?

Put that in the example and tell the shop. Ask for scissors only, or ask the stylist to show the clippers and let your child feel the buzz on a hand before it comes near the head.

Should the sink be in the story?

Only if this shop washes hair. If they do, add the chair tipping back, the water temperature, and the towel over the eyes.

Can the same story be used next time?

Yes. Keep it and read it before each haircut. Swap in new details as the shop, the stylist, or your child changes.