Callum Belcher of Dougan’s Barbers in Corsham has started offering autism-friendly barber sessions to provide a calm and reassuring environment for boys and young men who may find a haircut daunting.
Callum, whose seven-year-old daughter Willow has autism, knows from personal experience how difficult everyday tasks can be for people on the spectrum and their parents, and wanted to do something to help.
Haircuts can be extremely distressing because many people with sensory processing disorders are ultra-sensitive to noise and touch, and anxiety is a common challenge.
“When my daughter was at a special needs pre-school where we live in Chippenham, a couple of parents asked me and my partner Zoe, who is a hairdresser, if we do one-to-one haircuts for little lads on the spectrum,” explained Callum. “The answer was always no because I work to a tight appointment schedule and I simply did not have the time.”
“But it was always in the back of my mind, I always wanted to do it. It was at a parents’ Stay and Play session at the school that I looked around and really saw the need for it with my own eyes.
“Half the lads in Willow’s class had a completely shaved head and the others had long, unkempt hair. That’s when the penny really dropped for me, and I realised I needed to do something.”
The first session took place on Sunday 25 January and will continue on the final Sunday of every month for the foreseeable future, if there is sufficient demand.
With autism diagnoses at record levels globally, Callum is confident that interest will be high and says parents are already getting in touch.
Clients will have an extended 45-minute slot to themselves at Dougan’s Barbers in Corsham, with sessions running from 9am to 5pm.
“I’ve said, if it takes 20 minutes, it takes 20 minutes, if it takes the whole 45 minutes, that’s not a problem either,” Callum explained.
“The whole idea is to make the experience, for both the children having their haircut and their parents, a lot less stressful than if they went to a busy barbershop to have their haircut by someone with no experience of autistic behaviour.
“The barbershop is solely theirs for that 45 minutes; they do not have to worry about loud music, long wait times and people looking, people judging.
“Sensory cuts is not just for the children, it is as much for the parents or the people caring for them, who have had bad experiences in the past and have since shied away from taking them for a haircut.”
Nikki Jackson’s grandson, Kaydon, has additional needs and has been having his hair cut by Callum for a while. She is so thankful to have found someone he can trust.
“After several unsuccessful trips, I was losing hope that I would find a barber who could cut my grandson’s hair successfully,” Nikki said. “That was until I found Callum; he has such a good understanding around autism and the behaviour this can bring with it. Even when my grandson is challenging, Callum remains calm, patient and understanding.
“Just before Christmas, I had to take my grandson to the hairdresser’s because he desperately needed a cut, but this was completely out of his routine, and he became dysregulated and refused to have the cut. Callum offered me a cut later in the day and kept the shop open for me after it had closed.
“Callum goes above and beyond to make things as easy as possible, which shows how much he genuinely cares.
“My grandson has been able to form a relationship with Callum and really trusts him. It has made the experience so much better for all of my family, because as his guardian, the anxiety it causes for small tasks can be overwhelming.
“Callum has never judged and constantly provides a safe space for my grandson. I am very grateful to him, and I hope he will cut my grandsons’ hair forever!”
Families can contact Callum via Instagram at Cals Sunday Sensory Cuts.
