Girls and Hair?

[Sandy]

This is really about myself and my sensory issues but it could easily apply to a child. Does anyone have a daughter who can't stand having long hair or hair on their neck and shoulders? I remember having a short bob for most of my childhood, and now I can see why! Anytime my hair gets close to shoulder-length and beyond, I have to tie it back or I'm miserable. Even better if I can clip back my bangs.

Don't know if this is related to the fact that I hate crewnecks that come up far, but I definitely don't want anything around my neck/clavicle.

Guess it's time to cut my hair into a short bob again!

[hyperME]

Ok that is definitely me too! Unfortunately I have always hated the way I look with my hair up. I have SPD (am an adult) and have gotten a lot of relief from skin brushing. I do a regular routine but also will brush a certain area right before I have to wear something that i know will irritate it. I've done this with my neck and shoulder area to tolerate hair falling there. Also, I find if I shift it to one side, it bothers me less--not sure why.

[Michelle Weldy]

The hair would have more weight to it that way, and be less tickly. Makes sense, if your hypersensitive to tactile sensation.

[Sandy]

Skin brushing...I'll have to look into that. Pulling my hair to one side helps the side that's not covered, but then there's the side that has all the hair!

Blow-drying my hair helps to keep it from molding to my neck; it works even better when I make an effort to flip the ends in so that the neck portion is as far away from my neck as possible. It's just that I'm too lazy to do this every day! I've wondered whether a straightening iron would accomplish the same thing.

[Wendy]

Gosh, I wish my daughter would let me give her a short hair cut! She is severely sensory defensive that & refuses to brush it (or let me brush it) so it's a constant tangle of knots and such- short hair would be more manageable without the pain she experiences with a comb or brush. It's an embarrasment to have her out in public like that, but her therapist wants us to let the hygiene issues go for now while we work on other behavior issues. *sigh*

[Jennifer Wilkinson]

I understand Wendy, my daughter will not let me or anyone else brush her hair but thankfully she will brush it herself. But not without crying and screaming during it. And I'm so much easier on her hair than she is. I've been thinking about cutting it a bit I know DH will have a cow but he doesn't deal with it at all because he works 7 days a week.

Sandy I understand you problems with your hair as well I can't stand my bangs to touch my face (I have my own sensory issues but never understood them until my daughter - I just thought I had a lot of quirks! lol)

[M. E. Gaige]

I know the feeling..i thought i was just really quirky until i had my son and he was diagnosed... i am sensory defensive whos married to a sensory seeking who together had 2 sensory seeking children.... AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG ... sorry, just had to have my overwhelmed moment there... -Mary

[Michelle Weldy]

Same here, the term "different" is as familiar to me as my own name. :) I've always had a lot of quirks, married someone with even more quirks, and have two very quirky ASD children. :)

[Christy]

Can I ever relate!!!!! I think we finally have a routine that *helps*. About once/week we are able to get her into the shower. I let her play w/shaving cream on the shower wall while I wash her hair. We shampoo and then add conditioner PLUS frizz ease serum. Knots come out soooooo much easier and I've tried EVERYTHING. I hope this helps. And yes, vanity is the first thing to go.

[Madymom]

Hair is a four letter word in my home...my daughter is 12 and has beautiful, long blonde hair, but she can only wear it in a tight ponytail at the back of her neck. It has to be in the same position or she freaks! Luckily we have worked through all of the major sensory issues...shoes, socks, tags...but she still cannot wear cap sleeve shirts! Have you ever tried to find clothes for a pre-teen without cap sleeves? I think I'll try hypno-therapy next, as OT didn't seem to work on H-A-I-R!

[Michelle Weldy]

My 3 year old has had a chic bob for over a year now, because the long hair just wasn't worth the screaming fits, panic at sight of hairbrushes, and all the knots. Recently, she has become fascinated with princesses. After a weekend with her older cousins "attending to the princess" with great enthusiasm, she now insists on having 1, 2, or 3 (the trifecta) ponytails everyday. We've started letting her hair grow out, to see if she can tolerate "princess hair". As long as the desire to be a princess is stronger than the aversion to the sensation, we'll work with it. Progress is possible! :)