Hair Stylist Makes Salon Sensory- Friendly For People With Autism
Living with ADHD and PTSD, award-winning Perth, Australia, hairstylist Stevie Vincent knows the value of being in a comfortable environment. So she’s on a mission to ensure that all the customers at her salon, Studio Contrast, have a pleasant experience. “I’ve spent so much time being uncomfortable. I don’t want anyone else to be uncomfortable,” she explains.
According to INSIDE EDITION, in addition to being vegan, gender neutral, LGBTQ friendly, and able to accommodate people with handicaps at Studio Contrast, Vincent uses a range of techniques to provide an inclusive environment for customers who may have sensory issues. Those techniques might include swapping noisy clippers for quiet scissors, offering face shields, and allowing clients to smell or feel a product before it’s used on them.
Clients like Bee Strike, appreciate Vincent’s efforts. “I’m autistic and I have ADHD,” she says, “My average experience with hairdressers is generally places that come with a lot of sensory overload.” Vincent says her salon policies aren’t just beneficial for her autistic customers; she believes they can improve the experience for everyone. Hopefully, US salons will soon follow suit. As she puts it: “Being able to find out what someone needs, it’s not that hard to cater for it.”
