Our Story and Mission
Discover the heart behind Sensory Safe Salons™
Learn about our journey, our commitment to inclusive experiences, and how we're making a difference for neurodivergent and trauma-affected individuals and their families.
Heartfelt beginnings
With over 25 years of experience as a hairdresser, and as a neurodivergent parent, I saw firsthand how overwhelming haircuts can be for many children and families.
When my own son’s first haircut took more than two hours, I began searching for a better way. Through learning about sensory needs, autonomy, and nervous system regulation, I quickly realised that the traditional salon experience doesn’t work for everyone.
That experience sparked a passion for creating calmer, more supportive, child-led and sensory-safe environments where children feel respected, understood, and able to participate at their own pace.
Today, Sensory Safe Salons™ exists to help families, hairdressers, and professionals create more positive haircut experiences for every child.
Growing beyond the chair
What began at home has now grown into Sien Hair, The Calm Cut™ Toolkit, and now Sensory Safe Salons™. My passion is to ensure children and families feel calm, safe, and supported during haircut experiences. I am equally dedicated to helping hairdressers, therapists, educators and support professionals create more inclusive, compassionate and neuroaffirming salon environments. We believe every person deserves to feel safe, understood and respected in the salon chair.
Uniquely informed by experience
Sensory Safe Salons™ combines professional hairdressing expertise with lived experience as a neurodivergent parent. Our goal is to bridge the gap between families, salon professionals and allied health practitioners, creating practical tools, resources and education that support positive haircut experiences for everyone.
What is Sensory Safe Salons™?
Sensory Safe Salons™ is an education, resource and advocacy platform dedicated to creating more inclusive, neuro-affirming haircut experiences.
Through practical tools, professional education and lived experience, we support families, hairdressers, therapists and allied health professionals to better understand sensory needs, reduce anxiety and create positive salon experiences.
Our work currently includes The Calm Cut™ Toolkit, free family resources, professional guidance and collaborative partnerships, with future plans for training, accreditation and a national directory of sensory-safe providers.
HOW WE HELP
🤍 Families
• Practical resources and preparation tools
• Reduced anxiety around haircuts
• Support for autistic, ADHD and sensory-sensitive children
✂️ Hairdressers & Salons
- Neuro-affirming education
- Sensory-safe service strategies
- Professional development and future accreditation
🧩Therapists & Allied Health
- Collaborative resources
- Family support tools
- Shared understanding between home, therapy and salon environments
“Every child deserves to feel safe, supported and understood during haircut experiences. My hope is to help professionals create more inclusive, compassionate and sensory-safe salon environments"
Kelly, founder of Sien Hair & Sensory Safe Salons™