Hair Salon Tips For People With Cerebral Palsy

Hair Salon Tips for People with Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities

Posted by Jessica Denise Grono

For many people, getting their hair done is relaxing. It’s a chance to refresh your look, chat with your hairstylist, and leave feeling more confident.

For me, I love getting my hair colored, trimmed, and styled too—but the experience is a little different because I have athetoid and spastic cerebral palsy.

One of the biggest challenges is that I can’t always control my movements. My involuntary movements make it difficult to sit perfectly still while my hair is being cut or colored. Years ago, I constantly apologized to hairstylists because I felt guilty that my body made their job harder.

Eventually, I realized something important.

This is simply part of who I am. I shouldn’t have to apologize for having a disability.

That doesn’t mean I don’t try to make the appointment easier. Before my appointment, I take my muscle relaxer if it’s time, wear lightweight clothing so I don’t overheat, and do my best to stay relaxed. Heat and stress make my spasms worse, so anything that keeps me comfortable also helps my hairstylist.

A positive attitude and good communication go a long way.

During one appointment, my hairstylist asked if I had ever experienced discrimination because of my disability.

I thought for a moment before answering.

No hairstylist has ever directly said, “I’m not cutting your hair because you’re in a wheelchair.”

But discrimination isn’t always spoken out loud.

Sometimes it’s a sigh.

Sometimes it’s an eye roll.

Sometimes it’s rushing through the appointment or doing the bare minimum because serving a customer with a disability takes a little more patience.

Those moments hurt because everyone deserves to feel welcome and respected.

I also remember going to a nail salon where a manicurist refused to even attempt doing my nails because of my cerebral palsy. I asked if we could at least try, but the answer was simply no.

Experiences like that stay with you.

Thankfully, I’ve also met wonderful professionals who see me as a person first. They ask what works best, communicate with me, and never make me feel like I’m inconveniencing them. Those are the people I return to year after year.

My hairstylist shared that she also had a client who had experienced discrimination because of her weight. That conversation reminded me that many people feel judged for reasons beyond their control.

Whether someone has a disability, uses a wheelchair, is overweight, is elderly, or simply needs a little extra time, kindness should never be optional.

Every customer deserves to leave a salon feeling confident.

Tips for Hairstylists Serving Clients with Disabilities

If you’re a hairstylist, you don’t need special training to make a tremendous difference.

• Treat your client like any other customer.
• Ask what accommodations would make the appointment easier.
• Be patient if involuntary movements occur.
• Speak directly to your client—not only to a caregiver.
• Don’t be afraid to ask respectful questions.
• Remember that communication is usually the best accommodation.

Small acts of understanding create lasting impressions.

A Thank You

To every hairstylist, barber, nail technician, and salon professional who treats people with disabilities with dignity and respect—thank you.

You may think you’re simply cutting hair or painting nails, but you’re also giving someone confidence, independence, and the chance to feel beautiful.

Accessibility isn’t always about ramps and automatic doors.

Sometimes it’s about patience.

Sometimes it’s about compassion.

And sometimes, it’s simply treating every person who walks—or rolls—through your door like they belong.

That’s something everyone deserves.