I heard of The Hairy Planet from a lady who saw an article in the newspaper and I decided to go. My child does not like getting her very thick hair brushed and a clump of matted hair had formed at the back of her head as a result. To be honest, we were both at our wits end with it and it had become such a challenge to try to brush it out daily that I had to give up.
I rang Claire one night and told her our dilemma - and she is one of the most approachable women I know. She listened with empathy and recognised the behavioural issues surrounding this without me feeling I had exposed my child too much. This is great as a parent because you can begin to feel all you say regarding your child is negative.
I thought it would be a struggle to get her there, but my child was relieved and we set off.
Situated in the countryside, the environent was enough to create calm and on entering the sunny waiting room, it was our turn. Jenny the hairdresser is young and hip and my child related to her immediately. Claire has such an open face and a practical way about her that my child truly didn't have the opportunity to kick off with refusal.
Claire sat, and together they set out goals in the form of a wish list, non-demading, just wishes.
This really appealed to my child as it was not rule-bound and all her own choices. I was not part of this process which gave my 8 yr old a different freedom. For me it took the position of 'bad guy' away. After the dreamlist was written, Jenny took a look at my child's hair while she played the Playstation (massive incentive!!), and started to make sense of her hair, forming a plan to work on. My child and I left with leave-in conditioner and a plan for the next week. My child actually enjoyed herself.
The following week a reward chart was introduced and a pattern of hair brushing began.
I cannot tell you how this changed the dynamics surrounding her hair in my house. She no longer got frustrated and annoyed at me, she realised it was her hair and we needed to work together. I brought her a new WII game that was only played when it was hair time - on advice from Claire, and together we began to work things out.
Claire rings every Friday to see how it was going and her encouragement, support and validation are priceless. So I didn't feel isolated, and got good advice - REAL advice, and someone I could tell my fears and inadequacies to.
We really looked forward to the Saturday trip and the routine of a comic for the car and crisps for the way home.
Today is our last appointment. The clump was removed last Saturday and today Jenny is going to show my girl different styles. We are happy and we are sad.
You see, when you have a child bound by her anxieties and insecurities and aspergers, it is masively difficult for her to see the positive.
Going to The Hairy Planet, to Claire and Jenny, my child had a special, safe place where one of her 'things' was being managed in a positive, nurturing way. All she heard and experienced there was positive, compliments, and it's not all being 'enforced' by me.
It took all the stress out of the picture and now I have this happy, confident little girl, who will take her hair down and let her friends brush it, who is no longer ashamed of her hair and negative.
I personally feel such a sense of relief not having to try to camoflage the clump every day when tying her hair up. I would highly-recommend The Hairy Planet if your child has ANY hair issues at all - it is worth so much for the priceless result.
Any sensory issues are decreased with Claire's individual plan. I just can't say enough - for my child, the outcome is magnificent and we have a forward-plan and routine for the future which will prevent the clump from ever occuring again.
I hope this is ok - it's hard to put in words how successful this has been and how extremly grateful we are.
xx
I rang Claire one night and told her our dilemma - and she is one of the most approachable women I know. She listened with empathy and recognised the behavioural issues surrounding this without me feeling I had exposed my child too much. This is great as a parent because you can begin to feel all you say regarding your child is negative.
I thought it would be a struggle to get her there, but my child was relieved and we set off.
Situated in the countryside, the environent was enough to create calm and on entering the sunny waiting room, it was our turn. Jenny the hairdresser is young and hip and my child related to her immediately. Claire has such an open face and a practical way about her that my child truly didn't have the opportunity to kick off with refusal.
Claire sat, and together they set out goals in the form of a wish list, non-demading, just wishes.
This really appealed to my child as it was not rule-bound and all her own choices. I was not part of this process which gave my 8 yr old a different freedom. For me it took the position of 'bad guy' away. After the dreamlist was written, Jenny took a look at my child's hair while she played the Playstation (massive incentive!!), and started to make sense of her hair, forming a plan to work on. My child and I left with leave-in conditioner and a plan for the next week. My child actually enjoyed herself.
The following week a reward chart was introduced and a pattern of hair brushing began.
I cannot tell you how this changed the dynamics surrounding her hair in my house. She no longer got frustrated and annoyed at me, she realised it was her hair and we needed to work together. I brought her a new WII game that was only played when it was hair time - on advice from Claire, and together we began to work things out.
Claire rings every Friday to see how it was going and her encouragement, support and validation are priceless. So I didn't feel isolated, and got good advice - REAL advice, and someone I could tell my fears and inadequacies to.
We really looked forward to the Saturday trip and the routine of a comic for the car and crisps for the way home.
Today is our last appointment. The clump was removed last Saturday and today Jenny is going to show my girl different styles. We are happy and we are sad.
You see, when you have a child bound by her anxieties and insecurities and aspergers, it is masively difficult for her to see the positive.
Going to The Hairy Planet, to Claire and Jenny, my child had a special, safe place where one of her 'things' was being managed in a positive, nurturing way. All she heard and experienced there was positive, compliments, and it's not all being 'enforced' by me.
It took all the stress out of the picture and now I have this happy, confident little girl, who will take her hair down and let her friends brush it, who is no longer ashamed of her hair and negative.
I personally feel such a sense of relief not having to try to camoflage the clump every day when tying her hair up. I would highly-recommend The Hairy Planet if your child has ANY hair issues at all - it is worth so much for the priceless result.
Any sensory issues are decreased with Claire's individual plan. I just can't say enough - for my child, the outcome is magnificent and we have a forward-plan and routine for the future which will prevent the clump from ever occuring again.
I hope this is ok - it's hard to put in words how successful this has been and how extremly grateful we are.
xx
My daughter after The Hairy Planet!
http://www.hometrain.ie/hairyplanet/ for bookings an more info.
