Why we travel 530 miles so our son can have a haircut

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'We travel 530 miles so our son can have a haircut'5 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJaimielee Rendall ,LowestoftandGeorge King ,SuffolkSuppliedSeven-year-old Alex first went to the Blade Inclusive Salon when he was threeWhy would you travel 530 miles for a haircut? For Al Nicolau and his wife, Ramona, the answer is simple. They do it for their son.

Seven-year-old Alex, who is autistic, dreaded a trip to the hairdressers, "shaking and jerking" whenever he needed a trim and fearing the noisy environment of chatter and dryers. His parents Al and Ramona Nicolau discovered the Blade Inclusive Salon, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, which specialises in haircuts for clients with neurodivergent needs. Despite moving from Norfolk to Aberdeen in 2022, they still make the 530-mile trip to Suffolk four times a year - coinciding with visits to grandad - so Alex can have his hair cut at Blade.

The Details

"We pop down at Easter, in the summer, in October, and we pop there at Christmas time," says Al, whose son used to be non-verbal. "It works so well and he's so calm. He actually wants to go there for his haircut, whereas up this way we haven't found anywhere quite as good.

"Other places can be a bit of a fight and battle - but the sensory room at Blade has made a massive difference. "'It's about building a relationship'John Fairhall/BBCCaroline Parnis, who has ADHD, runs Blade Inclusive Salon in Lowestoft and has been a hairdresser for 20 yearsThe Blade Inclusive Salon, owned by Caroline Parnis, has been operating for almost 20 years. She created The Sensory Studio within it about seven years ago.

The space includes fidget toys, cars, animals, books and projections on the wall. She says the idea was to create a relaxing environment away from the overwhelming main shop floor - to put those with additional needs at ease. Her customers now travel from Kent, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds, Dartford, King's Lynn and, of course, Aberdeen.

What Experts Say

"It's not just the haircut, it's the sensory issue of the hair falling on them and the gown, and using clippers is also a big thing," Caroline adds. "I tend to start off with the scissors and then hopefully we can progress – it's about trying to build that relationship and trust with someone. "The clients always normally have come from a very traumatic experience , so it is about breaking those barriers down.

"SuppliedAlex once hated having his hair cut but now cannot wait to travel to Suffolk for a trimWhere Alex previously had a "meltdown" during haircuts, he now enjoys them. "If he gets upset, oversensitive, or overstimulated, he could walk off with half a haircut, which then looks terrible," Al says. "But Caroline moves around as the kids move or jerk their heads and she goes with the flow - that's the real key thing for us, plus the calming setting of her studio.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.