Most trips to the barber shop are pretty formulaic, you tell the professional what you want, sit in the chair, and try to come up with interesting chat as they butcher your precious locks - but it's not so simple for everyone.
People who are neurodiverse, or who have a condition, can find getting their hair cut challenging and one man, 36-year-old Craig Henderson, has made it his mission to make everyone feel at ease. Craig invites his clients, who are mostly children, to relax as he cuts their hair - by playing with toys, laying down, or doing whatever makes them feel at ease, while he works around them.
What do you think about Craig's barber shop? Let us know in the comments...
Craig who runs Craig's Barber Shop in Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: "I run a gender-neutral and neurodiverse barbershop with my partner. I serve everyone in the community regardless of their disability, everyone deserves a haircut.
"Some people need to be desensitised, they find it very overstimulating or overwhelming, because of their sensory needs - they struggle with it massively.
"A lot of people in this industry will shy away from it because they think it's too much trouble, I give them time to chill out or play in the sensory corner a bit.
"That can calm them down, sometimes it goes the other way, it just depends on understanding what kids needs at the time.
"I'll cut their hair wherever they feel comfortable, I'll do it outside or on the floor, I have a pair of clippers with the blade taken off so I let them feel it.
"I have blunt scissors so they can feel them too - it gets them used to the equipment and familiarises them with what will happen.
"I only use a certain brand of clippers, Gamma Plus, because they're much quieter than others."
Craig continued: "I've always done it in the industry.
"I got approached by a nursery where the kids are autistic, and I was invited down to cut all their hair for the day. Other establishments discovered what I do so I started going down, spending the day in the school desensitising the kids.
"The shop has been open for five years now. It's always been gender-neutral, the additional needs thing came in because I realised I could do it in the shop. It's grown and it's escalating, people are coming from all over the country - my furthest customer comes from Leeds.
"I've got about 200 neurodiverse customers, I get a new three or four a week. It's pretty frightening, it's just escalated - it's unbelievable.
"My customers are grateful, it's a nice feeling when you hear the stories from parents, where some have been held down and they have pressure marks where they've been held so tight, but I let them walk around free - it's not an overwhelming experience for them.
"The kids then want to come back and visit again because it's been a relaxed approach, it's working with them, not against them.
"They're eternally grateful, it's great reading the reviews from parents - it's heartwarming and incredible to know I'm making this difference in their life.
"If they can walk into a barbershop and not panic, because they've been through it with me, that's an amazing experience - especially when they hug you and thank you themselves."
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