On the first Sunday of each month, barber Jason Ambesi, who owns American Beard and Body, closes down Mario’s Barbershop in Niskayuna from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. to offer sensory-friendly haircuts for kids with special needs.
“There'll be nobody else in the shop. It will be pretty noiseless other than us talking. If we need to take a break or the parent needs to go outside and come back in, it's individualized," Ambesi said.
There are many aspects to this haircut that makes it more tolerable. He offers goggles, earplugs, fidget toys and even an iPad. If the child is sensitive to noise, he attaches a guard to scissors instead of using clippers.
“The first cut's not going to go the best. And unfortunately, sometimes not everybody's going to look the best. I just think if you give it some time and you come regularly and you don't hop around and you build a relationship in time, after three, four or five haircuts, your kid's going to be very happy here," Ambesi said.
Ambesi is also donating $5 from each haircut to Racers For Autism.
“They may feel they have internal or external scars that make them different. But I want them to be able to shine and look in the mirror and ... be able to feel joyful," Ambesi said.