Too scared and anxious to go to the hairdressers

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Hello. Does anyone else have this problem too?

Basically I haven't had my hair cut in well over a year now, it's getting long, tangled and wild looking, pretty mutch like a caveman or a hobo. Really dosent look good and I get constant comments every day on how I should get it cut and my parents and family telling me how silly it looks.
I have very very bad anxiety problems and don't enjoy being out in public very much and I can't stand going to the hair dressers. I hate how awkward I can be, sitting in a chair around strangers while they watch, having a stranger cut my hair and have them engage me in conversation about how my day has been when I don't enjoy talking about stuff like that and I find it awkward sitting in complete silence too, not to mention never knowing what hair cut to ask for.

Anything like this that involves being around lots of strangers like shopping or walking round town, I either can't do it or struggle.
I have always had this problem since I was a kid but I could force myself to go but can no longer do that. The only times I will get my hair cut is if someone I know well comes with me or if a family member does it at home. I had a friend cut it at work but just to be an idiot he cut it all off.

My friends have shown me how to brush and straighten my wild hair but I still get the comments all the time at work, being called a scarecrow and so on. I like looking different but not when it causes me more anxiety and self consciousness problems in public.

Would you feel better if it was a mobile hairdresser and they just came to your home?

I also hate going to the hairdresser, I hate all the noise and smells and the bustle and the small talk. If you find a mobile hairdresser and perhaps also have a friend or relative round at the same time then the friend or family member can chat with the hairdresser whilst you just have your hair cut.

Go to the internet and print a pic of how you want your hair done.
Show it to the hairdresser, tell them you're autistic and don't want to make conversation.
When they sit you down, shut your eyes and think about something that interests you.
Et voila. Problem solved.

It only takes a few minutes, it won't kill you and you'll feel better about yourself afterwards.
You can do it.

My autistic daughter has a lot of trouble with novel or unfamiliar situations. It helped her a lot when I simply went with her to the salon; once we were there, she knew how to ask the stylist for what she wanted. Another example is the first time she ever took clothes in to a dry cleaning establishment. I drove her and waited in the car. Once she had done it for the first time, she felt okay doing it on her own in the future.

So, do you think just having a friend or relative accompany you, would get you over the hump? It can help a lot with anxiety.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I don't really have any sensory issues that affect me much so its nothing sensory. I live in a flat with a couple of close friends and one of them has a mobile hairdresser come round to cut their hair but im too anxious to do that unless I have a friend in the room while they do it. I have thought about asking parents but they have never been understanding at all so would probably laugh and tell me to man up. But my friends understand and asked if I wanted to go with them to have it done so hopefully it's sorted. I was lucky enough Last time I went to the salon I was the only one there so it wasn't too bad but still a bit stressful. I think it is just unknown situations. I worry, thinking to myself how many people will be there, what if they are too busy to do it, what if they tell me I need to phone up and book it first, what if someone tries talking to me and conversation gets awkward and so on.

But as I mentioned, I was once that desperate to have it cut I let a work colleague do it for me and they made me almost bald just for laughs. Never again will I do that

Buy a hair clipper kit from Walmart or one of the other discount stores, and cut your own hair. It's not hard to do it. I have pain issues with back of my neck when they washed my hair at salons. The rim of the sink was extremely painful. I finally started doing my own hair, at first just with a pair of salon scissors, but later on I bought a hair cutting clipper kit, and started doing my own hair. Sometimes my step mom does it for me when I am over to her house for a visit, but my parents spend the cold months down south, and sometimes I can't wait that long for a hair cut, so now I do my own sometimes. If it doesn't come out too good at first, just wear a hat till it grows out.

Just cut your own hair and save the money as well.

If those are your only problems (I'm scared of the hair dressers for sensory reasons my myself) Try finding a hair dresser that works in a small private room. You will find a lot of hair dressers rent a room from a building full of other hair dressers renting rooms. What I do is tell the hair dresser to cut it however she likes, but keep it on the shorter side and easily kept up.

My husband cuts his own hair and then has me double check it for any spots that he missed. You could have your parents check it for you once you have cut it. You can even shave it completely and just do the cool guy bald thing. Once you do it yourself a few times, you get really good at it. It did not take my husband long to become good at it. You can get a hand held mirror and use it against the bathroom mirror to check the back. That is what my husband does. You just need a broom to sweep up the floor when you are done. But once you cut it off the first time, you can keep it short and it will be much easier to maintain.