Our senses – sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing (among others) – help to give us information about the world us. Everyone has aversions to some kind of sensation like the taste of certain food, the sound of cracking knuckles and the smell of the public bathrooms in Northbridge – however for those of us with sensory sensitivities, particular sounds, scents, physical sensations, and things we see can cause us extreme discomfort, distress and even pain.

Traditionally, hair salons are what could be described as a sensory nightmare: loud music, lots of talking, hairdryers, bright lights, excessive decorations, strong smelling products and of course touching (often without explanation or warning) and the physical sensations of scissors, razors, hair washing, brushing and more. Studio Misfits changes this up with a purposefully pared back design -chill music, neutral decorations, low scent products and thoughtfully selected products (right down to our cleaning products!) to reduce the layers of scent.

Our music is set to below 60bpm if we know we have anxious or sound sensitive clients coming in. There are studies to suggest that music at 60 BPM or below reduces anxiety as this auditory feedback helps to slow the heart rate (the most common body response of anxiety)

Some sensitivities include:

• Multiple sources of noise at once (e.g., music as well as people talking over each other)
• Bright lights
• Chemical or strong fragrant smells
• Scalp being touched
• Water around the ears
• Hot/Warm water or air (e.g. hairdryer)
• Reflective, shiny or colourful décor
• Crowded spaces

We’ve done (and continue to do) a hell of a lot of research to make Studio Misfits as accommodating as possible for those with sensory sensitivities (which let’s be honest, includes us too!)

Not at all! It’s your time, it’s your choice. If you book a no chat service, we will only talk to you about your hair, and if you strike up conversation with us. Our no chat service means there’s no expectation to carry on conversation with strangers. Often, once people feel comfortable, they start chatting to us! But there is no pressure to talk at all, we love a comfortable silence and the chance to get in our zone. Also, we are totally down for you to wear your headphones during your appointment – if you don’t mind us having ours in too!

So many! We sanitise all client touch surfaces between each client (Don’t be offended if we wipe down a seat as you walk away!) Our salon is socially distanced by design, we are happy to wear masks on request (and when we need a little extra protection – we’re varying levels of immunocompromised). All our towels and capes are cleaned between uses, the list goes on!

If you want to get super nerded out about our Covid Safe Practices, feel free to see our Covid Policy when you’re in the salon (it’s super pretty!)

Studio Misfits is wheelchair and mobility aid accessible via our secondary entry (see ‘Where Do I Enter?’ for details) and the salon space is open and spacious, making moving about easy. Please note however that our bathroom is unfortunately NOT wheelchair accessible, but is currently ambulant accessible.

Out of respect to our clients booked in the salon and our stylists time, Studio Misfits is strictly an appointment only salon. If you need to drop in and grab some products, or want to have a look around, please call, text or DM to let us know.

Life is easier with support! We’re set up so we always have space for you to bring someone for support. Whether they’re your friend, partner, parent, child, support worker – whoever you need to come with you to help you feel safe, supported and chill. They can sit with you at the station, hang out in reception, sit outside or a combination of any of these!

Out of respect to other clients’ time in the salon, we do ask that you bring just one support person, not a troupe.

We sure can! We love sharing our knowledge and helping people learn how to tame their own mane! Ask your stylist when you come in for your appointment, and if we need extra time to teach you sneaky tricks or techniques, we can book a styling one on one tutorial with your next appointment.

We also can provide our handy QR codes full of aftercare tips and tricks!

We totally get that! Here’s a list of comfort things we often see people (of all ages) bring to an appointment:

• Headphones, Loops or Flares
• A cushion (if you get uncomfortable in chairs)
• Fidgets! (We have heaps here, but your worn in fave is always the most comforting)
• Switch, iPad, or laptop (don’t forget your charger!)
• A good book (or a trashy one, we don’t judge)
• A comfort toy or blanket
• Lunch or snacks (colour appointments can be long and the food choices close by are not grand) – we have a microwave, kettle, fridge and cutlery here to facilitate lunching)
• Dark glasses – we need good lighting to do our best work, but you don’t need to endure it!

And don’t forget, we time each appointment so that you have time to get up, stroll around, take in some fresh air outside or do whatever you need to help regulate that built up energy – just let us know if you’re needing a movement break and we’ll back off and let you do your thang!

That’s a loaded question!

While we are a service set up specifically with the ND community in mind, hairdressing is not generally a service that is claimable on the NDIS.

Studio Misfits is not a NDIS service provider, however those who are self-managed may be able to use their funding in some circumstances to pay for services if it meets their specific goals. Our invoices have all the details that are needed to make a NDIS claim including mention of our low-stim and sensory friendly environment and services.

We cannot at all guarantee that you can claim our services on NDIS (everyone’s plan and goals are different!) and strongly recommend that you discuss this with your LAC, Support Coordinator or Plan Manager first.

Studio Misfits can do so many wonderful things to help you express your true self which means we have a LOT of options when booking online!

If this is your first time booking at Studio Misfits, we recommend booking in a 15-minute Discovery Date (it’s free!) where you can meet with one of our stylists either face-to-face or via Zoom to chat about what your hair goals are, how we can help you achieve them, give you a quote and get you booked in!. You can also get in touch via our contact form, email (talktome@studiomisfits.com.au), phone (042 4948 338) or Facebook messenger (Studio Misfits Hair) with any questions you may have and one of our super knowledgeable staff will answer asap.

We sure do!

We do not offer perms, keratin smoothing or chemical straightening. Being a purpose built low stim salon, we try to keep the smell of the salon as neutral as possible – right down to our cleaning products! As these chemical services are super odorous, they can be hugely overwhelming for our clients (and our staff!) and can hang in an enclosed space for days.

If you’re dead set on a perm or any other chemical hair treatment, we can offer recommendations of places we know that are amazing at the technical aspects of these services (but are a traditional salon space).

There’s free 2-hour parking around the salon on both sides of the road. Or there is easy to access public transport routes close by.

We have two entries into Studio Misfits. The main entry is through the the gate around our building with the single door, the other is our double gate that leads on our private driveway.

We also have a paved ramp to the front door.

New places and people are intimidating - we get it - we get completely overwhelmed going new places too! There are so many variables and unknowns going somewhere new, and we do our best to alleviate this. If you let us know that you are anxious (when you book the appointment, or when you fill out the client consultation form we send to you before your appointment) we will ensure to talk you through your appointment, step-by-step, letting you know everything that we are doing as we do it. We also have a variety of fidgets to help you regulate and will offer you plenty of breaks throughout your appointment where we can walk away (or you can head outside) and give you a few minutes to feel ok (don’t worry – we have plenty of time!). It’s your service, it’s your time. You have complete agency over your appointment, your hair, and your bodily autonomy at Studio Misfits.

Cancellations accepted up to 24 hours before the scheduled service. Cancellations within 24 hours and no shows attract a 25% fee of your appointment.