A BARBER tailoring her trims to those with additional needs- Trottz Trimz is Trader of the Week.

Kylie Trott works as a mobile barber, providing her specialist Trottz Trimz service across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and beyond.

The 34-year-old has built a clientele of people with additional needs, many with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders, and works to make haircuts a more pleasant experience for them.

She said: “A lot of the kids and adults that I visit, they generally have a lot of anxiety around visiting a barber shop.

“You have to think about the smells, the sounds, the feeling of the tools and the fact that there might be a lot of people there. It can be quite an overwhelming experience for some people that have additional needs.

“I find that visiting them at home, in their own surroundings and with their home comforts, it just reduces that anxiety.”

Kylie began training to be a barber in 2020, before qualifying in 2021 and going full time with Trottz Trimz in Oct 2022.

Bournemouth Echo: Kylie with a clientKylie with a client (Image: Kylie Trott)

Prior to this, Kylie had 15 years’ experience in support work and had worked in various specialist schools.

She said: “I’ve got a background in support work. I used to take my clients to the barber shops.

“There’s just a lack of understanding- it’s no fault of anyone that works there- but they don’t have the time or understanding to deal with someone who might be struggling, so I thought there was a gap there.

“I trained as a barber so I could provide a specialist service for those with additional needs.”

Now, Kylie is working seven days a week to provide the Trottz Trimz service.

She allows up to an hour for bookings, ensuring there’s no time pressure, and works to build a relationship with clients.

Kylie said: “To achieve the haircuts, I work consistently with my clients using the same routine, explaining what is happening and working slowly towards building a relationship based on trust.

"We also focus on learning to cope with the overwhelming sensations. It’s not an overnight thing, but if people are committed, I tend to see positive results.”