Getting a Haircut With Hearing Aids: What to Tell Your Barber
Tell your barber you wear hearing aids before they start, agree how you will communicate once they are out, and remove them yourself and put them somewhere safe and dry, ideally their own case in your pocket. Hair clippings, water spray and styling products can all damage hearing aids, and the barber needs clear access around the ears to cut neatly. The awkward part is the conversation: once the aids are out, discussing the cut is harder. So settle the plan while you can still hear well, use the mirror for checks, and agree a simple signal for pauses.
Why the aids usually need to come out
There are three practical reasons:
- Hair clippings. Fine cut hair gets everywhere, including microphone ports and the tubing of behind-the-ear models. It is fiddly to clean out.
- Moisture and product. Barbers mist hair with water for scissor work and finish with product. Neither is good for hearing aid electronics.
- Access. Neat work around the ears needs the barber to fold the ear gently and work close with trimmers. A device behind the ear gets in the way and can be knocked off.
Some people with in-the-canal aids prefer to keep them in for the first part of the cut while the conversation happens, then remove them for the detail work around the ears. That is a sensible compromise if your barber is happy with it. For cochlear implant processors, follow the advice of your implant team; many users remove the external processor for a haircut for the same reasons.
Before you sit down: a short checklist
- Bring the case. Never wrap aids in a tissue; it is the classic way they get thrown away.
- Bring a reference photo of the cut you want. It does a lot of the talking for you.
- Tell the barber at the start that you wear hearing aids and will take them out.
- Agree the plan while the aids are still in: length on top, how short the sides go, whether the ears should be fully clear, how you want the neckline.
- Agree a signal. For example, a tap on the shoulder means the barber wants to show you something in the mirror.
- Take the aids out yourself and put the case in a pocket, not on the counter.
- Put them back in only after the final brush-down and once any product is washed off your hands.
Communicating once the aids are out
The mirror becomes your main tool. A good barber will step to the side so you can see their face when they speak, rather than talking to the back of your head. If you lip-read, ask them to lower any face covering when they talk and to keep the clippers off while asking questions. Clipper noise near the ear masks speech for everyone, and more so with hearing loss.
Some people find it easier to write key preferences on their phone before the cut and show the screen. That avoids repeated questions and keeps the appointment relaxed. If you have a preferred way to communicate, such as speaking more slowly or using simple gestures, mention it. Barbers would far rather be told than guess.
If you feel anxious about the whole experience, that is common, and our piece on barber anxiety has practical ideas that apply here too.
Cuts that work well with hearing aids
If you want the aids to be less visible
Keep some length over the ears. A scissor cut with soft, tapered sides that cover the top of the ear will hide the body of a behind-the-ear aid. The trade-off is that hair can catch on the tubing, and you may need a slightly longer trim schedule to stop it looking shaggy.
If you want comfort and simplicity
Clear the ears completely. A neat taper around the ear means nothing rubs on the device or tickles the microphone. Short sides also make inserting and removing the aids easier every day.
If you are not bothered about visibility
Anything goes. Fades, crops and longer textured tops all work. Many modern aids are small and discreet, and plenty of people choose a short, sharp cut that does not try to hide anything.
Whichever you choose, ask the barber to check how the hair sits with the aids back in before you leave. Hair that looked fine without them can sit oddly once a device is tucked behind the ear. Our guide to haircuts with glasses covers similar fitting questions, and the two often go together.
If you have a cochlear implant
The same principles apply, with one or two extras. Tell the barber where the internal magnet sits under the scalp, so they take care with clippers over that area. Some people prefer the hair over the magnet left slightly longer, as very short hair can change how the processor sits; others find shorter hair makes it hold better. Your implant team can advise on what suits your device, and it is worth asking them before your first cut after surgery.
After the cut
- Shake out your collar and wipe your hands before handling the aids.
- Check the microphone openings and any tubing for hair, and use the cleaning brush supplied with them if needed.
- If you had product applied, wait until it has settled before putting a behind-the-ear aid back over hair at the top of the ear.
- If the aids feel or sound different afterwards, contact your audiologist rather than trying to fix it yourself.
The NHS has useful information on hearing aids and their care.
What happens at Highgate Cuts
Every visit begins with an assessment. Your barber looks at your hair, asks what you want, and makes recommendations before cutting. That is the moment to mention hearing aids and agree how you will communicate. Quieter appointment times can make conversation easier, so say if that would help when you email to book. Our barber page explains the services, and if you are bringing an older relative, our guide to taking an elderly parent to the barber has more ideas.
Questions we get asked
Can I keep my hearing aids in during a haircut?
For a quick trim you might, but most barbers and audiologists would suggest removing them. Hair, water and product can damage them.
Is it safe to have a hot towel shave with hearing aids?
Take them out first. Steam and moisture are not good for the electronics.
How short should the hair be around my ears?
Short enough to stop it catching the device or tickling the microphone, unless you want to cover the aids. Discuss it at the start of the cut.
Will the barber be patient if I need things repeated?
A good one will. Tell us what helps when you book via our Highgate barber services page.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
