A haircut sounds small. For a caregiver, it is a whole outing: the car, the stairs, the waiting room, the chair, the drive back, and the rest of the afternoon gone. Before you decide who does it, you need to know what each choice actually costs you in time and effort.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Count the real hours
Write down every step of the trip, not just the appointment. Include getting your parent dressed, the car transfer, the walk in, the wait, the return, and the recovery time afterward. Then do the same for a mobile visit, where the only steps are clearing a chair, setting out a towel, and being present. Seeing the two lists side by side usually settles the question faster than any argument.
When doing it yourself is the right answer
A quick trim at home can be the right call when your parent is steady, you have the tools, and you are not already depleted. It goes wrong when you are exhausted, when your hands are shaking, or when the cut matters to your parent and you do not feel confident about it. If you choose this route, pick a day that is not already full and tell your parent in advance what you will do.
What to check before booking a mobile stylist
Ask whether the stylist has done work in private homes before, and whether they bring their own equipment. Ask what space they need, such as a clear chair, a nearby outlet, and a level floor, and whether they will move anything themselves. Ask for the arrival window, not a single time, and how late arrivals are handled.
Get the cancellation policy in writing. Find out whether a fee applies, how much notice is needed, and what happens if your parent refuses on the day or is unwell. If they will not come in that case, you want to know before you have set everything up.
Ask whether you can get the same person each time. A familiar stylist makes the visit easier for your parent, and it saves you from re-explaining what they like. Also ask who needs to be home to let them in, and whether a key holder or lockbox is part of the plan.
The hybrid option
Many families do a mix. A mobile stylist handles the full cut every few weeks, and you do the in-between touch-ups yourself. This keeps the big task off your hands while still letting you keep your parent looking the way they like between visits.
Ask your parent first
Before you pick any of these, ask your parent what they want. Some would rather go out, some would rather stay home, and some do not care as long as the person doing it is not in a hurry. Their answer matters, and it may change the math. For more on fitting help to your real week, the Local Help for Caregivers in St. Louis page lists some places to start looking.