Snakes actually aren't deaf. I'm including a source because it will explain better than I will.
Source: http://news.sciencemag.org/2011/12/v...lp-snakes-hear
Here's the actual study in case anyone is interested:http://jeb.biologists.org/content/215/2/ii
To anwer OP's questions, if they're not cruising around, I do the same thing and just pick up their hide and pick them up. Nothing wrong with that at all. In regards to the hair, they'll flinch from time to time and will go about their exploring way.
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