8 Tips for Your Child’s First Haircut at a Salon

Getting a haircut at a salon can be overwhelming for kids. Learn how to make your child’s first haircut at a salon a fun experience.

Child's First Haircut at a SalonThere was no denying it: My son needed a haircut. I had been saving a lot of money by avoiding the hair salon, but my home cuts just weren’t, well… cutting it anymore. It was time for his first cut at a salon.

I avoided formal haircuts for over two years, thanks to the texture of his wavy hair that hid even the most lopsided, uneven haircuts I gave at home. But when a heat rash showed up on the back of his neck, I knew there was no way I’d be able to snip off enough and have his hair look decent.

The problem? A haircut at a salon is a new experience, one that involves a stranger getting close to his personal space.

8 tips for your child’s first haircut at a salon

Thankfully, all went well when we went for his first haircut at a salon, thanks to the tips I’m about to share with you.

Once you decide that a salon haircut is the way to go, the next step is to choose between a regular salon or one that caters to children. I’ve done both, and here are a few benefits of each one.

A regular salon:

  • You’re more familiar with the place and even a few of the stylists.
  • It’s usually less expensive than one for children.
  • You can get a haircut yourself or sit in the seats to hold your child.

A children’s salon:

  • The entire place is catered to children, from little prizes they win to fun movies they watch.
  • Stylists are used to squirmy and crying children.
  • Your child can see his peers going through the same experience.

Whether you choose a children’s or regular salon, coming prepared for the big day can make the experience more pleasant.

After all, this is the stage when toddlers are protective of their personal space and wary of people they’re unfamiliar with. Plus, they’re asked to do the near-impossible: sit still while a pair of scissors or clippers is within inches of their faces.

Still, taking your child to his first salon haircut is possible. Take a look at the tips that can make it much easier:

1. Describe what your child can expect

Talk about what your child might see when she walks in, and what people do at a salon.

Explain how she’ll sit in a high chair and wear a plastic cape during the haircut. Describe how the hairdresser might use a spray bottle to wet her head and make it easier to cut, and that she’ll use sharp scissors to cut her hair so it won’t feel so heavy anymore.

You might even hop online and find pictures of the salon you plan to visit. Knowing what to expect can ease her anxieties and reassure her once she arrives.

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2. Pick a good time to go

You might be tempted to take your child when it’s conducive to your schedule, or even right when the salon opens to beat the crowd. But a successful experience is more likely if you go at his optimal time.

Usually, this means he’s well-rested, so go after he’s had a good sleep or nap time, not when he’s about to have one. You should also go after snack time so he has one less thing to fuss about. You can even offer two snacks: one before the haircut, and one right after.

If you can, schedule an appointment so you don’t have to battle the crowds or wait too long. And if the salon doesn’t take appointments, go on a weekday, when it’s less busy.

3. Pick a salon with plenty of entertainment

One of the benefits of a kid’s salon is the many forms of entertainment it offers. Kids can read books while they wait or watch a movie while they get their haircuts. Many also offer prizes at the end of a cut.

Even regular salons can entertain children as well. I’ve taken my eldest to a salon with tons of vintage posters and cool-looking swivel chairs that kept him curious and occupied.

And if your child is especially fussy and won’t sit still, now would be a good time to show him a cartoon on your phone. Hold the phone in front of him while the stylist or barber snips his locks. This distraction is especially useful if the salon doesn’t have television screens.

4. Ask for someone with experience cutting children’s hair

Not all stylists are comfortable cutting kids’ hair, with all the squirming and not following directions. (“Look down. No, look down, not at the mirror.”)

If you’re going to a regular salon, book an appointment with someone experienced with cutting children’s hair. They’ll be more patient and will likely know what to say to your child to calm him down or get him excited about his haircut.

5. Have your child sit on your lap

Worried that your child won’t even want to sit in the chair, much less allow her hair to get cut? Try sitting her on your lap.

One benefit of a regular salon is that its seats can accommodate adults. If your child is too scared to even sit in the chair, you could hold her in your lap. Sitting with you—as opposed to sitting alone—can be just what she needs to feel comfortable with the haircut.

And if she brought a favorite toy, she can hold onto it under the cape. This can also help ease stranger anxiety and add more comfort.

6. Get a haircut, too

What better way to understand how salons work than to see your parents getting their hair cut too? One parent can have their hair cut while the other tends to your child. That way, he can see that everyone gets haircuts and that it’s a normal part of family life.

During one of our salon visits, my husband got a haircut at the same time as our son. And even now at my salon, I still see parents doing the same. And our current children’s salon services kids and adults, so kids get to see people of all ages getting a trim as well.

7. Go for a positive experience over a neat haircut

Let’s say your child is reaching his patience threshold with her haircut and is ready to cry. Even with choppy and uneven hair, consider finishing the haircut before she gets too upset.

Don’t worry about perfecting their lines or making sure the texture of their hair is right. Yes, if she’s willing, the stylist can fine-tune the haircut. But if she’s just about had it, be okay with “good enough” hair.

For one of my twins’ haircuts, the stylist asked if I’d like to clean up the cut. The problem? My son was terrified of the buzz and the sensation of the clippers. Could his hair have been more polished? Yes. But I wanted to focus on a positive experience, even if it meant coming home with not-so-perfect hair.

8. Praise your child

Now it’s time to party! After your child’s haircut, praise him for his effort and the successful turnout. You might have to redefine “success” and find pockets of accomplishments he showed.

For instance, did he cry the whole time? Thank him for sitting in the race car seat and getting through the experience. Is his hair a little lopsided because he kept turning his head? Praise him for his willingness to try something new.

And of course, if he took to his first haircut like a pro, then acknowledge his awesome ‘do and what a “big kid” he is.

Going through a new experience, especially one that can feel invasive, can be terrifying for many kids. Regardless of the outcome, acknowledge his effort and focus on what went well.

Conclusion

Your child’s first haircut is a new experience for both of you. Describe what he might see and expect during the haircut. Pick a good time to go, usually after he’s well-fed and rested. Find a salon with plenty of entertainment. If you’re going to a regular salon, ask for a stylist experienced with cutting kids’ hair.

Should he still feel afraid, have him sit on your lap, or get a haircut alongside him. Prioritize a positive experience over a perfect haircut. And lastly, find things to praise him about, from sitting in the seat to at least giving it a shot.

You may not be able to avoid another haircut for years as you’ve done in the past. But now you know how to make his first haircut a smooth and seamless one.

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One Comment

  1. Grown and Flown says:

    There were action figures at the barber shop where we went that he loved playing with. At 22 he recently returned to that one particular place to get his hair cut and we talked about the toys when he got back. Sweet memory!

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