Children's Hair Q&A

Working on children presents a challenge in any profession, but especially for hairstylists. Children are difficult to work on because of the fact that they aren't likely to sit very still, which is a potentially dangerous situation because we are working with razor-sharp haircutting instruments. A quick and unexpected movement of the head can result in not just an uneven haircut, but an injury to the stylist or the client. Also, children typically have very fine hair, which is another challenge. Add this to the random situations that occur to children's hair, like when a child has bubblegum stuck in their hair or when children discover scissors and try to give themselves haircuts, and you can see how difficult it can be to work on children. I hope to present some useful advice to parents out there who have young children ready for their first haircut, or for parents who are considering haircolor or perms for their school-aged children. Below are some of the more frequently asked questions pertaining to children's hair.

Q: How old should a child be before getting his/her first haircut?

A: There's no specific age for a child's first haircut. It depends more on the thickness, length, and density of the hair, which will grow at different rates for different children. Some children are born with thicker heads of hair than others, so these children may already be salon regulars by the time another child of the same age is getting his or her first cut. However, I have found that the earlier a child recieves his or her first haircut, the more comfortable and cooperative they will be during future salon visits.

Q: Should I attempt to cut my child's hair at home?

A: Cutting your child's hair at home may be a good idea because it will accustom him or her to scissors, combs, and other instruments used during a haircut. The more familiar the haircutting procedure is to a child, the more comfortable they will be when it finally is time to take him or her to the salon. If you desire a more specific cut or style, it's best to leave the cutting to the professionals, but for a basic trim, there's no harm in doing the cut at home.

Q: How can I get my child to stay still during a haircut?

A: I've seen parents try every technique in the book, and even some that aren't. Always avoid statements that may frighten the child, like "if you don't sit still, they'll have to shave all of your hair off" or "if you don't sit still the hairstylist is going to mess up your hair" or the ever-popular "if you don't sit still the hairstylist is going to cut your ear off". These statements succeed only in scaring the bejeezus out of the poor child, making little Johnny dread going to get a haircut for fear of returning home with a shaved head and one less ear. Instead, try to occupy the child's mind during a haircut. Tell them a story, or read to them from a book. tell them jokes or ask them riddles. If you take the child's mind off of the haircut, it will be easier for everyone involved. Also, avoid threatening or yelling at the child; you're out in public and it may create a display of poor parenting skills. You can be the best parent in the world, but threaten to spank your kid just once out in public and before you know it, some "do-gooder" is going to run off to a pay phone and call in a report of child abuse...believe me, I have seen this happen more than once. Haircuts are very scary experiences for many children, and it's perfectly natural for them to cry. A child should never be punished for being scared.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic