Sometimes despite best efforts kids just hate haircuts. If it's not sensory related the average age for kids to struggle with haircuts is from two-three years old. Even if your child has done great from the beginning it is not uncommon to regress, which can be very discouraging and embarrassing to parents and caregivers. I want you to know I sympathize with you and your child; I don't judge you for meltdowns and I don't mind cutting hair on a screaming child! Through trial and error I've learned a thing or two that helps. What do I need from you?
1. Consistency! It can be challenging for a child to jump from one salon to another or from one stylist to another. It's about trust!
-Find a stylist you like and stay with them so your child can build trust with their stylist
-Keep the haircut routine consistent, for children fearful of haircuts waiting six months in between haircuts is going to make things harder. I recommend every 6-8 weeks.
2. Plan ahead! Schedule the appointment time when your child is going to be at their best.
-Nap time and lunch time are never good for haircuts.
-If your child falls asleep in the car on the way, they WILL be grumpy. Allow them to have time to warm up to the environment prior to sitting them down for haircut.
-Give kids reminders a few days before haircuts, visual reminders are great. Ex: picture of treat they'll get after haircut, picture of them happy after their last haircut.
3. Bring extra clothes for your child and yourself.
-Sometimes haircuts need to be done on parents laps, even with capes the wiggles get hair everywhere.
-Sometimes kids refuse capes, and I will never force them to wear one.
4. Be calm.
-Kids feed off our moods, if we are stressed so are they. Try to stay positive and calm throughout haircut
-Avoid disciplining child for screaming, we want positive reinforcement so they will see this as a positive environment.
5. Allow your child to warm up first!
-Plan to come a little early so your child can play with the toys first or explore the salon.
6. Bribe!
-While it may not be the best parenting skill out there, it's how us parents survive! Bring treats.
7. Desensitize their fears.
-If your child is afraid of clippers, give them a handheld massager to play with. The vibration mimics the feeling of clippers.
-Practice wearing capes at home and make it a game, superman's hair salon adventure!
-Bring them into salon on a day they aren't getting a haircut to play with toys, watch other kids, meet me, or get a lollypop.
8. Bring a partner not a family.
-It is great to have one person with you to help.
-Avoid bringing the whole family, too many people can create overstimulation for your child and myself.
9. Get them prepared
-read haircut books
-watch haircut videos, you tube has a lot of great choices
-have them watch a family member get a haircut
10. Don't overdo it
-For children with sensory needs a haircut is a big event. Avoid scheduling other appointments following the haircut or planning errands. Allow them to go home right after to decompress.
-Less is more. Sometimes with the tv going, treats, bubbles and candy all at once a child can become overstimulated. While all useful tricks its best to use one trick at a time.
11. Contact me to schedule appropriate time for your child instead of booking online if they are scared.
-Some kids do better in a quiet environment, I am happy to schedule them before other stylists arrive so they aren't overwhelmed with people and other noise.
12. Holding a child down is ALWAYS a last resort.
-I'm not talking about holding their hands so they don't get hurt. Some hairstylists will only do a screaming child's haircut if the parent is physically restraining the child. While I leave this up to the parents discretion it is never my first choice. It can prolong the length of time it takes for the child to begin trusting me and haircuts.
13. Breaks help!
-allow me to give them quick breaks to get hair off face, to breathe, to relax
-some parents like the get it done fast approach, I've learned when children are very upset this leads to them throwing up and while I do try to be quick giving them time to calm down makes a difference.
Ultimately, you are this child's parent/caretaker not me. You get to make the decisions and calls for how the haircut is done. From my years of experience working as a child's hairstylist, I've seen proven results from these methods and encourage you to try some of them!
1. Consistency! It can be challenging for a child to jump from one salon to another or from one stylist to another. It's about trust!
-Find a stylist you like and stay with them so your child can build trust with their stylist
-Keep the haircut routine consistent, for children fearful of haircuts waiting six months in between haircuts is going to make things harder. I recommend every 6-8 weeks.
2. Plan ahead! Schedule the appointment time when your child is going to be at their best.
-Nap time and lunch time are never good for haircuts.
-If your child falls asleep in the car on the way, they WILL be grumpy. Allow them to have time to warm up to the environment prior to sitting them down for haircut.
-Give kids reminders a few days before haircuts, visual reminders are great. Ex: picture of treat they'll get after haircut, picture of them happy after their last haircut.
3. Bring extra clothes for your child and yourself.
-Sometimes haircuts need to be done on parents laps, even with capes the wiggles get hair everywhere.
-Sometimes kids refuse capes, and I will never force them to wear one.
4. Be calm.
-Kids feed off our moods, if we are stressed so are they. Try to stay positive and calm throughout haircut
-Avoid disciplining child for screaming, we want positive reinforcement so they will see this as a positive environment.
5. Allow your child to warm up first!
-Plan to come a little early so your child can play with the toys first or explore the salon.
6. Bribe!
-While it may not be the best parenting skill out there, it's how us parents survive! Bring treats.
7. Desensitize their fears.
-If your child is afraid of clippers, give them a handheld massager to play with. The vibration mimics the feeling of clippers.
-Practice wearing capes at home and make it a game, superman's hair salon adventure!
-Bring them into salon on a day they aren't getting a haircut to play with toys, watch other kids, meet me, or get a lollypop.
8. Bring a partner not a family.
-It is great to have one person with you to help.
-Avoid bringing the whole family, too many people can create overstimulation for your child and myself.
9. Get them prepared
-read haircut books
-watch haircut videos, you tube has a lot of great choices
-have them watch a family member get a haircut
10. Don't overdo it
-For children with sensory needs a haircut is a big event. Avoid scheduling other appointments following the haircut or planning errands. Allow them to go home right after to decompress.
-Less is more. Sometimes with the tv going, treats, bubbles and candy all at once a child can become overstimulated. While all useful tricks its best to use one trick at a time.
11. Contact me to schedule appropriate time for your child instead of booking online if they are scared.
-Some kids do better in a quiet environment, I am happy to schedule them before other stylists arrive so they aren't overwhelmed with people and other noise.
12. Holding a child down is ALWAYS a last resort.
-I'm not talking about holding their hands so they don't get hurt. Some hairstylists will only do a screaming child's haircut if the parent is physically restraining the child. While I leave this up to the parents discretion it is never my first choice. It can prolong the length of time it takes for the child to begin trusting me and haircuts.
13. Breaks help!
-allow me to give them quick breaks to get hair off face, to breathe, to relax
-some parents like the get it done fast approach, I've learned when children are very upset this leads to them throwing up and while I do try to be quick giving them time to calm down makes a difference.
Ultimately, you are this child's parent/caretaker not me. You get to make the decisions and calls for how the haircut is done. From my years of experience working as a child's hairstylist, I've seen proven results from these methods and encourage you to try some of them!