Haircuts are a part of life when it comes to keeping well groomed, whether that’s you or your kids. However, when it comes to getting your kid’s hair cut, it’s never always plain sailing. This can be a particularly challenging activity when they’re young or they perhaps have autism or other learning challenges that make a simple haircut, a lot more complex.
These experiences can be hard for parents, especially when it feels like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Despite that though, it’s useful to get your kids exposed and used to a procedure like a haircut. It’s something that your child is likely going to need often when they’re an adult.
With that being said, here are some helpful tips that will come in handy when it comes to preparing your kids for routine haircuts this year and beyond.
Get their first cut done at an early age
To help get them accustomed to having their hair cut. It’s good to get this done from an early age. Always take them to the hair salon first, perhaps showing them how you get your hair cut so that they can see it as something that is traditional for their parents to get to.
If they’re going to a barber shop, make sure the same happens and that they’re getting exposed to all the sounds, visuals, and smells that go on in these establishments.
By having a haircut done for the first time from an early age, it’s a great way of getting them used to the experience so that they’re not blindsided by it at a later stage.
It may be worth finding a salon that is close by but is also experienced with cutting hair on kids who might be a little more fussy or disruptive from a young age.
Go regularly to the same salon to get them comfortable
Talking of hair salons and barber shops, be selective about which one you go to. It’s important that you select a salon that is most comfortable for you and your kid’s needs.
It’s not just about the quality of the haircut itself but it’s the atmosphere and quality of service provided by the salon or barber shop. There might be play areas in some hair salons, that are worthwhile for those with young kids. You might be offered a nice hot beverage and a biscuit to nibble on while having the haircut.
All these little contributions help with the overall experience and when it comes to your children, you do want to take them to the same salon regularly. It gets them comfortable and it avoids them having to go to unfamiliar territory each time they go to get their hair cut. This is particularly important when it comes to
Let them know when you’ve booked an appointment
Once you’ve booked an appointment with the hair salon, be sure to let your child know. Whether they’re aware of what it means or not at that point is beside the point. By letting them know that a haircut is imminent, it gets them prepared for it. They may ask questions in the buildup to the appointment but it’s better than just turning up at the hair salon.
Transparency and honesty is always the most important approach to have when it comes to your children. Blindsiding them is going to result in a lack of trust, so you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to prepare them ahead of the trip to the salon or barber shop.
Of course, for nervous kids, it might not be helpful to tell them in advance. However, you can use this time to talk through their feelings and reassure them that there’s nothing to be fearful of.
Explore with them the different haircuts available
There can be a lot of fun and excitement when it comes to getting a haircut and instead of making it a nerve-racking experience, push for a positive experience instead.
If your child feels nervous or apprehensive about the haircut, why not ask them what type of haircut they want? There are lots of great hairstyles and haircut examples out there that may help your child become more interested in these types of haircuts.
Consider a wolf cut hair trend for example or a buzz cut. There are loads of different options available, so why not make it a more exciting experience when preparing your child for their trip to the salon or barber shop?
Of course, you want to make sure that the cuts or styles they’re choosing from are appropriate for the school grounds so check in with their schools before opting for something drastic. You might want to limit their choices and vet the hairstyles and cuts yourself before presenting the options to them.
Avoid peak hours when booking
While it might be handy to visit the hair salon or barber during peak hours, it’s probably not the best when you’ve got a fussy or nervous child. There can be a lot more of a buzz going on when it’s busy and for some children, that might be too much stimulation for them to handle.
Ideally, and especially when they’re young, it’s worth avoiding those peak hours when booking them in. Try to opt for a quieter period of time, perhaps just before the barber shop or hair salon is closing so that they get a more relaxed atmosphere as a result.
Not only that but it does allow them to run about with their siblings to let off that extra burst of energy they may have before sitting in the chair.
Introduce a reward after the hair appointment
While it’s somewhat of a thing to avoid when it comes to convincing your child to behave, it’s worth introducing a reward after their hair appointment. If they sit and behave for the hair appointment, they get to spend a little bit of loose change in the sweet shop next door.
Consider what rewards you want to give your child and introduce them when it’s often a challenging experience. A small reward-based incentive isn’t going to make a big impact on how they perceive the world when they’re older, so don’t feel guilty for offering it!
Keep the haircut short and limited
Where possible, try to keep the haircut short and limited in the length of time you allocate to the trip. The last thing you want is for them to be in distress or for the hair stylist to be struggling with the child as they go through various stages of the haircut.
Where the child is extremely fussy, keep it to a dry cut and perhaps just a trim that keeps the hair healthy and well-kept.
Take their siblings with them if possible
If you have other children, it’s worthwhile booking them all in for a haircut, as long as for the most part, each haircut takes the same amount of time. Ideally, if there’s enough staff present, having their siblings get their haircut at the same time, will likely make the fussy one more comfortable.
When they see their sibling or siblings having their hair cut with no real fuss, then they will likely follow suit in their behavior.
Bring toys for distraction for little ones
Toys are a great distraction, especially for the little ones. If there are any toys that bring your children comfort, then bring these along to the appointment. The hairstylist won’t mind – it’s better than them screaming and crying.
Preparing your kids for routine haircuts is just another example of parenthood. Use these tips to prepare your kids for their next haircut.
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