Moms with little Boys

jmcmoe · November 2014

How old were your little men when they had their first haircut? How did it go down? DS needs a haircut badly, he is 20 months old and terrified of people "examining" him. So I'm afraid he will throw a shit fit if I don't go prepared! He also is afraid of things that make new noises (blow dryers, blender, vacuum etc) there is no way I would ever attempt to cut his hair myself because I lack every kind of skill needed for that and if there is going to be a fight, I would much rather it look decent in the end! If any of you have an tips or tricks that may be helpful, please pass them my way! And moms with girls feel free to comment as well, but most little girls don't get hair cuts with clippers so it may not be quite as "scary"

Thanks

amandad715 · November 2014

Ds1 was about 18m when he got his 1st trim. We went to my hair stylist at a regular salon. She is a mom of 3 and he got to have his first dum-dum sucker-BIG DEAL. That kept him occupied and she also let him squirt her, us and his reflection in the mirror. We talked about it beforehand and practiced "cutting" his hair with our fingers and had him practice on us.
I also had low expectations the first time. He did awesome!

Now the dentist was a whole other story....,

kellyfo14 · November 2014

I would go to a place geared toward children for his first visit. We went to a place called snip-its. I know they are a chain but i don't know that they have them where you are. It was somewhat expensive but they did a great job and even gave us a little certificate with a plastic baggie with a few locks in it. They really have a good feel for how to deal with nervous kids and they play a video while they do the cut.

longcat07 · November 2014

DS had a lot of hair at birth, so he had his first haircut right around his first birthday. i had him sit on my lap while she did it. later he went through a phase (that he's still *sort of* clinging to a bit at 4.5 years) where he didn't like anyone prodding at him, to the point where he would have screaming meltdowns when we tried to get him to stand on the scale or against the wall to be measured at the doctor's office. it was challenging at that point, but it helped to take him to someone who does kids' hair (not necessarily one of those overpriced places that has the cars as chairs and all that though). my current lady lets him look at the scissors and play with the trimmer and stuff before using it on him and that reassures him. there was definitely a couple years in there where he just had longer hair and i'd have someone hold him down while i buzzed him myself when it got too long and he wouldn't let me pull it back though.

god i wish he'd just let me pull it back in a ponytail. he has such gorgeous, thick, wavy blond hair.

ETF grammar

LaBellaVida · November 2014

He was 2.

My little guy still hasn't had a haircut, and won't until he turns 2.

BookitBoo · November 2014

DS was about 19 months. He sat in my lap and was really very still. They used scissors because he didn't like the sound of the clippers.

He has had his hair cut and sits very well. He not recently started letting the lady who cuts his hair use clippers without squirming everywhere.

He gets a sucker for sitting still, and she always shows him what she is going to do before she does it. And she has pointed out that only she can use scissors to cut hair, which I thought was a nice touch.

hiphopdancer2007 · November 2014

We just took my DD this past weekend for her first haircut. She will be 2 in 2 weeks. We took her to a place geared towards kids. It was meltdown city but the lady who did it was awesome and was done in less then. 5 minutes even with her squirming and screaming. She doesn't do strangers well so I was fully prepared for what was to come. I know she will get better the more we take her and the older she gets so I try not to take it seriously.

4littlebears · November 2014

My son would do anything for a sucker and most salons have suckers! You can hold him on your lap too, that might help.

GromMom · November 2014

I wait until he is asleep, sometimes it takes two nap times but it comes out pretty well, I have been curing my husband's hair for years though so I'd probably be anxious about cutting my child's hair for the first time with no practice. I think he had his first haircut around the age of 1, but technically we cut his first baby hair within the first few weeks because he was born needing a haircut. That hair all fell out and he was the cutest baldy for a while :-)

Mom2anAngel2 · November 2014

I've never taken DS to have a haircut. I have a trimmer at home and just do his haircuts myself. I usually sit him I front of Thomas the Train and he actually sits still enough for me to cut his hair.

I was also worried that he wouldn't sit still if I brought him somewhere. He freaks out when I use my blow dryer already.

snowbaby1214 · November 2014

I cut their hair at home until they were 6, but they were both around 2 when they started. Like PPs have said, I would go someplace geared towards kids.

Jellybean707 · November 2014

First haircut was at age 1 done professionally at a place for kids haircuts. We took him every 8 weeks or so. I took over cutting his hair about 3 or 4 months ago and do it evry 4 weeks now. He does really well with it.

funinthenorth · November 2014

DS was right around 2. We built it up for him to make it seem like an exciting event. Talked about how Daddy got his hair cut, how he was getting to be such a big boy, how handsome he was going to look....and about the donut he would get when it was all done.

He wasn't too sure about the clippers but he did well. The second time he didn't want anything to do with the clippers so the barber just used scissors and he was fine. It's been clippers since, and the donut routine has continued which is fine because it's turned into a fun outing for him and his Dad.

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jmcmoe · November 2014

Thanks Ladies! I will have to do my research to see which places are "kid friendly" my aunt is a hairdresser but it's at a fancy salon so I don't think that is my best option! I was also thinking that DH could get his haircut with him so that he could see it's not scary.

thompnia · November 2014

My son was probably about 6 months old. He did better then than he does now at 3 years old.

id012 · November 2014

Ds was a year old. At 1st I was bringing him to a kids place because they are used to cutting the hair of kids that are freaking out. Now he goes to the barbershop. He actually doesnt complain at all at the barbershop, I think its because its a bunch of guys in there and hes being tough.
I think I started taking him there around 2.

If I were you I would just take him to a kids place. Bring something he likes.. lollipops, bubbles whatever to distract him and plan on him sittingon your lap.

kellimark · November 2014

We took DS to a kids place called pig tails and crew cuts right at 2. He wanted to sit on my lap and he got a lollipop. They also had a movie on.
I didn't know how much they would be able to cut either because DS doesn't like new noises either. They were awesome though and were prepared if he moved a lot or cried.
I would suggest bringing a camera although most of the kids places offer a first haircut package that includes a picture and a prize when they are all done.

atrinh11 · November 2014

My son was about 15 or 16 months when we first had his hair cut. We went to a kid place where they sit in a fire truck, and they put something on the TV for them, of their choice. All of that really helped calm his nerves. For the very first cut, she did almost all scissors. She didn't get the clippers out until the very end, and it was just to make a straight line in the back. She was great and he hardly noticed.

DH did think he could do the next one on his own at home, and let's just say it was a miserable failure. DS held still so much better for someone else. Even without using clippers at all, he fought it the entire time.

We now go to the kids haircut place every time. It has always gone fairly well except one time when the woman tried clippers first before the scissors. That freaked DS out and he cried the entire time. I think that woman just wasn't as gentle and understanding as the other ladies there who have cut his hair. Most of them are great and keep him super calm.

storm08 · November 2014

DS was 12 months. I do his haircuts and I can tell you what has scared him and what has worked well:

He is terrified of the buzzers that my H uses to buzz his hair, so we have to use scissors. However, using big or long scissors makes him upset.

We've been bribing him with watching Daniel Tiger and eating a lollipop with my H to distract him while I trim his hair. That seems to work the best. I hold a pair of ladybug kid scissors in one hand, and the pair I really use to cut his hair in the other. If he starts to turn his head to look at me, I show him I'm "using" the ladybug scissors otherwise he freaks out.

Maebb · November 2014

I trimmed it when he was about 7 months and then my mom and I gave him a haircut at 9 months. He had/has a lot of hair.

I tried taking him to a place, but he flipped out. Bribery with lollipops worked somewhat.

Now my mom has him sit in the sink or bathtub while she cuts his hair, and he likes that. Basically just try to distract him as much as you can. Good luck!

BackseatDriver · November 2014

He was 8 months and did great. He was okay with it until 18 months. Since then it has been a disaster. He will be 2 next month We have never used clippers.

efujan · November 2014

DS was 13 months (doesn't like the doctor, either). We took him to a place called Pigtails to Crewcuts - it was a "first haircut" package where they take photos, give you the first lock of hair in a little keepsake. Kind of cute little deal. And the stylists are really good about cutting wiggly little ones' hair. She used scissors mostly - trimmers at the end, he was in a cool airplane chair, and they gave him animal crackers while they were doing it so he had a little distraction & did great.

FYI - we cut his hair at home now, DH uses clippers & I'm right in front of him with M&M's or fruit snacks to keep him focused on me & not the noise - he still isn't great with the at-home cuts, but he's getting better. It takes time for them to get used to it.

aerotigergirl · November 2014

We got DS's hair cut for the first time when he was about 2 weeks past his first birthday. We took him to a place called "Cool Cuts 4 Kids" and it looks just like the picture that @efujan posted. He sits in a little car that is pointed at a TV screen and they have a lot of kids movies to choose from. They use scissors mostly, but they do use the clippers to clean up around the back of his neck and his sideburns. I've cut it at home a few times with varying amounts of success. And I've taken him to SmartClips a few times, too (again with varying success). His cutest haircuts have come from the kid specific place. I guess this is because the stylists there deal with wiggly kids all day they seem to handle him a little better than Smartclips or I can do at home.

kelsdaws · November 2014

I haven't read all the comments so someone may have suggested this, but maybe have his dad or male figure he looks up to get a hair cut first and have him sit with him while he gets it done, it might be helpfu. I know my girlfriend uses tactics like that to get her son to do things. ex. "You want to ate all your dinner so you get big and strong like daddy"

atrinh11 · November 2014

aerotigergirl said:

We got DS's hair cut for the first time when he was about 2 weeks past his first birthday. We took him to a place called "Cool Cuts 4 Kids" and it looks just like the picture that @efujan posted. He sits in a little car that is pointed at a TV screen and they have a lot of kids movies to choose from. They use scissors mostly, but they do use the clippers to clean up around the back of his neck and his sideburns. I've cut it at home a few times with varying amounts of success. And I've taken him to SmartClips a few times, too (again with varying success). His cutest haircuts have come from the kid specific place. I guess this is because the stylists there deal with wiggly kids all day they seem to handle him a little better than Smartclips or I can do at home.

We use Cool Cuts 4 Kids too. I really like it there.

GirlWithAnchors · November 2014

Like PP said try and make it fun! Try looking for a place with all the cool bells and whistles since hey it's his first cut! Offer little snacks or reward him with something he likes. We don't plan on cutting DS hair until he's five so personal experiance is none but from my friends and PP looks like that's the best route.

jmcmoe · November 2014

Thanks again everyone! I have found a fun kids' salon about 30 minutes from me called "Cookie Cutters" I think we will give that a try! Thanks for all your advice!

lana22 · November 2014

my son's first haircut was a debacle. i think he was around 14 months. took him to a kids place and he bawled the whole time. had to take him out of the motorcycle or w/e they put him in and hold him on my lap. first 3-4 haircuts were like this and then my husband started taking him. problem solved!

now he goes to a barber shop and is fine. i'd find something he likes to read to him or show him while he's getting the hair cut. that is what started us down the road of happy haircuts.

my second son got his first haircut with all of us there around the same age and didn't cry at all. maybe some of it is temperament. try distracting. bring snacks?

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