Full disclosure: I hate haircuts. I have to get really frustrated with the length or style of my hair before I initiate the booking of an appointment. I hate the lack of control, the weird smells, the wetness of my hair, and making conversation on top of all this. Naturally, my kids are sensitive as well. As quarantine drags along, we all face the challenge of “at-home” haircuts. I have employed some of the following strategies to get a pleasant experience and an acceptable haircut.
1. First ready yourself! Buy or obtain appropriate chippers, sharp hair cutting scissors, spray bottle for water, and clothing cover. Watch youtube videos about giving a child’s cut in the style you want so you have a plan. Again, have a plan! You want this to be quick and methodical.
2. Pre-Teach your child with a book or video about what is going to happen. Cater to your child’s preferences. For example, my son loves monsters, ghosts, etc. So Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott is our favorite. Some other good options include, When your Llama Needs a Haircut by Susanna Leonard Hill, I Love my Haircut by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, or Getting a Haircut (Spec Tales: Life Skills Stories for Kids with Autism & Special Needs Book 1) by Ambrose and Insalaco in the tradition of a social story with images.
3. Reward your child with something “willy willy cool!” as my son would say. If there is that one special treat that they have been pining for, why not offer it up? Maybe it is a certain movie, park experience or food. I think a healthy dose of reward, especially for something as a brave as a haircut, is very useful.
4. Normalize haircut tools through play. Let your child hold the buzzing clipper (with your assistance). Explore the attachments. Use the spray bottle and comb on dolls. All of these will build familiarity with these tools. They will be like old friends once utilized for the actually haircut session.
5. Try a role reversal and let your child become your hair stylist. I’m not suggesting letting them actually cut your hair, but maybe comb, spray, style or run the clipper (turned off) through your hair. Take them through the sequence of what you expect from them, but acting it out on you.
6. Modify your own expectations. Unless you are a professional hairstylist, you should not expect professional level results. Setting the expectation as “my child will have shorter hair” will be a healthy mindset during this endeavor. Or “lets make this experience positive as we build up to a full haircut,” may also prove useful.
7. Try gradually increasing the stimulus of the haircut. First session simply turn the buzzer on or clip only bangs. Next session, say in a month, buzz or clip for a little longer. Add on until your child can tolerate a full haircut.
8. Distraction is not cheating! Distracting your child with screen time may be an acceptable option to get this task completed. Professional places like SportsClips or Cookie Cutters know the power of getting a child zoned in.
With weeks/months of quarantine ahead, many of us will be faced with this not-so-important, but potentially tricky task, of cutting our children’s hair. It can be done! Prepare, set appropriate expectations, and let it be a fun new family “occupation.”
Thanks for reading!