How to Cut Toddlers and Kids Hair at Home - BebeBurp

How to Cut Toddlers and Kids Hair at Home

It is not uncommon for parents to cut their toddler’s hair at home, but as they get older it becomes a much more complicated task. In times of lockdowns and social distancing, you will soon have a hair mess in your hands that need to be decently sorted. While most people aren’t skilled with hairdressing, if you can handle a pair of scissors skillfully, the rest isn’t so hard. Continue reading for all you need to learn about how to trim kids hair at home.

Should You Try to Cut Your Toddler’s Hair?

If you are too apprehensive about it, you can always take your toddler to a salon that specializes in cutting the hair of babies. Since kids move unpredictably sometimes most parents are afraid of having any sharp objects around their babies, let alone a scissor! But if you are up for it and have some confidence in your own ability then it can be done with a certain degree of safety. Hair trimmers these days come with a range of combing accessories that let you trim hair to any length you wish. Therefore if you’re too apprehensive about using scissors, hair trimmers are the safest option you have.

Tips for Cutting Child’s Hair at Home

For a first-timer cutting your child’s hair can seem tricky at first, so here are some useful tips to get it right.

  1. Watch Tutorial Videos

There is nothing like a video tutorial that gives you the best idea about how to go about cutting your child’s hair. A number of parents who run their own channels offer some great advice on how to cut a child’s hair right and the pitfalls to watch out for. Videos offer a unique perspective and complete details on getting the finer aspects of the activity right. They are less confusing and offer plenty of insights into different types of hairstyles and how to choose one for your child.

  1. Get the Right Tools

The right tools can mean the difference between a sharp hair cut and an embarrassment. Order hairstyling scissors online and a few varieties suited for different types of hair cut. Your kitchen or bathroom shears won’t do the job as they are designed for a different purpose. Frizzy hair for example is best handled with a serrated scissor as the blades can better grip the hair to give a straight cut. They are ideal for beginners and are also used by hairdressing students initially as they learn. You will also need broad and finer teeth comb to tame the hair and prepare them for a cut. A spray bottle, apron and hairdryer are also essential tools.

  1. Keep Them Busy

Staying still is the key element to great haircuts or any haircuts! The major hurdle all parents have to face while giving their kids a hair cut is to get them to sit still. The best way to do it is to keep them distracted with something that holds their attention for a while, like your tablet or their favorite toy. Watching videos or playing games on the screen will keep them still enough for you to quickly give them a hair cut without much hassle. Avoid giving them treats such as lollipops to buy their compliance as it can get messy with some hair inevitably falling on the treat.

  1. Ask the Professionals

If you’re going to have to give them a hair cut during a social distancing lockdown or in the middle of a vacation far from hairdressers, you can always consult with their regular hairdresser for tips. You would often need help with simpler and finer details that make a big difference with the chop and these can only come from a professional. When in doubt do not hesitate to ask for tips on how to get it right or how to give your kid the trendiest hair cut. You could also go on online forums and drop questions to professionals and get some cool expert advice well in advance before a haircut.

  1. Allow Them to Choose

Your kids will love the haircut time and cooperate more if you allow them to express themselves and guide the process. Before you go about deciding it as them the kind of hairstyle they would like and make corrections if needed in between. If they don’t like something, do not impose what you feel is good for them. Sure many parents might not want to give the boys a Mohawk or color the hair bright, but if they love it then it is better you allow them to choose unless it goes against their school policies. If it’s during a lockdown then there’s no harm in experimenting even with the most ridiculous styles!

  1. Keep the Pace Slow

You’re not a professional who can sail their way through a hair cut with their eyes closed, so take it slow. You will have parts of the haircut where you will inevitably goof something up, or worse snip the ear lobes if you rush through. Getting the hair even or to line up to snip with your scissors perfectly takes practice, therefore, go through it slowly and cautiously. That also doesn’t mean you’re going so slow that your kid gets bored and starts fidgeting. It would be perfect if you make the haircut at home a fun experience so it doesn’t become boring.

  1. Begin With a Style in Mind

Once you begin cutting the hair, there is no turning back and you will only have a few options left to fix it if it doesn’t go well. Therefore start with a plan for the type of haircut you want and how to go about it. Break it down into steps and envision each one and the amount of hair that gets cut and the direction from which you begin. Since the cutting method and order varies with each hairstyle you will have to go through your video tutorials thoroughly and create a plan for how you will approach it and what you will do if things don’t go according to plan

  1. Understand the Texture

Different hair textures require modified approaches and a slightly different set of tools to get the haircut right. Serrated scissors work well for frizzy rough hair while normal shears do well for straight hair. The same applies to clippers that make quick work of smooth straight hair but tends to get jammed in rough curls. Whatever might be your kid’s hair texture, starting with moist hair is the key to manage the hair. Wet hair is easier to cut and yields well to the tools. Keep in mind however that hair expands when it is moist therefore leave behind a margin or you might end up cutting it too short.

  1. Start Small

Success with cutting hair the first time depends on how carefully you approach it. Start small and keep track of your progress as it is easy to over-cut the hair if you’re chopping off big sections. Take small snips rather than big chops so even if the hair seems long at the end of you, you can always put in a little extra work and get it right. Use both clippers and scissors wherever they are necessary. While scissors are excellent for controlling the exact trim of the hair, clippers give you a more uniform cut over a broad area. Clippers also come with accessories that let you cut precisely to the length needed and get it done quickly as well.

  1. Get Help

If your child won’t stay in one place, get a family member involved. Your spouse is the ideal person to be there but an older sibling might love to do it just as much. Have the child sit on their lap while they hold them securely without sudden movements. Your child might also feel safer and more comfortable sitting in someone’s lap while getting a haircut.

 

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