When it comes to haircuts, there are a few things that every parent has to decide: whether or not to let their kids get haircuts at all, who should cut their hair, and when is the best time for a haircut. There’s no right answer for any of these questions—it’s entirely up to the parents to make the decision they think is best for their child.
But if you’re considering cutting your child’s hair yourself, here are six pros and cons to help you make up your mind.
Yes, It’s Much Cheaper
If you’re on a budget, cutting your child’s hair at home can be a great way to save some money. I recently took my youngest two for haircuts here in Vancouver and it was $50 when we walked out—for only two kids!!! With five kids needing a hair cut every few months, that adds up very quickly.
Even if you don’t have any experience cutting hair, it’s not too difficult to learn how to do a basic trim. And there are plenty of online resources and YouTube videos that can show you how to cut different types of hair, from straight to curly.
Of course, you might need an initial investment in quality scissors and maybe even some clippers if you want to be able to give your child a shorter haircut. But once you have the supplies, you won’t have to keep spending money on haircuts every few weeks or months.
You Can Give Your Child the Haircut They Want
When you take your child to a salon, they might not always end up with the haircut that they wanted. This is especially true for younger children who might not be able to communicate exactly what they want. Or they may feel shy at the salon and not want to talk to the stylist to say what they want or don’t want.
In this case, it is easier to learn several techniques for cutting hair and then ask your child to show you a picture of the haircut they want. At https://scissortec.com/blogs/news/how-to-texturize-hair-with-scissors, you can see that there are many ways and techniques to learn how to get the specified look. This way, you can be sure that they’ll be happy with the final result—and your child probably has no problem giving you feedback about their haircut.
You Can Avoid the Risk of Infection
When you take your child to a salon, they’re coming into contact with all sorts of different people and surfaces—which means there’s a greater risk of them picking up an infection. (We all know kids touching everything.) If the salon isn’t properly cleaned, your child could end up with lice or some other type of contagious infection.
In contrast, when you cut your child’s hair at home, you know exactly who has been in contact with their hair and you can be sure that everything is clean. This decreases the risk of them picking up an infection, especially if they need trimming or shaving.
You Can Spend Time Bonding with Your Child
One of the best things about cutting your child’s hair at home is that it gives you a chance to bond with them. It can be a fun and relaxing activity that you can do together, and it’s a great way to chat and catch up with each other. Personally, I love having someone play with my hair, and some of my daughters do as well. Add to the haircut by giving them a head rub and taking time to style it after its cut.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re not spending enough time with your child, cutting their hair at home can be a great way to change that. You can also use this time to teach them how to take care of their hair and explain the importance of personal hygiene.
You Might Make a Mistake
Of course, there is always the risk that the haircut won’t turn out the way you want it to. If you’re not experienced in cutting hair, it’s easy to make a mistake—especially if you’re trying to do something more complicated than a basic trim. The first time I gave my son a trim, my daughters were convinced I’d gone too short and he suddenly looked like a little bald convict because his blonde hair was so short.
Even if you are experienced, there’s always the possibility that your child will feel freer around you and start to move around too much or have a sudden growth spurt that throws off your measurements.
If you’re feeling stressed about the idea of cutting your child’s hair, or if your child really doesn’t want you to give them a haircut, it’s probably best to leave it to a professional. There’s no shame in admitting that it’s not something you’re comfortable with—and your child will appreciate not having a bad haircut.
It Can Be a Relaxing Experience
Finally, it’s worth noting that cutting your child’s hair can be a very relaxing experience. If you’re used to going to a busy salon, it can be nice to have the chance to take your time and cut hair in a calm and quiet environment.
Of course, this won’t be the case if you have a particularly fidgety child—but it’s something to keep in mind. However, at home you can put on a movie or find other ways to distract your child that may not be available to you in a salon. If you’re looking for a way to relax and unwind, cutting your child’s hair might be the perfect solution.
Overall, there are both pros and cons to cutting your child’s hair at home. You can save money, bond with your child, and avoid infection. However, you may also make a mistake and need to get a professional to fix the haircut anyway. Consider what works best for you and your child.
2 Comments
Definitely will go smoother if you start doing it when they are quite young. They are not so picky, once they become teenagers, they are very particular about their hair. My husband does the haircuts of my teen boys, when they were little, he put a board across the arms of a deck chair to get them up where he could see what he is doing and work comfortably, he used a cape and paper neck strips to keep itchy clippings off their clothing and from going down their back. Itchy children are squirmy children. Being both of my boys are blond with fair skin, he never just shaved their heads, like some lazy people do, rather than use the clipper head attachments. He went no shorter than #4 on the top. Yes, it required more frequent haircuts, but being they were done at home, and they headed to the shower afterward, it worked for us.
Carolyn – thanks for the tips! That’s super helpful. 🙂