How to Give Your Child a Haircut at Home

I watched one YouTube video on cutting kids’ hair at home and decided to give it a go. And that, my friends, is where I went wrong. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t turn out terrible, but it’s definitely not professional. Good thing my son’s hair grows quickly.

1. Create a “Salon”

We moved the baby’s high chair into our master bathroom and secured a towel around my toddler’s shoulders with a chip clip. He loved getting pampered at our homemade salon.

Hairstylist Adrienne Leak of Just For Me Hair suggested making sure you prepare everything you need–tools, products, toys–beforehand, and I can’t echo this advice enough. The last thing you want is to get your toddler settled and have to stop in the middle to hunt down his favorite red car … theoretically, of course.

2. Move Quickly

On the note of getting a toddler settled and still, playing “salon” was fun for about 10 minutes, and then my little man was over it. As anyone with a toddler knows, sitting still is not something they’re interested in doing. Aim for a trim that’s good enough, not perfect.

3. Give Distractions

Whatever will keep your toddler interested and still for a few minutes, give it to her. A book, tablet, favorite toy, stuffed animal–whatever it is, you’ll need it. I’m not going to lie, we also had some candy ready for bribes … and we used it all.

Source: @baublesandbackdrops via #sharetheeverymom

4. Take Their Hair Type Into Account

All hair is different, so Leak, along with experts at haircutinspiration.com, broke it down for us, from curly to straight and long to short.

For Short, Straight or Wavy Hair

Start with wet hair–I recommend using a spray bottle of water to wet the hair vs. going the full bath-and-hair-wash route

Divide hair into sections with clips or bands

Comb through each section before cutting

Measure how much you want to cut off with a comb or your fingers

Cut small portions at a time using only the tip of the scissors (don’t cut straight across)

When cutting on the top, hold the section of hair straight up to cut

When trimming the bottom, brush hair down and cut from the bottom

For Long, Straight or Wavy Hair

Start with wet hair (a spray bottle can work here, too)

Divide hair into sections with clips or bands

Comb through each section before cutting

Start trimming at the bottom in the back

Let down more hair and cut the next section to the same length

Source: @loree.1

For Textured, Coily Hair (If You Want to Keep It Longer Than 3 Inches)

Clean and prep hair for cutting with a detangling shampoo and conditioner

Spray hair with a leave-in detangler

Run a light coat of a curl and coil cream through hair (Leak recommended Just for Me Curl Peace Defining Curl & Coil Cream)

Part hair into 2×2-inch sections and band each section

Comb through thoroughly and two-strand twist from scalp to ends

Measure how much you want to trim and use the tip of the shears to lightly snip the ends

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For Textured, Coily Hair (If You Want to Cut It Shorter Than 3 Inches)

Clean and prep hair for cutting with a detangling shampoo and conditioner

Spray hair with a leave-in detangler (Leak recommended Just for Me Curl Peace 5-in-1 Wonder Spray)

Fluff with pick or comb and dry thoroughly

For basic trims, use a 1.5-inch guard and cut in the direction that the hair grows

Start cutting first in the middle and go forward toward the front hairline

Next, cut starting in the middle down towards each ear

Then, cut starting in middle down toward the neck

In kids over 5 years old, use a trimmer to outline the shape of the hairline. Leak recommended holding on any DIY hairline trims in kids under 5, as the skin is sensitive and the hairline is still developing–leave that one to the professionals.