Ahhhhh it’s summertime and haircuts are needed. School will begin in a little while and I’m sure they will need another trim. Kids generally don’t like getting their hair cut. But for kids with sensory issues, the thought can send them into a screaming frenzy. The sound of buzzing clippers, scissors clipping, the hot apron wrapped around their body, the sticky plastic chairs, bright lights, unknown people….all this and more can be very overwhelming and frightening for kiddos.
For me, I have opted to learn to cut my kids hair at home where I can make them comfortable, give them time to prepare, and immediately shower/bathe them afterwards. Below I will list ideas and products that have helped me, but if you are not one to attempt this, try seeking out a barbershop that deals with sensory issues.
More and more, companies, whether it’s clothing, school supplies, swim lessons, whatever…have discovered that some kiddos require a little extra attention. This includes unique styling salons. I have heard of salons that offer specific times and days for kids with specific needs. Call around. Ask around. Put out a FaceBook recommendation in your area to find these salons. They are out there. Their are hairdressers who have kiddos with specific needs and they too understand that a haircut can be traumatizing for some. So ask in your area and I bet you’ll find something that fits your kids needs.
If you do want to attempt to cut your own kids hair, this is what has worked for me in the past and present.
First, without your kiddo around, pick out a couple chairs that are easy to clean, and are fairly easy for your to maneuver around. Then have your kiddo pick out which chair they would like to sit in. Giving them the power to choose can help any process.
Second, you need to know what calms your child. Is it watching a show? Is it a specific radio station or songs? Is it you having to sing a song? For my kiddos, they do well with picking out a show they like and watching it on the kitchen TV, an Ipad or a phone (depending on where I’m cutting their hair).
You will need bright lighting, so have the lights on, start the show/song, and have them sit in the room before you start getting out your supplies. For kids who are sensitive to lighting, this can acclimate them beforehand.
Put the hair cape on so they can get used to wearing this as well. Using a hair cape is crucial because it keeps the scratchy, itchy “ewww gross” hair off their bodies. I use a traditional Kids Barber Cape Cover for cutting my daughter’s long hair, but found using the umbrella style to be more effective for cutting my sons short hair.
By choosing a child’s size of umbrella style hair apron, it will be tight around their neck and not too wide around their shoulders. This keeps all the hair off of their bodies. The CCbeauty Children Barber Cape, Faleto Hair Cutting Umbrella Kids Barber Cape, or the Child Barber Cape Kids are all good options.
Cutting long hair can be easy if you have the correct tools. I prefer to cut hair when it is dry or at least mostly dry (you can spray water onto it if you prefer a little bit of dampness), but that decision is up to you to play around with. I feel when it is dry, I know exactly what I’m getting into. I’ve cut it wet in the past and typically end up cutting it WAYYYY shorter that I wanted because I just couldn’t tell.
These are the basic tools you will need (and I’m not a hairdresser, so this is just a set of mom tools that I have found that worked for me):
I’m sure you may have a barber comb around your house, so you may not need to purchase this. You might even have hair clips you can use. But, please, PLEASE do not cheapen out on hair cutting scissors by using the nearest office scissors you can find. They. Are. Not. The. Same!!! Also, the hair thinning scissors help create layers/soften blunt edges that we as non-hairdressers don’t know how to do any other way 🙂
The CreaClip. Oh my goodness what a lifesaver this thing has been. I first saw this on Shark Tank and was hooked. I’ve been cutting my own hair for years and have always struggled with keeping is straight. You know how it goes….you just keep cutting this side, then that side, now this side, and before you know it it’s up to your ears. The CreaClip has saved me and my daughter and makes hair cutting quick, easy, and beautiful. Check out all the YouTube videos of examples and you will see just how easy this thing makes DIY haircutting a breeze. Plus, you can do it at home, which is the whole point of this article.
Short hair, I find, is actually the hardest to cut. You have to know which length to buzz it down to, how to cut around the ears, and shaping the neck area. For now, I cut my boys hair. But when they get older and less afraid of the buzzing sound of the clippers (because hopefully they will get acclimated to that sound over time and while hearing it in the peace of their own home) I imagine I will have to take them to a professional because I will have no idea what I’m doing. But at this point, I pretty much buzz cut both of them. Not super short buzz cuts, but longer on the top and shorter in the back.
The Wahl Lithium Ion Cordless Rechargeable Hair Clippers has been my go-to buzzer. Wahl makes wonderful hair cutting products and I have always used their brand of buzzers, but for some reason, this rechargeable one is less noisy. It is on the more expensive side, but not having a cord can be an added bonus. I’ve had corded buzzers and just having the feeling of something slithering across their body can cause a meltdown.
This brand also comes with over-the-ear clips that take all the challenge of trimming the ears away. Just make sure to pay attention to the slope of the clip….the shorter side goes against the ear. They are marked as R and L, but this can be confusing because it really depends on which ear you are doing. If you pay attention to the directions, you’ll be fine.
I hope this is a help to you and your family. Remember…it’s only hair. It will grow back. Just don’t attempt this at an important picture taking time and you’ll be fine.
