How To Cut Your Kid's Hair At Home

Moms.com

By Joanna Mazewski

Published Nov 16, 2018

While every child’s hair structure and natural style is different, there are a few easy steps that you can follow

Credit: iStock / Lomnik Tatsiana

It’s without a doubt that a lot of parents are willing to do just about anything to save a few dollars here and there. After all, raising a family can be one of the most expensive things you do in your life, and that’s why many moms and dads know that every dollar counts. That’s why so many parents opt to do things on their own, like cut their children’s hair.

Believe it or not, cutting your child’s hair often will also help make it grow longer faster, too. Trimming your hair while growing it out will actually encourage hair growth by getting rid of any damaged, broken, or split ends.

While every child’s hair structure and natural style is different, there are a few easy steps that you can follow if you want to give your child a quick trim at home. The first thing you want to do is get a wide-tooth comb to divide the hair in sections. Next, follow these instructions:

1. Part hair from behind one ear, over top of head, to back of the other ear. Hair in front is top section.

2. Divide remaining bottom section, from ear to ear, into additional 1-inch-thick horizontal sections. Clip all but bottom section up.

3. Release top section. Part to create side sections. Each should start about 1 inch above ear and include all hair below that point from temple to back. Clip the rest of the hair up and leave side sections down.

4. Cut right section first. Hold hair, with slight tension, between index finger and middle finger of noncutting hand and trim half of desired length (remember: 1/2 inch = 1 inch) in right-to-left motion.

If your child has curly hair, cut about in inch when it’s dry and no more than one fourth of an inch when the hair is wet. Of course, the best thing you can do is watch videos, ask stylists for tips, and keep your kids busy throughout their hair cut.

And yes, go as slow as you can, especially if you have never done it before. But if you don’t trust yourself with a pair of scissors (or simply don’t want to traumatize your child with an ill-looking bowl cut or bangs), simply leave it to the professionals. Remember, no hair cut is permanent. It will always grow back!

Also, keep in mind that both adults and children should cut their hair every six to eight weeks. By trimming your child’s hair on a regular basis, this will help prevent the hair cuticle from splitting, which oftentimes leads to split ends.