Baby Hair Care

Common Haircutting Mistakes

Cozy Friedman, owner of the Cozy's Cuts for Kids salons in New York, tells us the top bloopers she sees when parents cut their baby's hair.

• Making bangs too short. People think bangs are easy, so they start with them. But if you're unpracticed, the tendency is to keep cutting them shorter and shorter in an effort to even them out, Friedman warns. Instead, leave the bangs for last and remember that it's better to let them be ragged than to keep chopping.
• Cutting bangs too far back. Parents sometimes cut the bangs right into the sides of the hair, which ends up looking strange, says Friedman. Unfortunately, it's hard to fix -- there's a long growing-out period. Be sure to separate only a small portion of the front of hair for bangs and smooth everything else back, or pin it with barrettes.
• Making a cowlick worse. A cowlick is a lock of hair that grows in a circular pattern at the scalp. If you cut that hair short, it sticks straight up, says Friedman. If you think your child has a cowlick (it's often genetic, so if you or your partner has one, your child may too), go for a longer cut -- or see a professional hairstylist who frequently cuts kids' hair for some advice.
• Attempting a haircut without any distractions. Let your kid watch a video, have a friend or your partner blow bubbles at him, or sing songs to help keep your baby amused and sitting still. At Cozy's Cuts it takes 15 to 20 minutes to trim a child's hair -- an eternity in baby time -- so the staff employs all these tricks and more, including sitting the kids in chairs shaped like toy vehicles.