When? There's no set time. "That first haircut doesn't have to be a scalping -- you could have a baldy who's growing wings and needs the fuzzy ends trimmed," says Friedman. "It's definitely time when the hair starts getting in their eyes."
How often? Boys with short hair need a cut about every 6 to 8 weeks. With girls, it depends whether they have long or short hair. It's important to keep trimming the dead ends so their hair stays healthy looking.
What to know when booking the cut? Call ahead and ask who's good with kids. If you just show up, you'll get whoever is available.
How to prepare? Let your child get used to the idea by watching other people getting their hair cut.
What to take? If you have a specific look in mind, be sure to take a picture with you. Tell the hairdresser, "When we're done, I want the bangs to look like this."
When will your baldy grow some hair? No way to know. Enjoy this hassle-free hair phase, and dress baby in a bonnet or cap to reveal the gender.
Tips for a Home Haircut
"Choose your setting and distraction. Let your child watch a video during the cut, or have another adult blow bubbles," says Friedman.
Avoid using the word "cut." "Lots of toddlers find that scary," notes Friedman. Instead say "trim" or "style."
Wet the hair. The easiest way to do this is to use a spray bottle and say, "Look, it's raining." Still, lots of kids don't like the sensation. If that's the case, just wet a wide-tooth comb and run it through your child's hair.
Have a game plan -- start in the front and work your way around to the sides and then the back.
Be careful of bangs -- people have a tendency to cut them too short. If hair is curly, it can shrink by up to an inch once it's dry.
Kids' Hair-Care Problems
Going Green
Problem: Your child's hair is like straw after a summer in chlorinated pools -- and/or it has a strange greenish tint.
Solution: Her hair needs a detox program with a special chlorine-removing shampoo.
Gummy Hair
Problem: Your child has put a wad of gum in her hair. You don't want to cut it out.
Solution: Work a gob of peanut butter through her hair. The oil in the peanut butter works out the gum's stickiness -- and is easier to remove than baby oil or Vaseline.
Bed Head
Problem: When your son wakes up, his hair is sticking up straight or flattened out.
Solution: The price of easy-to-care-for short hair is the bed-head look. Take a bit of alcohol-free styling gel and rub through your child's hair to flatten.
Tackling Tangles
Use a spray-in detangler for a bad case of tangles. Let the product sit a bit before brushing.
Gather the hair at the nape of the neck and hold upright. Use one hand to hold hair by the roots; use the other to gently comb out tangles, starting from the bottom.
Go up the hair about two inches at a time. The base of the head should be taking all the pressure to minimize pulling.
Buy the right brush. Look for one with padding at the base and bristles that have plastic-coated tips. A wide-tooth comb with pointy, not rounded, edges will also do the job.
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