Baby's First Haircut
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Related page: Advice about Babies' Hair
September 1999
What do folks recommend for Junior's first hair cut? He's beginning to look like a Wild Thing but it seems absurd to pay for cutting such a little head. Still, I hesitate to take the scissors to him myself. Do folks really pay for this? Is there a book I can read on how to cut hair? Is a Flowbee really the answer? McTorr Re: Baby's First Haircut (Sept 1999)
Recommendations received:
December 1996
Recommendations received:
More advice:
A friend gave my daughter her first haircut and did a beautiful job. My friend taught herself and said she used a book called How to Cut Your Children's Hair at Home. She said it was easy to order. I don't have the author's name. I still haven't found any salon that I've paid who has done as good a job. One other tip my hairdresser gave me was to buy a really good pair of scissors. I bought mine from Rockridge Beauty (I think that's what it's called--it was such a long time ago--on College Avenue in Berkeley) for $10 or so. They are sharp and pointy, so you have to choose your haircutting times carefully. Usually it worked for me to try it when my kids are sleepy and sort of dazed and not too fussy. Sometimes I have to cut it again over the next couple of days. It helps my kids to offer a treat for being patient and not squirmy like some of the salons do (stickers, candy, etc.). Good luck, Denise
Hi,
My 10-month-old has already had 5 haircuts! I did the first two at home with his grandmother. I took him to Snippety Crickets for the next one based on some reviews I had read, but we had a subpar experience: the haircut itself looked good but there wasn't any special care/attention given the age of the baby (apart from showing him a couple of toys to keep him from crying). My best experience so far was at Moonshadow Salon in Elmwood. There's one stylist there who does kids/babies and she was very considerate and patient throughout the process. I don't remember her name but you can call them to set up an appointment.
One thing to note - some salons have an infant booster seat for babies' haircuts. If they don't have one or if your baby is too young or uncomfortable to be in one, you could also sit him/her on your lap.
Lynn at Snippety Crickets on Solano Avenue. She cut my son's hair from when he was a baby until he was a teen! She is fast, affordable, kind, gentle, and professional.
Snippety Crickets in Albany was great for us nine years ago...fwiw.
We took our kid to Snips in Rockridge for his first cut around 18 months (we had doing them ourselves, badly, before that). I would recommend them lukewarmly. It’s overpriced for a mediocre haircut, but it’s a great envie for kids - lots of toys in the waiting area, tv with cartoons while they’re in the seat, and stylists who are used to freaked out/squirrely kids. That said, I’ll be interested to see what replies you get!