Your toddler’s hair may be their crowning glory or the bane of your existence, depending on what it is like to care for it. The age at which they have their first haircut typically depends on your preferences rather than any paediatric recommendation. It is considering how practical it is to maintain while your toddler is exploring, running around, and engaging in other healthy aspects of their development. Some parents like to let their children’s hair grow quite long before their first cut, while others take them to the hairdressers around a year old, especially if their child’s hair is getting in their eye or tends to tangle a lot. Hair matted together with bits of masticated food or other substances suggests a toddler may need it out of their way for hygiene reasons.

Will a hairdresser take a toddler as a client?

Most hair stylists won’t have a problem cutting the hair of a toddler or a baby, and may even allow your child to sit on your lap as they work. Special salons for babies and children do exist– offering additional entertainment, play areas, etc.—but it may work out cheaper and more time-efficient for you to ask about what your regular salon would charge for a baby or toddler cut.

Age restrictions in hairdressing tend to apply to doing something chemical, such as colouring hair, which is typically for over-16s only.

Can I cut my toddler’s hair myself?

Of course you can! There are many reasons why a baby or toddler may find a professional hairdressing salon or barbershop frightening or overwhelming—they're loud, unfamiliar environments filled with strangers and rarely designed with children in mind—and it’s natural to want to make your child’s first hair cutting experience calm and loving. There are also lots of ways to learn basic haircutting for kids, from online tutorials to speaking with a stylist you trust. However, keep in mind that some hair types are more challenging than others, even for the professionals. A toddler with naturally curly or Afro-Caribbean textured hair could benefit from seeing an experienced stylist. Consider having one come to your home if you’d really prefer not to take them to a salon until they are older.

What do I need to know about cutting my toddler’s hair myself?

You should not expect your first attempt at cutting hair to look ultra professional, but you can buy professional hairdressing shears and clippers online or from certain pharmacies and trade shops. These will help you do a neat job. Do not use regular scissors or a razor on your child’s hair, it’s both dangerous and inefficient. Here are some toddler haircutting basics:

Clip a towel and sheet around your toddler’s shoulders, as a hairdresser would put a gown on you, to catch the hair and keep falling hair from upsetting your toddler.

Try setting up an iPad directly in front of them so they keep looking straight ahead. Encourage them not to look back at you and keep distractions that may cause them to turn their head suddenly—e.g., siblings or family pets—out of the room.

The hair doesn’t need to be soaked. Dampen the child’s hair with a spray bottle of water or wash and towel dry it.

If the toddler is a girl with straight or wavy hair, you can try a basic one-length cut. Layering and fringe cutting, like curls and Afro-Carribean hair, are best left to professionals. If your daughter’s hair is below shoulder length, it may be easiest to have her stand up and look downwards. Run a comb through a section of hair. Clamp the ends of the hair between your middle and forefingers, put down the comb and pick up your hairdresser's scissors, and cut the ends of the hair straight across. Continue around the head, ensuring the ends of the hair are all one length. If you like to switch your child’s parting, keep it parted in the middle while you’re cutting it.

If the toddler is a boy and you are cutting his hair with clippers, try testing the vibration on him before you begin, to ensure it doesn’t upset him. For a traditional short back and sides, go with the grain of his hair from the base of the hairline, using the clippers and a quarter-inch attachment. Leave the top long, then blend the two sections using a half-inch attachment around his ears and crown (use a guard attachment around the face) and a hairdresser's scissors (also known as styling shears) where you wish if anything looks uneven. Side partings tend to look very cute on toddlers.

You don’t have to cut your little boy’s hair with clippers, especially if his hair is long. You can use a comb and scissors as described above. Clippers are just a quick way to cut short hair evenly.

How do I make my toddler’s first salon visit less scary?

Start by speaking to your favourite salon about how they make toddlers comfortable. Many hairdressing salons are family businesses or have owners and senior staff who are working parents. They will warmly welcome the children of regular customers. Consider bringing your child with you to see you have your hair done, so they become familiar with the environment.

If you aren’t confident it’s the right environment for your child, ask a friend or family member with older children where they take their kids.

On the day, ensure you arrive at the salon with snacks and a toy or iPad with you for reassurance and distraction. Let your hairdresser know about any allergies, or if you're worried about the products causing a reaction, bring your own shampoo and explain that you’d prefer for them to use it on your child. You should be allowed to stay with your child throughout the process. Most toddlers are interested in their reflection in the mirror, but if your child is upset by seeing the cut happening, the stylist should be able to work without them having to face the mirror. Toddler haircuts are typically very short and require minimal blow drying. It’s also fine to allow their hair to dry naturally if they are becoming fussy. Your hairdresser will understand!

For more information on toddler milestones, health, and development, watch Unii’s Toddler Health and Development video course led by Dr. Nisha Patel.

When should my toddler have their first haircut?

Unii answers this sometimes emotional hairdressing question from mums and dads.