Barber Guide: How to Help Kids Stay Calm During Haircuts
Robb Hanlon
How Familiarity, Play, and Hands-On Tools Make Haircuts Easier for Everyone
For many kids, the barbershop is an unfamiliar and sometimes scary place. It can feel loud, strange, and a little intimidating — especially if it’s their first time. New sounds, unfamiliar tools, and the restless sensation of staying still while a stranger hovers near their head with loud, buzzing clippers can be overwhelming. But there’s a powerful, proven way to reduce that fear: play.
Incorporating playtime before and during the haircut process isn’t just a cute idea — it’s a science-backed strategy that builds familiarity, reduces anxiety, and helps kids feel safe.
👨🔬 The Science Behind Familiarity & Fear In Kids
Children naturally fear what they don’t understand — including buzzing clippers, blow dryers, and misting spray bottles.
A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that repeated exposure to a feared object or experience — when paired with positive outcomes — significantly reduces fear in young children. This method, known as exposure-based familiarization, is one of the most effective tools in child psychology for helping kids feel in control.
In fact, research from the University of Amsterdam found that children who had the chance to interact with anxiety-inducing tools in a safe, playful setting showed a 40% decrease in fear-based reactions compared to those with no preparation. That’s a huge improvement!
In occupational therapy, clinicians use sensory strategies—like letting kids hold a comb or push a spray bottle—to safely desensitize young clients before haircuts. These playful, interactive techniques reduce anxiety and promote a calmer, smoother haircut experience.
Sources:
https://www.psqh.com/analysis/exposure-based-program-sees-strides-in-treating-childhood-anxiety-and-ocd
https://abuhb.nhs.wales/files/childrens-ot/self-care/sensory-strategies-for-hair-cuts-pdf
🤝 Why It Works (and Matters)
Here’s how playful, hands-on interaction makes the haircut experience easier and more positive:
1. Helps Kids Understand the Tools
Clippers are loud — and for young toddlers, that buzzing sound can feel seriously alarming (and lowkey terrifying 😅). But when they’re shown the clippers before they’re turned on… or allowed to touch them while they’re buzzing… it turns fear into curiosity. It allows them to understand, “this makes noise, but it doesn’t hurt me.”
Letting them hold a comb, push the spray bottle, or feel the dryer’s air gives them a sense of control. It’s no longer something being “done to them” — they’re part of the process.
2. Builds Trust and Control
When you give a child the chance to play, touch, and or see the tools first, you’re giving them an opportunity to recognize that they are safe and allowed to explore their curiosity.
Even something as simple as letting them hold a comb during their haircut can give them comfort and keep their hands busy — reducing fidgeting and meltdowns.
3. Turns a Haircut Into a Game
Kids love to copy adults. Use that to your advantage! Show them how you “comb your own hair” or “spray water” on their hair, or even a toy. Let them “pretend cut” a stuffed animal. The more fun it feels, the more familiar it becomes — and the more confidence they build.
💡 Try This: Pre-Haircut Playtime Routine
Before their haircut (in the shop or at home), try:
Letting them press the spray bottle trigger and feel a light spray of water.
Slowly running a comb through their hair together
Letting them touch the clippers while they’re off or lightly buzzing
Playing “dress-up” with the Fire Chief Hair Cape
Bonus tip: Use books or story time to introduce the idea of haircuts in a safe, gentle way— especially at home. Our “I Was Brave For My First Haircut” Board Book is designed for exactly that!
🌟 Final Thoughts
Kids’ haircut fears aren’t about being “difficult” — they’re about fears of facing something new and unfamiliar. By adding just a few minutes of play and exposure to the process, you’re helping your young client learn, explore, and build bravery that lasts beyond the chair.
Familiarity = confidence. Confidence = calm.
Want more tips like this + a FREE Kids Haircut Specialist certification?
Tap the link here to read our full list of tips for barbers & stylists and get Kids’ Haircut Certified!
📸 Photo credits: @school_of_fresh and @thetrimlounge on Instagram
