The Real Reason Kids Hate Haircuts (And Our Secret Solutions)
Robb Hanlon
If you’ve ever tried to cut a kid’s hair and ended up with tears, non-stop fidgeting, and a full-on meltdown — you’re not alone.
The reality is, most kids don’t hate haircuts themselves — they hate the way the entire experience is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Between the new environment, new sensations, and the pressure to sit still, haircuts can easily become overwhelming for kids, barbers, and parents.
With the right preparation and techniques, you can help reduce your kid client’s fear so that they are comfortable, confident, and having fun.
Here’s how. ⬇️
1. Boredom + Restlessness
Problem: Sitting still in a barber chair feels like an impossible task for toddlers and young kids. They get restless, frustrated, and antsy quickly.
Solution: Keep them entertained! Bring a fully charged tablet to play their favorite show, a coloring book, or their favorite toy to hold during the haircut.
2. Uncomfortable + Unfamiliar
Problem: A haircut is a completely new experience for kids — itchy hair falling on their neck, a completely new and unfamiliar environment, and a barber they have never met before. For a child, the haircut experience can feel scary and overwhelming.
Solution: Always use a kid-sized hair cape to keep the itchy hair off their neck, back, and shoulders. Using a hair cape will significantly help the experience feel less uncomfortable. The Fire Chief Hair Cape fits like a jacket, feels less restrictive and more fun — almost like playing dress-up! You can also advise parents to bring their child in to visit the barbershop in advance, watch a sibling or parent get a haircut, and meet their barber before their own appointment.
3. Sensory Overload
Problem: Haircuts can be an overwhelming sensory experience — especially for those with sensory sensitivities. Loud clippers and blow dryers, the sudden sprays of water in their face, and itchy hair tickling their skin can overwhelm even the bravest kids.
Solution: Barbers and parents can minimize overwhelming sensations by spraying water away from their face/head, starting the haircut with scissors before clippers, and let your kid client explore the tools first. Feeling the mist from the spray bottle, holding a comb, or hearing clippers and gently touching them helps build familiarity and reduces fear.
Kids’ haircuts don’t have to always result in meltdowns. When kids are comfortable, entertained, and familiar with what’s happening, they’re far less likely to resist and more likely to enjoy the haircut experience.
With the right techniques, first haircuts can shift from stressful to positive — and even fun!
✨ Pro Tip: Make your job easier and Get Kids Haircut Certified Here for FREE to help kids feel more comfortable in the barber chair.
