As a 19-year salon industry professional, I have seen my fair share of children in the salon. Some are the kids of my adult clients who are getting a service, while some of the little ones are the client themselves. I have also seen almost daily posts in online hairstylist forums discussing the woes and challenges of kids in the salon. Drawing on my professional experience as a hairstylist, as well as that of fellow stylists, here are some of my tips for kids in the salon.
The dos and don’ts of kids in the salon:
DO– detangle your child’s hair as best as possible prior to arriving. If the stylist has to spend tons of extra time trying to comb through snarls, it could put them behind schedule- and many stylists have begun to charge extra for it. This is also for your child’s benefit in that brushing through lots of tangles can be uncomfortable or painful, and if you start off their appointment with tears it tends to raise the anxiety for the stylist and the child. Sorry parents, you need to be the bad guy and get the tangles and tears out at home. While you’re at it, do a quick lice check prior to your salon visit too. You don’t want the stylist to have to discover it in their chair- as that can result in unnecessary embarrassment and stress.
DO – bring activities and snacks; if your child(ren) are there waiting for you to get your service done, please plan ahead and have things to keep them occupied. While many receptionists and stylists do enjoy children, it is not their job to entertain them while you get a haircut or color. This is the chance for your children to soak up screen time on their tablet, or read aloud to you in the chair. Also, its a guarantee that your children will utter the phrase “I’m hungry” so keep some goldfish crackers or a granola bar handy!
DON’T – allow your children to have the run of the place. NEVER let your children play in the service area. There are so many hot and sharp (not to mention expensive!) tools, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. On a personal note: very few sounds in the world make my skin crawl as much as the sound of a child frantically pumping up a hydraulic salon chair. Please don’t let your children touch anything in the service area unless you were planning to add expensive tools/furniture/ER visit to your salon total for the month.
DON’T – hover over your child as they get their hair done. Countless times I have seen children pour on the drama for their mama, but as soon as the parent gives us a little space, they are perfectly content. If you hover and seem nervous, your child will too. Give the instructions for how you’d like the hair to look, and then feel free to watch from a distance. You just might be entertained by what happens- kids really do say the darnedest things, and the salon chair tends to bring out the best!
DO – lower your expectations. Cutting children’s hair is hard! While I know you want your darling daughter to have a beautifully stacked yet voluminous bob haircut, kids’ hair just doesn’t always lay like an adult’s. Also, every time the stylist has to remind your child to “keep your head down” or “hold your head still, buddy” it’s a moment that stylist has to re-adjust their combing and cutting angle, and it can make the haircut a little shorter or different than expected. And if your son is a screaming, wiggling client, his neckline may not be exactly perfect. I will make your child presentable for society, but you may have to live with a few hairs missed around the ear.
DON’T – force a cut. I don’t know why, but some children have a real fear and aversion to hair cuts. Often, a children’s stylist can work through it and give great results. But sometimes you just need to throw in the towel, walk away, and try it another day. One time when I was cutting my toddler nephew’s hair, he screamed so much he projectile vomited. I promise that if you push a child to that point in my chair and he pukes on the floor, I’m going to add a charge! And as a mom, I just have to add that we try so hard to let our children establish healthy boundaries to protect themselves, so why should a salon visit be any different? As a stylist, I REALLY don’t want to force myself on someone, so please don’t ask me to.
I personally love to do children’s cuts. It’s so fun for me to chat with the little ones and hear their perspective on life. But not all stylists agree. So make sure to ask if a stylist does children’s hair and if they enjoy doing it. And when you do bring your kids to the salon, be sure to follow this list of dos and don’ts for a great experience for all involved!
Have you had a great experience with kids in the salon? Join the conversation on our Facebook page or in the comments below!
