Taking your child in for their first haircut is a big milestone. It was a big step for us! My daughter is two, and I have been trimming her hair myself for the last several months. I didn’t even know where to start when looking for a salon for her and I was much too afraid to put her hair in someone else’s hands. Literally. So after our great experience at Snip-its in McKinney, I wanted to share five tips for any kid’s first haircut.
Tip #1 – Find a kid-friendly salon
When you’re a child, lots of grownup things can be very intimidating. Snip-its is the exact opposite! There are toys in the waiting area, the styling chairs are kid-sized, the products are kid-friendly, and the location is excellent. Snip-its is in McKinney off Craig and 75. It sits right next door to Scotty P’s, which was a big selling point for my kid. She’ll do just about anything if we can go get lunch afterward. Along with all of these points, Snip-its is a place FOR kids. Their stylists work with kids every day and understand how to talk to them and what to do and say to make them feel more comfortable. They even have a First Haircut package. Once Addison was in the chair, her haircut only took about five minutes. That’s a huge win in my book!
Tip #2 – Use kid-friendly products
Okay, so this one is important all the time, not just at the salon. Using natural, gentle products on your child’s hair and scalp is key when it comes to preventing damage at an early age. Snip-its uses and sells their own line of kid-friendly products that are cruelty-free, naturally based, gentle, and lightly fragranced. These products are sold online and in Snip-its stores and average around $15 a bottle.
Tip #3 – Communicate with the stylist
I’ve been going to my hairstylist for years. She did my hair when it was full and beautiful from pregnancy and now when it’s thin and sad from postpartum hair loss. She’s very familiar with my hair and always does a great job, so I feel comfortable walking in and telling her to do whatever she wants. I also know her well enough to know she’s not going to just chop my hair off. When taking your child in for their first haircut, you’re probably just meeting the stylist for the first time. It’s important that you discuss what you want his or her hair to look like. Do you want layers? Bangs? One length all the way around? Discussing these things ahead of time will set everyone up for success in the end.
Tip #4 – Don’t be afraid to bribe
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of bribery when it comes to my child. I want her to listen to me because it’s the right thing to do, not because she’ll get a prize or treat in the end. However…there is a time and place for bribery and this is definitely one of them. When I put Addison in the chair, she immediately hugged onto me and started crying. We had been talking about this all day and I knew she just needed to know she was safe. Luckily, Miss Terry (her stylist) was there to save the day. She busted out the suckers and the iPad and promised Addison a bow for her hair and a toy at the end of the visit. That was all it took!
Tip #5 – Make it fun
I spent the hours leading up to Addison’s hair appointment telling her she was going to get her hair done and asking her if she was so excited. She’s at the age where if I tell her something is fun enough times, she will start to believe it. That was enough to get her in the door. After that, our friend Bribery took over. Once her hair was all cut and styled, we were able to look around the salon some more. We learned they also host themed parties and offer spa services! There are a variety of packages to choose from including a Mommy and Me Spa Package! My kid would definitely be excited about that. As she gets older, the parties will be more up her alley as she can choose different styles from Glamour to Rock Star!
Getting Addison’s first haircut at Snip-its was such a fun experience for us both! Next time we will have to bring her dad since they offer adult cuts, too. She will love watching that. As we were standing at the counter going over services, I also saw that they offer a bundle price—if you pay for five haircuts up front, you get a sixth one free! And even better, it’s saved in their system, so there are no punchcards or vouchers to lose or forget in your other purse. Walk-ins are always welcome, so there are no appointments to worry about.(Appointments ARE accepted though.) We love Snip-its and can’t wait to go back for Addison’s next haircut!
(All images provided by Snip-its McKinney.)
