Some children settle into the chair straight away. Others need a few minutes to decide the whole business is fine. Both are normal, and a first haircut is usually easier than parents expect once they know what happens on the day. The trick is to keep the visit short and let them see that the chair is a friendly place rather than a strange one.
When to book a first proper haircut
There is no fixed age. A good sign is when the hair is regularly in their eyes, over their ears or getting knotty at the back. Many children come for the first time somewhere around two or three, but some are ready earlier and some later. If you are unsure, book it and let the barber take a look. Kids' cuts at Parlour are for under 12s, and the children's service is built around a short, calm visit rather than a long one. A tidy up is a perfectly good first appointment, even if the hair is not very long yet.
Bookings and walk-ins
Kids' cuts are booked into a chair at our Cotton Lane flagship, the same as every other appointment. Walk-ins are welcome at our Lark Grove shop in Aigburth and at Oxton Village on the Wirral, where it is first come first served. A Kids' cut (under 12) is priced from £16 and takes around twenty-five minutes. A Kids' skin fade (under 12) is priced from £20 and takes a little longer. A grown-up stays in the shop for the whole visit, so plan to be there rather than dropping off and coming back. Our hours are Mon to Wed 9am to 6pm, Thu and Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat 8.30am to 5pm, Sun closed.
What happens in the chair
The barber will say hello and explain what they are going to do, in plain words and without rushing. A booster seat lifts smaller children up to a comfortable height, and a cape keeps the hair off their clothes. The barber will usually start with scissors for the first trim, since they are quieter than clippers, then finish with clippers if the style calls for it. If a child is nervous, it is fine to hold their hand, sit nearby and talk them through what is happening. If they need a break, that is fine too. Nobody in the shop is in a hurry, and a wriggle or two is nothing new.
Tips for an easier visit
- Come at a time when they are rested and fed, not near a nap.
- Tell them beforehand that hair will be cut, so it is not a surprise.
- Bring a favourite toy or a photo of the style you have in mind.
- Stay in the shop for the whole appointment.
- Keep it short and calm for the first visit.
- Praise the result and book the next one whenever it suits you.
First haircuts rarely go exactly to plan, and that is fine. A quick tidy is still a good first trip, and the next one is always easier once they know what to expect and that the chair is nothing to worry about.
