My Child Is Afraid Of A Haircut. WHAT Do I Do???

There is not alot of things you can write about in a blog that is primarily about children's haircutting! So I sit here thinking and wondering what it is that my customers and the people all over the world who come to my website would like to hear!

I can see where you all come from, the different cities and countries, and although I do not know specifically who you are, I know what you are interested in hearing about by the things you click on in my blog. One popular item is how to deal with scared children. That's what everyone wants to know! Children who are scared of haircuts. Well, Of course, I have alot of experience with that, but so many factors are involved.

There are many reasons that a child is scared, and PLEASE, keep in mind that other than being a hair care professional, a parent, and an avid reader of psychology books, I am not an expert. I only know what I have seen after 30 years of cutting hair, and I think I have seen almost all there is to see in terms of cutting CHILDREN'S hair. From the parent who is really the scared one to the child who just doesn't want a haircut at the moment. I really have seen alot!

Some children just have an extra dose of self preservation. They are scared of a stranger, scared of being hurt, or just scared of something new. Some children do not like to be touched, maybe they have a sensory issue, or other special needs. Some children, girls or boys, want long hair, and their parent wants it short. I have seen children as young as three have strong preferences about length. Some children are afraid of the hairdryer, or the buzzers, and some children are just afraid of it all.

Over the years I have seen that kindness and respect toward the child go a long way. Patience and playing while getting a haircut works in most cases. Some parents like to spend alot of time discussing the upcoming haircut. If you do, talk about how good you think the haircutter will be, how the haircutter knows just how to do the right thing. Try not to spend too much time mentioning that it won't hurt, as a matter of fact, try not to mention that at all! Sometimes a child has never even considered the possibility of pain until they have heard it. Do not compare me to a doctor. Never even say that I am NOT like the doctor! Don't plant any ideas!

Tell your child that you have had haircuts, that the grandparents have had haircuts, and that you get to pick out a movie to watch, and sit in a red car. Talk about the water bottle and that they might have a great time getting sprayed with it, make it sound like fun! I your child doesn't like getting sprayed, tell them they won't get sprayed! Take their lead! If your child is not impressed by any of that, I am perfectly happy walking around the Thomas the Tank Engine table while doing the haircut! Tell them they have come to play and have a good time!

Some children are better off not discussing the coming haircut too much. It just makes them more anxious. Use your own discretion! But after many years of dealing with my own child, and other's children, my advice is to be careful about validating their feelings too much. Saying over and over again that you know they are scared and that they should be very brave just feeds into a downward spiral of more and more fear! I see it all the time. Distraction is the key!

What REALLY does not work is shaming the child by telling them that they are to big for this behavior, yelling at the child (well I saw it work once in seven years) or choking the child...yes I saw that once too!

For some kids, nothing will make the experience better, but I do know this, there are no children who scream and yell during a haircut because they are bad! Any child that does scream is honestly scared, and any sort of discipline will be meaningless.

Now you have this to decide...Does it really matter if my kids hair is longer than I'd like? MUCH longer than I like? MUCH MUCH longer??? If it doesn't matter, wait a bit. Things do suddenly change.

If it does matter, come to me, I will make it as swift and painless as possible, it might actually turn out to be a pleasant experience, and if not, I promise that someday, your child will suddenly get over it!

There is a reason that people drive miles and miles from all over to come to my little Bronx shop to get haircuts!

Kindness and Respect ARE the keys!

Happy Holidays To ALL!!! (and a way to get $1.00 off of your childs next haircut)

OK, so I am going to mix a little holiday message with a little business message!

First of all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of you who celebrate this time of year! Whatever it is Chanukah, Chrismas, Kwanza, or something I haven't heard of! Have a wonderful day!

With all of the crazy concerns we have nowadays, if you have family, friends, or both, a warm place to stay and food to eat, you have to be thankful! Not only do I have all of that, I have my wonderful customers who I can honestly say I look forward to seeing every day.

I also have the people from all over the world who happen upon my blog and read it...HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you too!

And now some business...Bring in or email me a photo of your child and I will take $1.00 off of their next haircut.

See you soon, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester, and Beyond. Children Come To Me From All Over!

People sometimes ask me where my customers come from. They assume that most of my customers are local...Not really!!

I was as surprised as anyone that along with all of my good friends from one end of the Bronx to the other, especially Riverdale, I started noticing people from Manhattan and Queens. Alot of people! Then all over Westchester. Hastings, Ardsley, Irvington, and all along the river towns. Scarsdale (a surprising amount of people from Scarsdale come to me), Larchmont, Eastchester, Mount Vernon, even Somers,which is so far away, and of course Yonkers, which is so close. If I haven't mentioned a town, well someone from there has probably been to me too!

Orange county, Rockland county, all over New York State!

Lots of New Jersey of course, Connecticut, and of course there are the "pop ins."

Who you may ask are the "pop ins?"

Well let's say you moved to Israel, Or Maine, or England, or Chicago, and you are coming in to NYC to visit a relative, why not stop and get a haircut? More people than you can imagine actually do! Hey, just take the trip for the haircut! I LOVE seeing children that I haven't seen in awhile!

I had a family that used to come in from Russia that were recommended to me by a friend of theirs IN RUSSIA! They came in pretty often, and I thought that was pretty cool!

Another category of "pop ins" are the kids that only come to me occasionally. Maybe their schools are not convenient to getting to me before I close. Really I know that there are a million reasons that someone might love me, my shop, and my haircuts, but may not be able to get to me. ANYTIME you show up for a haircut, or even just to stick your head in and say a big hi, I'll be so happy to see you!

I have had the absolute privilege of watching so many children grow up. That is on the list as being one of the GREAT perks of my job. I LOVE the "pop ins!" I love the regulars!

So come in and get a haircut, just say hello, or play with my trains. I'm here every day except Monday and Tuesday, and I am waiting to see you!

And don't forget to visit me for your holiday shopping...had to throw that in there!...Munipals, Munipals, Munipals! And lots more! Stop spending your time at your computer looking for no shipping codes! I promise, I won't charge you any shipping! Shop locally!