Two haircut questions

[sherrardk]

#1 - my (almost) three year old son has very curly hair that is very long (when uncurled it reaches to his chin). We tried to put the clippers over it (he was very keen when he saw his brothers having it done so we thought we would go for it) but they wouldn't cut his hair. Should I take him to the hairdressers, where he is likely to have a bit of a melt down as he doesn't like strangers or new places, or should I roughly cut it with scissors and then put the clippers over it? (Keeping in mind, that once the process is started, it will have to be finished or he will be wearing a hat for weeks.)

#2 - my five year old daughter has hair down to her bum and it has never been cut. She has no split ends, but the weight seems to be pulling the curls out of it. Again, should I just trim the ends or should I take her for a proper hair cut (she won't be a having a style as she likes it the way it is).

Thanks

[4getmenot]

1. cut the hair as short as you can first then use the clippers
2. Trim her hair every 6 weeks or so, it will grow even better and be in better condition.

[lardhelmet]

My Mum just used to stick a pudding basin on my head (and my brother's too) and cut round the edge

[sherrardk]

That's what I thought 4get, but as soon as I cut the boy's hair he will turn into a little boy and not be my baby any more (it's ok - I have given myself a slap!).

[sherrardk]

Hi lard, have had too many dodgy home haircuts to inflict that on my kids.

[lardhelmet]

He'll always be your baby sherrard - no matter how old he is!

[anneasquith]

hi sher. maybe time for another baby ?

[what..the?]

ah bless

If things officially get cocked up you could try and get a mobile hairdresser round or a friend who is good at cutting hair...just in case you need saving and there's bold bits!!

[tamborine]

3-5y tots moving can cause snipped ears or worse. Salon would charge £5 or less for each haircut. Is DIY worth the risk ?

[standian]

A friend of mine just took her toddler a few times to the salon with her just while she had her fringe cut or made an appointment. So he got a bit used to the sounds and smells, got to sit in the chair, got a sweet from the dish on the desk, met the hairdresser, etc. and this gradually got him over any fears that he had about it being a new place. He actually asked for a hair cut there in the end!

[mrs_overall]

Your daughter's hair sounds gorgeous, but am I the only mother on here cringing at the thought of her catching nits at school?

[what..the?]

I had long hair like that, still do, I've never had nits....

[tamborine]

for Lice & nits without making a child fret

http://just-natural-s...zap-the-buggers-dead/

[annie0000]

Boys tend to have longer styles now anyway so as long as it isn't in his eyes i wouldn't bother too much.

remember when my youngest was about two, i was away on business and my husband got his blond curls all cut off into a proper little boys hair cut. It was like he had grown up overnight :o( . he was fed up with everything thinking that he was a little girl - he has a really sweet face - lovely dimples. he was always dressed like a proper boy but that never seemed to register.

If you do want it cut and you can't do it yourself, you could get a mobile hairdresser to come to the house and do you all in a familiar environment so not quite so traumatic.

Where we lived before, there was a specialist childrens hairdresser that had quad bikes and fairground horses to sit in instead of the traditional black chairs. Each chair had a tv screen where they could choose a dvd to watch while getting their hair cut - it was brilliant - if it was a first hair cut, they would take a before and after photo and give you those with a certificate and a lock of their hair.

[Halifaxmum]

Oh what a lovely dilemma to have! Whatever you do, they will both look lovely!

Halifax girl has alopecia so we don't have this dilemma :-(