Salon visits can be scary experiences for small children: They are boring, full of strangers and strange smelling products, you are being ordered to sit still for ages, whilst some idiot is doing terrible things to your hair which you didn't want to happen in the first place. Life is sooo unfair!
So how do you as a parent, avoid, annoying the stylist, upsetting your child and getting yourself stressed? Well this is where your best child psychology skills come into play! Sometimes your child will have unwarranted fears and you have to help to overcome them. Creating trust by taking their concerns seriously is the first and most important step. Promising a treat can also help. Best of all is to check in your local area to see if there is one of the growing number of new specialized children's salons available. Salon chains like Cartoon Cuts are designed to make the hair cut experience more positive and entertaining for small children: toys, video games, specially shaped chairs and specially-trained stylists, all help to ensue the experience is more like going to a theme park rather than a visit to the doctor.
Home Sweet Home
However, if your child is afraid of the hairdresser's, then try to cut their hair at home. They will feel safe and comfortable and you will save time and money. You can do it yourself if you have the skills - or the bravery. Cutting hair for a child is basically the same for an adult, except that a child's hair is usually thin and baby soft. Keep the bangs approx. 1/2" from the eyebrows. If the child's hair is thin, avoid short cuts for now until their hair comes in thicker. Shape around the face if you're trying to grow it long. If you don't have any haircutting experience, you might want to seek out a step by step guide on children's hair cutting, or get someone to do it for you.
Putting on the Style
Whatever you do, remember that today's media-savvy, celebrity-crazy kids want to look good. Children start to take an interest in their own hair style from an early age; even the kindergarten set want to be in-style. They want their hair to be like their best friend or even a television character. Boys that used to be seen only in ball caps are now having their hair bleached and highlighted.
Finding the right hair style for a child is usually about finding a cool, fun, and easy-to-manage child hair style that suits your youngster's active lifestyle. But you may experience resistance - as children get older they start to have very definite opinions of how they want to wear their hair. This hairstyle preference will surface in early childhood and continue throughout the teen years and into adulthood. Many a growing child will argue with their parents over how they want to wear their hair to school. At this stage of development the hair becomes a major identity factor.
Hair Care 101
The key is to be encouraging; as children start to take an interest in their own hair and how they style it, this is the time to encourage them to follow an entire regime of good hair hygiene practices. It is important to show a child (when they are willing), how to properly shampoo and rinse their own hair. You can also teach them about towel blotting, detangling, combing and brushing their hair. Help them build a good hair hygiene schedule so that they learn the importance of keeping their hair clean and neat. Try also to get them to develop good eating habits because healthy hair is very dependent on high quality carbohydrates and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Good nutrition will promote shine and condition at any age.
Tips for Tip-Top Hair
Washing - use a mild shampoo, preferably in the child's favorite color or scent. Sometimes children are more willing to wash their hair with a fun shampoo, especially if it doesn't sting their eyes.
Combing/brushing - try to create trust and reassurance by allowing them to comb and brush their own hair on their own terms. Do not brush your child's hair 100 strokes before bedtime in the traditional manner - this will over stimulate the sebaceous glands and make the hair greasy and heavy. Doing a quick brush to get the tangles out should be sufficient. Combing the hair will promote shine and condition. Remember to use a comb on wet hair rather than a brush or you risk creating static electricity, which leads to breakage.
Accessories - give your child high quality combs and brushes and teach them the proper way to care for their hair to instill good grooming habits that will last a lifetime. Purchase some "hair friendly" clips and hair ties to help a child keep their hair off their face, and reduce the chance of tangling or matting. Stay away from any hairclips with sharp teeth, because they can cut into the hair and cause potential hair damage.
Tangles - all parents know that dealing with tangles is a nightmare for both parent and child. Here's how to reduce the trauma of removing tangles:
1. Hold the section of hair you're trying to comb out.
2. Hold it taut so the child won't feel you ripping through the ends. 3. Spray a good leave-in detangler on the knot.
4. You can also comb conditioner in while the child's hair is still wet. Children need conditioner too (avoid heavy types and stick with conditioners that are specifically called "light" conditioners).
References:
1. Children's Hair, www.Styles101.com
2. Child Hair Style and Hair Care Tips, Short-hair-styles.com
3. Lets Talk Kids Hair, Lynne Chapman http://www.bellaonline.com
Michael Barrows is a web publisher specialing in niche marketing. Pick up his FREE ebook "(Nearly) Everything You Should Know ABout Hairstyles and Hair Care" at his website; http://www.bellaonline.com
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
I am a dad. I have been now for over... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More
Is there a difference between lazy and unmotivated? Why do... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
When planning a child birthday party, just a little bit... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
When you think about it, probably the one thing that... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More
There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
There's a new trend for party entertainment. It seems as... Read More
Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Checking accounts are an absolute necessity these days. You can... Read More
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
You no longer have to use Ritalin or other stimulants... Read More
What are we teaching our children about money? Hopefully something!I... Read More
When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay... Read More
"Walk through any toy store and you will see walls... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Most of us can agree that there is a lack... Read More
I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More
As a parent, you can learn a lot about your... Read More
Salon visits can be scary experiences for small children: They... Read More
Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
Ever feel like you're out of the loop when it... Read More
Have you made your usual New Year resolutions? You know... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
"Setting the alarm on Sunday mornings is inhuman?..God should know... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
You want your daughter to wear a dress to the... Read More
Backpack? Check. Notebooks? Check. Ink-pens? Check. Clear Skin? Mommmm!If you... Read More
1 "Law of Belonging": The greatest need of teenagers (after... Read More
The biggest complaint you hear from parents about their children... Read More
There is no doubt that the benefits of being a... Read More
As mothers, we play so many different roles and most... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
Some public schools try to turn children against their parents... Read More
Spending quality time with your children doesn't need to cost... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
Parenting |