Baby's First Hair Cut

Before you become a “hairdresser” and tackle cutting your cherub’s hair, follow the advice below :

At what age?
• From 18 months if baby has lots of hair; if not from two years.
• Then refresh the cut every two months by trimming the ends by 1 or 2 cm.

I've heard that “cutting hair often facilitates strength and beauty”
This is not true as hair texture is genetically transmitted and its diameter increases with age until adulthood. Cutting only prevents or removes damaged ends.

Ideal situation
• Choose a calm moment, after the afternoon rest or a feed for example.
• Baby gets fed up quickly so occupy him - maybe by playing a DVD whilst you do the cut.

A good position
• Important - the best is for you to stand and for baby to be in his high chair.
• You must be able to walk around and see baby's head from all angles.

Newborn or infant?
• As they're incapable of sitting down, lay on their changing table covered with plastic.
• Lay baby on his front to work on the top and back of the head, then on his back for the front and sides.
• Very fine hairs are easier to cut if dampened with a wet face flannel.

How to cut?
• Work on dry hair as it is easier to cut even and straight (except for infants). The other advantage is that it is easier to see the general 'look' and consider baby's natural hair movement - leave it to the professionals to cut wet hair! 

Four steps to a good cut
• Around the ears.
• The nape of the neck.
• Around the skull.
• Finish with the fringe.

Two methods to choose from :
• Comb cut
Pass the comb through the hair and stop at the desired length, then cut close to the comb. Ideal for hair that's longer.
• Finger cut
Take each lock between fore and middle finger and gently move your hand away from baby's head; cut what is protruding once the desired length is reached.

Professional tips
• Prepare the cut.
• Comb the hair thoroughly and trace partings every 2 cm.
• To layer, comb hair away from the skull, slanting the comb and cutting what is protruding once the desired length is reached.
• To make a success of cutting a balanced fringe, drop the hair straight on the forehead and cut but not beyond the end of the eyebrow to avoid infringing on the hair surrounding the face

 

To each face its cut

• To refine a round face :
- keep thickness on the top of the head and free the sides
- layered short nape of the neck for a boy, just above the ears for a girl
- if the face is extremely round, tone down by a fine light fringe and few little hairs covering the ears.
• To round off an elongated face : 
- cut hair square, longer at the front than the nape of the neck
- cut just below the chin but never above.
• To soften a square face :
- keep thickness on the side and not on the top of the head
- adopt a layered square cut (not too short which would accentuate the square lower face part); the ideal length is jaw line and no fringe.
• Baby does not have lots of hair :
- trim just the ends and keep as much thickness as possible.
• Baby has lots of hair :
- cut short and layer.
• Baby has a large forehead :
- dress it with a thin fringe.
• Baby has a low forehead :
- clear it by parting the hair on the side and combed away from the face.

Beware: no heavy fringes before three years; it makes the face heavy, particularly if it's already a little square.