Haircutting For Dummies Cheat Sheet

When it comes to children’s haircuts, you might have to pull out every trick in the book to keep kids happy in the styling chair. Try to provide a fun and fast experience for children by using these haircutting tips:

• Pick their best time. Children have a way of derailing your haircutting mission when they are tired and cranky.

• Plan your haircut designs in advance to speed up the haircutting process.

• Make sure your combs and brushes are kid friendly by being smooth, soft, and well-rounded on the tips.

• Plan their haircuts around their favorite television programs or rent a popular video.

• Bribe them with whatever you have — a cheap toy, a lapful of their favorite cookies, whatever!

On average, hair grows about 1/2 inch per month. By doing your own light haircutting touch-ups, you can keep your style between salon visits and save yourself time and money.

• If you receive a haircut every six weeks, touch up your haircut at the three-week point. If you receive a haircut every eight weeks, four weeks is the ideal time to freshen your haircut.

• Pick a good moment when you have plenty of time to concentrate on the task at hand. If you don’t take your time, you may end up running to the salon for an emergency fix-up.

• Only cut the parts you can easily reach. When stretching your haircutting appointments, concentrate on the very top, the bangs and the sides of your hair.

• Never cut more than 1/4-inch, or you’ll skew your haircut by creating dips and separations between what you’ve trimmed and what you have left for your hairdresser to deal with.

Be cautious if you’re trying out a new style of haircut on yourself or someone else. Practice, start slowly and then let your stylish wings take flight. Keep these things in mind when cutting a style for the first time:

• Get a mannequin head to practice your first cut of a new style. These mannequins are available at beauty stores and can be purchased for as little as $20.

• Cut lightly the first time you do any haircut. If you want to shorten the hair 1/2 inch, cut it 1/4 inch the first time around to ensure that you’re on the right track with your new design. After you’re satisfied with your handiwork, re-cut the hair to the desired length.

• Use a traveling guide.

• Keep the hair pinned up as directed, so you never lose your way. Pinning helps you concentrate on one small section at a time instead of trying to fight your way through a jungle of hair.

If you’re brand new at cutting hair at home, you may find your friends and family hesitant to let you work on their locks. Try winning them over one haircut at a time, and keep these things in mind:

• Start small, but think big when it comes to cutting your family’s hair. In the beginning, do small things like bang trims, end trims, and crisping up the haircutting lines of the men in your life.

• Extend the time between salon appointments by shortening their haircuts 1/4-inch midway between their scheduled trims.

• Keep your word. If you say that you’re only going to trim this much, or leave the bangs a certain way, build your family’s trust by delivering as promised.

• Ask for haircutting tools and supplies for your birthday. If this request doesn’t show sincerity about doing a good job, who knows what will!