There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from giving your son a haircut at home. It saves a trip to the barbershop, saves money, and can be a wonderful bonding moment. While clippers might seem like the go-to tool, mastering a pair of scissors gives you incredible control for creating soft, textured, and classic styles. With a little patience and the right technique, you can achieve a great-looking cut.
Gathering Your Tools and Setting the Stage
Before you make the first snip, preparation is key. You’ll need a pair of sharp hairdressing scissors, a fine-tooth comb, a spray bottle with water, and a few hair clips to section the hair. Damp hair is much easier to cut evenly. Choose a comfortable spot with good lighting, perhaps in front of a TV with a favorite show on to keep your little one still. Drape a towel or a proper barber cape over his shoulders to catch the loose hairs.
Mastering the Basic Scissor Cut
Start with clean, towel-dried hair that’s damp but not dripping. Begin at the back, working with small, horizontal sections. Comb a section straight out from the head. Hold the scissors vertically and make small, gentle cuts into the ends of the hair. This technique, called point cutting, creates a soft, blended line instead of a harsh, straight one. Work your way up from the nape of the neck to the crown, using the length of the previously cut section as your guide for the next.
Shaping the Sides and Creating a Style
For the sides, you can follow the same point-cutting method, always checking that both sides are even. To create a more defined look, like a subtle fade or a longer-on-top style, you’ll use your comb as a guide. Hold a section of hair between your index and middle finger, pulling it away from the head at the angle you want the hair to fall. Carefully trim the ends that protrude past your fingers. This allows you to build shape and connect the longer top to the shorter sides seamlessly.
Final Touches for a Polished Look
Once the main cutting is done, have your son tilt his head forward so you can check the neckline. Use your scissors to carefully tidy up any stray hairs for a clean finish. Then, do a final check for any uneven spots, especially around the ears. Remember, you can always take a little more hair off, but you can’t put it back, so go slowly. A great tip is to step back and look at the cut from a few different angles before you call it done.
With each attempt, your confidence will grow. Don’t worry if the first cut isn’t perfect; hair grows back, and the experience itself is what matters most. Enjoy this time creating together.