First Haircut
Imagine a new environment that has funny chairs and people dressed in weird smocks who aren’t your parents. Here are our recommendations for the big day.
Build Excitement
Talk about the haircut. Let them know it is part of growing up. Make them feel it is a fun thing to do. Get the excitement brewing well before their appointment.
Check out the salon days before
We recommend your child visit our salon a few days before. Make your appointment and let us know that your child is about to get their haircut for the first time. We’ll be happy to let your child explore the toys and videos without a haircut to help them feel at ease. Let your child watch another child have their haircut.
Come in 15 minutes before the appointment
Make it a fun day! Come in 15 minutes or so before your appointment to play with the toys in the salon. Relaxing before the haircut will also help. If you know what kind of haircut you’d like, this is a perfect time to explain the cut to your stylist.
Comforting steps we take for your child
We ensure your child is as comfortable as possible by warming the water before wetting the hair and distracting them with anything from the most popular childrens' videos and toys to bubbles.
We have an experienced team of stylists who know and love kids. When the haircut is finished, your stylist will present you with a cute envelope to place the first cut lock of hair. Our goal is to make the First Haircut experience memorable, comfortable and fun!
Tangles & snarls
Use a brush versus a comb, and start your brushing at the very ends of the hair. Work your way up to the top a little at a time. We recommend Circle Of Friends Detangling Sprays. Spray the detangler directly on the knot you are trying to comb though for tangle relief.
Detangler is also great for days when you don’t shampoo since they can be used on dry hair. Spray all over the hair and comb through starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots. If tangly morning hair is your problem, Paul Mitchell Taming Spray works great too. Spray it on and leave it on. It works quickly to detangle hair, leaving it fresh and full of body. Circle of Friends Chehn’s Orange Conditioner works great on long, thick hair. Its a super-detangling rinse out conditioner that can be used daily.
For especially dry or curly hair, try Circle of Friends Marisol Melon Conditioner. Marisol Melon can be applied to the hair and left on as well.
Dry hair tangles easily. If your child has dry hair, we recommend using a moisturizing shampoo like Circle of Friends 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo. It will balance moisture and help repair the hair. Hans Blueberry, Bonita Banana and Klunie’s Chocolate shampoos all clean hair thoroughly and leave hair well conditioned. Follow with a detangler for added tangle relief.
Bed Head
Try a satin pillow case in place of a cotton one. Cotton has a tendency to grab and twist hair. Satin cases allow hair to slip and slide through more throughout the night. We also recommend taming the hair by wetting down it down with a Circle of Friends Detangler and some water.
Dry, flaky scalp "Cradle Cap"
That weird looking stuff, sometimes confused with dandruff or a skin disease is nothing other than Cradle Cap. Usually found on a babie's scalp, it can also appear on a toddler or child as well.
Cradle Cap is your child’s scalp reaction to natural oils, which could be caused by hormones, sweat or regular shampoo. The result is a scalp with buildup. Getting rid of it is very simple using the proper shampoo, a soft toothbrush and a couple of weeks.
Initially, we will council you to use a gentler shampoo. Use Mustela or Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Oil shampoo once or twice per week.
Tip from the Roseville Kids’ Hair Team:
Use a soft toothbrush, nail brush or even a washcloth to massage the shampoo into your baby’s scalp. This helps gently lift off some of the Cradle Cap to allow the shampoo to better penetrate into the scalp.
Tip from the Highland Park Kids’ Hair Team:
Don’t pick at it with your fingernails. A very soft toothbrush along with our recommended shampoo will make it easier on your child’s head.
For most children, this will remove the problem and continued use of these shampoos will keep Cradle Cap from returning. If your child is still having the issue, talk to your stylist and they can make recommendations based on your child's unique hair and skin type.
Swimmers' Hair
Chlorine doesn’t just get on the hair it gets into it and it cannot be removed with regular shampoo. Chlorine's damage causes hair to turn green, tangley, brittle, unruly and or shiny; just like a Barbie Dolls’ hair.
Always get hair wet prior to jumping into the pool. This helps hair seal slightly to minimize absorption. Immediately after swimming, use Clarifying shampoos such as George's Swimmer's Shampoo or Malibu 2000 Swimmers Action Shampoo. These shampoos can actually remove chlorine. For best results, follow with a good conditioner such as Malibu 2000 Swimmers Action Conditioner. For extreme buildup, Kids’ Hair provides an in-salon service called a Malibu Treatment. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes and will remove large amounts of chlorine and chemical build-up. Regular trims will help to maintain healthy hair and get rid of damaged ends.
Gum in the hair
We’ve heard of people using baby oil, peanut butter, and mayonnaise to get gum out of hair. They are extremely messy and hard to remove. Another one we’ve heard of is ice cubes. The cubes are supposed to freeze the gum so you can pick it out of the hair. Unfortunately, you usually end up pulling the hair in process, causing tears. Freezing the hair also makes it more brittle so as your picking out the gum, you will end up breaking off the hair too.
Kids' Hair uses an easy, pain-free process for removal. Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve scissors! We use a gentle solution that dissolves the gum and allows us to comb it out. This process is followed up with a Clarifying Shampoo. No mess and no tears!
Dry hair
UV rays affect the hair cuticle in a similar way to bleach. It breaks hair down making it weak and dry. The effect shows up as light streaks in the hair. Once the cuticle has been damaged, it cannot be repaired. When hair cuticles are healthy, they lie flat and overlap tightly to protect inner layers of the hair from heat, sun, chlorine and other hair hazards. Hair appears shiny because the flat cuticle reflects light. As the hair is damaged, the cuticles may separate and hair becomes dry, dull and prone to breakage.
Preventative measures should be taken in the summer by shampooing and conditioning regularly and thoroughly to keep the cuticle intact. Use a conditioner with Dimethicone, Panthenol and protein extracts that help protect hair. Dimethicone attaches to the part of the cuticle where damage is most likely to occur and reduces hair’s resistance to brushing, combing and styling. We recommend Circle of Friends Raspberry or Orange Rinse-out Conditioners. Panthenol and protein extracts work to smooth the outer layers of the cuticle by increasing the hair's moisture content. Panthenol can be found in many Circle of Friends products including 2-in-1 Moisturizing Shampoos, Rinse-out Condtioners, and detanglers. Styling products also help seal the hair cuticles protecting them from heat damage.
The easiest way to protect the hair is to wear a hat. Don't forget to take hats and sunblock with you when your family goes to the beach this summer!
Static Electricity a.k.a.
"The Flyaways"
Static electricity happens when hats, jackets, t-shirts and sweaters are taken off over the head. It's usually a greater problem during Winter. After hair is dry, spray on a leave-in detangler, such as Circle of Friends Raspberry, Banana or Pineapple Detanglers. This is a great tool to keep in mom’s purse for emergency static control.
School photos
When to Schedule
Haircuts look even better a week into their growth. We recommend scheduling haircuts one to two weeks prior to the school photo date. This allows your child’s hair to adjust or grow into the cut, and takes the edge off that “fresh cut” look.
Shampoo & a blow dry
To ensure a successful hairstyle on the day of the photo, Kids’ Hair will shampoo and dry your child’s hair that day. It is a minimal cost, and provides you the insurance that their hair will look its best.
Looking Best
When you get the hair cut before your photo, be sure to remind the stylist so they will be sure not to take off too much. We also recommend you use a styling product, llike hair wax on boys or hair spray for girls that will help their style last throughout the day.
Lice
You were just told your child has head lice. Every year 10-12 million children get lice. The next question is where did they get it and how?
Lice are contracted through close contact with another person who has lice. It is very unlikely that your child would pick up lice at a hair salon, doctor’s office or movie theater. School and daycare facilities are places where children have close, repeated contact and your child is more likely to go "head-to-head" with other kids to contract the bug.
Preventing head lice is almost impossible, but taking some simple precautions might help. Tell your child not to use other children’s combs, brushes, hats and hair accessories.
What Do You Do?
Don’t Panic. Having head lice is not a social disgrace or a serious problem. Lice are no worse than the common cold. Purchase a box of Head Lice treatment at any pharmacy. Lice infestations are treatable and the cure is immediate if you follow instructions precisely.
Be sensitive to your child’s feelings. This does not have to be a traumatic experience. While you go through the steps for removal, stay calm, be supportive and always keep your sense of humor!
Treat your child’s head right away. Delay will only allow the lice to spread and create more work for you. If your child spends time lounging on your couch, pillow fighting on your bed or doing handstands on the carpets, you will have to clean all these places to prevent re-infestation.
For more information and step by step instructions for removing lice, ask your stylist for our Facts of Lice handout. |
