Trim Your Budget By Cutting Kids' Hair

Parents Can Save Time And Money By Cutting Children's Hair At Home

(CBS)  Parents can save themselves time and money by cutting their children's hair right in their own home. Cozy Friedman, founder of Cozy's Cuts For Kids offers the "Saturday Bargainista" tips on how to cut your children's hair at home, and it doesn't involve putting a bowl on their head!

Friedman describes how to get through the basic steps so cutting your children's hair at home doesn't need to be an awful, traumatizing experience for the child … or the parent. Rather, Friedman says you can get your children's hair to look like they went to a salon with a few easy steps, very few tools and some patience and time.

Be prepared

Have all your tools and distractions prepared. Once you start you don't want to have to start searching for things around the house. You have limited time for a child to sit quietly.

Many people choose to trim their child's hair in the bath because of the easy cleanup, however, you have less control in a slippery tub. Cozy prefers to set children up in a chair in front of a video or with toys or some distractions.

You'll want to invest in a pair of inexpensive sharp, fine-tipped, scissors designed to cut hair. You can get these at a beauty supply store. You'll also need a comb and a couple of hair clips to pin back sections while you're cutting.

It's important to use a good detangler.

And of course before you get started, decide length first -- how much you want to cut off.

Always be mindful that your child may move suddenly so always be prepared.

Is it better to cut hair when it's wet or dry?

Cut hair when wet for a more precise cut, but remember that the hair will shrink when it dries so leave hair longer than you will want it to be when dries. A quarter to a half inch longer should be good, depending on how curly the hair is.

You suggest parting the hair down the center, why is that an important first step?

Part the hair down the center so it's even on both sides. For longer hair styles (boys & girls), always cut with the center part even when the child wears a side part. This will ensure that both sides of the hair are even.

You say it's important for longer lengths to keep the chin down, why?

This will prevent the bottom layer from being longer than the top layer. This is especially important for girl's who have longer hair..

You say that you have to section off the hair first, what does that do?.

This provides organization and then you're going to use the first cut as your "guide."

Start cutting in the front of the head first because that's the most noticeable section and then proceed to the sides and work your way towards the back.

Take small sections of hair between two fingers and slide your hand towards the ends. You will repeat this all the way around.

How do you make sure you are cutting even all the way around?

Use your finger as a guide as far as length to keep the haircut even all the way around.

How about if you have coarse hair?

You can use a Clipper to shape and cut hair that is shorter and coarse.

What's the most common mistake parent's make?

The most common mistake parent's make is cutting the bangs too far back. I suggest cutting from eyebrow to eyebrow, no farther back than that.
Cut bangs from eyebrow to eyebrow

For a boys cut, how do you tidy up around the neckline?

When "cleaning up" around the neckline, many people go to short. Follow the natural hair line. If there is a peak, just clean up to the tip of peak. Follow the natural hair line around the neckline.

For cowlicks, don't cut it short -- it will make the hair stick up! Instead, leave it ½ inch longer than the rest of the hair so that the cowlick will "lie down" rather than stick up.

Try low maintenance hair styles for less upkeep. For boys, long shaggy styles are in style now, which works well for this. Shorter styles need more frequent maintenance, and for girls, one length hair needs less maintenance. Bangs need frequent trims. One length styles can be accessorized more easily and can hide split ends in need of a trim.


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Add a Comment

by Freword August 4, 2009 11:45 AM EDT

My girls has very short hair

Reply to this comment

by Freword May 7, 2009 1:39 PM EDT

My younger sister has two daughters age 10 and 12 who used have waist length hair until my sister her took her girls to the barber shop to cut their waist length hair very short like a boy after very short haircuts My sister girls has very short boys hair which make her girls look a boys My sister began cutting her girls very short hair every mouth from now on

Reply to this comment

by Freword August 3, 2009 3:38 PM EDT

My daughters used have waist length hair until I cut my daughters waist length hair very short Now my girls has very short Every mouth I trim my daughters very short hair

by matrixrx2003 December 1, 2008 12:54 PM EST

The Re-birth of the Flow-VEE is just around the corner and then everybody can look like somebody put a salad bowl on their head and got a trim.

Reply to this comment

by riddelup December 1, 2008 11:26 AM EST

This will also save by causing the kids to stay inside where they cannot spend money.

Reply to this comment

by cs601 November 30, 2008 1:27 PM EST

I cut my kids hair and my husband''s hair. You get better with practice! There are one or two photos of the older girls with B-A-D cuts, but they were too young to care. As they got older, I got a little better. :-) About once a year, just before school starts, I take them to a hairdresser and I take care of in-between cuts. It''s a fairly painless process, convenient and good for the family budget. My mother did the same but without the hairdresser visits once a year. If you start while they are young you all grow into it together.

Reply to this comment

by conn8h November 30, 2008 12:34 AM EST

Changing your own brakes would be way easier.

Reply to this comment

by griking November 29, 2008 10:34 PM EST

Hmm, is it really wise for parents to try to cut their kids hair if they have no experience? I mean, would a wife let their husband who has no experience cut their hair? I highly doubt it. if they mess it up witch will most likely be the case the kids will be TORMENTED in school. I forsee a lot of emotionally scarred kids in the future because of this article.

So when is CBS planning to run the "change your own brakes in 5 easy steps" article?

Reply to this comment

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[Freword]

My girls has very short hair

[Freword]

My younger sister has two daughters age 10 and 12 who used have waist length hair until my sister her took her girls to the barber shop to cut their waist length hair very short like a boy after very short haircuts My sister girls has very short boys hair which make her girls look a boys My sister began cutting her girls very short hair every mouth from now on

[Freword]

My daughters used have waist length hair until I cut my daughters waist length hair very short Now my girls has very short Every mouth I trim my daughters very short hair

[matrixrx2003]

The Re-birth of the Flow-VEE is just around the corner and then everybody can look like somebody put a salad bowl on their head and got a trim.

[riddelup]

This will also save by causing the kids to stay inside where they cannot spend money.

[cs601]

I cut my kids hair and my husband''s hair. You get better with practice! There are one or two photos of the older girls with B-A-D cuts, but they were too young to care. As they got older, I got a little better. :-) About once a year, just before school starts, I take them to a hairdresser and I take care of in-between cuts. It''s a fairly painless process, convenient and good for the family budget. My mother did the same but without the hairdresser visits once a year. If you start while they are young you all grow into it together.

[conn8h]

Changing your own brakes would be way easier.

[griking]

Hmm, is it really wise for parents to try to cut their kids hair if they have no experience? I mean, would a wife let their husband who has no experience cut their hair? I highly doubt it. if they mess it up witch will most likely be the case the kids will be TORMENTED in school. I forsee a lot of emotionally scarred kids in the future because of this article.

So when is CBS planning to run the "change your own brakes in 5 easy steps" article?