Are You Ready for Baby’s First Haircut?

That first little snip of hair can feel like a genuinely big moment. It might also feel completely nerve-wracking, especially if your baby wriggles, grabs at everything, and generally treats sitting still as a personal insult.

A first haircut is one of those small milestones that catches a lot of parents off guard emotionally. One minute you’re dealing with a newborn who barely had any hair at all, and the next you’re looking at a toddler with a fringe in their eyes. Whether you’re planning a proper salon visit or doing it yourself at the kitchen table, here’s what actually helps.

How do you know it’s time?

There’s no official age for a first haircut. Some babies are born with a full head of hair that needs a trim by six months, others barely have any hair to speak of by their first birthday. Both are completely normal. Rather than going by age, it’s usually more useful to go by what’s actually happening with your baby’s hair. A few signs it might be time include:

Some parents also wait for a specific age out of tradition or personal preference, and that’s a perfectly good reason too. There’s genuinely no right or wrong time here, so don’t feel pressured by other people’s timelines.

At home or at a salon?

Both are completely fine options. It really comes down to your baby’s temperament, your own confidence with scissors, and how much of a fuss you want to make of the occasion.

Cutting at home

If your baby tends to get overwhelmed in new environments, or you’d rather avoid the cost of a salon visit, home is often the easier option. A few practical tips:

• Pick a calm, well-fed, well-rested moment. A hungry or tired baby is not going to hold still, no matter how good the distraction.
• Use blunt-tipped, round-ended safety scissors designed for children’s haircuts, not household scissors. They’re cheap and worth having.
• Cut small amounts at a time. Babies move suddenly, and it’s much easier to trim a bit more off than to fix a chunk that’s too short.
• Have someone else hold or distract your baby if you can, ideally with something they love: a favourite toy, a snack, or a show on a phone or tablet propped up in front of them.
• Do it somewhere easy to clean, like a highchair over a towel, or standing in the bath so loose hair rinses straight down the drain.
• Never cut near the face or ears while your baby is moving. If they’re not staying still enough for that part, leave the fringe or the area around the ears to a professional rather than risk a nick.

Watching a tutorial before you start genuinely helps, particularly for getting an even fringe line or blending the back and sides. Search for “toddler haircut at home” on YouTube and you’ll find plenty of parent-friendly demonstrations.

Going to a salon

Salons that specialise in children’s cuts tend to be set up to make the whole thing feel more like play than a chore. Look out for:

• Novelty seats shaped like cars, planes or animals, often with a booster to bring little ones up to a comfortable height
• A TV, tablet or screen positioned at chair height to hold attention
• Colourful capes and bibs to keep loose hair off clothes
• Stylists who are used to working quickly and gently around a moving toddler

It’s worth calling ahead to ask whether they do first haircuts specifically, as some salons offer a free or discounted first cut, and a handful even give out a little certificate or keepsake as a nice touch. If your baby is anxious around strangers or noise, ask if you can book an early or quiet slot when the salon isn’t busy, and mention it to the stylist so they can go at your baby’s pace rather than rushing.

Making it a bit special (without overdoing it)

You don’t need to turn this into a full production, but a few small things can make it a nice memory without much extra effort:

• Take a few photos before, during and after, even if your baby isn’t cooperating for a perfect shot
• Save a small lock of hair in an envelope or a keepsake box if that appeals to you
• Write the date somewhere you’ll actually find it again, like a baby book or the notes app on your phone

There’s no need to feel guilty if you skip all of this too. Plenty of parents just want the hair out of their baby’s eyes and move on with the day, and that’s just as valid.

A quick note on safety

Baby skin and scalps are delicate, and toddlers move unpredictably, so always use scissors designed for the job rather than sharp household ones, keep a firm but gentle hold of your baby’s head if you’re doing the cutting yourself, and stop straight away if they become distressed rather than pushing through. If you ever nick the skin and you’re unsure whether it needs attention, or you have any other concerns about your baby’s skin or scalp, it’s always worth a quick check with your health visitor, GP or pharmacist rather than guessing.