1. Talk to your child beforehand.
Let him know that it won't hurt, and that hair always grows back. Dana Rywelski, the owner of Doodle Doo's Kids' hair salon in New York City, recommends even taking a shy or squeamish child to the salon ahead of time to check things out.
2. Plan ahead of time.
The quicker the process, the less time your child has to focus on sitting still in the chair. Discuss style specifics with the professional beforehand—know how many inches you want trimmed, where the part should sit, and if you want to add bangs or layers.
3. Distract, distract, distract.
Bring favorite toys, books, DVDs, or even bubble blowers along to the salon. "Dora and Elmo have saved us through many haircuts," Rywelski says. It is helpful to have two people involved in the process—one to cut the hair and one to distract the child if necessary.
4. Join in the fun.
When all else fails, try for side-by-side mother-child haircuts. Sometimes seeing a parent getting her hair cut before or at the same time as the child will ease any lingering fears and make what was once a frightening experience a pleasant bonding activity.
