Your Child and the Hairdresser (2)
To avoid disappointment, ensure to take note of the time of day for your next visit with your child. A child who often takes a nap in the afternoon will not be pleased if they have to go to the hairdresser at 3:00 p.m.
Also, an appointment that coincides with your child's usual mealtime may not be ideal. And of course, an appointment during the hour when your child is usually more active will not be successful either. This will only increase the chances of a bad experience.
When looking for a good children's hairdresser or a kid friendly hair salon, don't hesitate to ask around. Other parents may be able to advise you as to which hairdresser is especially good at working with children and who provides good results with the cut. Don't hesitate to pay a little more for a good experience instead of paying less for a good haircut with a hairdresser where your child doesn't feel comfortable. When your child has had good experiences with a certain hairdresser at a salon, stay there and keep making appointments with this person; this will add to your child's sense of security and provide stability.
If all else fails, don't worry; there are hairdressers nowadays that make house calls. Your child can get a haircut in a secure environment of their own. When searching the web for "children's hairdresser" and then "housecall," you may be able to find one in your area.
Be patient and understanding if things don't go as planned, but also be generous with compliments when things go well, no matter how small, to encourage the child. Rushing and displaying an irritable attitude as a parent will not contribute to a sense of security, neither now nor during future haircuts.
If everything went well, especially the first time, then, of course, a small reward is in order. But do not grumble if this was not the case; it will only add to a negative feeling concerning hairdressing.
See also: Haircut phobias