Scheduling His First Haircut, What Age Should a Boy Visit the Barbershop?

It's time to go back to school, and your little boy needs something done to his hair. Your family members are telling you not to cut his long hair, whether it's wavy or thick, but they're not the ones who have to braid it everyday. They're not the ones who have to deal with him screaming and wiggling around while you try to make his hair look decent for picture day. And you're petrified of anybody coming too close to him with razors. But you're too through with people thinking your boy is a little girl when he turns his back in the cafeteria or church.

Regardless of whether you have his hair shortened or leave it long, there will be some maintenance involved. While it may be cheaper to braid his hair for free (if you're the hair braider), if you're paying someone else to put his hair in cornrows money is still being spent. If you take him to a barber, you'll still have to routinely spend some money in order to have his haircut maintained.

So how do you know when it's time for your little boy's hair to be cut?

The main thing you should pay attention to is the age the little boy is.

"Do not get any type of lining, especially razor lining, before the child is five years old," said A.C. Chandler, a barber at Hyde Park Hair Salon located at 5234 S. Blackstone Ave. "Don't get his hair cut before he's five because the follicles are still developing. You could damage the follicles and the cortex layer of the hair."

While lining hair is out of the question, it may be okay to have the child's hair cut for length.

"I would recommend don't cut it too low," said Chandler. "You don't know if the child's hair follicles are still developing. Make it nice and manageable, long enough to brush."

According to Chandler, 15 months is the minimum for a haircut. The barber would cut his hair down with shears and use the biggest blade possible for the rest. For thin, patchy hair, evening the hair all around will be necessary.

The Hyde Park Hair Salon does allow children to have their hair cut in this south side Chicago location as long as the parent comes and can keep the child occupied at all times.

Busybody children who won't be still create hair accidents, and the last thing you want is for your child's scalp to be cut because he won't sit in one spot. If he was crying while getting his hair braided, imagine the fit he'll throw now because of a hair accident that's not the barber's fault. No matter what location you go to, come equipped with something that'll keep him busy.