I remember my first toddler haircut and always will. I was so nervous that I thought my legs would collapse. While I was shaking with my scissors, the mother, toddler, and everyone else in the barbershop were calm. My belief that there was some sort of special technique for toddler haircuts was wrong. You need lots of patience, a cartoon for distraction, and acceptance that the end result may not be perfect. The goal is to craft a haircut that looks intentional and that is not a brush battle every day. Toddler haircuts should hold up for playtime and everyday use during the week.
My favorite type of haircutting became kid cuts. Kid haircuts are the complete opposite of adult haircuts. While adult haircuts require many disguised imperfections, children haircuts do not need this. I enjoy the added freedom of kids cuts where you may feel good because kids hair grow really fast, so they won’t be stuck with the same haircut for long. I want this collection to have real children’s haircuts where the catalog children do not exist. Some of these cuts may be situational, but I have a good feeling about this collection.
#1: Shoulder-Length Bob with Some Texture Through the Ends
I love this style for girls because it always works. It’s at shoulder length, so it’s easy to brush out, and the added texture makes it lightweight. It’s also forgiving for days when no one has time to style it (which is most days). If your daughter has any wave at all, it will pick it up and add some personality to her hair. One thing I will say is don’t skip trims. Textured ends that are too long can look a bit too wispy, and that’s a completely different vibe.
#2 Tousled Crop That Stays Out of the Way
This is a great hair style choice for boys that don’t like sitting still for long hair styling appointments. This style is short enough on the sides to keep clean and short enough on top to not look like a nothing. A light styling product is optional, combined with some finger styling, but that’s not really necessary and the style will stay in place. You will have to bring him back often because once this style starts growing out, the shape will turn from easy to looking shaggy.
#3 Glossy Mid-Length Cut with Soft Layers
This is great option for girls with thicker hair who are looking for something polished but easy to maintain. The layers are soft enough so that you don’t lose any fullness, only a bit of movement is encouraged so it doesn’t just hang like a curtain. The chestnut tone is gorgeous and the slight root to tip color variation adds depth that is expensive looking for just clever color placement. For younger kids, if you’re considering some color keeping tones rich like this will mean regular appointments, so before you commit, consider if that will work for your schedule.
#4 Chestnut Waves with a Wispy Fringe
Bangs complete the style! They have the right amount of weight so they won’t overshadow a small face, and they do the job of keeping hair out of her eyes, which is the main reason most parents ask for bangs. The remaining length has a lovely, soft wave, which gives you the option to wear it down or pull it back into a ponytail. Just a heads up, kid’s hair grows faster than you think so they will be in the annoying in-between stage of growing out bangs. You’ll either have to learn to trim those bangs home with some sharp shears, or you’ll have to come in for frequent bang trims.
#5 Shoulder-Length Bob with Natural Wave
This haircut is perfect for young girls who have a little natural wave or curl in their hair. With hair that length, it is easy to manage, and the natural waves/curls are doing the styling for her. All that is needed is a good leave-in conditioner to keep it soft and to prevent tangles, and – because she is still quite young- I would skip anything for waves. If the curls start to droop, it’s time for a cut to put some spring back into the ends.
#6 Golden Curls with a Full Fringe
When cutting children’s hair with natural curls, the focus is on shape and design to let the curls lie and fall as they would naturally. In this style, the bangs sit nicely on the forehead and can create the illusion of a smaller face, which is a tricky balance to achieve. I would recommend minimal layering because kids curls have a lot of natural volume and can become excessively poofy with a lot of layers. While the curls will need a little more maintenance than other styles, it is a pretty minimal commitment. To keep the curls looking good, all you have to do is apply some curl cream and scrunch it in while it is still damp.
#7 Shaggy Bob with Easy Layers
Haircuts can be simple, yet effective, and this one captures that essence beautifully. With this cut, you get the best of both worlds, as it has that effortless appearance while also keeping the look polished and stylish. It takes a lot of skill to be able to achieve that with a child’s haircut. The end of the hair features a soft and subtle layering that adds character and movement while also making your life easier by not requiring any products or heat to style it. It is a haircut that works well on hair that is medium to thick in density, as it allows for the removal of some of the weight at the ends while still maintaining the fullness. For hair that is very fine, this haircut can appear a little flat, and you may find that you need a volumizing product more than you would like, so that is a consideration to keep in mind.
#8 Swept-Back Layered Cut for Boys
This is a great option for parents looking for a purchase that is a little dressier for their son without being overly formal. The layers give enough movement so that it does not look too stiff and it can go from a regular school day to a family event with no changes. Keep in mind that some styling is needed so if your child is of the sort that will not let you do anything to his hair in the morning, this is not the best option. For boys who will endure a quick comb, it is a really nice look that is particularly good with softer features.
#9 Tousled Layers with Sun-Kissed Color
This is one of those cuts that grow out gracefully which I appreciate as getting kids back in the chair on a strict schedule isn’t realistic. The layers that fall around the face and different lengths add texture and allow it to even look good a few weeks past when you’d normally trim. The golden highlights give it a warmth that reads as totally natural like a summer that hasn’t quite faded. It works well pulled back or left down and doesn’t require much of you on a daily basis which is really the whole point.
#10 Tousled Pixie for Girls
Of course this may not be for all parents, but for the right child, this hairstyle is genius. If your daughter does not like having her hair brushed and does not like anything touching her neck, and would rather do anything else than sit still for styling, etc then a pixie cut gives her all that freedom. Pixie cuts do require more frequent trimming than other styles to maintain its shape and I won’t lie and say it works for every face or hair texture, but on the right girl with fine to medium hair, lots of personality, and the right attitude, it’s one of the best styles out there.
#11 Long Layers for Straight Hair
The response can be easy or complex. Your child would benefit from services that provide layered cuts. If your child has long, straight hair, then a nice layered cut will help shape the hair, and it will remove some brushing weight. The cut will give her hair a freshly polished appearance, and it should help her hair move like it is supposed to. However, long hair that has been layered can become quite knotted and annoying to deal with. Therefore, to maintain the good layered appearance, regular trims will be required. A detangling brush will also help a lot.
#12 Chin-Length Bob with Soft Bangs
This haircut is a great option for daily activities and school picture day! Chin-length hair keeps it out of your face while still providing enough length to style or play with it, which is more than most people gives it credit for! The soft bangs are visually balancing and draw the eye in a sweet way. They do require regular trimming; but that is the case for any bang style. It is a small price to pay for how much they bring the entire look together. It works with most hair textures and lengths except for ones with a lot of curl that will fight against the shape.
#13 Textured Top with a Soft Taper for Toddlers
If you are planning on getting your toddler’s first or second haircut, this is a great option. The taper at the ears and back is nice and subtle so it won’t appear too harsh on a little head, and the textured top gives you a bit of styling that you can work with so it doesn’t just appear like a buzz cut on a kid. It doesn’t even have to be styled to look nice, and a little bit of product goes a long way to really bring out that texture. Since haircuts are not your child’s favorite, this is also a great option for when your toddler decides to go on a chair aversion strike for a couple months as it grows out pretty naturally.
#14 Soft Waves at Medium Length
This haircut waves in a natural way which is what I look for when working with kids. Its done with no heat damage just clever styling that works with what the kids’ hair does naturally. The soft layers at the ends of their hair promote movement without sacrificing fullness. This keeps the hair looking healthy and alive. It’s the gentle sort of pretty, the haircut that isn’t screaming for attention. It just seems right. You will need to stay on top of trims because the shape is subtle, and it’ll lose definition as it grows. But it’s as easy as it gets on a day to day basis.
#15: Textured Crop with a Clean Fade
I suggest this cut for boys for all the right reasons. Parents will love that it looks good and is simple to style. The texture created on top gives some interest and the fade on the sides is nice and clean but not too grown up. Morning styling is as simple as running your fingers through it and that’s all. The cut will lose its sharpness after a couple of weeks so keep that in mind if you want the fade looking fresh. For straight to wavy hair, this cut is perfect for kids who want something modern but don’t want a high maintanence style.
#16 Copper Bob with Textured Ends
The copper tone certainly adds something unique to this cut, and that is the skin-matching quality which is probably more to do with the colour than the bob style, which is pretty basic in itself. The texturised ends help with the volume and prevents it from looking too blunt, which is great for finer hair that tends to flatten out in a classic bob. If your girl likes clips and headbands, this cut is great for accessorising and has a playful vibe to it. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that shorter bobs tend to grow out faster than you’d think, and the shape can be lost quite quickly, so keeping on top of trims really makes a big difference.
#17 Textured Top with Trimmed Sides
It’s great that the cut has been done reasonably while also giving the impression of having made a choice here which I think is important even with kids. The sides are practical in keeping everything cool and tidy while the textured top gives him something that looks like style. It’s super convenient that this cut is flexible enough for school and dressier occasions without having to change anything. The length on top for boys who have thinner hair actually helps create the illusion of more fullness so it’s solving a problem and looking good while doing it.
#18 Classic Chin-Length Bob with a Rounded Fringe
This haircut is a storybook classic. The rounded bangs with a chin length cut is a great style for most kids and it looks neat everywhere. It especially nice on fine to medium hair because of the impression of thickness, and you don’t have to use a lot of layers. I think this bob suits soft features really nicely, and it will be easy to go from a regular Tuesday to holiday photos. You’ll just have to maintain the bangs to keep them from looking frayed, but the rest of the cut will grow out pretty well.
#19: Blunt Bob with a Textured Fringe
If a girl has straight, thick hair, and uncomplicated parents, this will work. The blunt line provides structure, and the fringe stops it from being too basic. It’s a really clean cut, and it looks best when you embrace that precision as opposed to the opposite. I wouldn’t suggest this one if your daughter’s hair has any serious wave or curl because the blunt line will fight that texture, and
you’ll spend your mornings flat ironing to get it to comply, which is not worth it for anyone. When it comes to the right hair type, it’ll look seamless, and on point.
#20: Tapered Crew Cut with Textured Volume on Top
If I have a boy with thick hair, I know this is the cut to use so that the hair doesn’t get too out of control. The taper brings the sides together, and he has enough length on top so he can still style it. The texture on top is a bit tousled and looks nice without being too messy. The skill is in the blending of the cuts so that the short sides go into the fuller top without it being abrupt. The cut looks best on rounder faces because the length on top creates a nice elongation effect. It is very low maintenance on top and it is important to keep the neckline and the ears shaped because as those areas grow in, the cut loses its structural integrity.
#21: Blonde Gradient Fade
The nice details on the sides make the fade unique and noteworthy. The longer top gives you some styling freedom, and the sides are neat and tidy. I think it’s great when a cut grows out well, as we all know how busy life can get. The blonde gradient is fun and photographable hair. However, if your child’s natural hair is a lot darker there will be a bit of maintenance to keep that contrast. That cut also has a good shape that works with or without the color and suits a lot of different face shapes.
#22: Tapered Fade with a Textured Top
The fade makes it looks like there was an invisible transition from skin to hair, which shows the skill of the stylist. The fade is also great for thick hair because it removes the bulk from the hair that you don’t want it in and keeps it in the spots that you do want it in. Tight sides on round faces create the flattering effect of removing some of the width of their face, which a lot of parents often don’t realize. The downside is that like every precision fade, it will look incredible for the first 10 days, and then really start to soften. So if your son is the kind of kid who will notice when his haircut is no longer fresh, they’ll need regular haircuts. For kids who don’t care, it looks really good when it grown out a little. Just a little less striking.
#23: Platinum Side-Swept Undercut
This is a statement look. Pairing platinum color with an undercut is a daring decision and will definitely get attention, most of it will definitely be positive. It will be really noticeable. Because you’ll have finer hair, the side-swept top will keep its shape with a little product, so that’s a plus to balance the color and cut being super high-maintenance. The undercut is pretty easy to upkeep and it surprisingly won’t need to be trimmed as much as you think. The color will definitely be the most expensive part because being platinum will require regular touch-ups and depending on how light your natural color is, you will end up in a root situation that looks more unintentional than cool.
#24: Side-Parted Brushed-Over Cut
This is a school haircut. When a parent is looking for something clean and neat for picture day that can also survive a normal kid’s hair for the rest of the time, this is the cut I suggest. The side part is formal enough, but he doesn’t look like he is going to a job interview. The medium length is just enough to have a style but not too much to be in his face. It just needs a light pomade and a comb to be styled. The cut works best for medium to thick hair since it will hold the part, and it looks better when it grows out a bit. This means you can extend the time between haircuts without anyone knowing.
#25: Faded Cut with a Razor Design
I will say kids razer designs are a little controversial. They look great for the first few days but by day five they look like trash and it only gets worse. But if your kid wants one and you understand it won’t last long, go for it. The base cut is a good one, a nice crop that’s low maintenance. Even when the design is grown out you’ll still have a solid cut underneath. The design will be the part that needs the most maintenance, so plan for a lot of trips to the barber.
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