When you can’t get to your kids’ favorite hairdresser, try these home haircutting tips from a salon owner, instructor, and parent.

THE KIDS’ HAIR SALON OWNER SAYS…

“Use a pair of sharp shears, not ones from the kitchen. Texture shears will give a better result to eliminate horizontal lines in the hair created by plain shears. For hair that’s shorter than comfortable to cut with shears, use cordless clippers with guards. Clippers with cords can get in the way and be a hazardous distraction. Use a two-sided comb, using the wider-tooth side for dividing hair and the fine-tooth side for holding hair when cutting.

When cutting very curly hair, stretch it farther than the desired length because it will pop back up when it dries. Keep it longer than you think, look at it dry, and gradually cut more if you need to.”

—Sandra Feldt, owner of Bang Salon at Park Hill and Lil’ B’s Kids, mom of an eight-year-old son

THE HAIR-CUTTING INSTRUCTOR SAYS…

“Cut hair wet or dry. Wet’s easier but then you don’t see mistakes until it’s dry [unless you have experience]. Part longer hair in the middle and then section into quarters, creating smaller sections that are easier to cut. Part hair in the middle to cut it even if they wear it parted on the side so that it’s even from the moment they come out of the shower.

Be very careful and alert with the tools you use. If your child moves suddenly, you have to be able to pull the scissors away from the face, or clippers away from the ear quickly.”

—Semion Kikirov, owner and instructor at Semion Barbershop for All, dad of two girls and one boy, ages newborn to four

THE LONG-TIME FAMILY BARBER SAYS…

“To learn how to cut my kids’ hair, I read blogs and watched videos on YouTube. My splurge purchase was a cape from the beauty supply store, so the hair doesn’t collect on kids’ clothes or skin. When my boys were little, their hair was mostly straight. So, my initial cuts were with clippers—not a straight buzz cut, but longer on top (like a ¾ or 1-inch guard) and shorter on the bottom and back (¼ to ½ inch). Once they reached teen years and wanted something more stylish, I started experimenting with scissors. For cutting around the ears, I try to always keep a comb between the clippers or scissors and their ear.”

—Laura O’Neill, blogger at Day by Day in Our World, former Centennial resident, mom of four boys, ages 11 to 23