Some people are charmed by children, and some aren’t. If you can’t stand the thought of a chatty kid, a sulking kid or even a totally pleasant kid in your chair, both you and the child are probably better off if you stick with adults. But I th
ink you lose out a little, because making a kid your friend can bring many rewards. So when you take
hair cutting classes or practice on mannequins, think about how the cutting process changes when the head belongs to a child rather than an adult. You may even want to purchase some smaller mannequin heads to make it more realistic.
You have to be fast but careful, which is a tricky combination. Kids move their heads wildly and without warning, making a shear in the eye a distinct possibility, so you have to take time to talk the little client through the concept of holding still. At the same time, you must go quickly, because kids get bored easily.
In addition to sharpening your
hair cutting skills, you may need to brush up on bopper pop culture. The little boys will be bringing in pictures of Zach and Cody from the Disney Channel, not asking for a Brad Pitt look. Also, today’s kids are used to taking home a goodie bag from everywhere; you might want to offer a styling aid sample or, for the girls, a mini-bottle of nail color. So what’s in it for you? I’ll talk about that next time.