She’s four-years-old and I just cut her hair for the first time. We like long hair. Added to this, she was bald until she was two, so it is as if her hair were only two-years-old. It was getting ragged at the end, which turned into tangles, which turned to tears, and the logical solution was a trim.
A trim.
It didn’t matter what you call it, in her realm of experience, putting scissors to hair is for boys. She was horrified, and also convinced she’d look like her brother. When I was done, and her hair was still long, she was relieved. Not happy. Just relieved.
Like most things in life, for better for for worse, I did it myself. After taking a deep breath, of course. First, I combed it out.
Then, because this needed to go into the baby book even though she’s not a baby, I took the longest part and banded it together, then clipped off the lock all at once. See it in her hand?
Then, I took her outside and evened it out as best I could. I brought her back in to photograph the finished product.
Please take note of my messy living room. Thank you.
8 Comments
No, it doesn’t need to be any special brand, just hop over to WalMart and get one that is broad, has little plastic knobs at the end of the tips, and has the tips going into a squishy part on the head.
Someone told my mom about that kind when I was about 6, and I haven’t owned a different type since. 🙂
Thanks for the advice! I really appreciarte it. I hadn’t remembered that braiding would help keep away overnight tangles. And I will definitely check into getting a brush like that. Does it need to be this exact brand to work?
Dawn,
Yes! That type of hair brush is a must.
My 4.5 yo also hates to have her hair done/cut (it needs a trim). The spray in conditioner (or even plain water in a bottle works some) helps a lot. This hairbrush has been a huge help in not pulling those little tangles, but getting them undone, especially in wet hair. Finally, I try to braid Margaret’s hair before bed every night and that is the biggest help.
My mom just told me to get over it and suck it up. 🙂 But she also said that my hair would grow better and look prettier if we cut off the “damaged hair” at the bottom. That helped.
The no-tangles spray or leave-in conditioner helped with brushing, and I loved French braids enough to put up with any discomfort (and I kept them in for 2 days at least). One of the middle school girls at church showed my mom how to French braid when I was 5 or 6.
I occasionally try learning to French braid my own hair, but I have yet to get anywhere close. I’m wondering how old Ilse will have to be before we can take turns braiding each other’s hair. 🙂
I remember my mom scratching my head to get rid of dandruff while I did my math when I was little. 🙂 It didn’t help me like math. 🙂
Mystie,
Any pointers for me? I was never bothered by haircuts (that I can remember, anyhow) and so I never know quite what to do for her. She also cries when I brush her hair or put it up–something I rarely do since she doesn’t like it. I put this off until she was in a really good mood.
G,
I know! It was short (nonexistant, really) for so long that I didn’t have a habit of cutting it and one day I was looking at her and it dawned on me that it was past time!
Wow – her hair is so long!!
I am not looking forward to that stage. My husband cuts the boys’ hair (and his own) with clippers.
I remember the trauma of trims, myself. I had hair down to my waist when I was young, and trimming 3 inches off made me cry. 🙂