ADHD and Haircuts for Kids: How to Make Them Easier

You've put off your son's haircut for weeks. Last time, he lasted four minutes in the waiting area before he was spinning the chairs, then twisted away every time the clippers came near his ears. You left with half a haircut, and you both felt bad about it.

Short answer: for many kids with ADHD, the haircut isn't the hardest part. The waiting is, and so is sitting still with nothing to do while someone touches their head. A simple cut, a short visit with no wait, something for their hands, and a barber who explains each step make a big difference. A good haircut is one your child gets through, not a perfect one.

Why Haircuts Are Hard for Kids With ADHD

• Waiting. Ten minutes before their turn can use up all their patience.
• Sitting still. Holding still for 20 minutes is hard for any young child, and harder for one who needs to move. How much a child needs to move often depends on their type of ADHD, which I explain in Inattentive vs Hyperactive vs Combined ADHD, Side by Side.
• Nothing to do. No game, no task, only a mirror.
• The feel and the sound. Buzzing clippers near the ears, hair on the neck, an itchy cape.
• Surprises. Not knowing what comes next.

None of this means your child is being difficult on purpose. And if people look at your child's messy hair and then at you, it doesn't mean you don't care.

Haircuts That Make Visits Easier

A simpler cut means less time in the chair, and a cut that grows out well means fewer visits.

The best cut is the one your child handles best. A regular short trim often goes better than waiting until the hair bothers them, because a long, overdue cut takes more time. If you're not sure, HESTORY Barbershop has a guide to the textured crop, one of the easiest cuts to live with.

How to Prepare

• Show them what will happen. Watch a short video of a kid getting a haircut, and say the steps out loud: chair, cape, spray, scissors, clippers, done.
• Practice the buzz. At home, run an electric toothbrush near their ears. Make it a game, not a test.
• Book the first slot of the day, online. No waiting room, and a quieter shop. Barbershops like HESTORY Barbershop in Vancouver cut kids' hair and take bookings online any time.
• Let them move first. A trip to the playground before the appointment helps them settle in the chair.

What to Ask the Barber

• "Scissors or clippers?" Some kids find clippers loud. Others wiggle so much that a quick clipper cut is safer.
• "Can you tell them each step?" Knowing what's coming helps a lot.
• "Can I stay close?" A younger child may sit better on your lap, or holding your hands.
• "Can we take a short break?" One minute can save the whole haircut.

If it doesn't go well: stop. A half-finished haircut is fine, and pushing through often makes the next one harder.

Questions People Ask

Is it normal for kids with ADHD to hate haircuts?

Many parents of kids with ADHD say haircuts are hard. If your child is very upset by noise, touch or textures in lots of places, not only at haircuts, mention it to their doctor.

Should I cut my child's hair at home instead?

Some parents do: no waiting, no strangers, and you can stop and come back later. Other kids sit better for a barber than for a parent. Try what fits your child.

What to Do Next

Talk to your child's doctor if haircuts are one of many daily things that are very hard for them, or if you're wondering whether ADHD is part of it.

ADHD often runs in families, and many parents start to recognize themselves while learning about their child. If that's you, Can Adults Have ADHD? is a good place to start. My free ADHD quiz takes about three minutes and shows which ADHD type your answers point to. It's for adults, and it's not a diagnosis.

My free field guides go through what each ADHD type often looks like day to day, with small fixes to try. No email needed.

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