A first haircut is a big deal for exactly one person in the room, and it is not the barber. The kid is fine until he decides he is not, and the parent is nervous from the moment they walk in. We have done enough of these on East 34th Street to know that calm is mostly a matter of timing, position and not rushing.
The short version: come when your child is fed and rested, tell him what will happen before you arrive, stay right beside the chair, and let the barber go at the kid’s pace. A kids haircut at Deja Vu is $35, parents stay beside the chair, and walk ins are welcome, so you can come when the mood is right rather than when the calendar says.
What makes a first haircut calm
Three things. The kid is not tired or hungry. The kid knows what is coming. And a parent is within arm’s reach the whole time. Get those right and most first haircuts are uneventful, which is the goal.
Most of the tears we see come from a child who was pulled out of a nap or carried in at lunchtime. The second cause is surprise: a toddler who had no idea a stranger was about to touch his head with a buzzing machine. The third is a parent standing across the room looking worried, which a two year old reads perfectly. None of those is about the barber. Fix the timing and the setup and the barber’s job gets easy.
Before you come: timing and the talk
Pick a time after a meal and after a nap, and tell your child the plan in simple words a day ahead and again on the walk over. Short, calm, and honest.
Weekday mornings right after we open at 8am tend to be quiet, and Sunday from 10am works for parents who are at the office all week. Avoid the hour before a nap. On the way in, say what will happen: you will sit in a big chair, the barber will comb your hair and trim it, it does not hurt, and I will be right next to you. Let him watch a sibling or a parent get a cut first if you can. A kid who has seen a haircut happen is far less worried about one happening to him. Bring a photo of the style if you have one, or just tell the barber what you want, and keep it simple the first time. The first haircut is about getting through it well, not about getting a fade with a hard part.
In the chair: the parent stays beside it
At Deja Vu parents stay beside the chair. Not behind the glass, not on the bench by the door. Beside it, where the kid can see you and touch you if he needs to.
Some kids want to sit on a parent’s lap for the first time, and that works too, as long as everyone holds still. Keep your voice low and ordinary. Talk about anything that is not the haircut. The barber will start slow, usually with the comb and the spray bottle, so the kid gets used to hands on his head before anything that buzzes comes out. Clippers are introduced where he can see them. If your child hates the sound, say so, and the barber can do more with scissors. Every barber here is New York State licensed and has years of experience with wriggly clients, so a bit of movement is expected and planned for. What helps most is you looking relaxed, even if you are not.
What a kids haircut costs and what it includes
A kids haircut is $35. That covers the cut, the combing, the cleanup around the ears and neck, and a parent beside the chair the whole time.
| Service | Who it is for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kids haircut | Any first cut, trim or style, parent beside the chair | $35 |
| Line up and edge up | Older kids who want the hairline cleaned between cuts | $18 |
| Father and Son package | Dad’s fade plus the kid’s cut, same visit | $60 |
| Fade haircut | Dad, or an older boy who asks for a low, mid, high or skin fade | $35 |
The Father and Son package is on our packages list, and for a first haircut it has a practical advantage beyond the price: the kid watches dad go first and sees that nothing bad happens. The full Sunday routine for that is in the father and son barbershop visit.
What to ask for on a first haircut
Keep it simple. A trim that tidies the ends, cleans around the ears and neck, and keeps enough length that a mistake in the chair does not show. Save the fade for the second or third visit. Our guide to the taper vs fade difference shows where each one starts.
Tell the barber how much to take off in plain terms, like a half inch, or just off the ears and collar. For toddlers, scissor work is usually the right call because it is quiet and the kid can hold still in short bursts. Older kids who have seen their friends’ cuts will ask for a fade, and a low fade is a sensible first one because it keeps most of the length on top and does not need weekly upkeep. Whatever you pick, the barber will tell you if it is a bad idea for the kid’s hair type, because fixing a bad kids cut takes weeks and we would rather not. If dad is choosing a cut too, our face shape guide to men’s cuts is the place to start.
If it goes sideways
Sometimes a kid decides at the halfway point that he is done. The move is to stop, take a breath, and come back to it, not to hold him down and finish. A haircut is not an emergency.
A short break on a parent’s lap, a drink of water, or a walk to the window usually resets things in a couple of minutes. If it does not, the barber can leave the cut in a state that looks fine from a distance and finish the details on another day. We would rather a child leaves thinking the barbershop was boring than thinking it was scary, because the second one costs you every haircut for the next five years. Walk ins are always welcome, which means you can come back when the mood is right instead of waiting for a slot.
How often kids need a haircut after the first one
Every four to six weeks for a short style, every six to eight for longer hair. Fades and line ups need it closer to every three weeks to stay sharp.
Children’s hair grows at about the same rate as an adult’s, so the schedule is driven by the style rather than the age. A buzz cut or a low fade looks grown out by week three or four. A longer scissor cut can go two months before it starts covering the ears. Once your child is used to the chair, a quick line up and edge up for $18 between full cuts keeps the hairline clean without a whole appointment. Every haircut here, kids included, ends with a hot towel on the neck, and most kids decide that is the best part.
Bring your kid to Deja Vu Barbershop
Fed, rested, told what is coming, with you beside the chair. The rest is on us. Deja Vu Barbershop is at 101 E 34th St between Park and Lexington in Murray Hill, two minutes from the 6 train at 33rd Street and about eight minutes from Grand Central. Hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm, closed Saturday.
Walk ins are always welcome, or book online for a set time. Call (212) 576-1062 with questions. A kids haircut is $35, parents stay beside the chair, and the hot towel is included.
Questions readers ask
What should my child wear to a first haircut?
Something that can get hair on it and that you can brush off. Avoid hoods and high collars so the barber can get to the neckline. A cape goes on either way.
What if my toddler cries halfway through?
The barber stops, you take a short break, and you try again in a few minutes. If he is done for the day, the cut is left looking tidy and the details get finished another time.
Should I bring a photo of the haircut I want?
If you have one, yes, but a plain description works too. For a first cut, ask for a simple trim and leave the fade for a later visit once the kid is comfortable in the chair.
Is Sunday a good day for a kid’s haircut?
Yes, the shop is open Sunday from 10am to 5pm and it is a popular day for parents who work all week. Weekday mornings right after 8am are also quiet and easy for a first visit.