A good back to school haircut can help a student head into the new school year with confidence. Here are 5 head-smackingly simple tips to help your child get a back-to-school haircut they love, courtesy of Hair Cuttery owner & longtime stylist Dennis Ratner:

5 Tips for the Perfect Back to School Haircut

1. Come to the salon with a plan. In the days leading up to a haircut, ask your child what type of cut he or she wants. Use reference points like family members or celebrities to help them capture their ideas. This way, stylists can get an idea of what your child wants, even if they clam up when they get in the styling chair.

2. Ask for someone who specializes in children. Many salons-including all Hair Cuttery locations-employ stylists who focus on kids’ cuts. These pros specialize in cutting kids’ hair AND working with kids’ personalities. Using them can make the difference between a great experience and a so-so one.

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3. Use examples. When it comes to hair, pictures really ARE worth 1,000 words. Many styling terms are subjective-how short is short? Showing your stylist a photo helps make sure everyone’s on the same page.

4. Take baby steps toward a big change. If your child wants to make a drastic change to their hair-like going from short to long, or changing a years-old look, breaking it into smaller increments can help ease your child’s adjustment to the change. Bonus-If you aren’t liking the look, this also gives you the opportunity to stop before things go too far!

5. Get post-cut styling tips. Before leaving the salon, ask the stylist to demonstrate how they styled the cut. Stylists are more than happy to share techniques and products (like shampoos and conditioners) that can help you recreate the look at home. When in doubt, you can also get styling tips & instructions online through dedicated hairstyle blogs.

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