Every August, parents book haircuts for kids who have spent the summer swimming in chlorine, sleeping on tangles, and growing out whatever style they had in May. The goal is always the same: walk into the first day of school looking put-together without a fight every morning.
The challenge is finding a cut that looks good, holds up to a kid's actual routine, and doesn't require a parent standing over them with a comb. After 26 years of running family-friendly salons — and raising kids of our own — our team has learned what works at each stage.
Ready to book? Schedule a child's cut or contact us with questions.
Toddlers and Preschool (Ages 2–5): Keep It Simple
At this age, the haircut itself is the main event. Style matters less than the experience — a bad first salon visit can create anxiety that lasts years.
What works
- Boys: Soft, natural shapes with enough length to look intentional but short enough that bed head isn't a daily crisis. A simple taper on the sides with some length on top grows out well and doesn't need daily product.
- Girls: A one-length bob or a gentle trim to clean up the ends. Avoid layers at this age — they create pieces that fall in faces and are impossible to clip back neatly on a squirmy three-year-old.
What to skip
- Hard lines, undercuts, or anything that looks unkempt within two weeks. Toddler hair grows unevenly and fast. A style that depends on a precise edge will lose its shape before the second week of school.
- Bangs below the eyebrow line. They'll be in their eyes within days.
Making it work at the salon
Bring a tablet or a favorite toy. Let the child sit on your lap if the chair is intimidating. Our stylists are used to working with wiggling kids — it's better to move with them than to ask them to hold still for 30 minutes. A shorter, more comfortable appointment gives a better result than a longer one with a stressed-out child.
Early Elementary (Ages 5–8): Style Starts to Matter
This is when kids start having opinions. They'll point at a friend's hair and say "I want that." That's a great starting point for a conversation — but what their friend has may not work with their hair texture, thickness, or their morning routine.
What works
- Boys: Textured crops, soft fades, and slightly longer tops that can be pushed to one side or worn messy. These styles look good air-dried and don't require a parent to style them every morning.
- Girls: Shoulder-length cuts with minimal layering. Long enough for a ponytail (critical for PE and sports), short enough that tangles don't become a nightly battle. If your daughter wants bangs, a side-swept fringe is more forgiving than a blunt curtain.
What to avoid
- Anything that requires heat styling, product, or more than 60 seconds of a kid's attention in the morning
- Very short girls' cuts or very long boys' cuts that the child isn't personally committed to maintaining — both require active effort
The "Pinterest vs. reality" conversation
Kids this age sometimes bring photos of adult styles or influencer looks. A good stylist will take those photos seriously as a starting point. They tell us about the shape, the vibe, and the direction the kid is drawn to — even if the exact look isn't achievable on a seven-year-old's hair. We adapt the reference to their hair type and lifestyle rather than dismissing it.
Tweens (Ages 9–12): Independence and Identity
Tweens are figuring out their personal style, and hair is often the first place they experiment. This is where the parent-child dynamic around haircuts can get tense. The best approach: let them take the lead, with guardrails.
What works
- Boys: Clean fades, textured quiffs, longer fringe styles. This age group can usually handle a small amount of product — a matte clay or texture paste is easy to use and washable.
- Girls: This is the age where layers start working well because the child can manage them. Medium-length layers, curtain bangs, and face-framing pieces are popular and low-maintenance. If they're asking for something trendy (a wolf cut, butterfly layers), it's usually adaptable in a way that flatters without being too dramatic.
The conversation to have before the appointment
If your tween wants a significant change — going very short, adding dramatic layers, or something that requires ongoing maintenance — talk it through before the appointment. Not to veto, but to set expectations. "This style will need product every morning" or "this will take six months to grow back if you change your mind" are useful things to hear from a stylist, not just a parent.
At this age, we talk directly to the kid during the consultation. They're the client. Parents are welcome in the conversation, but the best results come when the child feels heard.
Teens (Ages 13+): Let Them Own It
Teenagers need their hair to be theirs. Controlling it too tightly backfires. The stylist's role shifts from "translating parent wishes" to "advising a young client."
What works
- Whatever they're drawn to, adapted for their hair type and maintenance reality. A teen who swims competitively needs a different cut than a teen who spends 45 minutes on their hair every morning.
- Color interest often starts here. A few highlights, a semi-permanent gloss, or a subtle fashion shade at the ends can scratch the itch without a major commitment. We'd rather do a controlled, healthy color service than have a teen experiment with box bleach kits at home.
What to consider
- Sports, activities, and dress codes — some schools and teams have specific rules
- If they're asking for a dramatic change, a consultation before the appointment takes pressure off the actual cutting day
- Teens who are exploring their identity through hair should be supported, not redirected. A good stylist works with who the client is becoming, not just who they were last visit.
Timing: When to Book the Back-to-School Cut
The ideal window is one to two weeks before school starts. This gives enough time for the cut to settle (fresh cuts always look slightly different after the first wash) without leaving enough time for significant grow-out.
Avoid booking the day before school starts. If something doesn't look right, there's no buffer. And avoid booking four weeks early — most kids' hair grows fast enough that a month of growth changes the shape.
Late July and early August book up quickly. If back-to-school is on your radar, scheduling in advance avoids the last-minute rush.
What to Bring to the Appointment
- Reference photos: Even rough ones. They help the stylist understand direction — length, shape, vibe.
- Honest information about the morning routine: "She won't brush it" or "he has five minutes before the bus" are the most useful things a parent can say. We'll design around reality, not aspirations.
- The child's input: Let them talk. Even a shy six-year-old has preferences. We'll draw them out gently.
Colorado-Specific Notes
If your kids spend summer at the pool or in the mountains, their hair is likely drier and more damaged than usual by August. Chlorine strips moisture. Altitude and sun compound it.
A trim alone fixes split ends, but it doesn't address the texture change from a summer of damage. For kids with medium to long hair, adding a quick conditioning treatment to the back-to-school appointment makes a noticeable difference in how the cut looks and feels through the first few weeks of school.
Pricing and What to Expect
Children's cuts at Burman & Co start at $45 and typically take 30 to 45 minutes. We work at the child's pace — if they need a break, we take one. Parents are welcome to stay right next to the chair.
We also have Pascal, our salon dog, who has a talent for putting nervous first-time visitors at ease.
Burman & Co serves families in Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Centennial, Castle Rock, and across the south Denver metro.
Visit us: 8353 Willow St C1, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Call: (303) 706-9626
Book online: Contact Us
Explore more: Child's cut service | Women's haircuts | Men's haircuts | All services | Meet our team