8 Tips for Dealing with a Tender-Headed Child in your Chair
As many know, dealing with a tender-headed child can be a struggle. The whining, crying, and sometimes even hiding to try to get out of getting their hair done can be exhausting for any parent. Taking a tender-headed child to the salon is often no better because of the potential for a difficult scene. Luckily, there are several ways to deal with a tender-headed child while in the salon.
1. Occupy the child
Television and other hand held devices are a great way to help kids to forget about getting their hair done. You could also give them a doll with hair to work on while you are working. Make sure you have a space for the child to sit. If they aren’t sitting, they may start wiggling or whining, making your job harder.
2. Use Product
It is important to make sure you use conditioner after shampooing the child’s hair. You can also use detangle spray, hair lotion or hair oil depending on the child’s hair type. This can make a world of difference when it comes to getting a brush through their hair.
3. Work in Sections
Create small sections by parting the hair and separating it with clips. That way you can work on one section at a time, detangling bit-by-bit and reducing the amount of pull when brushing or combing.
4. Work from end of hair, up to the scalp
It is much easier and less painful to detangle hair starting at the ends and working your way up to the scalp. Hold hair tighter with one hand at the scalp and brush with the other hand to reduce tugging on the hair and scalp as you brush. Also, take care around the ears and at the nape of the neck, as this tends to be a more sensitive area for little ones.
5. Recommend putting hair up
Give parents a tip to put their child’s hair up. Braids are best, but they can always use a pony tail to help keep hair from getting knotted or tangled. They can also braid hair before the child swims and before bed to reduce the amount detangling needed later. Recommend keeping the hair out of the child’s face when they are eating. Sticky substances like syrup, juice, and even ketchup can cause serious tangles and hair brushing battles.
6. Take care when shampooing and drying hair
Believe it or not shampooing can actually be a culprit of tangled hair. By brushing out the hair prior to shampooing and refraining from vigorous scrubbing, you can reduce the tangles. Make sure you are using an appropriate conditioner. When drying the hair, try to point the dryer in the direction the hair grows. If you blow in the opposite direction, you can end up with major knots in the hair. You can use a brush or your fingers to gently separate and guide the hair as you are drying it.
7. Don’t rush and keep calm
If the tender-headed child gets upset, don’t get frustrated and keep a calm voice. Yelling will only escalate the problem. Instead offer an incentive for a child for sitting still while they get their hair done, such as stickers. Also, try to keep from rushing. Sure, you want to be finished as quickly as possible, but rushing can create more pulling and tears.
8. You are the professional
Yes, it can be a difficult situation in the salon. But luckily, you are trained to deal with children and may be able to get better behavior from the child. Once they get used to you, the child will probably look forward to going to get their hair done at the salon. Hopefully this stage is only temporary. Children typically grow out of being tender-headed.
Have you been considering a career in beauty, or perhaps taking your hair styling skills to the next level? Empire Beauty School offers several Beauty Programs, including our Cosmetology Program which will train you in all sorts of hair styling expertise, including coloring, cutting, texturing, and more. Schedule a tour today and meet with a Career Planning Specialist to see if Empire is the perfect fit for you. Visit us at http://www.empire.edu or call 1-800-964-3635.