You will know when its time for a trim when your child's locks start to have a mind of their own. Cute as the first trimming experience may seem to you, your child may think otherwise. Therefore, you have the option on whether to cut your child's hair yourself in the comfort of your own home or go the salon and let the professionals do their magic. This way, you will see if the outcome is a positive or a dreaded one. But either way, try to make this event as fun as possible. And don't forget to save a lock of your child's hair as an important memorabilia to put into his/her baby book.
At Home
Some people opt to do this to save on costs. The more familiar a place is, the more likely your child will cooperate as well. It might be an easier procedure if you start by having your child sit on his/her highchair directly in front of a mirror to be able to see what's going on.
Making it easier to cut and detangle hair can sometimes be tough, but can be made simpler by filling a plant mister with water and conditioner to soften hair. The use of dull-ish scissors might also be a safer option, to avoid any accidents if your child happens to be in an active stage and also if the person cutting the hair has never done this before.
Air dry might be a better idea for your child's hair instead of using a hair dryer. This might scare the poor child away and leave him/her with a bad impression. Some children however, love the sound of hairdryers and think of it as an object, which can compete with the sound of their voice. So whatever suits you best.
At the Salon
A child's first trip to the salon for a haircut should be a positive experience. I was made aware by Margie (wife of Stephan) of Expose, who is an excellent stylist who also caters to children's haircuts, that if a child starts to feel uncomfortable during the process due to stranger anxiety in an unfamiliar place, the procedure should be stopped immediately to prevent the child from getting traumatized in the future. For your child to perform better, try letting him/her take a small toy to the salon to help keep calm.
It's true that some children are naturally frightened by the sight of scissors, so it is always recommended to talk them through beforehand just in case. Best to even say the word "trim" instead of "cut". You might even want to remove your child's shirt to minimize the itch and makes for easy cleaning. Lastly, if behaviour has been tolerable, then don't forget to reward your child with a treat.
Helpful Resources:
www.parents.com
www.babycentre.com