A first cut should feel like a victory, not a chore.

The first cut is the hardest one

A child's first haircut is a rite of passage — for the parents, mostly. The kid does not know what is coming, the parents do not know how it will go, and the barber has about ten minutes to earn everyone's trust before the wiggling starts. That is the job, and it is the job Lazar has been doing for longer than some of his clients have been alive.

The trick is not to force it. The trick is to make the chair feel safe — to let a nervous two-year-old sit in a parent's lap, to let a curious four-year-old hold the clippers while they are off, to know when to switch from clippers to scissors because the buzz is too much. A kids' cut done right is a cut the child walks out of feeling proud of, not one they leave crying. That sets the tone for every cut after.

Cuts for every age

A toddler's cut is not the same service as a ten-year-old's cut, and neither is a teenager's. A toddler needs patience and a quick hand — the cut happens in short bursts between wiggles. A school-age child can sit still but needs the cut to survive recess, gym, and a week of not being brushed. A teenager wants a real cut — a fade, a style, something that looks like what they saw online — and they need a barber who treats it like a men's or women's cut, not a kids' one.

Lazar does all of it. The same hands that do a clean skin fade on an adult know how to do a gentle trim on a squirming three-year-old. The adjustment is in approach, not in standard — every kids' cut still gets a clean line, a proper shape, and the same attention as the grown-ups.

Boys' cuts, girls' cuts, and the ones in between

A boys' kids' cut runs the range from a simple buzz to a textured crop to a fade with a line-up. A girls' kids' cut might be a trim to keep length healthy, a bob with bangs, layers for movement, or a styled cut for a special occasion. Lazar cuts all of it and does not sort kids into boxes — the cut is built around the child's hair and the parents' goals, not a gender aisle.

That matters more than it sounds. A lot of kids' places only do one thing, and families with more than one kid end up at two different shops. Any Cuts in Park Slope was set up so the whole family — mom, dad, the toddler, the teen — can be regulars in the same chair.

Special-occasion cuts for kids

Children have big days too. A first haircut for a photo, a cut before a family wedding, a fresh style for picture day at school, a trim before a birthday party. These are the cuts parents remember, and they are worth getting right. Lazar treats them with the same care as an adult event cut — a clean line, a shape that lasts, a finish that looks good in the photo.

For picture day specifically, book a few days before rather than the morning of. A fresh cut settles over a day or two, and the shape looks more natural in photos when it is not brand-new. Lazar will tell you the timing when you book.

How to prep a child for a haircut

The single best thing a parent can do is talk about it beforehand. Not as a threat — "you're getting your haircut" — but as a plan. Tell them what will happen: sit in the chair, wear a cape, the barber uses scissors or clippers, it does not hurt. For kids who are nervous about the clippers, show them a video of a haircut so the sound is familiar. For a first cut, bring a snack and a backup snack.

Timing matters too. A tired, hungry child is a wiggly child. Book around nap and meal schedules when you can. And if your child has a comfort item — a stuffed animal, a show on a phone, a lollipop reserve — bring it. Lazar has seen every strategy and works with all of them.

When the clippers are too much

Some kids cannot handle the clippers. The buzz is too loud, the vibration is too much, the whole thing is overwhelming. That is fine. Lazar switches to scissors — slower, quieter, no vibration — and gets the cut done that way. It takes longer and takes more patience, and that is built into how the shop works. A kids' cut is not a rush job.

For kids with sensory sensitivities, mention it when you book. Lazar can set up a quieter slot, skip the clippers entirely, and let the child sit in a parent's lap. The goal is a good cut and a child who will come back next time, not a fast one and a kid who never wants to see a barber again.

Caring for kids' hair at home

Kids' hair is often finer and more tangle-prone than adult hair, and the home routine matters. Lazar walks parents through it: detangle from the bottom up, not the top down, to avoid pulling; use a gentle, kid-safe shampoo; skip the heat tools on young hair. For longer kids' hair, a light leave-in conditioner keeps the knots down between visits.

He also tells parents when to book the next cut. A toddler's cut might need freshening every 4–6 weeks to keep it out of the eyes; a school-age child's cut every 6–8 weeks; a teenager on whatever schedule their style demands. Knowing the rhythm keeps the cut from ever looking overgrown.

Bring the whole family

The reason families come to Any Cuts in Park Slope is that it is one stop. Dad's men's cut, mom's styling, the kids' cuts, and even threading for the parents — all in the same visit, often back to back. That is the point of a neighborhood shop, and it is why the chair on 7th Avenue stays full of the same faces, decade after decade.

If you have read this far, the next step is easy. Book online, call the shop, or walk in. Bring the kids, bring a photo, bring a snack. We'll take it from there.