Haircuts Are Driving Me Crazy

Hi C.,
I am a hair dresser I have been through all kinds of kids haircuts this is one case were in my opinion you give them a sucker right from the start!!! let the hairdresser give the sucker. I always let the child choose were they are going to get a hair cut let him stand if he wants to this will not last forever i promise sometimes if a chid sees mom or dad get their hair cut first that works to. Last but not least he is only 3 would it be terrible if he went without a cut for a while???

Sorry, haircuts can be a challenge. However here is some Ideas that I have used successfully for years. I have 6 children and 3 of them are boys. My boys have never had long hair, which equates out to a lot of hair cuts.

When they were little I would let them fall asleep sitting next to me or with there head on my lap. While they were asleep, I cut their hair. No fuss no stress. I just recently gave my Grandson his first hair cut. While he was asleep.

When my boys got a little older I would sit and they would stand and lay their heads in my lap. When they were old enough and I could reason with them, they graduated to sitting in a chair.

Good Luck!

N.

Have you thought of trying clippers?
We have three boys and they all are a handful when it comes to getting their hair cut. We invested in a pair of clippers. They are sold with the electric beard trimmers and such at a lot of stores. They come with guards so you can choose the length of hair. (It does not have to be completely bald.) The nice thing about using the clippers is that the haircut is neat and tidy and does not have to been done nearly as frequently.

I am not sure where you are located but there is a super fun kids place in Covington called Monkey Doos. He would love it it is great fun maybe that would be a positive direction.

My youngest son would sit in the barber's chair and tears would roll down his cheek as they cut his hair. I don't know why, it didn't hurt, but he would sit and his bottom lip would quiver. After he was done, jump up give the stylist their tip, say 'thank you' and all was right with the world. Maybe he thinks he's going to hurt because he's being 'cut'. This continued until he was about 6 yrs old. He never cried out loud, but sat stoicly in the chair. (He just got his haircut Friday night for his jr. prom last night. He still sits quietly in the chair, waiting patiently for them to finish. Doesn't comment. Bottom lip still out a bit. I think this is for Mom's nostalgia more than anything else. ;-) ) There are barbers/stylists in the area that cater to kids. The chair is merry-go-round horse in one salon. Or on the other hand, this could be a control issue and he's gotten the upper hand and you're not taking him to the barber anymore.

Here are my suggestions. Maybe let it go for awhile and then play "haircut" at home. Not real ones just pretend. You could also let him see you and his dad getting real haircuts. But don't pressure him into getting one. Do you know what upsets him? He could be upset that something that is a part of him is being taken away. Maybe he's sensitive to the cape or the little hairs that fall on him? Part of it is probably just him being atoddler. What time of day do you take him? I would just let it go for awhile and then try again. Good luck!

We used to get our son a huge chocolate chip cookie. He could only have it if he was sitting still. He didn't get many cookies so he was very wrapped up in the cookie. He probably ate some hair but that wsa not big deal. And the crumbs sweep up with the cut hair.

Find something to distract him. Many places that cater to kids actually have videos for the kids to watch while they are getting their hair cut. If you don't have a place like that, bring in a portable DVD player. I've even seen parents blow bubble at their kids while they are getting their hair cut.

The places that cater to children I've found are better than the normal places because they are used to screaming, not enjoying haircuts, etc. THey know how to handle things. At least that's been my experience. I know that's not true for everyone.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong. Your child just might be super sensitive to sound or touch and this is bigger than he can handle.

I LOVED that idea about the pillow case for the struggling/thrashing child. I don't think I'll ever forget the poor kid whose dad took him to get his hair cut at my fave haircutting place and the poor baby thrashed and cried so hard that lisa, a seasoned "pro" cut his hair every which way.

But, maybe trying a place like Fun Kuts would help him? I don't know which area you're in, but in Tacoma, there used to be one over near the Tacoma Mall, off 38th St. You could do a search for places that do only kids hair in your area. The place here had specialty chairs, and their stylists are specially trained to deal with children, plus they have a neat kids play area. They were a little pricier, but worth it if it helps your son.

Good luck, and hopefully it gets easier for your son AND for you.

K. W

Your question doesn't indicate if you are married, and if you aren't, I apologize in advance for my answer! My son went through a stage where he didn't like haircuts, and at some point (I don't remember what age), I started sending David with his grandfather or father. It has gone well ever since. I don't know what they do, but whatever it was, it worked. Good luck!

I feel your pain. I have to spend the crazy dollars and take my son to a space that only serves children. It's $20 a hit plus a tip if he's really having a bad day.

There are any number of reasons why they react that way. My son has sensory issues and had a bad experience when he was 1.5yrs.

It's not abnormal how he's reacting to having his haircut and I wouldn't stress yourself out about it. There are a couple of good places to take your child. When you make the appointment just be up front about how he'll react once he's in the chair. Ask for the stylist with the fastest cutting time so you can get in and get out.

You are NOT doing anything wrong. Don't let anyone make you feel that way. This is something your son has a hard time with. Period. I would have concerns about another parent that can't be sensitive to that.

My son is due for a haircut. We go to Kids Kuts on 108th in Everett. She is AWESOME. She gets it done as fast as she can, she doesn't judge, she's incredibly patient and kind. The kids can choose which "chair" to sit in. Theres a fire engine, police car, and a motorcycle. She also has movies playing on a little TV.

My kids have haircut movies. They are some of their favorites, that they don't get to watch unless they are getting a haircut. They think it's really special to get a haircut and they sit very still trying to see their special movie. One of my boys is a little less patient, and enjoys having a job during his haircut. I let him hold the little brush that dusts the hair clippings off. It's his job to tell me "time to brush" if he gets itchy(or board)and wait for me to say okay before he brushes his face off.This keeps his mind occupied if the movie doesn't hold his attention.

I have never been able to cut my son's hair. Every time I try he squirms, fusses and moves WAY too much. The only person who can ever cut his hair is DADDY!!!!!!! I am so happy because I don't have to do it. I don't always like the results (like a buzzed head one time) but I like that I don't have to fuss with it and they have a great bonding time together... it's a great memory for them to have together.

Give it a shot and see how it goes. Good luck!

Just my experience but I popped a lollipop into my son's mouth at the start of the hair cut and viola, he was cured. He doesn't need it now but before he did. One other thing I did was plop him in front of a cartoon while I did it and that worked too. Bad habit yes but for the time it was all I knew to do.

MY youngest, now 5 is the same way. We have since learned of his sensory issues. It may be the falling hair or the weight change of the hair left, I don't know. the one thing that has worked for us, and very well is the 'Flowbee'...you remember the blades w/the plastic guides that attatch to the vaccume? This eliminates the falling hair (and thus mess for mom) and w/the guides the same area of hair always comes out the same length! (a real plus for me when he is squirmy) the guides are easy to change as you move to different areas of the head that might need it. I love mine, and so does my son. When I tell him we need to cut hair, he usually starts to fuss, but as soon as I put the deal out that either I do it (w/the flowbee) or gramma will (w/the clippers and shears) he jumps up and helps get out the flowbee and vaccume. He will actually sit still now, even help turn his head the way I need it to go!
Good luck, and know I've been there w/you!!!

you may have already tried this but have you taken him to a Kids Kuts? My son hated haircuts until we took him to one. They have fire engines and police cars for chairs and they can watch movies or play with a tub of toys while they get their hair cut. Good luck.

I don't have any advice here, except to wait it out. I share your pain...my oldest son hated haircuts too, from day one! It was a crying, screaming, very upsetting time every day we did haircuts. It did not matter WHAT we tried, almost all the remedies the other ladies recommended were attempted and failed! Didn't matter if it was home/out, clippers/scissors, videos/popsicles, husband or me cutting, brothers/dad getting hair done at same time or whatever. It did NOT work. HOWEVER, he is five now and doesn't mind haircuts a bit. I must say he is a stubborn personality and does not take to new things well, but he eventually adapts. Unfortunately I thought all children would be this way, but his younger brother loves haircuts. Hang in there!

What a fun story. Someday it will be a fun memory for you too although right now it is extremely frustrating. People always talk about the terrible 2s but let me tell you, the 3s are so much worse. The bright side is soon he will be 4. I love 4 year olds, they are the best. Then 5 comes and they go to school and learn nasty little habits from the other kids.

Unless your 3 year old has a board meeting that he has to look his best for, just forget the haircut. This is his chance to go through his Beatle (you know the singers) faze. Cut his bangs let the rest go. When he turns 4 it will all turn around. The very best advice I can give you is to choose your battles. Going out into the street is a battle you can't lose. Getting your haircut, maybe not so important righ now.

My son did the same thing. At his first cut he was fine, then after that he would scream in terror the minute we opened the door. What was really strange was this place was for children only. With games, toys, balloons and funny chairs! He would scare the other kids with his crying and I would have to walk out. Then one day I went to the mall and tried again, he was about 3 1/2. A very quite asian man in a barber shop gave me a bang trim and offered to try trimming my sons hair, only he suggested clippers. My son sat in silence and allowed the man to cut his hair. I don't know if it was the demenor of the barber, the bland surroundings, or the lack of scizzors, but it worked. I have heard similar stories from other Mom's over the years and sooner or later the child comes around. I would give it more time. Remember, hie fear isn't a reflection on your Mothering skills. Good Luck. :)

totally normal - will go away about 3 1/2 or 4 - at least that is what happened with my son... and son #2 is almost 3 and still hates them...

I don't know if it will help, but this is what we do with my 3 year old guy. I cut daddy's hair right before I cut Evan's, so he watches daddy 'be a big boy' with his haircut and then we start on his. Every couple of minutes I will let him 'help' cut his hair. That has seemed to help the most. Now kiddo asks for haircuts every week. Now both of my guys get their heads buzzed really close, but that is how the Army says daddy needs to have his hair.
Good luck, and as I am sure you know, being patient will eventually pay off.

You aren't doing anything wrong, he is just a boy. I went through the same thing with my now 4.5 year old. Finally, about a year ago, I discovered a place called "Little Clippers". We live in SE and go to the one on 82nd Ave by Clackamas Town Center, but I believe there is also one in SW, Tualatin I think. Their concept is awesome. The kids get to pick a movie, they sit in the PowerWheel vehicle of their choice (my son always picks the fighter jet :-). They have video games and indoor playground toys/playhouses for before and after the cut. Cost isn't too bad, I think it's $11 for mine. They keep a record of the cut, so that it doesn't matter what stylist you get, they can pull your card and see exactly what you want. And when they are done, they get a sucker, sticker, and balloon. Mostly, the ladies are AWESOME with the kids. I would suggest trying it out and after you tell the stylist what kind of cut you want, stay back and let her work with your son (unless it gets out of control of course). GOOD LUCK!!

C.,
I am a professional hair dresser, and I don't even cut my boys' hair anymore. I can work with adults, but not children. They just don't have patience.
I found a wonderful hairdresser at Kids Castle Cuts in the Washington Square area. Carla is wonderful. They specialize in children only. They are fast and can distract very well. The children can watch a movie while they are getting their hair cut.
Last year my 7yr old wanted to go to "The Barbers" like his friend and it was awful. All of the girls looked like hookers with their thongs sticking out the back of their pants and they were slow. Thank goodness my son never wanted to go back again. My 5yr old won't let me do his hair. He says,"Only Carla can do my hair mommy."
We stick with Carla because she is awesome.
Give Kids Castle cuts a try. ###-###-####
-A.

our 2 yr old sits on Dad's lap and watches me give Daddy a hair cut before I give him one. I have also heard that letting them suck on a sucker will keep them still?!? Hope you find something that works!

My daughter does haircuts in the home if you think that would help...She's very good by the way but this is not an advertisement for her, just letting you know...I will give you more info if you ask but again, I'm not advertising...

When i still worked in a salon i always ended up with the little ones who noone else wanted to cut, the best thing to do is wait until your child doesnt cry anymore. The more times they cry the worse it gets. The other thing you can do is try a different salon and hairdresser until you meet one your child likes. Some salons have a firetruck or some other type of childs seat. Good Luck

Hi C.!

Have you thought about *not* cutting his hair? It may not be *your* desired solution to the issue, but it sounds like *he* is telling you something! When I had dd, my first child, she always wanted her hair cut. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't know why, it just felt so....wrong to me. She didn't want her hair brushed, braided, barretted, anything! She doesn't even particularly like to wear hats. From a very early age, she has told me she just needs to "feel free," that she "loves to feel the wind in her hair." With ds, he was the opposite. He wanted long hair. Even when it was in his eyes, he didn't care. I didn't want to make the same mistake twice by not listening to what my children were telling me...of course, his mama and daddy both had long hair at the time, so I think that was part of it as well. On the day daddy decided to shave his head, ds *and* dd decided they wanted to shave their heads, too. So they all did. Dd is feeling good because her hair doesn't need to be brushed or braided, and ds is feeling good because it was *his* decision when to cut his hair.

I think one of two things may happen...either your son will have long hair, and like it, or eventually he will *ask* to have his hair cut, in which case, he will like it, because he asked for it. Either way, *he* will be happy, and *you* won't feel like you are battling him or having to break out the punishment/reward system to get him to do something he clearly isn't comfortable with.

I think some people are cautious to let their little boys grow their hair long because people might think they are a girl. I can't tell you how many times people thought my dd was a boy (even as a baby), and my ds was a girl (as a baby as well), and regardelss of their hair. So what. Only your child can decide if that will bother him or not. My dd has been called a boy several times since she shaved her head. Some of our friends even call her her brother's name because now they look so much alike. But she likes the way she looks and feels, she isn't bothered by it, and feels really good about making the choice for herself. Her independence and autonomy are *really* important to her (both of my kids are this way), and it is important to me to honor that, and help keep that part of them as intact as possible.

By honoring my children's choices, I feel that they trust me to really listen to what their thoughts, feelings, wants and needs are, and to help them achieve whatever it is they are setting out to do. Just remember to remain open to *all* the possibilities, even the ones that might trigger some 'negative' emotions for you. Oh, and you just might want to ask your son if he wants to have his hair cut. If he says 'no', you could ask what he doesn't like about having his hair cut. I would also recommend trying to figure out why it is so important to *you* to have *his* hair cut. And whether the battles are worth it or not.

Love and light....

I have three kids. My first two are girls and they absolutely love having their haircut and always have. My last child is a boy and he is 2 years old. He HATES them!!! He cries from the moment we enter the salon to the moment we leave. I feel bad, but having your haircut is one of those things we HAVE to do.
Last time I just had to hold him and hold his head and he did scream but I think it's just the age. I'm not going to cater to him-he is not being hurt or tortured he's just having his hair cut. I'm hoping he will grow out of it. He's a toddler and he just doesnt like people "messing" with him. I do try to go at times when he is the only one there so it's not as embarrassing. After his last haircut I was able to calm him down and show him how handsome he was and then I made him say sorry to the lady for making such a fuss and to show him she was just trying to help him. It was so cute he said, "Sorry!" and "Thank you" and I gave him a lollipop. Hopefully, he'll do better each time.

Try letting him blow bubbles while he gets his hair cut.
That helped my son for a minute or two.

Girls are so much easier when it comes to this sort of thing. :)

As far as just "not cutting their hair" like someone else said, I think they learn early that if they fuss about something they don't have to do it. I think when they fuss that's fine. It's ok to express that you don't like something. It's ok to cry but it still has to be done. Show your child afterwards that you love them and always repeat the reasons we do these things. You are "teaching" your child to do things that are not comfortable. That's a good thing.

Too many people let their children dictate what they will or will not do. For example, establishing good sleep habits, or healthy eating practices.

I wasn't sure from your post if his dad is in the picture. If so, try having his dad take your son for his haircut. Sometimes having someone other than mom do it works better. My son went through a stint where he wouldn't go get a haircut so my husband started buzzing it at home with clippers. It did a pretty good job and saved a lot of hassle. My son is 7 now and will get a professional haircut but he still prefers my husband to take him. Good luck!

From my sons first hair cut at 11 1/2 months until around 18 months he did fine, then whammo he freaked out if we even mentioned it. He is gonna be 4 in July and is finally willing to have it done. We do hair cuts at home so I don't mind the screaming.
What worked for us was:
We slit a pillow case at the top so it would slide over his head. This way a minimal amount of hair gets onto his body which maked him itchy, and when he was still in the fighting it mode, we could pull it all the way down and keep his hands inside and away fromt he clippers!
I would have daddy hold him and then away I would go. We always do a bath immediatly afterwards to get rid of any hair that did make it onto him.
We used to just shave it all one length to make things easier, but now that he is better we do a typical boy cut, shorter sides and back that fade into longer top. I still don't "clean up" the nape of his neck or around his ears with the ungaurded clippers. If he moves and it nicks him I think I would be back at square one!
When he was freaking out it helped to do it in front of the mirror sometimes so he could see what was going on. We also did the "You cut daddys hair and then we will do yours" tactic also.
You may have to do someting different every time to get it done. He will out grow this eventually, good luck!
(We tried the treats to, a sucker while we cut to keep him occupied......... not a good idea, the hair stuck to the darn thing and that ticked him off even more. I totally didn't think that one through. Oh well LOL)

You might try doing this in front of a DVD that he likes... our twins love Bob the Builder or Thomas the Tank Engine. They'll sit still and watch for however long I let them! With our boys, too, I've let them feel the clippers while they're off and again while they're on... let them feel that they vibrate a little and tickle a little. And I just try to be as quick as I can, because our boys aren't really fans of the haircuts, either. It seems to help some when my husband will have his hair cut first, and they see Daddy be a big boy and sit still.

Hope this helps!

Sometimes we have to have the courage to let our kids throw a fit, and just be there and be compassionate.

I can't get a bead on how bad or drawn-out these fits are. Is he writhing around in his chair and not letting them cut at all? Or is this just a more typical loud yelling thing? He's not hurting anyone and you aren't hurting HIM, so what's the problem exactly?

Are you getting glares from the public? Either ignore them, smile at them nicely, or while he's shrieking calmly go around and hand out flowers to the half-dozen patrons with little notes that say, "Here's a flower for the trouble of listening to my son's enthusiastic protests. Have a nice day!" (I'll bet you would get lots of smiles for that). Make light of it. Find a place (talk to owner beforehand) where they can have humor, tact, and compassion for little ones that don't enjoy the experience - and get the haircut done as calmly and efficiently as possible. I know the world isn't full of salons who "don't want" little kids. I for one support salons who are willing to service everyone in the family.

My kids had teensy bits of anxiety about haircuts which they got over. I just provided sympathy but did not overthink it, bribe, or make a big deal about it (this worked for the dentist too). I think a three year old (and younger in fact) is old enough to sense when mom or dad are anxious. For some kids, they will more or less exploit this; other kids don't do this consciously but they still often won't function as well when mom or dad are anxious. The point is, if you are anxious, it might be part of the reason it isn't going well.

One of my children hated having her hair washed. I swear this went on for two years! One thing, it was in the privacy of our home so at least I didn't have strangers to worry about. But it bothered me she kept making a fuss about it. I found myself angry at her because I thought, Why does she make such a fuss? One day I realized, "Well, I have to wash your hair dear girl. I'll do it as quickly and gently as I can, and hug you afterward." I swear the minute I stopped taking responsibility for her fits and just allowed her the reaction she wanted to have, they diminished considerably. She is absolutely great at having her hair washed today.

Unless you are willing to stop giving him haircuts altogether (which is totally an option!) I'd advise you schedule the next one (at a place that is experienced with kids), take a deep breath and tell your dear little boy, "We're going to get a haircut on Tuesday. I'd like you not to scream and cry, because it disturbs other people. However if you end up doing that, I'm not going to give you candy to quiet you down. I'll give you hugs when we're done." Decide if you're going to let him sit on your lap or not, etc. Let your son know you can handle his biggest meltdown and still be calm. It's a gift to both of you.

Good luck!

I am a mom of 3 boys and a hairdresser so I have seen a lot of this. I do a lot of kids cuts and here are my 2 most successful tips: I would get a treat like smarties or fruit snacks - something small and that there are a lot of (but won't melt or make a huge sticky hairy mess on their face) and then I would tell them that I will count to 10 and they get 1 treat. They can usually endure 10 seconds at a time easier than the idea of a whole cut. Repeat until you're done. Sometimes I would even mess up counting or "forget" where I was to get in some extra time and if the child knows how to count to 10 it makes it more of a game for them to correct me. The other things is to have them watch a movie or play a game boy type video game. This gives them something to focus on other than their anxiety of the haircut and they are more likely to hold still which helps the hairdresser go faster and do a better job. (Tip #3: get someone kid-friendly, patient, and FAST - it will make it a better experience for everyone).

Maybe your son feels like he's "losing" a part of himself. The next time you NEED to get his hair cut, ask him if he wants to be in charge of keeping (holding) the hair that gets cut off? Have the stylist hand him a little hair each time she/he makes a cut. He'll feel a little more control.

Another thing to consider is that, since boys get their hair cut so much closer to the head, it may seem scary that sharp objects are coming so close to his ears. The cutting may SOUND scary, being so close to his ears. Watching someone else get their hair cut, and HEARING your own hair getting cut is quite different. Can you just cut the front of his hair for a few more months? Maybe he'll grow out of it by then. Good Luck! Try to go with the flow if he's that afraid.

My sister-in-law used to clip her boys' nails when they'd sleep, because they hated it so much - can you trim his hair when he's sleeping?

Have you tried going to a kids only type haircutting place? I'm not sure where you live, but we've used the Hair Chair in crossroads mall in Bellevue, and we also use "It's a Kid Thing" in Redmond Town Center...that's currently the only one we go to on a regular basis now. They have toys for the kids to play with, DVD's, and even video games...plus the cool little kid chairs. It's worth a shot. They are a little pricier than getting it done at a less elaborate place (we usually pay about $20 - $25 for my 3 year old), but it is SOOO worth not having to deal with the fighting.

I have found that if i take my son to the salon with me to get my hair cut he does better when it is his turn. We cut his at home to save money and well all he gets is a buzz anyways so i dont see why we should pay 10-15 dollars to do so. You may want to think about keeping it easy like a buzz even a longer buzz for now until he feels better about it and just keep doing it at home. They also told me the few times he has been to an actual is that you want to make sure that they have napped and been fed. everytime i had gone into the hair place niether of those things had happened and i looked like an idiot of sorts. Good luck and dont give up...

My 3 yr old was the same way until I had my girlfriend take him without me being there with her 3 yr old. He sat there just fine. We've done that the past few haircuts as he seems to act out more while I'm around. He's almost 4 now and I'm ready to try it again, going with him, and hopefully he'll behave as it was horrible in the past having him screaming while I'm trying to keep him still in my lap.

try having him eat a icy pop, i have been cutting my boys hair and husbands hair for years, and my boys when they were younger would be terrible so i tired the icy pops in the plastic and put on their favorite movie and it was tons better. Go with a bigger size on the clippers if you are afraid of cutting to short, with them moving around to much :). It also helps to have clippers that are not loud too.

Good luck,

C.

Hi,

I had the same problem with my 2 year old! It was horrible to go to the salon for a haircut! He really likes to brush his teeth so I decided to let him play with his toothbrush. I then took the chance and he let me cut his hair! I couldn't believe it. The only advise I can give is maybe let him play with something and just take little snips here and there. That's what I did the first time and then he let me do more and more as he got used to it. I'm not sure if this helps, but I thought I would tell you what finally worked for me. Good Luck!

K.

With 2 boys and a girl, the policy at our house has always been that they can have their hair whatever length they want with the stipulation that it's taken care of (washed and brushed so it's neat). They were told that if they weren't going to take care of it, it would have to be short so it wasn't a mess. That agreement helped as they got to choose what they want, and they've been to a salon as well as I've cut their hair many times myself.

My oldest decided he wanted his hair cut after kindergarten (he's 12, now, and has the longest of all 3) and his brother (9) wanted his first haircut immediately prior to kindergarten...and when he was crying, we were startled to find out that he was afraid it would hurt to have his hair cut! Their sister (6) has had all sorts of lengths, and somewhat goes with what I have...right now, mine is really short, and she's asking for another haircut. Their dad has long hair, my husband had long hair up 'til this year, and mine has gone from waist length to bald and various lengths in between.

I hope this helps! :)

Oh C., this made me laugh!! He has really got control of the whole hair thing!! As a teacher you deal with children every day, but with your own its different, they won't listen and they rebel and they make you crazy, its all part of the fun LOL! I have a suggestion that may work, do you have a friend of the family, preferably male that would be interested in helping you? The idea is to have him go while the adult gets his hair cut, but don't cut your son's hair. Then a couple weeks later do the same, only ask him if he would like one too. Keep in mind, your not there!! Kids like to be like the adults they look up to, it may just work. Or you can just let it grow, and put ribbons in it!! Just kidding, good luck, R.

Clippers are noisy and scary but so much safer than scissors. I gave my son toys in the bathtub (minus the water of course) to keep him busy. Also tried the sucker/popsicle approach. I even found toy resembling a clippper that made a similar noise. That seemed to help. I let him pretend to cut all our hair. It was a struggle, but he was confined to one area and clean up was easier. Over time he became more comfortable. He still runs when I say haircut and shout "no", but he has come to realized that I won't quit until I'm done, so he cooperates more. Plus, I cut my husbands hair too, so he goes first and then my son. Also, don't buy cheap clippers. They can pull hair. And keep them maintained. I spent about $60 at Sally Beauty. good luck. We started at about 18mo and now he is 3......It takes patience.

Like someone else said, making sure that they are feed and have ha da good sleep always help...
Don't feel bad if you take him some where and he cries about it and things... I feel everyone knowns that it's just an age thing... if you want to take him someplace good that for sure will not care if he cries...
My son cries and cries and cries, but we still do it, because it has to be done. He doesn't cry as much anymore, and we just did and he didn't even cry at all. Sometimes he will get candy or a little toy, but I try to stay away from that kind of thinking/rewards.. because you kids need to do what you are asking them to do, without always getting a treat... other than maybe potty training, but even then I didn't do the treat thing..
Best of luck, it will get better, once they know what is going on, and maybe staying with the same place ever time will help, new places are scary