Russia Moscow
You definitely don’t need to shave, but you need to cut it with a clipper with a short attachment so that the hair is the same length, which, by the way, gives the thickening effect. Just don’t cut your hair with an adult clipper under any circumstances, they all have a very large gap between the blades, thin children’s hairs get caught in it and instead of cutting them off, the clipper rips them out by the roots. With such haircuts, you can leave a child without hair at all, the hair follicles are damaged. If you want to keep your child’s hair healthy, then buy a special children’s clipper, preferably with ceramic blades, there is no gap at all.
01/12/2013 06:07
Russia, Apatity
I cut my son’s hair (my mother tortured me - they made this sacrifice), and as the fluff grew, it stayed the same. Only after trimming does the hair feel stiffer to the touch and look more voluminous, because... short hair, and even ending with a sharp cut, and not a natural tip, stands on end, while long hair lay on end. By density. I noticed that new short hairs were appearing on my temples. Incl. this is 100% not from the haircut - new bulbs are just gradually appearing.
17/10/2011 15:58
Russia, Nizhny Novgorod
hello! please tell me, my daughter is 2.3 years old, we cut her hair bald, although there was almost no hair, now her hair grows unevenly, i.e. bangs 1 cm, then a strip of hair 10 cm around the circumference of the head, then again a strip 2-3 cm of hair, then again a strip of 10 cm. In general, there is not enough hair. If they grew evenly, they would probably be shoulder-length. Is this normal or should I see a doctor?
22/11/2010 08:59
I read it and decided to add my comment. My daughter is one year old, she was born with hair, now our hair is shoulder-length and curly, how can you cut such beauty!? But I believe that a haircut definitely affects hair growth (the more often you go to the hairdresser, the better your hair)! If your baby's hair is short and thin, feel free to cut it bald, it's still a big loss. But if you have something to attach a bow to, then you can simply trim the ends by 1-2 cm and the result will still be the same.
21/11/2010 21:49
You know, I had my hair cut three times as a child... The first, as usual, because it was necessary, and the other two with my consent (my mother cut it) for company with my younger brothers... well, you know, both I and they have excellent hair. I can tell you one more incident that happened to me at an already “comprehensible” age. After school, I gave myself a haircut, not bald... of course, but quite short, and it went on like that for about seven years, and then I decided to let it go again, and you know how surprised I was when my curly hair began to grow back..! But I still don’t think it’s necessary to cut your hair bald. It’s enough just to cut your hair quite short, and strengthen the hair, and it’s easier to take care of it, especially if the child is fidgety... and then decide for yourself. My daughter’s hair has already changed on its own at 2 months, and there are already more of them, and they are more coarse in structure... so decide.
21/11/2010 10:29
And I made fun of my daughter. Because what grew on it = long fluff of bushes. He had bangs just like Hitler's. The aesthetics are questionable. Now the hair is sparse, but neat, all sorts of braids, etc. A friend felt sorry for her daughter, but there were some problems with the scalp, there was a bald spot on the top of the head, they couldn’t cleanse the skin properly because of the long strands, and at 2 years old everything they did cut their hair. Six months later there was a charming dandelion, now everything is fine.
My opinion: a haircut is needed when there are problems. If the hair is good, why touch it?
19/11/2010 21:21
My eldest daughters’ hair was not cut. The eldest’s hair is thick and the youngest’s is still sparse (HER 2.8). And for the sake of thicker hair, my aunt’s head was shaved 2 times and there was no effect, the hair is VERY sparse. AND FROM SHAVING THE HEAD, THE NUMBER OF PLOGGED HAIR FOULS WAS HAPPENED will not increase --- no where
take on.
18/11/2010 20:16
That's what we're talking about - as a rule, everyone compares "halva with apples" - different children. And on the basis of this, “they don’t allow us to mock.” And now I’m very upset that my mother got her hands on her sister when she was a child, but not me.....
16/11/2010 20:36
I'm just guessing too. I got my hair cut a year because it was customary. I can't brag about my hair. And she categorically forbade bullying her child, and yet she has gorgeous thick hair. In general, I think that what God gave you cannot be gained by a haircut and you cannot spoil it by not having a haircut.
16/11/2010 11:39
Natalya, the fact of the matter is that you cannot proceed from your own experience - you simply don’t have it in this matter, since neither you nor your children had their hair cut, and it is unknown what would have happened in this case. In my case it is known, in Larisa’s case it is known, but you are simply guessing and nothing more.
16/11/2010 09:53
I couldn’t help but add my two cents to this topic..))
Because I also didn’t believe that hair supposedly became better after cutting it bald. So I didn’t cut my son’s hair a year, as is customary. This summer, my husband and I finally cut our son’s hair (4 years old) with a “0” clipper. We now live temporarily in the south of China and it is very hot and humid here in the summer, his hair was wet under his cap all the time. And my husband and I were interested to see how he would look bald))
Before this, my hair was soft and thin, so I could pull it all into two ponytails without any problems)))
It’s been 4.5 months since the haircut, but his hair still won’t lie down because it’s grown thick and thick. It looks like a dandelion)) So, I don’t know... probably it’s different for everyone, depending on the hair structure. But we continue to be amazed now that completely different hair has grown. We would never have thought...))
15/11/2010 23:57
My daughter is already one and a half years old. She was a year old at the end of May, and so I didn’t want to cut her hair, and her hair, to put it mildly, wasn’t very good. And now they advise me to cut it, they say in winter it’s still not visible under the cap, but the hair will begin to grow better. So I don’t know what to do, I feel sorry for something, and my hair has already grown back.
15/11/2010 16:42
Based on my own experience, I think that this is all nonsense. My parents haven’t shaved or cut my hair in a year, now I’m 33 years old and I have healthy thick curly hair. I also didn’t cut my three daughters’ hair (4.5 years old and twins, 1 year 8 months old), but now they have thick, good hair. I believe the thickness and “quality” of hair depends on the genetics of the parents.
I am a lady without a tower (cough cough), so for reasons unimportant for this discussion, I shaved my head myself at the age of 28. Before this, my hair was shoulder length. I wasn't shaved as a child. So, instead of three pathetic hair pieces, which I used to call “hair,” now I have on my head the object of my pride - thick, gorgeous hair. Yes, I don’t think that with this action I increased the amount of hair allotted to me by nature and heredity; it would be stupid to count on it. But the fact that a much larger %% of what I had has passed into the growth stage, or I don’t know what to call it (I don’t want to go into the scientific jungle, in which I am absolutely not strong), is an immutable fact for ME. So I will definitely shave my girl. The sacrifice is small, but I see the possible result in the mirror every day.
If you ask grandmothers why they should cut their baby’s hair at 12 months old, the most common answers will be the following phrases: “To make the hair thicker,” “That’s what our great-grandmothers did,” and “This will help drive away evil spirits.”
Such signs and superstitions encourage many parents to adhere to a ritual, the meaning of which they still do not understand. It is necessary to separate myths from the real state of affairs and have an idea of how to properly care for children's hair.
Why do children get their hair cut every year?
Today, many parents implement rituals and ceremonies associated with a small child, without thinking about their meaning and purpose. And almost no one thinks about whether this or that procedure is necessary or whether it is just another superstition.
Most ancient peoples have traditions that require children to have their hair cut at a strictly defined age.
These rituals are associated with religious or mystical beliefs:
- For example, Indian parents and today they cut the hair of one-year-old babies, as if saying goodbye to their past life and “programming” them for a more successful entry into the future;
- Mongolian parents All relatives are invited to the child’s first haircut. The celebration consists of all guests cutting a lock of hair, giving some gift to the baby and saying wishes;
- in Israel Little boys brought up in religious families wear sidelocks until they are three years old. However, ordinary parents also adhere to this rule. At the age of 3, the most respected relative cuts the hair first, then other guests join the ritual.
The ancient Slavs also had a ritual based on folk beliefs. Thus, parents were warned against cutting their children’s hair, because people believed that early haircut (before 12 months of age) would lead to weakness, pain, unluckiness, and poverty of the child.
Slavic rituals
In Ancient Rus', cutting the hair of a one-year-old baby was intended to symbolize the transition to a completely different life and protect the child from the evil eye, damage and the pranks of small demons.
The haircut of a one-year-old child was carried out according to strict rules and specific algorithm:
- They started picking up scissors at 12 months. If you are late or rush with a haircut, then it will lose its sacred meaning. That is, the ritual will become a regular hygienic procedure.
- In order for children's hair to grow back faster, a haircut per year had to be done on the growing moon. This rule was especially true for female infants.
- Usually the godparents performed the ritual, since they could not trust such a thing to a stranger. A sheep skin was spread in the middle of the nursery and the baby was placed on it. The intended parents cut off the baby's locks in four places, like a cross.
- Afterwards, the hair was hidden behind the icon and was considered a kind of amulet that protected against diseases and damage. There is also information that the strands were buried in an anthill (for wealth) or placed under the ceiling.
And today, parents continue to believe that the strands cut off at 12 months should be kept at home. They take it out and put it under the pillow if the baby has nightmares. Another use case is to demonstrate a curl to a first grader for better learning.
Grooming one-year-old children is still a popular procedure, because many parents are confident in the usefulness of such actions. Moms and dads once heard from grandmothers that children's hair would become thicker, fuller and healthier.
It is necessary to understand whether parents’ opinions about the benefits of an “anniversary” hairstyle have any basis or are common common misconceptions:
Read below for a more detailed debunking of popular myths about children's hair. However, it is safe to say that such superstitions are quite tenacious and have been passed on from generation to generation for several centuries.
Pros and cons of cutting children's hair early
In Soviet times, one-year-old children were usually cut bald, without thinking about why such a procedure was necessary. And if the child was wearing a pantsuit, then it was almost impossible to understand who was in front of you - a boy or a girl.
Arguments against"
Modern experts are convinced that cutting a child’s hair at one year old is not only not beneficial, but can even cause significant harm to the child’s health.
Hair, as noted earlier, is formed in babies while still in the mother’s womb, which is why children are born with fluff on the head and even all over the body.
After some time, the newborn hair begins to fall out, and more mature hairs appear in its place. By the way, they often have a completely different color. It is also normal that new hair is delayed.
Trichologists lead Several arguments refuting the importance of a child’s haircut per year:
- The basis of the hairs are bulbs, which are located inside the skin. Therefore, everything that happens outside to the hair can in no way affect its formation in the inner layers.
- Some mothers and fathers are convinced that after cutting their hair becomes thicker. However, this impression is deceptive, since the density is created due to the equal length of all children's hairs.
- Hair follicles at 1 year of age are excessively weak and susceptible to damage. That's why even the most careful parents can accidentally pull the scissors and injure the hair follicles. This, on the contrary, will harm hair growth.
- One-year-old babies have very delicate skin, including on their heads. Often a child feels severe discomfort as a result of irritated skin, especially since prickly stubble begins to grow on the head.
- Using a shaving machine results in small scratches. These microscopic lesions become a “gateway” for pathogens. And this is already fraught with infection and inflammation.
There are no scientific studies that would confirm that after a haircut at the age of one, children's hair grows faster, looks healthier and thicker. The appearance of hair depends on good nutrition, rich in vitamins, genes and proper hygiene.
Despite the fact that cutting a child's hair at 12 months will not have a positive effect on the hair structure, in some situations a haircut may still be necessary.
When getting rid of excess hair on the head is justified:
- Because of his long hair, the boy is often mistaken for a baby. In this case, mothers, tired of explaining that it’s not a “beautiful girl” in the stroller, but a future man, decides to use scissors (it’s still not worth shaving the child).
- Hot summer is another reason to get rid of excessive vegetation. Usually children whose first anniversary falls in the summer months get their hair cut. With a short hairstyle, it will be easier for an active baby to survive hot weather.
- A haircut is also acceptable if the long bangs cover the eyes. Firstly, hair constantly gets into the child’s mouth while eating, and secondly, overgrown curls can reduce the child’s visual acuity.
- Head injuries are an important reason to cut your hair. Many children are curious and constantly explore the world around them. Unfortunately, the process of learning is often accompanied by scratches. To treat the head, you will have to cut your hair.
- Many children have infantile scabs on their heads, which are extremely difficult to remove. It is not recommended to comb them, but for better treatment, you can cut the hairs short. Of course, in this case you cannot shave your head.
The desire of parents to see their child neatly cut hair is understandable. However, for this it is absolutely not necessary to cut it bald; it is enough to simply cut off the bangs that cover the eyes, or trim the strands that get into the mouth.
How to cut a one-year-old child's hair?
If you still decide in favor of cutting your one-year-old child’s hair, you need to understand how this procedure is performed correctly. Usually, excess hair is removed from a child’s head at home, and not in a hairdresser, by performing a few important rules:
- no need to shave the baby. The machine cutter is suitable for adults only. At the age of one, the clipper can injure the hair follicles due to clinging to the hair. In addition, the noise it makes can frighten a child;
- take the right scissors. This tool should have rounded tips. These scissors will not scratch your scalp. As a last resort, you can use a trimmer, the sound of which is not as strong as that of a machine;
- wet your hair first. It will be easier to cut a one-year-old child's hair if you wash his hair before the procedure. Wet hair is more convenient for trimming;
- wait until the child calms down. In order for the haircut to go without any problems, you need to choose the most suitable time for it. For example, wait until the child has had lunch or taken a nap. If the baby cries or is sick, the procedure is postponed.
- create a comfortable environment. It is important to make sure that the baby feels comfortable. To do this, you need to prepare new interesting cars or dolls or certain delicacies. You should also communicate with the child in a calm voice at all times;
- wash the child. As soon as the procedure is completed, you need to wash the baby in warm water to get rid of hairs. Be sure to carefully inspect all folds so as not to forget sharp stubble.
A mandatory item is to treat the child’s head with an antiseptic (chlorhexidine), if you did not use scissors, but a shaving machine. You should also lubricate the skin with baby moisturizer.
As a conclusion
If the baby is categorically against a haircut, there is no need to insist. A similar procedure can always be carried out after a couple of months. A child's haircut must be postponed if he has recently been ill or has undergone any medical manipulation of the head.
Is it necessary to cut a child's hair every year? This is not at all necessary. But if for some reason you decide to resort to hairdressing manipulations, you need to firmly know how to cut a baby’s hair, with what tools, in what environment. This will help avoid possible negative consequences.
After the arrival of such a long-awaited baby in the family, most parents most often do not know when it is possible to shave the hair of a newborn and is it worth doing it at all? At first glance, it would seem that the question is not quite a serious problem, but this is only until the moment each of the young parents is faced with it. As a rule, it is mainly the older generation who are in favor of cutting hair, and modern youth defend the opinion that cutting can harm the young and fragile skin of a baby. So is there a golden mean and who is right?
Why shave a newborn's head?
There is a fairly ancient tradition that prescribes cutting off a child’s first hair after he or she turns one year old. If you believe her, then the hair that grows to replace the cut hair will become not only much stronger, but also thicker. But, unfortunately, no confirmed facts of this theory exist.
It has been scientifically proven that hair largely depends on the genetics of the parents and no type of haircut can affect this. And most of the words that after the first haircut the baby’s hair changed its color are associated with the natural change of the child’s hairline, this happens precisely during the specified period. To test this theory in practice, just wait a couple of months and see for yourself.
If you nevertheless decide on the need to shave your head in the first year, then this procedure should be performed as carefully as possible. Quite often, due to the fact that parents do not know how to shave a newborn’s hair, the baby may develop not only irritation, but also dermatitis. It is in order to avoid such unpleasant situations that it is recommended to purchase a special razor and a special gel, which should be applied to the child’s head. It is especially important not to scare the baby. Therefore, during a haircut, he should constantly hear his mother’s affectionate words, which will allow him to react completely calmly to the manipulations being performed.
When the baby's first hair grows, parents are faced with a dilemma: shave off this fluff or leave it in place. Often this problem develops into a serious family dispute. Usually the older generation inexorably insists that all traditions be followed and the child be shaved bald. Thus, the grandparents say, the little man will subsequently acquire a mop of thick hair.
Does a child need to shave their head at one year of age? What does science and public opinion say?
There is definitely no scientifically proven fact that after a haircut, hair strands become thicker and grow faster. On the contrary, official medicine claims that the quality of hair does not depend on the frequency and intensity of shaving. Genetic factors are responsible for the condition of hair. If the parents have luxurious curls, then most likely the child, regardless of whether he was cut in infancy or not, will also have beautiful thick hair. And, on the contrary, even if you shave a child whose hair follicles do not have the necessary strength a hundred times, he will not show off his gorgeous locks.
Some parents claim that after they shaved their babies, their hair began to grow straighter, thicker and more beautiful. However, it is likely that the process of changing a child’s fuzz to “adult” hair simply coincided with the child’s haircut. Numerous surveys show that many adults with luscious hair were not cut by their parents as children. And, conversely, those with thin, unremarkable locks of hair were shaved at an early age.
Do I need to shave my hair every year? Here's what Dr. Komarovsky says:
A little history
The tradition of cutting a baby's hair dates back to ancient times. There is an opinion that in the old days this was how they celebrated the baby’s transition from infancy to a more conscious period. In hot countries this was a necessity, because long hair further contributes to perspiration in the child. In addition, in unsanitary conditions, this prevents the occurrence of head lice and other unpleasant diseases.
In modern society, such a problem becomes irrelevant, so shaving a baby is a tribute to tradition, superstition, or an unwillingness to go against public opinion and the advice of others.
Should a child shave his hair a year?
For a child, such a test can be seriously stressful. A trip to the hairdresser, where an unfamiliar aunt will touch his unprotected head with a buzzing vibrating machine, and his mother will stand next to him and in no way protect him, can turn into a sea of tears and unspoken grievances. It is also not recommended to do your own haircut with inexperienced hands, since the baby at this age is still very active, turns his head all the time, so you can accidentally damage his skin and make it even worse. 
Using a razor to create a child's hairstyle is even more dangerous; the consequences can be very unpredictable. One awkward move and the baby could get hurt. In addition, in some children by this age the fontanel has not yet completely healed, and there is a possibility of its damage.
In any case, it is up to the parents alone to decide whether to shave their own child’s hair.
There is an opinion that when a child is one year old, it is necessary to shave his head - then the hair will grow strong and healthy. I remember how my parents shaved me already at a conscious age, and I walked around in a headscarf. And all because I was a blond girl, but I didn’t have much curls - just fluff...
Unfortunately, even after this drastic measure I did not acquire a full mane, and to this day I cannot boast of a head of strong hair. So is it still worth shaving babies or does it make no sense? And if you shave, how? At home or go to the hairdresser?
We took our first daughter to the hairdresser. She had beautiful red hair, but at the back of her head it was more frayed and therefore uneven. She was a little over a year old. They sat my daughter in a chair, gave her bottles to hold, and she wasn’t afraid at all. But until we turned on the machine...
We didn’t shave her head, but decided to give her a 3mm haircut to even out all the hairs. Then there was a sea of tears, she got scared and began to break free. This became stressful for both her and me. Therefore, I did not cut my second daughter’s hair, remembering our first experience.
In addition, I spoke with a hairdresser, who also dispelled the myth that shaving promotes the growth of strong and strong hair. Our hair, in her words, goes through several stages of modification in life, when its structure changes. Regardless of whether they were cut in childhood or not.
In general, this is probably true - if nature intends to have shiny, silky hair, then shave/don’t shave, and it will be beautiful. But if it’s the other way around, then shave at least ten times – there will be zero benefit. Heredity and genes play a role here, not a razor or a machine.
Although, you know, sometimes I still regret that I didn’t shave my youngest daughter. Still, the eldest’s hair somehow grew faster. And there was more hair at the same age, despite the fact that we shaved it short. And the little one has soft, thin hair, although, however, there is someone...
After the first haircut, I took my eldest daughter to the hairdresser only once - she just had her ends trimmed, and I cut the little one myself, or rather I cut my hair - it's a loud word - I trimmed the bangs. But some mothers I know visit salons with enviable regularity, doing fashionable hairstyles even for boys. Only the boys themselves are often against it and cry bitter tears.
And just recently, a friend of mine told me how she shaved her son in the bathroom. He says that while he was busy with water and toys, she smeared foam on his head and shaved off all his baby fluff with an ordinary machine (with an insert blade). He didn't even notice. But I didn’t dare do this, I was afraid...
