First Haircut Tips for Twin Parents

Last updated on August 23rd, 2025 at 03:07 pm

Having your twins get their first haircut can be an exciting time! But as you know as a twin parent, having two the exact same age can pose additional challenges, so keep reading for helpful first haircut tips for twins.

When I imagined my twins’ first haircut in my head, I thought it was going to be so cute and memorable. I envisioned those fun rocket ship chairs where they could pretend to fly while watching their favorite show on the attached i-Pad.

And their first haircut was definitely memorable. Most of what I imagined did come true, but it was less than cute. As in—my twins had a full blown meltdown.

One turned beet-red while crying, and then the other started crying. One twin eventually stopped crying just long enough to realize his brother was still crying and then resumed crying again himself. To this day, I still have no idea what triggered the emotional outburst. Even Ms. Rachel couldn’t distract them through the grueling 10 minute buzz.

But looking back, I realize perhaps Mom and Dad’s expectations were to blame. We assumed that they would be fine being tossed into this water of uncertainty. And with that assumption, we never talked about what was going to happen prior to their first haircut. Wow, talk about a real parenting fail!

Many parents wonder what age a first haircut should happen. Is it within the first year? Or maybe after 18 months? Unlike other more technical milestones (like walking, crawling, etc.), there isn’t a magic number as to what age your little ones should get their first cut.

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It’s really all up to you as the parent to decide. You know your twins best. But regardless of when you decide to get that initial chop, there are definitely a few first haircut tips to keep in mind to avoid an epic meltdown—like I experienced with my twinnies!

Before the cut…

1. Talk about the haircut before going. Trust me on this one. We learned this lesson the hard way. When it comes to new experiences, many babies and toddlers don’t appreciate surprises. So do what you can to prepare them for the cut in advance!

This could mean showing them how you cut your hair or visiting the barber shop or salon ahead of time without the pressure of the haircut. It could also mean watching a fun little character video about haircuts like this Daniel Tiger video or reading a book about haircuts.

Here are a few great books about first haircuts by the way…

Daniel Tiger Gets His Hair cut, first haircut book

2. Pick a time that fits their schedule well. Proactively plan to have the haircut when your little ones have a full belly. And of course avoid interfering with nap time. This may sound obvious, but it’s a simple way to set yourself up for success.

3. Mind your own emotions. Children are very in-tune with our emotions and can pick up on our anxiety or over-excitement.

Intensity on our part—one way or the other—can overwhelm a baby or toddler. So no matter how they may be feeling, strive to be the calm in their storm of emotions.

4. Decide if you will take both twins together or not. Depending on your twins and their relationship, give some thought to whether or not you want to take them for their first cut together.

Maybe one twin doesn’t even need their hair cut yet and the other does, so taking the one not getting the cut will make them feel left out. Or if your kids are like mine and one gets freaked out, maybe the other twin will start freaking out too. Or maybe they generally do well with these sorts of experiences, and you want to make it into a special twin bonding moment.

For the actual haircut…

The DIY route

If taking your twins to a salon sounds intimidating, try cutting their hair at home. Take a look at this Healthline article for tips on how to cut hair safely with scissors and clippers.

You can still make it a memorable experience without having to leave the comfort of your home! Just make sure to have all the materials prepared ahead of time so you don’t prolong the experience and end up testing their patience.

Going to a salon or barber shop

Should you decide to go with a professional approach, here are a few tips for having a successful first haircut with your twins:

1. Make sure to research the location and ask questions. Look at their reviews and make sure the shop and the specific hairstylist are good with babies and small children.

Word to the wise: just because the place you chose is dedicated to children doesn’t ensure they can manage a screaming, wriggling child. I once had a stylist who took soooooooooo long to buzz my one twin’s hair that she lost his patience!

(I thought we had this visit in the bag too! It was haircut number three or four at that point, and he was calmly sitting in the chair and agreed to watch his show. But the stylist was so painfully slow that his thoughts finally caught up with him. He did not want to be sitting any longer, and he was mad. Sadly, we ended up walking out with a partial haircut and a panicked child. Not a good look lol!)

2. Name the tools! One of the hairstylists did this for my twins, and it was so helpful! She even let them touch some of the tools so they understood it wasn’t anything that could hurt them.

3. Be prepared with comforts and distractions. Whether you want to have a fun edible treat to offer or your child’s favorite stuffy, have something on hand in the event that things start to go south!

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Where to get your twins’ first haircut

Not sure where to get your kids’ first haircut? If you’re in the U.S., here are some nationwide brands you can check out.

Cookie Cutters – This cute little spot has a baby first hair package! Adorable! This includes a certificate and a lock of hair for your memories. They have 25 years of experience and have 100+ locations nationwide.

Great Clips – The relaxed environment here might be just what your kids need. No frill, just cut. But grownups can get their hair cut here too! Watching you get your haircut could help your kid find the courage to get theirs.

Pigtails & Crew – You can find Pigtails & Crew in most of the States. The first haircut package gives you a certificate with the lock of your child’s hair.

Making memories for your twins’ first haircut

If you’re a memento keeper like me, don’t forget to save that first locket of hair! Some haircutting places print out special certificates with their name and date so you can have a keepsake of this momentous occasion. They’ll also save a clipping from the cut so you can attach it to the certificate.

If you do a DIY cut for the first one or the salon you go to doesn’t do anything special, you can find all sorts of haircut keepsakes like this cute bottle or this haircut certificate.

Final thoughts on your first haircut with twins

So what happened in our house? One twin likes to get their haircut at the shop, and the other I cut hair for at home. I had never cut hair before, but I learned because it’s what felt right for my kiddo (and my own sanity).

His cut doesn’t look as good as a professional, but it gets the job done. And the one who goes into the salon goes with his dad, and it’s now their thing which I think is super special.

Again, you know your twins best. Don’t let the rest get you stressed!

Looking for guidance on more “firsts” for your twins? Check out these articles too!

Stephanie Miller is the proud mom of twin cyclones Zach and Carter. Every day in the Miller house, you’ll find rooms turned over, floors covered in bits of Lego and puzzle pieces (mind your step), and the sound of “Brown Bear Brown Bear” read over and over, and over again. You’ll typically find her being used as the seat to reading time for the two bookworms, covered in bubble solution as they try to excel in their Bubble Wand skills, or being the voice to command Alexa for their favorite tunes. She and her husband are working on their traveling skills cause she can’t wait to show them the amazing world that is out there for them.