Dear Mom Of The Child Who Just Cut Her Own Hair

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our disclosure policy here

Dear Mom of the child who just cut her own hair,

child cut own hair

Right now you’re super upset.

I know you’re seeing your baby with that jagged homemade haircut cut with scissors that she’s not even supposed to be touching, and you’re reacting one of two ways.

Either you’re resigned to what’s done is done, or you are seething and trying your hardest not to throttle her little bitty throat.

Go with that.

child cut own hair

See, mom, this haircut thing – as frustrating as it is – is a good thing. Not that you want your child cutting her own hair all the time, but this is (believe it or not) a sign of autonomy.

That means your child is starting to see herself separate from you.

child cut own hair

This might have been just an experiment, or maybe she was bored, but think about this: up until this moment, every single decision about your child’s body has been up to you.

From teaching her to hold a spoon, how to walk, how to potty, even (most likely) whether or not she can suck her own thumb.

child cut own hair
A young mother trains her daughter to use the potty outdoor.

This one, though, is all her.

What’s the worst that’s happened after all? It’s hair…it’ll grow back. And yes, it looks awful. I mean, Awful.

It’s like Edward Scissorhands came alive in your child and took your sweet baby’s hair from cute to freakishly terrifying in a few small snips, but it’ll be okay.

In a few years, your child will have done way worse things than cutting their own hair:

They’ll be driving.

Dating.

Kissing.

Breaking up.

child cut own hair

The talking back will drive you insane.

The new styles of haircuts will drive you insane.

Don’t even get me started on the music…

Right now that little baby just took their first steps toward all of that and I think perhaps that’s what you’re truly terrified of.

child cut own hair

I mean, it really is just hair…

So sit back, mom, and take as many pictures of this awful ‘do’ as possible. Take a video.

child cut own hair

Remember this moment…because once the teenage years hit you’re going to WISH you could come back here!

Similar Posts

44 Comments

  1. I agree to a degree. This would be the SECOND time my 3 year old granddaughter cut her hair at DAYCARE. Our issue is this….where were the care givers while she did this? They should be under supervision whilst using sharp scissors. And if she had been this wouldn’t have happened at daycare. At home yes but not at the place where the people are paid to WATCH over our kids.

    1. @Toscha, yes the children should be supervised. That is a valid point, however, if the daycare has a lot of children, you can’t blame them that much. Accidents happen. Give them one more chance.

  2. Personally, I disagree with this being a “child wanting to be different.” Most kids who cut their hair are really young and it’s more a cause and affect situation. Like, what would happen if I do this. Other ages could be because they see their parents getting their hair cut and they are imitating what they have seen. It’s not till a way older age, where children start to think of themselves first.

  3. We could tell my daughter at 3 was already strong willed, stubborn and very independent. I had seen other kids who did this and knew it was just a matter of time before she got the idea to do it. She had very fine, slow growing, thin blonde hair. I knew if she ever cut it that it would be a very long time before it grew back. So, before she even thought about it, I showed her the scissors and told her she was never to use them, especially to cut her hair! I cut a piece of my hair and showed her that once it was cut, you can’t put it back. I also told her if
    she ever cut her own hair that she would be in very big trouble! Lol! She never did cut her hair. While this might not work for every child, I actually think that by talking to her about it before she thought of it on her own, and showing her the consequences, that it kept her from doing it!

    1. Obviously this was your 1st child. Heed warming don’t tell a3 yr old not to do something bc that’s the 1st thing they’ll do. Promise!!!

  4. My daughter did this when she was about five years old. I am just lucky she grabbed the texturizing shears instead of the straight edge shears. I found it to be amusing, because I am a hairdresser and I thought well, she sees me doing it to others so she thought she’d try it out. She is now 16 very independent and still doesn’t want me to style her hair she wants to do it her way. I love her for her independence. Her creativity just amazes me every day. So, yes it’s just hair, but it gives you a glimpse into their individuality and precious personality.

    1. @Cookie, yes I agree! While toddlers cutting their hair is a bit much because toddlers and scissors don’t go together, when your child is a bit older you should totally let them cut their hair! It lets them be creative and explore their appearance. It is a good way for them to show their personality. And if it’s bad, so what? It’ll grow back.

  5. My daughter did this when she was about 3. As she wondered downstairs I looked at her and said “omg what have you done”
    Her reply was simply my hair was annoying me so I cut it off. Not just playing or just curiosity no full on it was annoying me. She is now 16. Strong and very independent.
    We also refer back to it, it’s like another milestone. Treasure it,as one of your favourite memories as it sure will raise its head a lot.

  6. My 2 1/2 year old just did this a week ago! Terror was the emotion I was feeling! Thank you for the reminder that it is just hair and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her independent mind!

  7. My twins are 10 years old now and one twin cut the other’s hair 3 times not once but 3 times ??

  8. Love this. I think we all have one child like this. Mine is my youngest. She just turned 13 and when she was little she sit her hair. Reading your article brought me right back to that day, stuck between screaming and laughing. And what you said is spot on, it was totally her showing me a glimpse of the future. She has always been herself and never a cookie cutter of what society thinks she would be. Last year in the middle of 6th grade, her first year of middle school the most judges year of your youth by your peers, she asked for a short haircut. It’s been and year and she hasn’t gone back.

  9. My niece cut her own bangs the night before my wedding!
    Her mom managed to fix it so that the headpiece she was wearing camouflaged it. She was my flower girl and 3 and 1/2 yrs old.

  10. The little blonde girl is a twin to my granddaughter Lizzy. I am curious who she is,your daughter?

    Wish I could attach a photo. Even Lizzy insist it is her lol.

  11. The first time was when my daughter was 4 and she said it was in her face so she cut it. Then the second time was the day before my wedding and she was my flower girl. Her bangs were cut to the scalp ??‍♀️

  12. The first time my daughter cut her hair she took her bangs all the way to her hairline, on the day of her first recital. She wasnt even 2. Oy.

  13. MY daughter started 4 yr old kinder with the very worst haircut (thanks to her twin brother) People were interesting in their responses to her and in public old people called her a boy. It was the shortest fringe you could imagine. However, it eventually grew, we had to laugh rather than cry about it and it never happened again. Looking back at the photos is a funny reminder.. she is now 15 with a beautiful head of long hair

  14. My daughter was 4. She found a pair of “safe” scissors in a public toy box. I imagine myself running, soaring through the air and yelling “nooooooo” in slow motion as I reached for the scissors a second too late as I watch chunks of her hair fall (also in slow motion) to the floor and our eyes meet…mine in a look of horror, hers a look of pride. It grew out and I will say, she (and I) PAID for worse hair cuts in the past 22yrs.

    It’s just hair. *breathe* It’s just hair

  15. I needed this so much! My 3 year old cut her hair just this past week; if you look at her fron the side she cut, it looks like she has a mullet. All I could do is cry, as well as be thankful she hasnt started school yet. We now joke about it but it was soul crushing when I saw it. But now I just remind myself it’s just hair, it’ll grow back, and do my best to try and cover it when we go out.

  16. When she was 4 my youngest cut her hair because she “had the urge”. Said daughter was recently married and her hair grew back just fine. In between it has been bleached shorn teal blue hot pink green purple black and white. Never once was it my hair. And she has always worn it as her crown.

  17. I never cut my own hair but the story in my family is that my elder sister cut my hair right after I had just started going some around the ripe age of like 3( no worries I had open heart surgery that why it took so long) BUT anyway my sister cut my hair and my mother was furious and then my 6 year old sister CALLED THE POLICE because she was scared lol

  18. Or you could go a 3rd way which I did, which was laugh, when my 5 year old decided to cut her 3 year old sisters hair – what a disaster my poor 3 year old was left with the cutest weirdest pixie cut (with no fringe/bangs) but it kinda of suited her, and all I could do was laugh, laugh out loud too, it really did deflate the situation, I couldnt be mad for laughing and like you say it is only hair that grows back quickly on kids too.

  19. I cut my hair when I was 7. I thought if I cut my fringe (bangs) it would go away. There are lots of photos of me taken around that time. I am now 60 years of age and I have turned out just fine.

  20. thank-you for not letting me freak-out because my daughter gave her self a haircut

  21. I cut my own waist length hair at 4. My mom made me get a pixie cut . I was MISERABLE! ? My second born cut his bangs RIGHT before his annual Christmas photo with Santa at a well known Local amusement park. The next Christmas while waiting in line for thst years photo , I realized why people had been staring and pointing at my kids all day. Their pervious years photo was PLASTERED all over the ” work shop” and park !! ? Goofy bangs , grin and all for prosperity sake.

  22. This is a wonderful way to explain it. I always love hearing about friends daughters cutting their own hair, and have left it as it being a form of creative expression. But you’re right—it’s a new sense of self! So true.

    Thanks for linking up with us at Idea Box!!

  23. Love this perspective. I did this to my hair when I was 4 after watching my cousin cut her bangs. I was so proud to show off my newly cut bangs to everyone and it was the first time I remember feeling embarrassed because everyone laughed when I came out of the bathroom – I’m pretty sure that I cut them to the scalp. And my mom panicked and desperately tried to”fix” my hair. Pretty sure that was a formative moment for me and not really in a good way. I’ve outgrown that experience now but it did affect me for a while.

  24. I well remember my youngest picking up his brother’s scissors ( my oldest had brought home school supplies at the end of kindergarten) and trying them out on his hair. They were suppose to be scissors that only cut paper, apparently he didn’t believe it. He cut his “bowl cut” hair right in front, as close to the scalp as he possible could – more than once before I could get the scissors away from him. Lesson learned. We took pictures. Hair grows. Not the worst thing to happen ever – although it was a precursor to his hair adventures. Ya just gotta smile and move on.

  25. My daughter cut her hair all the way to the scalp in about 6 spots when she was 2 or 3. I was laughing and crying at the same time. She was hiding behind the rocking chair in her room when she was supposed to be taking a nap. We had to go to the salon and have her hair pixied. Her hair has never been longer than chin length since and she’s 9 1/2 now. Truthfully, I just think she knew she’d rock short hair! LOL Stopping by from Motivation Monday. Hope you have a great week!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *