How do you handle kids who hate haircuts?

[Weepingwillows12]

My 3 year old hates having his haircut, always has. His older brother has always been fine. The 3 year old will shake and cry and scream sometimes, cower into me etc. He hates it.

We have tried different things like iPad, role playing haircuts, giving him lots of notice, no notice, comforting him, having him on my lap, getting haircuts at home, in salons, bribing him to be good, even telling him off. Nothing changes.

I thought he would grow out of it but I thought it would have happened by now.

Just had another disastrous cut where he cried the whole time and everyone stared.

What can I do?

Mine was the same at that age. Would only have it done if on my lap (and some barbers don't like that). One day he just accepted it! Not sure why he changed. I think he was 4.

I let it grow longer than his sibling before cutting but it gets in his eyes and is very straight. Wont push to the side and stay so I think he does need it cut. He doesn't like the feel of the hair on his skin but also refuses the cloak thing and when he cries he gets hot and sticky so basically makes the thing he hates worse. He likes his haircut after.

My dh has tried cutting it for him but made no difference. He might let me so could try that.

We went to a hairdressers for kids where they sit in a car with cartoons on an iPad and they get a sweet at the end. Worked for my 2 year old son who has about a 3 second tolerance for sitting still.

I did hope mine would grow out of this phase. Let's just say my 12 year old has long hair

What we have found is little and often is easier than waiting too long and needing a more time consuming hair cut. I have been known to do it over a couple of days at the weekend when I can't do it in one go.

He does have sensory processing issues, clippers ar a no go due to the noise for him. We also find a firm head massage before starts helps him to cope

Bribery

Also have a 3 year old haircut hater. We get it done mostly with clippers (on a number 8) then a bit on scissors on top. He gets to watch whatever he wants on my phone for distraction and lots of constant reassurance. Then a treat afterwards.

He does get really upset during but is completely fine 5 minutes later and is proud of his big boy hair.

He has also set MIL do it a couple of times but we didn't want it to be her responsibility all the time and start him associating seeing her with it.

I asked him today what it is he doesn't like and he said it's the cut hair touching his skin. We are going to try holding a flannel tissue over his face next time. Should have thought of it before as that's what helped with hair washing. My dh thinks he will be better if I am not around at all. Luckily have another 2-3 months before I have to worry.