What haircut do you ask for your primary aged DS?

[Hotdayinjuly]

He has quite thick hair, very straight, it sort of grows ‘up’ rather than flopping down. He also has double crown and 2 cow licks. He doesn’t have huge opinions but has remarked he’d like it to look ‘cool’. I don’t think skin fades would work with his hair?

Usually I say 2 on the sides and cut with scissors on the top ‘short’ but they never go quite short enough and when I say ‘no shorter’ they seem sort of surprised and say ‘really shorter?’ and I end up eventually saying yes fine even if it’s a bit too long. His friends definitely have shorter hair so I’m not asking for anything extreme. Just has another slightly disappointing cut which will look untidy within a couple of weeks. Is their leaving the top long to get me back quicker or should I give different instructions next time?

My eldest son has the same hair it drives me crackers! Skin fade and a heafty bit off the top until I'm happy with it.
Turkish barbars all the way.

it’s a pain isn’t it!

Maybe I’ll ask for a fade next time and see if it’s any better.

The barbers my DS goes to just seem to have a standard haircut for approx 6-12 year old boys, I don’t think it matters what you ask for, that’s still what you’re going to get!

My boy is a (still very young looking, no growth spurt yet and likely to be late with it) 13 and still gets a short neat all over cut. I'd kind of like to get him something more grown up, but he has fine, totally straight hair, so can't do any of the 'broccoli head' looks that are so popular with teen boys, and doesn't really like any product in his hair!

I mean, it suits him but sooner or later he might want something a bit more teenage because he does complain about looking young.

Agree with PP. Turkish barbers seem to have great skills and can take it very short. They can also advise which haircuts are best for DS hair type.

We go to a Turkish barbers and like previous op they only seems to do one style 🤣. It doesn't matter what you ask for, you're going to end up with short cropped. They have photos and ask you to pick what one you want, your still leave with the same haircut.

Ds who's 10 asks for '2 back and sides, tidy on top' and is quite happy with it. We go once a month.

Ds who's 14 now goes to a more 'salon' type barbers as he wants a sharp fade and they just weren't getting it right for him - I thought it looked fine.

Oh yes, asked for number three all over last time and still got this with the random long bit at the front!

I can't even style it like they did so it looks awful now.

DS (now 12);has been handling his own haircuts for years. He and his hairdresser have incredibly involved conversations involving photos etc.

DS used to get "short back and sides, a little longer on top, blended".

This translated to number 4 clippers on the back and sides and about an inch on top where it was longest, with shorter areas where the back and sides blended with the top.

Thanks we go to a Kurdish barber usually. The quality of cut is fine just seem reluctant to take enough of the top off.

I am wondering if maybe a bit of a fade and maybe trying some product, he disliked it but it might be worth trying again now he’s a bit more interested, might be the way to go.

I train in the industry - your done sounds like he has difficult hair. Strong straight hair, with growth patterns like you describe is a difficult combination unless your child can style it himself. A #2 back and sides should be fine, but the top does need to be questioned with you because without him being able to style it himself, hair like that needs length and weight to pull it down. Also there's no indication here of how you would like it to be styled. That's an important part of the consultation and without any idea the barber is working blind. I'd suggest taking a photo of someone he admires or of a style he likes as it's much easier to see from a visual than having an unsure parent trying to direct the proceedings!
Double crowns are extremely common - you either have to cut the hair short to accommodate them, or have them really long so the weight of the hair pulls the crown down. With straight hair like your sons, it's probably the most awkward combination. Curly or wavy hair is a lot more forgiving of the double crown.
The fade can work in anyone, but personally (and this is just my humble opinion) I think they look chavvy on very young kids. I'd do a fade using a #0.5 or a #1, but not a skin fade. The colour of hair also dictates how short it will look. Fair hair looks shorter than dark hair on the same clipper number. A skin fade also what I'd describe, doing fine art as opposed to an oil painting. It takes much longer and within the industry, most of the barbers I know hate doing them. Turkish barbers are hit and miss: some are good, others seem to be ok with the fade part but no clue how to scissor cut the top (ie they can only really do clipper work), so are one trick ponies. The light in the shop has to be perfect in order to do them, and if not, the dreaded line appears .. I know of two barbers who won't cut their own son's hair any more as the fades are so time consuming and they're so fussy it doesn't end well. Lastly, most ladies hairdressers are definitely not as experienced in skin fades, or clipper work.
Probably TMI here but good luck!

Thank you for taking the time to write that detailed response.

Ha, I’m glad you described it as difficult as it certainly feels like that.

I think I will look up some pictures and get him to chime in. I agree that the ‘severe’ fades can look a bit chavvy. You might be right regarding clippers vs scissors as the sides are usually ok and it’s the top where it goes wrong. Maybe another barber is worth a try.

My main goal is it looks tidy and I get more than 2 weeks before it looks scarecrow like.