Paxton's First Big Boy Haircut

If Paxton was a girl, he'd have long, luscious hair, stretched down his back. I know this because in 17-months, he's already had three haircuts just to keep it somewhat in check. The first time, I watched a Youtube video to teach me how to go about cutting a boy's hair. I set up his high chair in front of a video of Thomas the Tank Engine, got my scissors, combs and water bottle, and went to town. It turned out really well. To everyone who failed to examine it closely (thanks, Amy, for pointing out the bald spot over his ear), it was a fine looking haircut. Andrea even told me she was going to enlist me to trim Henry's hair. I would never actually do it, because it's one thing to mess up my own child's hair, but another thing completely to butcher another toddler's 'do. Anyway, I write that experience off to beginner's luck, because the second time I tried to cut his hair, it just looked a mess. I knew I had to find somewhere to get his hair cut professionally.

I'm sure most people take their kids to a regular salon for their trims. I really wanted the whole kid experience for Paxton's first professional haircut. I had a hard time finding a salon for children anywhere within a 50 mile range of our house. Most of them were in North Austin--a place I make every effort to never visit. Chris did a little research of his own, and found a place called "Shearz" in New Braunfels, only about 30 minutes from here. Paxton and I went just before closing one day on a whim. I was concerned that he would be over-tired and react poorly to a stranger holding scissors to his head. I underestimated the power of toy trucks.

When we arrived, the stylist was outside, smoking a ciggy with her co-worker. She rasped that she'd be right in. Paxton made a beeline for the toy fort and began to roll the trucks to and fro. Like every public place that has kids' toys, they looked a little worse for wear, but it didn't seem to bother Pax. He was in heaven.

The woman took her time on her smoke break, but finally came in to begin the cut. She isn't exactly ripe for her own kids' show. She had tattoos on her wrists and wasn't a big fan of smiling. I explained that it was Paxton's first haircut and made it clear that I wanted his cut cleaned up, but I didn't want him to look like a "big boy", per se. "So no clippers," she asked. I asserted that I definitely did not want clippers. I am not remotely ready to see my baby boy with a buzz cut.

Paxton sat in a red car and watched a video of The Incredibles. He didn't bat an eye when she wrapped the apron-thing around him. He was still clutching one of the cars he forked from the toy fort. I was circling him like the papparazzi, taking dozens of pictures and videos of every moment. The only time he looked even a bit curious was when the stylist brought out the clippers (much to my surprise). She trimmed his neck, and his baby sideburns. While she did it, she whistled a bit to him, just like Dr. Pruett does when he checks Paxton's ears at appointments. She wasn't the kind of person I envisioned working at a salon for only kids, but she did a good job with the haircut and I will definitely return.

Before we left, Paxton got to pick a toy out of the treasure chest, and we got a certificate with a lock of his hair on it, recognizing his First Haircut. His bangs were a little short, but I was so pleased to find that we didn't even have to comb it for the first week or so. It laid so perfectly, that it was practically maintenance-free. His hair grows so quickly that I'm sure we'll be visiting Shearz again before we know it. Maybe I'll hop on the pony next time and have her take a few inches off my rat nest, as well. If it's good for the silly goose, it's good for the mama gander.