DIY Tutorial: How to Cut Toddler Boy Hair at Home! (2024)

Posted by Julie McCorkle | Family Life, Frugal Living, | 14

Inside: Is your little dude looking a little disheveled lately? You can totally pull off this simple DIY toddler boy haircut. Whip out those clippers and scissors mama. I’ll teach your how to cut toddler boy hair right at home. Little man is about to get a whole new look!

Have you ever noticed that parenting is made up of a series of “letting go” moments?

I let go a little when my son first fell asleep in someone else’s arms so I could nap.

I let go a bit more when my son crawled across the room to grab that rug, or took his first step.

But that first haircut? Whew, that was a lot of letting go, mama.

All those baby curls just did a number on my heart, y’all. But deep down I knew that it was time for my son to look the part of the big boy he was becoming.

Ready to take that leap of faith and let go of the baby curls?

I’ve got you covered with a simple toddler boy haircut.

The best part about this is that it’s free. I absolutely refuse to pay $15-20 for a two year old’s haircut. Won’t do it. Nope. When my son’s hair needs a trim I do it myself!

By the way, I’m not a professional hairstylist. I’m a stay-at-home mom with a knack for saving money. I have a two year old son with tons of energy. What I offer here are my own personal DIY haircut tips for mamas like me.

Today I’ve got step by step, no-fail instructions on how to cut toddler boy hair. I promise you can do this!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through my links. Of course, I only recommend products I personally use and love!

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DIY Toddler Boy Haircut Materials

• Clippers (When I first started cutting my son’s hair, I usedthese Babyliss Proclippers.They were great, and lasted us for years, but finally wore out. I just recently upgraded to these awesome Wahl T-Pro clippers, and I couldn’t be happier! The T-Pro set makes it super easy to create a well-blended fade for my little man’s hair, plus I have a few extra long attachments to get that longer look on top. I highly recommend the Wahl brand!)
• Scissors
• High chair or booster seat
• Toys/ Snacks for distraction

How to Cut Toddler Boy Hair with Clippers

Here’s the quick rundown for you. Keep scrolling for more details and photos!

1. Set up for success!
2. Buzz the sides, bottom to top.
3. Trim the top.
4. Trim the edges.

Step 1: Obtain and Distract Toddler

Teddy grahams + helicopter. Done.

Related:My Simple Daily Toddler Schedule to Calm the Chaos

Step 2: Buzz the Sides

• Use your clippers to buzz up the sides. I used a #4 guard. Go shorter or longer, whatever suits your fancy.
• Start at the nape of the neck and go all the way around, up to where his head starts to curve at the crown. Make sense?

Update: With my new Wahl T-Pro clippers, I’ve started doing more of a gradual fade DIY toddler boy haircut style: starting shorter at the nape of the neck instead of one single short length for the sides. The trick is to flip out your clippers with each increasing length of guard. Make a “C” shape with your clippers to get that perfect fade from guard to guard.

Looking better already! You’re halfway there. Toss him a few more teddy grahams and let’s keep going!

Step 3: Trim the Top

For the top I use scissors. You can use a longer guard with your clippers if you choose, of course. For me, scissors work best since I’m going for a tousled look and my little guy has wavy hair. Better for me since the waves hide any mistakes!

Update: Since we switched to the Wahl T-Pro set, I love using the 2 or 2 1/2 inch guard for the top. I just make the fade from the sides blend in by using the middle length guards.

• Start in the middle and pull up a section between your fingers. Use a comb if you want. I don’t. I live on the edge.
• Trim to the desired length then work your way on either side. Repeat this until it looks how you want it.
• Place your fingers in a more verticalposition for his bangs, so there isn’t a big patch of hair hanging over his forehead.
• You’ll also need to trim up the transition sections between sides and top. I place my fingers right next to his scalp, pulling the hair in between in a vertical position. Trim those transition pieces about one finger-width long. Remember to keep your fingers placed vertically so you layer the hair. This makes a smooth transition from the short sides to the longer hair on top.

If your munchkin has an (awesome) cowlick like mine does, just work with it. It’s no use fighting. Plus, I promise it will look so adorably cute when you’re finished! Almost done!

Time for a quick cheese for the camera!

Step 4: Trim the Edges

• First, switch to your trimmer. Trim the nape of his neck and the slope down from the ears. I like a nice square neckline, but you could also taper it in.
• Take your scissors and (very carefully!) trim around the ears. If you prefer, you can hold your trimmers at an angle to do a quick buzz around the ears.

All done! Looking good, little man.

Bonus Toddler Boy Haircut Tips:

Sometimes haircuts are a piece of cake. But at times you may need a few tricks up your sleeves to get the job done. Here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years with my son’s haircuts.

• Cut a hole in an old pillowcase to make a cape. This helps a bunch when all that itchy hair falls on his neck!
• Make sure your clippers are well oiled so they don’t pull at the hair.
• If your son is scared of the noise, pretend you’re a family of bumblebees.
• When you need to trim the nape of the neck, put a flashlight under your son’s shirt on his belly. This will keep him looking down so you can trim up the neck area.

I love that this style really grows with my son. It keeps his head cool through all those little boy outdoor adventures, yet is easy to adapt to school, church, and other more civilized occasions.

Update: I’m still loving this haircut process for my little man. Here he is on his first day of preschool, rocking a handsome haircut. Goodness, that was another tough “letting go” moment!

Your Turn

Are you ready to do a little letting go? Geez it’s hard, but I know your son is going to love his new look!

Ready to learn how to cut toddler boy hair? You’ve got this, mama.

Get your supplies ready, summon your courage, and just go for it! Don’t forget to pin this for later!

Let us know in the comments: What are your best tips for a toddler boy haircut?