Father and Son Haircuts: Booking Back-to-Back Chairs
The simplest way to book a father and son haircut is to ask for two appointments in a row, tell us both ages when you email, and say which of you should go first. For most families with a child under about eight, the child goes first while he still has patience, and the father goes second. Older boys often prefer to watch their dad have his cut first. Allow a little more time than two separate visits would suggest, because a child’s cut is rarely the quickest job in the shop, and arrive with both of you clear on what you want.
Back-to-back or side by side?
There are two ways to do this, and they suit different families.
- Back-to-back in one chair. One of you is cut, then the other, by the same barber. You get one person who knows both heads and a single conversation about what you each want. It takes longer overall, but the barber can adjust the second cut based on how the first went.
- Side by side in two chairs. Two barbers work at the same time. It halves the time in the shop, which matters with a restless child, but depends on two chairs being free at once. Ask for it when you email; it is not always possible at short notice, especially on Saturdays.
For a nervous or very young child, back-to-back is usually better. He gets to watch his father in the chair first (if you have chosen that order), sees that nothing alarming happens, and then has a barber who already knows the family. For a teenager who would rather not be seen getting a haircut with his dad, side by side and over quickly is the kinder option.
Who should go first
This is the decision that makes or breaks the visit, and there is no single right answer. A rough guide:
| Child’s situation | Who goes first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5, or first few visits | Child | Patience runs out fast; cut while he is fresh |
| Anxious about clippers or the chair | Father | He sees the process before it happens to him |
| Confident, 6 to 11 | Either | Let him choose; the choice itself helps |
| Teenager | Whoever is more particular | The fussier cut benefits from the barber’s freshest attention |
If your son goes second, keep him occupied but in sight of the chair. Watching is useful.
How long to allow
We have not published fixed appointment lengths yet, so the honest answer is: tell us what each of you wants and we will tell you the time when we reply with slots. As a planning rule, a child’s cut can take as long as an adult’s, sometimes longer. A small child moves, turns to look at things, and needs breaks. A short, uncomplicated cut for him is often quicker than a detailed fade or scissor work for you, but not by as much as parents expect.
Add a beard trim or a hot towel shave for yourself and the visit stretches further. A hot towel shave takes 20 to 30 minutes on its own. If your son is young, either book that for a separate visit or go first and let him finish while you are in the chair, with someone else to keep him company.
What happens when you arrive
Every visit at Highgate Cuts starts with an assessment, and that applies to both of you. The barber looks at the hair, asks what you want and what is not working, and makes recommendations before any clippers come out. For a child this is a good moment for the barber to have a short conversation with him directly, not just with you. Children who are asked a question or two (“Do you want it short like Dad’s?”) settle faster than children who are talked over.
For you, the assessment is also where you mention how you want the two cuts to relate. Some fathers want matching cuts. Most, once they think about it, want something similar in spirit but suited to each head. A child’s hair is usually finer, his crown may sit differently, and a skin fade that suits you may grow out awkwardly on a boy who only comes in every six or seven weeks.
Matching cuts: when they work and when they do not
Matching haircuts are lovely in photos and occasionally impractical in life. Things to think about before asking for one:
- Growth and upkeep. A very short fade needs touching up every two to three weeks to look sharp. If your son will not be back that often, a slightly longer taper grows out more gracefully. Our guide to how often boys need a haircut goes into the timings.
- School rules. Some schools have views on very short cuts, lines and designs. Check before you ask for anything bold.
- Hair type. If one of you has tight curls and the other has straight hair, “the same cut” will look different on each of you. The barber will explain what will translate.
- Your son’s opinion. From around eight or nine, boys often have firm views about their hair. A cut he chose is a cut he will let you comb.
A sensible compromise is matching length on top with different work at the sides, or the same overall shape at different lengths.
Preparing a young child
A calm child makes the whole visit better for everyone, including the next customer. Most of the preparation happens at home.
- Talk it through the day before. Describe the chair, the cape, the buzzing sound and the cold spray of water. Unfamiliar noise is the most common thing that upsets small children.
- Feed him first. A hungry child is a fidgety child.
- Book the right time of day. Avoid nap time and late afternoon after school if he tires easily. Mornings are often best for under-fives.
- Bring a small, quiet distraction. A toy car or a book to hold in his lap, under the cape. Not a snack, which ends up full of hair.
- Agree on the ending. Something to look forward to afterwards helps with the last few minutes, which is when patience usually runs out.
If your son has had a bad experience before, or you are expecting tears, say so when you book. The barber can plan for it: clippers shown and switched on before they touch his head, scissors instead of clippers where possible, and short breaks. We have written more on this in what to do if your child is scared of haircuts, and on the very first visit in your son’s first haircut.
Small practical points
- Wash both heads the night before, not that morning. Hair that is clean but not freshly conditioned is easier to read and cut.
- Check for head lice. If there are live lice, the cut will have to wait until they are treated. The NHS guidance on head lice explains how to check and treat at home.
- Bring a reference photo for each of you. A photo of the cut you want, ideally on someone with similar hair, saves a lot of explaining.
- Getting here. We are on Archway Road, about five minutes’ walk from Highgate tube on the Northern line, which is easier with a small child than finding parking on a busy road.
Making it a regular thing
Many fathers find that a shared haircut becomes a fixed point in the month, something that happens together without needing to be planned as an outing. If that appeals, it is worth settling on a rhythm that suits both cuts. Shorter styles on either head generally need a visit every three to five weeks; longer scissor cuts can go six to eight. Where the two schedules do not match, book together at the longer interval and pop in separately for a quick tidy in between.
It also helps to see the same barber. A barber who has cut your son’s hair several times knows where his crown sits, how much he wriggles and how short is too short for his school. You can read more about our cuts and the barber menu on the Highgate Cuts barber page.
Questions we get asked
What age can my son start coming in?
There is no fixed minimum. What matters is whether he can sit reasonably still with you close by. Many boys have their first barber cut between one and three. If you are not sure, email us and we will talk it through.
Can I sit next to him while he is cut?
Yes, for younger children we usually encourage it. Stand or sit where he can see you in the mirror rather than right beside the chair, so the barber has room to move.
Do you charge less for children’s cuts?
We have not published prices yet. Please see the barber menu once it is live, or email us and we will tell you.
Can two barbers cut us at the same time?
Often, but it depends on availability. Ask for side-by-side chairs when you email and we will tell you which times work.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
