the holy grail

 I've found it

The answer to my problems

The holy grail of toddler hair cutting.

Not sure if watching TV and driving is a good lesson in safe
driving

Kidiz is a kids hair salon where the little people sit in little cars - that's right with actual wheels in them - watch their own personal TV featuring Dora videos while a friendly chap with an emo (that's Emo not Elmo) haircut quietly chops off their locks while they barely notice.

You might remember our last visit to the hairdresser. Trust me, the post and photos represent about 5% of the trauma of that experience.

We even had time to try some "Emo" styling

Let me take you through the experience at Kidiz. Alex excitedly gets into his little yellow car, adjusts the mirrors, turns the wheels and settles into watching his personalized Dora the Explorer video. Mum, hiding behind the next chair nervously watches as the smiling young man with the trendy hair gets his scissors out. He snips, he shapes, he thins, he styles, he even puts some child sized product through Alex's hair and not a groan, a peep, a wimper from Alex. Until...


It's all over and we have to take him out of the car.

Ta da! The finished product

But that didn't last long and best of all Alex no longer needs to sweat profusely behind an ever encroaching mop of scraggly blond hear. 

Hair harassed

what have you done to me?

Alex had a first visit to the hairdresser this afternoon. And to put it bluntly, it didn't go well. There were tears, there was yelling, there was a look of genuine dismay from the little man towards his encouraging but ultimately useless mother. There was super fast scissor work from the slightly frazzled hairdresser and there were blond curls everywhere!

And we got there - in about 6 1/2 minutes.

And once it was over we were all smiles again.

Alex is now transformed, sans long flowing locks and bouncy curls, into an entirely different baby. I barely recognise the little man whose emerged with the neat (ish) hairstyle and the less girly good looks.

He definitely looks older. Either that or he looks younger. Or it might be shorter and chubbier. One or the other or both.

And you... you're not helping!

All better 5 minutes later

Hair apparent part 3 - punk baby

I know it's getting a bit ridiculous now but we had to pay homage to the mohawk , especially as were currently discussing a hair cut for the little man.

I'm not keen to chop his lovely locks but its actually in his eyes now so it's probably time.

What do you think, to chop or not to chop?

Hair apparent part 2 - mad baby

The second in our impressions series gives me an excuse to discuss a minor battle that rages between Alexander's mum and dad (Haydn and I to those in the know).

Once again the battle plays out in the hair follicle arena. You see I like the little man's hair all scruffy, ideally sticking up on top with his gorgeous little curls poking out by each ear - so cute! Haydn, however prefers the mad men look above, all brushed down and parted, 'the accountant look' I like to call it. I spend the weekends trying to hide the baby brush, usually unsuccessfully.

I suppose this battle will one day be resolved once Alex is big enough to have his own opinion - he will probably scupper both of us and go for a number one all over... but until then the hair wars will continue to rage on.

Hair apparent part 1

Here is the first in a new series of impressions young Alexander Butler achieves through the power of his hair

(and a tiny bit of 'photoshoping' from mum).

Haven't I seen you somewhere before part 2

Is it wrong to photoshop your baby to look like a superhero?

It's not my fault, some friends commented that Alex bares a striking resemblance to Jack Jack from The Incredibles... and I couldn't resist. I'm not 100% what his superpower will be but I suspect it has something to do with his hair...

What's with the hair?

Everyone who meets Alex for the first time, and sometimes the second and third time says one thing to me "have you put gel in his hair?".

Firstly... seriously, would any vaguely reasonable mother put styling products on her 7 week old son?

Secondly... what are you trying to say about my beautiful baby boy's barnet?

Thirdly... OK, I kind of see your point... he looks a lot like he's trying to grow a mohawk. I have made vain attempts to tame his enthusiastic locks but his hair has a life of its own. Perhaps a visit to the hairdresser is in order after all...