The last weekend of the holidays is the busiest few hours of the year in any barbershop. It does not have to be your few hours.
Georges Barbers has watched the same rush arrive every September since 1991. Here is how to get ahead of it, and what actually matters about a school haircut.
When should you book the back to school haircut?
Aim for the last week of August, midweek if you can, rather than the weekend before term starts.
Two reasons. The obvious one is queues: everyone else leaves it to the final Saturday and Sunday. The less obvious one is that a fresh cut looks better after a couple of days. Hair settles, any sharp lines soften slightly, and a child who is self-conscious about a new haircut has time to get used to it before facing a classroom.
If you have more than one child, come in together and earlier in the day. Mornings midweek are the calmest time in the shop, which makes a real difference with a younger child who does not enjoy sitting still.
What haircut works for school?
The one that still looks tidy in three weeks without a daily battle. That usually means a shape with a bit of length rather than the shortest possible cut.
What tends to work well through term:
- A short back and sides with some length left on top, which grows out gracefully
- A textured crop, which looks deliberately messy rather than accidentally messy on day fifteen
- A low or mid taper rather than a high skin fade, because it holds its shape for longer
- A simple, even cut for children who will not tolerate styling
What causes problems is a high skin fade with a hard line. It looks superb for a fortnight and then needs cutting again, which is fine for an adult on a schedule and less fine mid-term. The skin fade guide explains why the shortest sections grow out fastest.
It is also worth checking your school's appearance policy before choosing anything dramatic. Policies vary, and they are usually published on the school website.
How do you handle a child who does not like the barbers?
Book it as a quiet visit rather than a rushed errand, and let the barber set the pace.
Things that genuinely help:
- Come midweek and earlier in the day, when the shop is calmer
- Let them watch a sibling or parent get cut first
- Say what you want before the child sits down, so there is no negotiating over their head
- Keep the first visit short, even if that means a simpler cut than you planned
- Do not promise it will be quick if it will not be
The team at Georges have been cutting children's hair in Amersham for over three decades and are used to working at a child's pace. There is more on how the shop approaches it in the children's haircuts guide.
Head lice and the new term: what actually works?
September is when head lice reappear, and most of what gets passed around the school gate is wrong.
The NHS is clear on the key points. Head lice are not caused by dirty hair, they spread by head-to-head contact, and the only way to be sure someone has them is to find a live louse by combing with a fine-toothed detection comb.
The NHS advice in brief:
- Treat as soon as you find live lice, without needing to see a GP
- Check everyone in the household and treat anyone affected on the same day
- Wet comb with ordinary shampoo and plenty of conditioner, on days 1, 5, 9 and 13, then check again on day 17
- Use a medicated lotion or spray if wet combing has not worked
- There is no need to keep your child off school, and no need for a hot wash on laundry
Two things the NHS specifically says are unlikely to work: head lice repellents and plant oil treatments such as tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender. There is also nothing you can do to prevent lice entirely, so regular combing to catch them early is the realistic goal.
Please do not bring an active case into the shop. Treat it first, and come in once it is dealt with.
What should you tell the barber?
Be specific about maintenance rather than about millimetres. "Something that still looks tidy in a month without me having to do anything to it in the mornings" tells a barber far more than a number, because it lets them choose the shape that delivers it.
Useful things to mention:
- How long it needs to last before the next cut
- Whether your child will style it or not, honestly
- Anything the school's appearance policy rules out
- What went wrong with the last cut, if something did
- Whether they have a cowlick, a double crown or a stubborn parting, which changes what is possible
Bring a photo if there is a specific look in mind, and be ready for a conversation about whether it will work on their hair. A barber who tells you a particular style will not sit well on fine, straight hair is doing you a favour, not being difficult.
What about teenagers who want something you do not?
Somewhere around thirteen, the haircut stops being your decision, and pushing it usually costs more than it gains.
The practical middle ground is to agree the constraints and let them choose within those. School policy is a real constraint. The interval between cuts is a real constraint, worth saying out loud, because a high skin fade means coming in every two weeks, and that is a commitment for whoever does the driving. Within those, let them pick.
It also helps to let them talk to the barber directly rather than doing it for them. A teenager who has explained what they want to the person cutting their hair tends to be much happier with the result, and much less likely to blame you for it.
How often will they need cutting during term?
Every four to six weeks for most school cuts, which usually works out at once or twice a half term.
A rough guide:
- Short back and sides with length on top. Every five to six weeks.
- Textured crop. Every four to six weeks, depending on how tidy you want it.
- Taper. Every four weeks.
- Skin fade. Every two to three weeks, which is why it is a harder sell during term.
Booking the same slot each time makes it far easier to keep on top of. Plenty of Amersham families come in on a fixed rhythm and never end up with the night-before scramble.
Walk in or book? How it works at Georges
Walk in any day of the week for a haircut. No appointment, no phone call, just come to 11 Chesham Road and the team will see you as soon as they can.
If you would rather have a set time, book online Monday to Friday. Weekends are walk-in for haircuts. Ear piercing is the one service that always needs an appointment booked in advance, and is never a walk-in.
Full details are on the haircuts page, and families come in from across Amersham, Chesham, Little Chalfont, Chalfont and Beaconsfield.
Get it done this week and start term one job lighter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to get a back to school haircut?
The last week of August, midweek if possible. The weekend before term is the busiest of the year in any barbershop, and a fresh cut looks better after a couple of days, giving your child time to get used to it before term starts.
What haircut is best for school?
A shape that still looks tidy after three weeks, such as a short back and sides with length on top, a textured crop or a low taper. High skin fades look sharp but need cutting every two to three weeks. Check your school's appearance policy first.
How often do children need haircuts during term?
Every four to six weeks for most school cuts, so roughly once or twice a half term. Tapers need cutting about every four weeks and skin fades every two to three, which makes them harder to maintain during term time.
What does the NHS advise about head lice?
Treat as soon as you find live lice, check everyone in the household the same day, and wet comb with conditioner on days 1, 5, 9 and 13. There is no need to keep your child off school. Repellents and plant oil treatments are not recommended.
Do you need to book a children's haircut at Georges Barbers?
No. Walk in any day of the week for a haircut at 11 Chesham Road, Amersham, with no appointment needed. Online booking is available Monday to Friday if you prefer a set time. Ear piercing always requires an appointment.
By the team at Georges Barbers, cutting hair in Amersham since 1991.