A Professional Guide for Sun‑Ready, School‑Ready Hair

As families get ready for their summer holidays, we always see a wave of little ones coming in for a fresh trim. New sandals, new outfits, and — of course — a neat haircut to help them feel their best. But one question comes up every single year:

“Should we have their haircut before we go away… or wait until we’re back?”

Here’s our expert guidance to help you choose what’s right for your child, your plans, and your budget.

A Pre‑Holiday Trim: Why Many Families Choose It

A tidy haircut before travelling always feels good. It’s one less thing to think about, and it means those holiday photos look extra cute. A fresh fringe, tidied ends, and a shape that sits nicely in the heat can make a big difference — especially for children whose hair grows quickly or tangle easily.

Pros of a Holiday Haircut Before You Go

• Hair looks neat and fresh in holiday photos
• Easier to manage in heat and humidity
• Less tangling after swimming
• Fringes stay out of eyes
• Helps keep hair tidy for the whole trip
• Ideal if it’s been around 5–6 weeks since their last haircut

Best for: Children who haven’t had a trim in a while, or whose hair grows quickly and starts to look uneven after a few weeks.

How Chlorine Affects Children’s Hair

Chlorine is one of the biggest culprits for holiday hair troubles. It can:

• dry out the hair
• make it feel rough
• cause tangles
• leave hair looking dull

Children’s hair is naturally finer and more delicate, so chlorine can have an even bigger impact.

And while children don’t have colour‑treated hair, this advice is also helpful for parents — chlorine affects everyone’s hair, just in different ways.

Holiday Hair Care Tips (Our Professional Recommendations)

To keep hair soft and healthy throughout your holiday, we recommend:

• Clarifying after swimming: Use Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three to gently remove chlorine, sunscreen residue and any impurities from the pool or sea.
• Deep conditioning: Follow with Original Sprout Deep Conditioner to restore softness, add slip for detangling, and protect delicate ends.
• Daily protection: Use Original Sprout Leave‑In Conditioner for moisture, tangle‑reduction and a protective barrier before swimming.
• Wet hair with clean water before swimming
• Rinse hair straight after the pool
• Comb gently with a wide‑tooth comb
• Tie long hair up to reduce tangling

These small steps make a big difference and keep hair manageable all week long.

A Post‑Holiday Trim: The Back‑to‑School Favourite

Once families return home, we see the second wave — the tidy‑up after sun, sea, chlorine and heat. Holiday hair can look dry, uneven or a little wild, and a fresh trim helps restore shape and remove frazzled ends.

It also lines up perfectly with back‑to‑school.

Pros of a Holiday Haircut After You Return

• Removes dry, sun‑damaged or chlorine‑affected ends
• Restores shape after natural holiday growth
• Ideal timing for back‑to‑school
• Perfect if they had a haircut shortly before travelling
• Great for families who prefer to space out trims

Best for: Children who had a recent haircut before going away, or families who want to avoid paying for two trims close together.

How Fast Does Hair Grow?

Children’s hair grows around ½ inch (1.25cm) per month. Over a six‑week holiday period, that’s roughly ¾ inch to 1 inch — enough to:

• change the shape of a fringe
• make ends look uneven
• create extra weight in thicker hair
• make tidy cuts look “grown out”

This is why many families book both a pre‑holiday tidy and a back‑to‑school refresh — but choosing just one is perfectly fine too.

Helping You Decide: Professional Guidance

Here’s the clearest way to decide whether your child needs a haircut before or after your holiday:

If it’s been around 6 weeks since their last haircut…

A trim before your holiday is usually needed. By six weeks, most children’s hair has grown enough to look uneven, heavy or untidy — and holiday heat, swimming and chlorine will only exaggerate that.

If it’s been less than 6 weeks…

It depends entirely on how their hair looks.

• If it still looks tidy: You can absolutely wait until after your holiday and book a back‑to‑school trim.
• If it’s already creeping out of shape: A quick tidy before you go will make holiday hair easier to manage.

If they had a haircut only 2–3 weeks ago…

Most children can wait until after the holiday — unless their fringe grows quickly or their ends already look uneven.

And if you’re unsure…

We’re always happy to take a quick look and give honest, professional advice. No pressure — just guidance based on what your child’s hair needs.

A Little Golden Moment From This Week

A Final Little Bigheads Thought

Holiday haircuts are one of those small rituals that make the season feel special — a moment of calm before the excitement begins. Whether you choose a tidy‑up before you travel or a fresh start when you’re home, we’re here to help your little one feel their best.

And when September arrives, we’ll be ready for those back‑to‑school trims too.