For girls
1. Topknot
Any kid ready to rock a topknot will surely be on top of planning for their first day. Let her lead on selecting their first day fit and selecting subject-specific folder colors.
When it’s time to style, have your child flip their hair over and gather all the hair at the crown of their head. Use a brush to smooth the hair on their head before twisting it into a bun. Secure with a ponytail holder or scrunchie and bobby pins. Pull out a few pieces of hair to frame the face—and voila! Check out the original detangling Wet Brushes at your local Great Clips salon, perfect for kids styling.
2. Half-up hairstyle
A half-up, half-down hairstyle suggests a kid who likes to work hard and play hard. Expect them to push for playtime, but it’s okay to ensure it happens after all the homework is done.
To prep them for the day, gather a small section of the hair framing your child’s face on both sides. Twist each section, and drape it across the side of their head to meet the other section of hair at the back of their head. Secure both sections of hair together at the back of the head with a bobby pin or hair elastic.
3. French braided pigtails
This look is great for a kid who’s got a handle on the more complex back-to-school tasks. Ask them for input on what kind of lunches or after-school snacks they can help prepare.
Here’s how to make simple work of this style. Gather the hair on either side of your child’s face and secure both sections with an elastic. Once you’ve secured each side, French braid one side and then the next, tie off with small elastic hair ties. Spray with some hairspray to keep any strays in place.
For boys
1. Textured shag
The ease of this hairstyle suggests a kid whose primary expectation for back-to-school season is simplicity. A closet full of mix-and-match tops and bottoms and low-prep breakfast items will make mornings a breeze.
From there, dampen their hair with water, apply a generous amount of mousse to your hands, and massage it into their hair from scalp to ends. This provides volume and texture. Let the hair dry, and finish with a small amount of hairspray to create maximum hold for all-day play and great body.
2. Combover look
A styled combover is a simple timeless look for any age. And it’s one that screams put-together pre-teen. Give them a checklist and make their day.
This hairstyle starts by dampening your child’s hair and grabbing a comb to part their hair on one side. Once hair is parted, comb it to one side and finish it with a light amount of pomade to hold it in place. You can find a great selection of pomades, like American Crew Pomade, at your local Great Clips salon.
3. Tousled Taper fade
Styling a taper fade is easy because the bottom half is already taken care of. Your focus is the top. Similarly, the kid rocking this look might be ready to advise on the top or bottom half of your to-dos.
Grab some gel or mousse, rub it between your fingers, and run it through the top of their hair. Style it straight up or to the side based on your child’s preference. A product like the Solutions Kids Wacky Gel is great to achieve the desired texture and look.
Looking to start the back-to-school season on a strong foot? Walk right into your local Great Clips and help your kids start the first day confidently with the latest look. Get started with Online Check-In today.
Hairstyling tips & tricks (to prove you know a thing or two)
Use a detangler
Do yourself a favor—save time and prevent breakage by using a detangler to tackle bedhead in the morning! Before brushing through your child’s hair, spray a generous amount of detangler into their hair and gently comb through. In need of a detangler? Find Solutions Afraid Knot detangler and other hair products at your local Great Clips salon.
Maintain your child's haircut
The key to quick and easy hairstyling before school is remembering to maintain your child’s haircut. Great Clips makes it easy to remember when it’s time for a trim with Great Clips Haircut Reminders, an in-app feature that allows you to create reminders to use online-check in for your next visit.
Add fun accessories
Accessorize any of our hairstyles for school to add an extra touch that highlights your child’s personality, while taking little to no time at all! Pair a cute scrunchie with the top knot or fun bows with the pigtails. Effortless AND adorable!
Keep hair nourished & healthy
Keeping hair nourished and healthy is essential for great hairstyles! Maintain your child’s hair with products that are moisturizing and prevent split ends with regular trims.
Let us know which hairstyle is your favorite by tagging us in your photos on Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram —and follow us for more back-to-school content.
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