👯♀️Reviewed by RaDona Ludlow, Licensed Cosmetologist since 2000 · Updated October 16, 2026
Kids & family hairstyles
Kids & Family Hairstyles: Easy Tutorials for Every Age
Whether you’re styling your toddler’s wispy first curls or helping your teen find a look she loves, this is your complete guide to kids’ hairstyles — from quick school-morning braids to sports-ready styles that stay put all day. Written by salon professional RaDona Ludlow with 20+ years of hands-on experience.
RL RaDona Ludlow Licensed Cosmetologist · 20+ Years · Utah Salon Owner
👧 Girls · 👦 Boys · 🍼 Toddlers · 🎒 Back to School · ⚽ Sports · 🎀 Occasions
What you’ll find inside
25+
Girls styles
12+
Boys cuts
5-min
Morning styles
Free
Video tutorials
RaDona’s promise: Every style on this page has been tested in a real salon on real kids — not just modeled for photos.
Girls Hairstyle Ideas by Hair Length
Girls’ hairstyles span from the wonderfully simple to the impressively intricate. The key is matching the style to your daughter’s hair length, texture, and — just as importantly — her patience for sitting still on a Tuesday morning.
Long Hair (Past the Shoulders)
Long hair opens up the most styling possibilities — and the most opportunities for tangles at 7am. Master three reliable styles and you’ll be ready for anything: a quick ponytail for busy mornings, a braid for school, and a half-up style for photos or special days.
French Braid Tutorial by RaDona — Boys and Girls Hairstyles · Watch on YouTube
RaDona’s Tip
Prep the night before. A silk pillowcase and a loose braid before bed means less tangling overnight and a much faster morning. A spritz of leave-in conditioner on dry hair before you brush also cuts detangling time in half. See RaDona’s full French Braid guide for step-by-step photos.
Medium Length (Chin to Shoulder)
Medium-length hair is the sweet spot for school-age girls. It dries quickly, holds styles well, and is long enough for most braids but short enough to need no heat to look intentional.
Short hair on girls is incredibly freeing — easy to maintain, fast to style, and effortlessly cool. A well-cut pixie or ear-length bob requires almost no morning routine at all.
Curly and natural hair textures are beautiful and deserve styles that celebrate — not fight — the natural pattern. The key is moisture, gentle handling, and protective styles that look good and last for days.
High puff ponytail — effortless, classic, works on most curl types
Two-strand twist-out — a 10-minute set the night before gives 3–4 days of defined curls
A basic clipper set pays for itself in two or three visits — and cutting your son’s hair at home is more achievable than you think. The learning curve is real, but the three key skills (straight lines, even guards, and blending) are learnable with patience.
What You’ll Need
A cordless clipper set with guards #1–8, sharp haircutting scissors (not craft scissors — the difference is enormous), a spray bottle of water, a wide comb, a handheld mirror, and a cutting cape. Budget $40–60 for a quality starter kit and it will last years. See our full home haircut tutorial for tool recommendations.
Toddler Boy Cuts (Ages 1–4)
Keep it simple. Toddlers won’t sit still for precision fades, so stick to straightforward styles that forgive minor imperfections — which there will be, and that’s completely fine.
School-age boys develop strong preferences. Ask what their friends are getting — the textured crop and taper fade have dominated for years and are relatively achievable at home with practice.
Style
Difficulty
Guard to use
How to style daily
Classic short taper
Easy
#3 sides, scissors on top
A quick brush, no product needed
Side part with light fade
Medium
#2 sides, blended up
Small amount of pomade, comb to one side
Textured crop
Medium
#3–4 sides, scissor top with texture cuts
Matte clay or texturizing spray, fingers to style
Longer top, trimmed sides
Easy
#2 sides, leave 2–3 inches on top
Light gel or leave-in, quick comb or fingers
Teen & Tween Styles (Ages 13+)
Teens care a lot about their hair. The curtain/fringe cut (center-parted, longer pieces framing the face) and the textured quiff have been top requests for several years. Involve them in the conversation — when they’re invested in the style, they’ll actually maintain it.
Toddler hair comes in every texture and quantity — from barely-there wisps to full, thick curls. The goal at this age isn’t a Pinterest-perfect style; it’s keeping hair out of eyes and faces while being gentle enough for a squirmy little one.
Fine Baby Hair
Fine, silky baby hair slips out of everything. The tricks that work are about adding grip, not fighting the hair’s nature.
Use soft ribbon hair ties or fabric elastics — never tight rubber bands, which snap fine strands
Mini jaw clips and snap clips hold fine hair better than elastics for very thin hair
Two small pigtails distribute weight and stay in longer than a single ponytail
A single top knot works beautifully on babies with enough length — adorable and practical
Dry shampoo sprayed lightly at the roots before styling adds just enough grip for elastics to hold
Curly Toddler Hair
Curly toddler hair is gorgeous but thirsty. It needs moisture above all else, and protective styles dramatically reduce daily manipulation — and daily crying.
Moisture First, Style Second
Apply a leave-in conditioner or kids’ curl cream while hair is damp, not dry. Dry application causes frizz and breakage. The LOC method (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) works beautifully even on 2-year-olds if products are gentle and fragrance-free. See RaDona’s full curly hair tutorial for product recommendations.
The first haircut is a milestone — and it can also be a meltdown. Here’s how to make it a positive experience for everyone.
Choose the right time: Well-rested, not hungry, not due for a nap. Mid-morning is usually best.
Prepare in advance: Show them short videos of kids getting haircuts. Play “salon” at home — a comb and no scissors, just practicing sitting in a chair.
Bring backup: A favorite small toy, a snack for after, or let them watch something on your phone during the cut.
Save a lock: Clip a small piece and keep it in an envelope with the date. You’ll be glad you did.
Consider a kids’ salon: Many areas have salons with themed chairs, videos, and staff experienced with young children — worth the premium for a first cut.
Back-to-School Hairstyles (Quick Morning Styles)
The back-to-school morning rush is real. These styles are organized by what actually matters when you’re running late: how fast you can do them, whether they require heat, and whether they’ll survive a full school day.
Overnight braids: Braid damp hair before bed in two sections; unwrap in the morning for natural waves — takes zero morning time
Twist and pin: Twist small sections back from the face and pin with bobby pins for an effortless pulled-back look
Braided pigtails: A classic that looks intentional with zero heat needed — see RaDona’s braid tutorial
The textured bun: On second-day hair with a little dry shampoo, this look is actually better without heat
Styles That Last All Day
RaDona’s School-Day Secrets
1. Always use two elastics on a ponytail — one at the base and one halfway down. It won’t budge all day.
2. A tiny dab of edge control or light gel on flyaways adds 4 hours to any hairstyle.
3. Bobby pins go in best points-first, wiggled slightly as they slide in — they’ll hold all day.
4. A silk or satin pillowcase the night before means less frizz to fight the next morning.
Sports & Activity Hairstyles for Active Kids
Sports hairstyles need to pass one test: can they survive the activity without coming loose, distracting the player, or causing discomfort under a helmet? Here’s what actually works.
Volleyball Hairstyles
Volleyball requires styles that don’t interfere with diving, jumping, or rapid directional changes. Anything that bounces or shifts mid-play is a distraction.
Softball adds an important constraint volleyball doesn’t: the helmet. Any style that sits too high creates pressure points under a batting helmet. Low, flat-to-the-head styles are the way to go.
Low ponytail or single braid: The reliable go-to — sits below the helmet line
French braid close to the head: Flat enough to fit under a helmet comfortably
Dutch braid pigtails: Distribute weight evenly, stay flat, great for longer hair
Bun at the nape of neck: Low and flat, fits under helmets with no pressure
Special occasions call for styles a step above the everyday — but not so elaborate that you’re fighting with a resistant six-year-old at 7am. These styles hit the sweet spot of impressive and achievable.
Disney World Trip
Disney trip hairstyles need to be two things: magical enough for photos in front of Cinderella’s castle, and practical enough to survive 12 hours of walking, rides, and humidity.
Park Day Survival Kit
Pack: 3 soft elastics, 6 bobby pins, a travel-size detangling spray, and one fun hair accessory for “mid-day magic.” When the morning style wilts, a quick ponytail refresh with a new ribbon makes the afternoon feel fresh. See our Hair Care & Shop page for UV-protection spray picks.
Every technique described on this page has a companion video on RaDona’s YouTube channel, filmed in her real Utah salon with real clients. Over 800 videos and 180,000 subscribers strong — see the technique in action before you try it at home.
French Braid Step-by-Step
RaDona’s most-watched braid tutorial. Perfect for beginners — slow, clear, filmed in salon with a real client.
RaDona’s Dutch braid tutorial — the raised, inside-out braid that looks complicated but is very learnable with a little practice. Great for volleyball and school styles.
Side Dutch Braid Tutorial — Boys and Girls Hairstyles · Watch on YouTube
More Video Tutorials — Full Playlist
Browse RaDona’s full tutorial playlist below. Over 800 videos covering braids, cuts, updos, and styles for every age.
Boys and Girls Hairstyles — Full Tutorial Playlist · Watch on YouTube
Shop RaDona’s Recommended Hair Accessories for Kids
After 20+ years in the salon, RaDona has strong opinions about which products are worth buying and which are a waste of money. These are the exact items she uses and recommends — all available through her Amazon storefront.
