How a Mid Sussex barber reassures children that haircuts are fun

So much so that when he moved to Penny Black barbers shop, a hairdresser in Lindfield, I followed him there as a customer.

It was over an early trim that I learned that Neil was a keen snowboarder. I asked him if he’d write about his visit to the Tatras with his Polish partner Magdalena.

When he sent his feature to Ski+board, the Ski Club of Great Britain’s magazine, he added some cartoons which transformed his feature into something very special.

After that, whenever I needed any skiing cartoons, I commissioned them from Neil. He also did a number of cartoons of special occasions for friends of mine, like weddings and birthdays.

Now he has written a book - Ratty Gets a Haircut - cleverly linking his skills: hairdressing, cartoons, and story-telling.

“Time for a haircut!” said Ratty’s mum. “No way” said Ratty. “Haircuts aren’t fun!”

“Children can hate having their hair cut for all kinds of reasons” says Linnert. “And anyone who has tried to cut hair in lockdown knows it’s not as easy as it looks.

Toddlers are particularly difficult - it’s hard to reason with them. Often it can be a little like defusing a bomb.”

In his book, a “hair fairy” comes to Ratty’s rescue, saying: “I’m from a place that takes great care of making things for cutting hair.”

“Now tell me really, tell me true, what’s the thing that worries you?”

“I’m frightened,” said Ratty, “of the things you make. And I’m scared the hairdresser will make a mistake!”

The hair fairy replies: “Now I see, I understand. Then you must come to my Hair Fairy Land.”

“Unfortunately cutting hair is a messy business” says Linnert .… ”itchy hair, cold spray, noisy hairdryers. In my experience when kids know what to expect and are reassured to start with, the calmer they are.

“Sometimes kids are just not up for it that day, especially toddlers, so it’s better to cut your losses than force them to have a haircut. It rarely ends well, and It just brands their brain with a negative experience that is harder to overcome next time.

“If there is a secret to cutting children’s hair, it’s preparation and patience and being mindful. What is a mundane chore for most of us can be sensory overload for a child.”

Having arrived in Hair Fairy Land, Ratty sees the Hair Fairies busy “making the things that hairdressers need.From scissors and combs, to those things that made noise.

“They make them,’ smiled Ratty. “They make them like toys.”

‘At the end of the ride which was like a fun fair,

‘The Hair Fairy said, “Let ME cut your hair!”

‘Ratty felt scared and wanted to run,

‘But a voice in his head said, “This could be FUN”.

‘Then came a comb to untangle his hair,

‘Which the Hair Fairy did with the greatest of care.

“Now for the clippers,” said the Hair Fairy with glee.

“The clippers?” said Ratty, “No way! Not on ME!”

“The clippers are safe. They feel like the comb.

The clippers work fast so you’ll soon be back home.”

“They don’t hurt!” said Ratty. “There’s no need to fuss.

“They remind me a lot of my buzzy toothbrush!”

‘The clippers were fast, the clippers were quick.

It didn’t take long and they tickled a bit!

“Time for the scissors,” the Hair Fairy said.

“But I’m scared of the scissors hurting my head!”

“I’ll be so careful.” And with a few snips,

‘The Hair Fairy cut off Ratty’s long bits.

“The hairdryer is next,” the Hair Fairy did say.

“Watch it blow like the wind as the bits fly away!”

‘The hairdryer felt warm and dried his hair fast.

“TA DA!” said the Hair Fairy, “we’re finished at LAST!”

‘And he held up a mirror for Ratty to see,

‘Ratty couldn’t believe it! “Is that really ME?”

“So, what do you think of all that we’ve done?”

‘Ratty thought… then he said…

“Haircuts ARE fun!”

Ratty Gets a Haircut is published by Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08TZBTN57/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_imm_awdb_30BJ2PKZV294P7KJXC5C

Kindle edition £3.99

Paperback £6.50