For tweens and teens colorful hair is really, really hot right now. At Cozy’s we’ve always been ahead of the curve with color and our little clients love the colored gel, hombre styles and bright hair feathers we specialize in. But for actually coloring hair the challenge has always been how to get a great look won’t damage kids’ tresses and can wash out (nix using highlighting markers as some teens do…really bad for the hair!).

Enter Hair Chalking! Recently we’ve discovered that by using artists’ chalk and pastels we can add pops of color to any hairstyle, get the look kids want (like Heidi Klum’s daughter Leni is sporting at the left), and do it without hair damage or a long-term commitment. Hair chalking is super-easy, safe, inexpensive, and best of all, you can do it at home!

What You Need for Hair Chalking

• Chalk or Pastels: these are available at any art supply store. We love the large sets with tons of colors and often use pastels instead of actual chalk because the soft texture of pastels is so easy to work with.
• Water: have a spray bottle handy.
• A Curling Iron: to lock-in the color.

How To Do Hair Chalking

Step 1: Choose a section of hair where you want the color and wet it using the spray bottle (it should be wet but not dripping).

Step 2: Select a color (see color tips below) and rub the chalk or pastel on the strands in a downward motion (you can do just the ends or an entire section from the root down).

Step 3: Use a warm curling iron on the colored section to “set” the color – if you want a curly look, wind the hair up; if you like it straight, just pull the curling iron evenly down the hair shafts.

See it live! Check out the video from my recent appearance on the Today Show where I demonstrate how to do hair chalking.

Hair Chalking Tips: We find that any color works well with blonde or light hair. For dark hair, choose brighter colors. Fun ideas are school colors, red-white-blue for July 4th, matching outfits, and more.

Hair chalking is easy, super-fun, and looks so cool. Best of all, it washes right out! It’s a great activity for moms and daughters to do together and it’s wonderful play date activity for tween girls, too. Even boys love the colored look on surfer styles or spiky ‘do’s!

Of course, you can always stop into one of my salons in NYC and we’ll do it for you! Have fun with Hair Chalking!

- Cozy

For many years, I wouldn’t let my boys buzz their hair—I thought it was too harsh and military-looking for young kids. Then I went to visiting day at camp one year and both my boys had buzz cuts…and to my surprise I actually loved it!

The camp had a barber come before visiting day to get the kids’ hair cleaned up for their parents, and my boys seized the opportunity to buzz it (without mom’s approval). I couldn’t be mad; they looked great and were so happy! After that, I always asked them to get buzz cuts before camp—it was the only way I could make sure they weren’t running around with long, wild hair.

A lot of boys want buzz cuts, but many parents are hesitant to chop it all off. Kids have beautiful hair when they are young and as parents we hate to see all that great hair on the floor of the salon. If it is the severity of the buzz cut that scares you, you should know that you have options. Make sure you know the buzzing basics:

• Leaving hair longer on the top makes the buzz look less harsh
• The #1 setting on a hair clipper is the closest you can get to a shaved head
• Settings #2 and #3 are similar to each other, and leave hair a little longer
• There is a #4 setting, but it is less popular—boys generally just want the full buzz

My older son has since grown out of the buzz cut, but my younger son still gets a #2 buzz. After becoming the parent of two buzzed boys, I can assure you that buzzed hair has its perks. The biggest one? A buzzed head means no more battling with the hairbrush!

I welcome your questions or comments!

-Cozy

I’m Cozy Friedman, the Founder & President of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City and I’m also the author of the book Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girl’s Hair, where much more on kids’ hairstyles can be found! To get my Expert Advice right in your inbox, please consider subscribing. Thank you for visiting!

Every year as kids and parents are getting ready for summer I get a lot of questions about hair care at camp. Parents want to be sure that their children know what to do about tangles, how often to shampoo, and even how to protect themselves from the dreaded lice. In many cases, camp is the first time they’ve been away from home and caring for their hair themselves. So here are some of my answers and tips to help you get your camper ready for the summer:

Kids Hair at Camp: Your Questions and My Answers

Q: Should my child get a haircut right before camp starts?
A: Yes, a good cut should take them through the summer while they are away.  However, it may seem illogical, but for girls long hair can actually be better than short because it can be pulled back off the face and neck during hot summer days. For boys, a nice short style, even a buzz cut is recommended right before he leaves for camp. It will help him keep him cool and requires virtually no special care.

Q: How will my daughter deal with tangles at camp?
A: Make sure your daughter takes a wide-toothed comb with her to camp. After shampooing she should apply conditioner and then comb it through the hair, starting from the bottom of the hair strand and working up to the top. After showering, she can brush her hair while it’s still wet by gently grabbing a section of hair above where she is going to brush and working up. At night, if she puts her hair in a loose ponytail or braid before going to sleep, she’ll have fewer tangles in the morning. I recommend that she starts doing this herself at home before she leaves so she knows how before she gets there.

Q: Can my child get lice at camp?
A: Unfortunately, lice like summer camp, too. All it takes is one infested child, and before you know it, an entire camp is in trouble. The good news is that you can make sure your child is protected from getting lice by having her follow these three golden rules:
1. Do not share brushes, hats, or other hair accessories
2. No head-to-head contact
3. Do not use other kids’ beds, pillows, or stuffed animals

If you’re concerned about your child actually following the 3 Golden Rules, add a lice-preventing shampoo to the list of things to pack. I recommend So Cozy Boo! Lice Preventing Shampoo, but any shampoo containing tea tree oil should do the trick. Oh, and your child will be happily follow this last lice rule: Don’t wash your hair every day (lice like clean hair!).

Q: Should my daughter bring hair styling tools to camp?
A: Some camps allow hair dryers and curling irons, and some do not. Make sure that you know what the rules are for your child’s camp before you start packing. Of course she should have plenty of hair elastics, headbands, and barrettes (a good supply…they tend to disappear). I feel that camp should be a time when kids (girls, especially) can relax and just be natural. However, that’s not always the way the girls feel about it!

What the Experts have to Say:

To find out what kids really do with their hair at camp, I decided to ask some real experts, Jeff Konigsberg and Leslie Levy the directors at the wonderful camps Tripp Lake Camp and Camp Takajo in Maine:

 Q: Do girls attending Tripp Lake spend a lot of time on their hair?
Leslie: The Tripp Lakers do not spend a lot of time on their hair.  They shampoo daily and most let their hair dry naturally. Blow dryers are rarely used.

Q: What do you recommend that kids bring with them to take care of their hair?
Leslie: We recommend Shampoo, conditioner, comb, brush, and for girls, hair ties to for pulling back hair.

Q: What do you recommend that kids DO NOT bring with them (i.e. hair accessories, styling tools)?
Leslie:  Our campers do not bring styling tools to camp. There’s no need for them, even for the occasional social! The only hair accessories are to pull their hair back.

Q: For boys, Buzz cuts used to be THE summer cut, but for the past couple of years longer hair has been the trend. Are the boys buzzing their hair just for the summer anyway?
Jeff: There are still boys who come to camp with a Buzz cut and during a hot summer it’s more comfortable and easy to manage than longer hair. At Camp Takajo we offer haircuts to the boys mid-way through the season and at that point many boys request a short cut. But we always call the parents and ask permission so that they are not ” caught off guard” when they see their son at the end of the season!

So as you get your child ready for summer camp, keep in mind the wise words for wisdom from camp professionals: pack a good shampoo and conditioner (preferably ones with Tea Tree Oil), plenty of hair ties, and leave the styling tools at home.

For more advice on kids’ hair care and more, please subscribe to the blog!

Something that surprises many people about my salons (Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in NYC), is that we see boys more often than girls. Yes, I blog a lot about girls, girls’ hairstyles, girls’ haircuts, and I even wrote a book about girls’ hair. But because boys need haircuts more often than girls, a steady stream of moms trailed by their shaggy sons is a daily occurrence at Cozy’s.

Cozy’s Boys’ Hairstyles Hall of Fame

Often inspired by the latest pop singer or boy band, what’s popular in boys’ hairstyles seem to change every year. But the truth is that boy styles don’t really change much at all. Whether it’s spikes or a bowl cut, we’ve seen it all before. And that got me to thinking, what if I could pinpoint the source of the boy’s hair trends that celebrities (or their children) are sporting today? This was a lot of fun, so check it out:

 
So, there you have it, my boy’s hairstyle Hall of Fame! Like this blog? Consider subscribing to get fun hair tips for kids right in your mailbox.

I’m Cozy Friedman, the Founder & President of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City and I’m also the author of the book Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girl’s Hair ,where this information and much more can be found! To get my Expert Advice right in your inbox, please consider subscribing. Thank you for visiting!

A little known fact is that the shape of your face is one of the best ways to pick a hairstyle. This same philosophy applies to kids—although I’m sure your daughter will look adorable regardless! To make sure she’s sporting the most flattering haircut possible, you must first identify her face shape.

This same philosophy applies to kids—although I’m sure your daughter will look adorable regardless! To make sure she’s sporting the most flattering haircut possible, you must first identify her face shape. If you have trouble determining round from square, and square from heart-shaped, it’s not uncommon. It’s difficult to determine what shape face she has while she’s still growing up. In fact, the shape of your child’s face will even change as she gets older.

But since it wouldn’t be advice from me if we didn’t have some fun with it, here’s a trick to figure out the shape: Tie your daughter’s hair back and sit her in front of the bathroom mirror. With lipstick or eyeliner trace the shape of her face. Make sure you let her put the finishing touches on this one chance pass to draw on the mirror—the smiley face!

Hairstyles for Oval Faces

For oval faces, like Nancy Drew star Emma Roberts the length of the face is about one and a half times the width.

Love It: Oval faces are very versatile, and will work with mostly any haircut.

Leave It: Heavy bangs or shaggy styles that hang in the face can obscure its shape.

Hairstyles for Round Faces

A round face is, well, round! Like Selena Gomez, the face is as wide as it is long, and she may have apple cheeks or a rounded chin.

Love It: Full styles with volume at the crown, cute flips, wispy bangs, and fringy cuts that angle towards the face.

Leave It: Chin length hair that surrounds the face will make a round face appear even wider.

Hairstyles for Square Faces

On a square face, like iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove, the forehead and jaw line are almost the same length.

Love It: On square faces, opt for a style that softens the angles. Try soft waves, wispy layers and bangs.

Leave It: Styles that are too straight and sleek can make the angles of the face look severe.

Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Faces

Taylor Swift’s heart-shaped face is defined by her wide cheekbones and forehead, narrow jaw, and pointed chin.

Love It: A classic chin length bob highlights the face’s cheekbones, as do side parts and side bangs.

Leave It: Be careful of going too short—some shorter styles can make the chin look extra pointy.

If you’re still undecided, you can always ask your hairstylist the next time you bring your daughter in for a cut. The hairstylist will be able to give you a few suggestions for what will flatter her most. And moms, don’t forget to identify your face shape too!

Find out more about the best hairstyles for face shapes in my book, Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girl’s Hair

I welcome your questions or comments!

-Cozy

I’m Cozy Friedman, the Founder & President of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City and I’m also the author of the book Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girl’s Hair ,where this information and much more can be found! To get my Expert Advice right in your inbox, please consider subscribing. Thank you for visiting!

It’s not every day that a business in New York City gets singled out as one of the very best, so it is with great pride that I announce that my salons have been chosen to be a part of an innovative new website called Giftbar.com. What Giftbar does is very unique: their staff carefully curates all the small businesses in a city and selects only the ones that they deem the best to be able to offer gift cards on their platform. As a merchant, you have to be invited to participate!

It works like this: Go onto Giftbar.com and you’ll see list of the merchants who have been chosen to participate. Now, select one of the merchants and you will see that you can buy a gift card without having to actually go to the store. And you won’t see run-of-the-mill “big box” stores represented. Instead only exclusive boutiques are part of the mix.

Giftbar is great if you are too busy to actually go to the actual business or if you want to buy a gift for someone from their favorite store, especially if you live in a different city!

The coolest thing about Giftbar is their special personalized gift cards. You can customize a card with a photo, with a cool design, and even with a message that you create yourself. There are tons of wrapping “paper” options to choose from.

A Giftbar gift card can be shared by email and used right from a phone! Or you can have your card sent to the lucky recipient by regular mail, or even print the card out yourself.

What little NYC junior fashionista wouldn’t love a gift card for a mini-manicure from Cozy’s? (especially if the card has her picture on it!)

Check out Giftbar here.

Or click on this tab on my Facebook Page.

- Cozy

Here’s the perfect way to spend a spring Sunday with your children in the glorious city of New York:

Kid Row’s First Annual Spring Fest!

What is It? A full city block of free fun and events for kids & parents

When is It? Sunday, April 28^th 2:00 – 5:00 pm

Where is It? 2^nd Ave. between 73^rd & 74^th Street, New York City

Details:

Four kid-friendly businesses on the block, Cozy’s Cuts for Kids, NYC’s premier children’s hair salon and toy boutique; Greenstones/Naturino, purveyor of the most adorable kids clothes, shoes, and accessories; Kids at Art, NY’s premier art and craft studio for kids; and Kids in Sports, the coolest place to learn team sports in the city; have all teamed up to transform their block into a fantastic play place for the day.

Who’s Doing What for Spring Fest:

Cozy’s Cuts for Kids: Stop by Cozy’s and let one of our stylists create a lovely braid from our famous Braid Bar or glam it up with a mini-manicure. We haven’t forgotten the boys: get temporary colored spikes or a cool funky hairstyle. And we’re offering 20% off on gifts and toys only for the event (it’s a great time to stock up on birthday gifts!).

Greenstones/Naturino comes to the rescue just in time for the warm weather with an unbelievable 30% off on all children’s’ clothing and shoes (20% off on accessories). Free balloons and a free gift bag are part of the deal! A balloon artist will be on hand.

Kids at Art will be guiding art and craft projects (free!). They’ll also be creating free glitter tattoos and doing face painting, too. Tada! will be leading singing and acting. A DJ will be present spinning dance music and a Karaoke area will be setup for the show-offs in the crowd!

Kids in Sports is setting up throwing targets, basketball hoops and football posts to test your skills. Their comical mascot Sporty will be on hand (we hear he’s going to dance!). Free balloons and gifts, too!

And, if all that’s not enough, 16 Handles will be giving out free yogurt and delicious toppings, Skinny Pop is supplying free popcorn, GoGo Squeez will be providing yummy applesauce, and Apple & Eve is furnishing thirst-quenching juices…free!

Heidi Green Photography, NYC’s own Mama-Razzi will be capturing all the excitement on “film”!

Spring Fest is not only fun but also it supports a great cause, too. Simply donate your used or unwanted sneakers and the Max Cure Foundation will give $1.00 for each pair  to local local low income families battling pediatric cancer. So “Dunk” your used “Kicks” at recycling bins located at Cozy’s (Eastside and Westside locations) to help kids with cancer. Recycling bins are out now, click here for salon locations.

So join us on Sunday, April 28 from 2-5pm on Kid Row for Spring Fest. We can’t wait to see you!

Here are links to Spring Fest’s participating businesses:

• Cozy’s Cuts For Kids 
• Kids at Art
• Kids in Sport
• 16 Handles
• Skinny Pop
• GoGo Squeez 
• Apple & Eve
• Heidi Green Photography
• Max Cure Foundation

Every spring my New York City salons see a steady stream of the most fashion-conscious young girls (and their moms) who crowd-in to see the coolest new hair accessories for spring and summer; and this year is no exception. I always make sure that we have plenty of the hottest hair accessories on hand for the little fashionistas in the neighborhood.

This season I found so many incredibly cute headbands, barrettes, bows, and twisties that really had to hold myself back from buying too much! Here are the girls’ hair accessories trends that I’m seeing for spring and summer and some of the items that keep selling out:

1. Neons, Neons, Neons! These super bright colors are really popular in clothing and accessories for girls this season. Bows, barrettes, and hairbands in neon red, magenta, hot pink and blazingly bright blue add a pop to any outfit.

2. Sherbet Colors: Mint, peach, apricot, and lavender are the perfect hues for spring outfits and there are hair accessories in every shade to go with them.

3. Glitter, stones and studs embellish everything from barrettes to hairbands. Glitz is still hot!

4. Bows: Little bows, medium bows, giant bows, bows with glitter, and bows rhinestones. They are selling out as fast as I can stock them.

5. The Swirly Do: This little “phone cord-like” hair tie is totally adorable and not only keeps hair back and off the face, it doesn’t leave a “dent” or  mark in the hair like elastics and scrunchies do. They come in a million colors, too!

So, while you are putting together her spring and summer wardrobe, remember that a cute headband or barrette in a neon color, a soft and sweet sherbet hue, or embellished with glitz can add just that bit of pop that makes this time of year so much fun.

Want to know more hot trends for kid’s hair this year? Simply click the links below:

• Kid’s Hairstyles: The Top Trends For 2013
• The Coolest Boy’s Hairstyles Of 2013

- Cozy

I’m Cozy Friedman, the Founder & President of Cozy’s Cuts for Kids in New York City and I’m also the author of the book Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girl’s Hair , where this information and much more can be found! To get my Expert Advice right in your inbox, please consider subscribing. Thank you for visiting! -Cozy

What do The Drybar, Blo, and DreamDry have in common? They are all part of the latest hair trend! Book a quick appointment at one of these salons and you come out ½ hour later looking runway chic with a professionally blow-dried look that will last a couple of days.

Well, I think that our “little ladies” should also have the same treatment, so this month I’m opening Cozy’s Blow-Dry Bar, the place for the younger set to go for quick, gorgeous, and sleek hairstyles.

Blow-Drying is An Art

There’s a reason that hair looks so much better when you leave a salon than when you blow-dry it yourself. It’s because you can rarely invest the time at home into blow-drying that stylists can. Nor do you have the skill that stylists perfect over the years. Moreover, if you have ever tried blow-drying your daughter’s hair…forgettabout it! It’s hard enough to try to do your own.

Cozy’s Blow-Dry Bar is inspired by the success of Cozy’s Braid Bar, which I opened last year. Upon arriving, young guests flip through a big Look Book to choose the style they want (sleek straight, full body, flipped, or wavy). Next is a quick shampoo. Then 30 minutes or less with a one of our blow-dry specialists who works her magic with kid-friendly products, a brush, and a blow dryer.

A visit to Cozy’s Blow-Dry Bar is ideal when your little lady is going to a wedding, attending a special event such as a Bar Mitzvah, having her First Communion, or even to look extra great for a party or school picture day.

The hottest destination in NYC for girls’ hairstyles is now the hottest destination for blow-dry’s, too. Mom and Daughter blow-dry sessions are also available! You can even book a Blow-Dry Party for your next birthday event. The possibilities are endless!

Cozy’s Blow-Dry Bar prices begin at $25.

I write a lot of blogs about how to style girls’ hair, but guess what? Boys’ hair needs love, too!

Boys are in my salons for haircuts twice as often as are girls, and I get a lot of questions from parents on how to keep their little guys’ locks looking good between haircuts. There are three boys’ hairstyles that are nearly always requested (in one variation or another):

1. The Spikey Look
2. The Schoolboy
3. The Surfer

These styles have been around for decades, but each year there’s a little twist that makes them look new.

So, here are the how-tos of The Three Coolest Boys’ Hairstyles of 2013 plus instruction on how to style boys’ curly hair and control frizz.

1)   The Spiky Look

Joe Warren

This quick and easy style has been a favorite for years. Stiff spikes are out and the messy look with hair spiking in many directions is totally in.

Get the look: Use a product like So Cozy Groovy Grape Styling Gel. Put some in your hand, apply with fingers, spike the hair to shape it how he likes it, and let the gel dry.

I find that older boys tend to like the more tousled look (you might even find them spending more time in the mirror getting that “bed head” style just right!).

Your little man doesn’t need a special cut to achieve the spiky look, just make sure his hair isn’t too long. When not spiked, he can wear his hair as he usually does. When spiked, have fun!

2)   The Schoolboy

The Schoolboy - Image courtesy Crewcuts.com

The schoolboy is a great look and can work for shorter hair, and hair that’s growing out, too.

Get the look: First wet his hair, making sure it’s just a little bit damp. Make sure to use Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream or another cream that leaves hair looking natural, not stiff. Rub the cream into your hands then comb your hands thru his hair with your fingers to evenly distribute hair. Comb with fingers in a direction that you want it to stay in and that you both are happy with. You can always comb or brush the hair afterwards.

Styling cream keeps his hair in place but still looks natural while keeping crazy cowlicks down.

3)   The Surfer

The Surfer - Image Courtesy Crewcuts.com

The surfer look is one of the most requested styles in my salons. It’s no surprise that little dudes dig this laidback ‘do, especially with superstar icons like the guys of One Direction sporting the style.

Get The Look: He’s definitely going to need longer hair for this one and layers to boot. While the style is slightly messy (like he just woke up), it actually takes a little bit of work. Do not use gel but instead apply styling cream on your hands and work thru his hair with fingers until you get the desired “effortlessly messy” look.

No brush or comb needed. Just leave it as is!

For Boys with Curly Hair

Daniel Roche - Curly Hair

Rule #1 about styling curly hair: Never Brush It! Instead, use a wide tooth comb or fingers while the hair is wet.

Frizzy Hair – Not Cool. To reduce frizz, try wetting the hair and use a leave-in conditioner (or even regular conditioner) scrunched into the hair. The amount of conditioner depends on how much hair your little guy has, but a good rule of thumb is to start with a dime-sized amount.

So Cozy styling cream is light and will control curly hair without making it look stiff like there’s a product in it.

Want more boys’ hair tips? Here’s how to care for boy’s hair at home.

-Cozy

Image Credits: AceShowBiz, SheKnows, Crewcuts.com