Back-to-school week is our busiest window of the year outside of the holidays. Every August, parents in Potterville, Charlotte, Grand Ledge, Lansing, and the rest of Eaton County come in to get their kids cut before the first day. Here’s how to plan the visit so the cut actually looks fresh on day one — and holds up for the first few weeks of class.
When to book
Most schools in our area start in late August. Working back from there:
- 2 weeks before school starts — Book your kid’s haircut now. A cut at this point will be slightly grown out by day one but will look intentional, not freshly buzzed. This is the right window for most kids.
- 1 week before — Cut now if your kid has a school photo in the first week of class or wants to look extra sharp on day one. The cut will be at peak sharpness on the first day.
- The day before — Risky. Too short and crisp can read as “just got a haircut” in photos. Save the day-before slot for teenagers who specifically want maximum sharpness for first-day reasons (or for photo day itself).
- Earlier than 2 weeks — Don’t. The cut will be grown out by the first day of school, and you’ll either need a second cut a week in or your kid starts the year looking less than fresh.
Saturday morning slots (7:30 AM – 12:00 PM) fill up fastest in the two weeks before school starts. If you want a Saturday window for your kid, book ASAP — at least one week out, ideally two. Mid-week mornings are easier to grab.
Cuts that hold up well through the school year
Some haircuts look great fresh and then need maintenance every 2 weeks. Others can stretch 4–6 weeks between cuts and still look intentional. For a back-to-school cut where you might not want to come back in for a month, here are the styles that hold up best:
Textured crop. Short on the sides with a textured length on top. Grows out cleanly, doesn’t require styling, low maintenance. Probably the most popular kids and teen cut at our shop right now.
Low taper with a medium length on top. Sides cleaned up, but no dramatic fade. Grows out gracefully and looks intentional for 4–6 weeks. Great for younger kids who don’t want to come in often.
Classic side part. Slightly longer on top, parted on the side, clean sides. Easy to style or leave alone. Holds up well between visits.
Crew cut. Short and uniform on top, taper or low fade on the sides. Stretches the longest of any cut — 6+ weeks is reasonable. Easy summer-to-fall transition.
Cuts to think twice about for a back-to-school slot:
- Bald fade — Looks amazing on day one but the skin section grows out within a week. Better as a “right before picture day” cut than a “first day” cut, unless you’re prepared to come in every 2 weeks.
- High fade with a long top — Dramatic contrast that fades fast. Same issue as bald fade — high maintenance.
What to ask for if you’re not sure
If your kid is old enough to weigh in, let them. Ask them what they want their hair to look like — even if they can’t describe it, they probably have an idea.
If your kid is younger and you’re picking the cut yourself, the easiest direction to give your barber is one sentence:
“Something low-maintenance that will still look sharp in 4 weeks.”
Any competent barber can recommend a cut from that. If you have a reference photo of a style you like (off the internet, off a friend’s kid, off your kid’s previous favorite cut), bring it.
Kids who are nervous about haircuts
Back-to-school is sometimes a kid’s first haircut at a new shop — they’ve outgrown the place that did toddler cuts, or you’ve moved. If your kid is nervous, mention it when you arrive. We do this often:
- Show them the clippers and let them hear the sound before turning them on near their head
- Let them sit on a parent’s lap for the first few minutes
- Let them watch a video or hold a phone during the cut
- Work at their pace — the 30-minute slot is theirs, and we don’t rush
Most nervous first-time kids are completely comfortable by their second visit. The first one might run long; that’s fine.
For teenagers
Teenagers usually know exactly what they want. If your teen comes in with specific instructions — a particular fade height, length on top, mustache or sideburn detail — let them direct the consultation. We listen to the person in the chair, not the parent in the waiting area (with rare exceptions for younger kids).
If your teen is wavering between two cuts, we’ll talk through tradeoffs — maintenance, how it grows out, what works with their hair type. Most teens leave decisive after that conversation.
Sports team cuts and seasonal traditions
A lot of fall sports teams (football, soccer, cross-country) have unofficial “team cut” traditions — everyone with a fresh fade for game day, matching styles for picture day, etc. If your kid is on a team and wants a specific cut for the season, book a week before practice starts.
We’ve cut entire freshman classes’ worth of football team fades over a single Saturday morning. If you’re a parent coordinating multiple kids from the same team, book a block of consecutive slots so they can all come together — call the shop and we’ll set it up.
Family cuts
If you’ve got multiple kids who all need cuts, book consecutive slots so you only make one trip. Kids 12 and under are $20 (Kids Haircut); 13 and up at the standard rate. Both barbers cut kids and adults — book Cole’s slots through Setmore or walk in for Jacob.
Booking
Two ways:
- Cole’s slots through Setmore — best for specific times
- Walk-ins for Jacob during open hours — easier if your schedule is flexible
Hours during back-to-school season are the same as the rest of the year:
- Mon 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Wed 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thu–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Sat 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Closed Tuesday and Sunday
The shop is at 121 S Hartel in Potterville, easy 10–20 minute drives from Charlotte, Grand Ledge, Dimondale, Lansing, Eaton Rapids, and Holt.
Questions? Call (517) 881-4266 or email [email protected]. Book early — Saturdays in late August fill up.