Fun Hairdresser Games for Kids

PC and Video Games

• Barbie gives players styling power in Mattel's/Vivendi Universal's "Barbie Magic Hair Styler," for the Windows 95 and 98 systems. Players cut, color and grow Barbie's hair, adding makeup and accessories depending on the occasion. Barbie and friends model every player-designed look, and players may frame and print photos of their designs.

  Players run their own salon and have more than 15,000 hairstyle and makeup options at their disposal in 505 Games' "Picture Perfect Hair Salon," for the Nintendo DS platform. The game allows players to participate in contests that boost their ranking in the salon world. A camera function lets players take pictures of themselves and friends, and gives players the opportunity to have their own images receive the style treatment.

Online Games

• Good and evil hairdressers battle to give customers nice or crazy haircuts in the "Devilish Hairdresser" game, accessible at the GirlsGoGames site. Players assume the devilish role, waiting for the angelic hairdresser to turn her back before holding the left mouse button down on the customer's head and going wild. The longer players hold the button, the higher their devilish power. When the angel resumes cutting, players' devilish power starts declining. If players reach maximum power before the time elapses--without getting caught--they show off their devilish work and advance to the next level. Should the angel catch players, the game ends and players head to Angel Prison; however, if players make it past the first level, they may continue the game from the level where they left off. The GirlsGoGames site also features the "Devilish Pet Salon" game.

  Players help Eva earn a 5-star rating in "Eva's Hair Studio," accessible at the DressUpLuv site. "Free Model" lets players choose from five models and style her hair however they like, while "Challenge Mode" requires players to duplicate the look customers request, within an allocated time frame.

  The "City Salon" game, accessible at the Y8 Games site, requires players to reach daily monetary goals to complete levels. Once customers arrive, players click and seat them in the styling chair, and give them their desired looks. Players click on the money once a satisfied customer leaves; customers do not pay If players give them the wrong look. Once players have enough money in their purse, they may purchase salon upgrades. If players do not reach goals within the set amount of time, they may try again from the level they left off; if players have five unhappy customers, the game ends.

Role-Play Games

• While kids should not cut each other's locks or their own, they can play styling games and style each other's hair. Younger children should not use hair products unless parents or adults supervise. If kids are set on giving haircuts, they can do so with dolls or fashion model heads as customers. Younger children should use child-friendly safety scissors, while older children may use regular scissors, as long as they exercise caution and know how to handle them.

  To make the role-play more realistic, kids can dress in hairdresser costumes and use accessories, available at online sites such as Amazon. Essential hairdresser clothing and accessories include a jacket, pretend blow dryer and curling iron, curlers/rollers, brush and comb, hair clips, a full-size mirror and hand-held mirror.