I agree with Shelly, you need patience. They can test you. lol
Hot Rod hated/hates getting brushed/combed so we comprimised...he no longer has a topknot but still has long hair on his ears and face. Think he totally won that battle.
Maggie on the other hand has never had her topknot hair cut every. She's perfectly happy to have it hang in her face too but also likes it when it's up out of face. A lot of the times I put a jaws clip in. one of those small quick clips but she's 3 and her hair is probably much thicker than your little one. I do her everyday and give a tiny little treat after grooming so she has learned to let me get my way with grooming her. Just give your little one time and just keep at it. I used to just put a teeny bit of hair up just so they could get used the feel of it being up.