Snip-its News - The Journal News - Westchester County, NY

The Journal News - Westchester County, NY

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Children's hair salons aim to entertain, assuageChildren's hair salons aim to entertain, assuage

By ALISON BERT

Sharon Shapiro was concerned when she brought 5-year-old Sarah to a new children's salon recently. Cutting her hair at home has been "a disaster" with Sarah squirming to avoid the scissors.

"She is so phobic - she hates having her hair cut," said Shapiro, a yoga teacher from Mohegan Lake. "She had ear infections when she was younger, so she hates having anyone mess with her head."

Shapiro thought the salon, which looks like a mini-theme park, might be "a gimmick." But on the suggestion of friends, she decided to give it a try. What happened in the chair surprised her.

Sarah grinned while stylist Roseanna Bates of Mahopac trimmed her long brown locks while asking her about her teacher and best friend. When Sarah wiggled to the catchy Calypso beat of the video game she was playing, Bates paused to shimmy along with her. Afterward, Sarah said her haircut was "great." Handing Bates the tip for the $16.99 cut, she said, "I hope you have lots of customers."

The salon was Snip-its, a national franchise that made its local debut in the Cortlandt Town Center last month. Owner Jennifer Solomon, a former Wall Street analyst and mother of two pre-schoolers in Dobbs Ferry, bought the franchise rights for Westchester. In the next two years, she plans to open two more salons, eyeing locations in Port Chester and Rye Brook and on Central Avenue in Hartsdale and Scarsdale.

Locally, Snip-its is the latest addition to the growing number of salons that cater to children. They have kid-friendly decor and DVDs and video games to distract kids while they get their haircuts. Some salons have special chairs, like the horse, tractor, pink Jeep and airplane at Short Cuts in Mahopac. Some give certificates that enclose a lock of hair to children after their first haircut. Cuts typically range from $12 to $20. Some salons sell their own hair products, too. And many host "glamour parties" in which girls dress up and get their hair done.

To capture more of the market, salon owners realize that they need to target a specific demographic, according to a 2005 report by market research firm Mintel International. Some department stores are beginning to add salons for children, and children's salons are starting to cater to "cash rich, time poor" parents by letting them get their hair cut as well, the report says.

That's the case for many children's salons in this region, including KidStyles, which has salons in Bedford Hills and one that opened last week in Pleasantville. KidStyles started as a salon for children and teenagers, but parents found that it was convenient for them to get their hair done at the same time, said owner Doreen Gigante of Bedford Hills. Teenagers have a separate room with a hand-painted mural and their own music and TV. Haircuts start at $18, and the salon also offers coloring, nails and ear-piercing.

When cutting children's hair, patience and a knack for working with kids are key.

"We try to make them feel like they're in a safe place - that we're only going to trim their hair, and we have a buzzer that's a 'tickler,' " said Angela Guarino, manager of Kid's Cuts in the Nanuet Mall, where children's cuts are $12. "Sometimes we spend 45 minutes on a kid because they don't sit still."

For those who cry, her shop has stylists who are very quick at cutting hair, she said.

Parents can also bring the child for a visit first, said Amy Valois, co-owner of Moptop Inc. in New City, where basic cuts are $14. "Sometimes the kids are crying, and we say, 'You know what? If you don't want to get his hair cut, let him play.' "

Before his haircut at Snip-its, 17-month-old Joseph DeBellis wandered around touching the colorful fixtures that towered above him. But when it came time for his haircut, his expression of wonder turned to tears.

Older children seemed too involved with the video games to worry about their haircuts. Danielle Sharp, 6, grasped the computer mouse on her lap as she gazed at the colorful screen. Bates, her stylist, talked to her about the animated cartoon characters. As part of their training, stylists learn the names and personalities of the characters, which are the company's own creations.

Danielle's hair has been a source of contention, said her mother, Lisa Kahn of Yorktown. "It was very long, and she didn't want to cut it," she said. "I would brush it in the morning, and she would yell and scream."

Afterward, Danielle worried about whether children at school would still "play with it." Her mother assured her they would and added: "There's no more knots - it's much easier."

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