Snip-its Haircuts for Kids

Getting your child’s haircut can be an anxiety-ridden process. For some kids, the idea of sitting still for more than a nano-second is completely out of the realm of possibility. For parents, there is the drama of knowing just which salon isn’t going to look at you, when you bring your child in for a trim, as if you asked them to cut the bangs off your rabies-infected cocker-spaniel.

Thankfully, there is Snip-its. A hair salon franchise that specializes in “hair care and branded entertainment”, Snip-its has locations in 27 states and is expanding. Snip-its is a franchise business founded in 1995 as a place where kids could get a wiggle-resistant haircut.

Snip-its was recommended to me by a fellow mom whose son loved his experiences there. My husband took our daughter there for her first haircut. After his opening line: “Um my wife sent me to get her haircut. I don’t know what else she wants,” the Snip-its staff went to work. Now, this is where—depending on the franchise and the “stylist”— things may indeed, get dicey. Precision is not their forte. It’s about raw speed. For older kids, they will spend more time on the cut itself—but for the toddler set, don’t expect the same perfect style that some of the celeb tots are sporting on the streets of Manhattan or L.A.

But for sheer distraction value, Snip-its can’t be beat. From the moment you walk in, the place is brightly colored and loud. Snip-its has created its own band of cartoon characters including a comb, brush and pair of scissors that adorn everything from the walls to their own line of hair products.

When you make it to a stylist station there is a television to watch one of the Snip-its cartoons, animal crackers to nosh and bubbles to blow. Spicy girl knows the drill so well that the last time we went, she sat down and started to ask for both the bubbles and the crackers. Cuts in my area are $15, and for a little more money the stylist will put a bow or two in her hair. Frankly, I think that’s an unnecessary charge, and typically don’t go for it.

At the reception desk, your child is given a Snip-its plastic card to slip into a slot, and, after a flurry of sounds and motion, out comes a toy. (Usually one that is not approved for a child under the age of 5.)

Overall, Snip-its is a great concept. I like the convenience and the speed, but I am wishy-washy on the consistency and the “up charges” for the bows. I have never been pressured into buying any of their products, which is notable. They offer a “frequent customer” card, but if you have more than one Snip-its in your area, beware, the cards are specific to your franchise.