Pigtails & Crewcuts - Haircuts for Kids

April is ending, and with it, National Autism Awareness month. Before we get swept away in May observances (May happens to observe a wide range of awareness, including National Stroke Awareness Month, National Better Sleep Month, National Women’s Health Month, National Old Age Month and National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month), we wanted to take a moment to say that Pigtails & Crewcuts in Glenview welcomes kids of all shapes, sizes, dispositions and needs.

Our staff is hand-selected for their empathy and compassion, and we have experience with children of all demeanors and decibel levels. We work with each child to give him or her the best salon treatment possible. With some children, that means allowing them to select the fire truck or taxi chair they’d like to sit in, along with their favorite book or movie. Other kids would prefer to play with our wooden train table and avoid the chairs altogether. In those cases, we’re happy to follow him or her around and trim hair as the child plays. We also want our customers to know that if your child thrives in a quiet environment, talk with us about it. We can work with your schedule and arrange an appointment during our more quiet hours during the week, or schedule you in before we open, if that works best.

Manager Theresa Lamb says that she and the staff strive to fit into each kid’s world, rather than the other way around. “We treat any child according to their needs. There are kids that have issues with haircuts, and we understand that. We have a train table for them to play with, movies for them to watch, lollipops to enjoy—whatever it takes. We just try to work with every child in the way that best suits him or her.”

 In other news: Pigtails & Crewcuts Owner Bob Farster launched a new column on Glenview Patch. In his most recent entry he speaks with the father of an autistic child and asks him, point blank, what he wants the public to know about autism.

Lights, camera … diva action!

Did you know that our salon has a party room? Your daughter will be the belle of the ball at a Pigtails & Crewcuts dress-up party. In a room just for her, she and her friends can choose from an elaborate wardrobe of gowns, enjoy tasteful make-up application and non-toxic manicures. Our professional party host will play entertainment DJ, leading the girls through Freeze Dance and Wii Karaoke, along with classics like limbo, Simon Says and telephone games.

Each party is as creative as the kids are. Past themes have included Justin Bieber (complete with a full-size Justin Bieber poster, matching cups and themed goody bags), Fancy Nancy, glamor parties, princess parties, luaus, pirate parties and more. Plus, moms love the fact that the kids have all the fun, and then we do all the clean up. Book your party today and find out why Parents.com named Pigtails & Crewcuts one of the Top 10 Chains for Kid Birthday Parties.

Spring is here …. what will you wear? You’re invited to find the latest outfits for the whole family at Kelly’s Kids spring trunk show at Pigtails & Crewcuts at The Glen Saturday, March 31, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Whether you’re shopping for new Easter duds or just some everyday Madras shorts, Kelly’s Kids has all the irresistible latest styles. Some of this season’s favorites include vintage rompers, Bishop dresses, vintage cross back dresses, boys Jon Jon’s, Madras shorts, swimwear and more (sizes range from newborn to 14/16). Need help coordinating the family’s frocks? Sales rep Becky Dempsey will be on hand for all of your fashion curating needs, and those who spend more than $150 will receive a free hair accessory.

If you’re unable to make the Saturday party but would like to participate from afar, please go to www.kellyskids.com/BeckyDempsey before March 31. When you check out, enter party #5433.

About Kelly’s Kids: Kelly’s Kids was started three decades ago by a mom living on a cotton farm in Louisiana. Today, that mom continues to oversee the design of the collections, and the kids run the business. The mission remains the same: To provide high-quality clothes for moms who want to mix, match and coordinate the family.

Raimonda Daka’s first day with Pigtails & Crewcuts was March 6, 2012, which was opening day for the Mount Prospect children’s hair salon. We’re enjoying getting to know this savvy stylist, and we hope you do, too.

Where are you from? Originally, I’m from Albania,  it’s a small, beautiful country by Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia.

Do you have kids? I have two girls, one is 24 one is 18.

How long have you been working at Pigtails & Crewcuts? I began March 6 when the Mount Prospect salon opened.

How long have you been styling hair? Almost 11 years. I worked in a different kids’ salon for five years before starting to work here.

What drew you into this career? I love doing hair and I love children. And the products we use at Pigtails & Crewcuts are chemical-free, that’s a big thing for me.

What’s the funniest/strangest/cutest/wackiest hair or other request you’ve received from a customer?  I had a client who was maybe 8, with very, very curly hair and he wanted it buzzed with a long tail. When he came for the first time, I was thinking, in my mind, “Ok, I have to cut his tail.” But then when I asked, “So, what kind of hair cut do you want?” he said, “Just keep the tail. Everything else you can make nice and short, but with the tail, just a little trim.”

How did you respond to that? I went along with it. Whatever they want—that’s important.

What’s your secret weapon to get a child to stop crying before or during their haircut?  If they cry I’ll give them a lollipop or show them a book or toy, something that moves around. Girls especially love books, and they’ll look down so I can cut their hair. With boys, it’s video games.

What are some of your favorite haircut memories as a child? I had very good haircuts as a child. I went to a hair stylist, it was not like this, it was very simple. And I always had the same style: a bob, same as now. I changed it over the years, but when I was little it was always a bob.

Daka works primarily at the Mount Prospect location but will occasionally work at the Glenview Pigtails & Crewcuts. To make an appointment with the Glenview team please call 847.486.0700.

Psst! Pass it on. The newest Pigtails & Crewcuts is opening Tuesday, March 6 in Mount Prospect’s Randhurst Village! We’re thrilled to show off our new digs, so check out our latest blog to see the schedule and stop in and say “hi.”

Did you read about the local mom who makes the kids’ bows, clips and headbands for our Glenview salon?

Are you ready for a new spring hairstyle?

Are you up to date on the latest happenings with our new children’s salon opening at Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect?

Do you know how to receive a $2 discount off your next hair cut?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then we have a surprise for you: Our latest newsletter.

Happy reading! We hope to see you soon.

In 2008, when Kim Miller’s daughter was an infant, the child’s hair was so fine that hair clips would inevitably fall out. So Miller, who had always had a crafty streak, decided to take matters into her own hands. She began making hair clips, bows and headbands, herself. Her daughter loved the pinks and purples, and as she grew older, she especially loved having a hair accessory that matched every outfit.

After seeing her daughter’s positive response, Miller began making even more headbands and clippies. It was something relaxing to do in her downtime—which, as an environmental engineer and mom she admittedly doesn’t have much of. Still, she made barrettes and fashioned bows for her nieces, and gave them away as birthday gifts to her daughter’s friends. Before long, her own friends were telling her that she should sell her wares, so she set up the BowsNBands shop on Etsy and did just that.

About three years ago, she took her daughter in to get her hair cut at Pigtails & Crewcuts. She noticed that the salon carried a number of cute hair accessories, and spoke with Bob Farster, the salon owner, about her own creations. Farster invited her to bring in a sampling, and the store has carried the bows, clips and headbands ever since. In March, the salon will also be selling the hair accessories from its new location in Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect.

“As a business owner, it’s important to me to be able to showcase the items that our neighbors and customers make,” says Farster. “Kim makes a quality product at a great price point, and our customers really love her style. They also love knowing that they’re getting a unique, handmade item by a crafty local mom.”

Miller, who grew up in Glenview and now lives in Park Ridge, says that she’s enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Pigtails & Crewcuts. She is proud to have a physical location selling her creations and complementing her online presence. She also says that the style of her hair accessories fits well with the style of kids in the area—subtle and cute, but not over-the-top. “It fits well with the North Shore, which is maybe a little preppier,” she says.

Winter hat-hair got you up in a tizzy? Pigtails & Crewcuts helps fight the frizzy.

Are Sally and Sam stuck on static this winter? Dry, winter air has a way of causing kids’ (and adults’) hair to levitate. Theresa Lamb, stylist and manager of Pigtails & Crewcuts in Glenview, has an easy solution.

“In the winter the kids’ hair gets static-filled, because there’s no moisture in the air,” says Lamb. “When they put on hats and hoods, it makes the hair stand straight up. I recommend a product called No-No Knots, which is a detangling spray you can put into the hair or on the hood of your jacket. No-No Knots puts moisture back into the hair and makes it lay down flat.”

Stop fighting the frizzies and clamoring with curls. An easier solution awaits you at your friendly kids’ salon, Pigtails & Crewcuts at The Glen.

We love to be blogged about!

What a pleasant surprise to find a lovely blog about Pigtails & Crewcuts (with great photos!), written by one of our longest-running customers. “Who said that a 4-year-old cannot have her very own hair stylist?” the blog asks. We couldn’t agree more.

Thanks to Stella and Ruby for being such adorable customers and sharing your story. We encourage all of our customers to share their stories and photos with us. One of the greatest things about this business is getting to know so many interesting and diverse families.

If you have stories to share please email us at glenview@pigtailsandcrewcuts.com or post them on Facebook. While you’re at it, have you “liked” us on Facebook? We’re launching a social media campaign and would love to broaden our reach. We could use all the help we can get, so please spread the word.

1. Where are you from originally? Rochester, New York.
2. Do you have kids? No.
3. How long have you been working at Pigtails & Crewcuts? Three years.
4. How long have you been styling hair? Six years.
5. What drew you into this career? My mom has never been able to “do” hair—she has no desire—so growing up I always did my hair and my friends’ hair. I was able to teach myself French braids and other styles. I’ve always known I wanted to do hair. Even in high school, I worked in a salon as a receptionist.
6. What’s the funniest/strangest/cutest/wackiest hair (or otherwise) request from a customer you’ve ever had? A little boy wanted a rat tail after the Chicago Blackhawk’s Stanley Cup Playoffs win. He wanted to keep growing it until they lost their first game the next year of the playoffs.
7. How did you respond to that request? I did it. His mom was totally free-spirited and fine with it.
8. What’s your “secret weapon” to get a child to stop crying before (or during) their hair cut? It depends on the kid, but usually a movie or a special toy. Sometimes I’ll put a musical toy on the ground to get them to look down.
9. What are some of your favorite haircut memories when you were a child? I don’t have good haircut memories as a child. I think that’s another reason I became a stylist. Having curly hair, I got so many bad haircuts as a kid. People didn’t know how to cut my hair. In my seventh-grade yearbook picture my hair was two inches longer on the left side. Now I’m making sure kids don’t have to live with uneven hair or Christmas-tree haircuts.