Pigtails & Crewcuts is a franchise. Often people think of franchises as ‘big chains’, but Pigtails & Crewcuts is far from a ‘big chain’. The way that a franchise such as Pigtails & Crewcuts works is someone comes up with the idea, they copyright the idea and then people like myself who see there is a need in the community buy the right to use their idea and you pay they a monthly fee off your sales as a loyalty.

YOUR local Pigtails & Crewcuts, in this case Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb…is really a small business. Yes, we look like any other Pigtails & Crewcuts, but we operate to serve OUR community. The staff that we employ lives here, the owner lives here, we support our local schools, we donate to local charities, we go to your child’s spring flings and fall festivals and we serve YOU.

A few weeks ago, the franchise asked to film a commercial at our location! We were so excited that they asked for me to reach out to our customers to ‘star’ on said commercial for use nationwide and we were more than happy to say YES!

This is part of the email describing what it took to produce this video to represent what we do every day:

As proud as we are of the new campaign we’re just as thrilled to introduce our new video titled “Beyond Great Haircuts”. Over 45 total hours of work went into crating the final product – 6 hours of script writing & editing, 10 hours of onsite footage, and 20 hours of video editing. As of last night, it’s now available for the world to see. Take a look! Pigtails & Crewcuts – Haircuts for Kids: “Beyond Great Haircuts”

It is our hope that you will see that Beyond Great Haircuts, we are a business that cares about your child. We know your child, we watch them grow and we get joy every time we see their sweet smiles.

Here is the end result: We hope you love it and share it with your friends!

Did you see a friend or someone you know?

If you are finding us for the first time, come in and experience Pigtails & Crewcuts: Beyond Great Haircuts!

We look forward to meeting you!

At Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb we aim to provide a perfect experience every time. We want each and everyone of our customers to know that they are loved and appreciated. Each and everyone one of you matters. In order to be able to provide consistent service, we have to operate under certain policies that make things fair for all involved, you as the customer, the stylists as the staff and myself as the business owners.

We often get customers upset because we are unable to bend our policies and while we make our best effort to explain the purpose of the policy, we find that when the customer is upset, it is difficult to get pass the ‘upset’ part.

We thought we’d take a moment to explain a few so they will make sense to you:

• All sales are final. No refunds allowed. No cash refunds:  You can exchange an item within seven days for a(n) item(s) of equal or higher value. All of our gifts are individually packaged for the most part and it has been our experienced that items that have been returned simply don’t resell well and if the gift item has been in the customer’s possession longer than seven days it tends to not look ‘new’ anymore upon return. In regards to hair accessories it is  a matter of hygiene. We cannot determine if the item has been worked and therefore, we only allow a small period of time for exchange.  EXCEPTION: The item was defective at the time of purchase, in which case with a receipt we will make a refund if returned within 7 days of purchase. We will accept the return of any hair product within 7 days if you do not enjoy the product for any reason.

• Call ahead Policy: Customers may call ahead up to 30 minutes to their planned arrival to put their child’s name on the list to help with the wait if we have any. Call aheads are not appointments. We work in the call aheads with the people who are actually waiting at the store. We do not take appointments because we would have to charge those customers if they don’t show up and we don’t think that would make our clientele happy. Please understand that call aheads work 95% of the time. There are times everyone calls at the same time and shows up at the same time, the call ahead does not work then. We have lots of fun things the kids can do while you wait, please understand that we work on children’s time

• Shoes are required to receive service:  This applies to all persons entering our store. This is a State Board Regulation and it’s there for your own safety and the safety of your children. Hair can be sharp like a splinter and can be hard to remove from the skin. Salons often get inspected by the State Board Inspector and if we are found serving children not wearing shoes, we can be fined. Kindle helps us observe this rule.

• Loyalty Cards:  We can’t “catch you up” from prior haircuts because we do offer up a new card every time you don’t have your existing card with you and allow you to combine the cards. We want to make sure that we don’t make the mistake of double crediting the punches on your loyalty card.

We hope the reasons behind some of our policies will help us serve our customers better. If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at mariettawestcobb@pigtailsandcrewcuts.com. We aim to give you and your child the best kids’ haircuts every time and excellent customer service. We we exceed your expectations please tell your friends, if we did not meet them, please tell me!

Warmest Regards,

Nancy

We’re excited to introduce a new line at the salon called Original Sprout. Made with free and clean formulas, the hair products are created from oh-so-gentle organic botanicals to keep you and your children smelling and feeling naturally amazing. In fact, Original Sprout’s shampoos and body wash have the same pH as pure water, making them gentle to eyes, hair and skin.

We also love that a mom founded the company. Soon after Inga Tritt, a master stylist with professional experience, gave birth to her daughter, Maya, she committed to using only the safest, most natural baby shampoos and bath products on Maya’s soft skin and beautiful, thick hair. But she quickly learned that “natural” doesn’t always mean gentle, and was in a quandary about what products to purchase for her sensitive daughter.

A true entrepreneur, she decided to create her own ultra moisturizing bath and styling products. The line took off, and the rest is history.

We took a few minutes to speak with Original Sprout’s Mariela DeSantiago, and got the inside scoop on organics and the company’s wonderful line of products.

Why is organic important?

Organic is important largely in part because it’s free of pesticides, and, commonly, sustainable. That not only helps our farmers, but our future generations in preserving certain plant varieties that have amazing benefits.

Why should I change to an organic shampoo for my family?

As parents, we want to use only the safest products on our family. These products are free of pesticides, growth hormones, dairy and gluten to name a few ingredients, found in many cosmetics.

Beyond Great Haircuts for Kids! We are the hair experts!

Pigtails & Crewcuts Will Donate A Portion of April Proceeds to Benefit Autistic Children

April is autism awareness month, and for Pigtails & Crewcuts, that is a reminder that we can be the voice and helping hand to a whole community of individuals with special needs. This month, we’re donating part of the proceeds from our salons in Roswell and West Cobb to benefit non-profits that work with special needs children.

When we opened Pigtails & Crewcuts, our goal was to give kids and parents a top-rate salon experience, and never pass judgment. As a former social worker, I spent years working with children and know just how important it is to provide a supportive, friendly and fun environment, for everyone.

Today, many of our customers have autism, and our staff works tirelessly give them the best salon experience available. We begin by talking to the caregiver to understand what may set the child off, and what other sensitivities he or she may have. Often, autistic children are sensitive to noise, light or too much outside stimulation. We work hard to accommodate the child. Sometimes that means we open the store early so that it’s quiet during their haircut. Other times, we may turn off the TVs or the lights. We strive to do whatever it takes to create a pleasant experience for all of our visitors.

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, we are here to serve everyone and meet you wherever you may be. We understand that being a parent is tough, and adding a special-need component can make it super difficult at times. Our goal is to make one one thing—a haircut—a bit easier. You are family at Pigtails & Crewcuts, and while no child is perfectly behaved all the time, they are all perfect to us.

Ms. Sujuan (Swan) Glenn

1. Where are you from? Probably one of the few that are actually born and raise in Atlanta!

2. Do you have kids? None of my own.

3. How long have you been working at Pigtails & Crewcuts? I joined Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb when it first opened, almost five years ago. I took a break for a few months because the commute was long, but I missed ‘my kiddos’ so I had to come back and I am so glad to be back!

4. How long have you been styling hair? I have been a stylists for 10 years.

5. What drew you to this career? I decided to try a new career and fell in love with it! Can’t imagine doing anything else.

6. What is the funnies/strangest/cutest/wackiest hair (or otherwise) request from a customer you ever had? I had a little boy who wanted a mullet and he was set that nothing else would do!

7. How did you respond to the request?  The parents were up for it and so I did it!

8. What’s your ‘secret weapon’ to get a child to stop crying before (or during) their hair cut?  I find that talking quietly to them works because although they are crying, they are very aware of  what is happening around them and they want to hear what I am saying. Of course, giving them a treat is always a good back up plan.

9. What are some of your favorite haircut memories when you were a child? I don’t really have many memories of having haircuts, I do remember braids and styling other children’s hair.

When Ms. Sujuan is not working, she loves taking walks and discovering new places. Ms. Sujuan is an active member in her church and loves to go out to eat and to the movies.

What is it?

Is a Stella & Dot trunk show at our store. A wonderful opportunity to swing by and check out their fabulous Spring Collection that is all about color! Find the perfect piece to make last year’s outfit pop and fill like brand new again.

It is an opportunity to treat yourself guilt free, because you will look like a million bucks for very little!

Why Are We Hosting a Trunk Show at Pigtails & Crewcuts?

As a working Mom I understand the art that it is to balance work and being a Mom! That is why at Pigtails & Crewcuts we always welcome the opportunity  for a twofer (also known as killing two birds with one stone!). By hosting this terrific jewelry party we get to do a few things:

• Gives you something to look at while you are waiting for your little ones to get their Easter Haircut,
• We get to support another Mom, who is also a customer!
• We bring value to you, our customer,  by keeping you ahead of the latest trends!

When is it?

• Saturday March 31st, from 10 am to 1 pm in store at Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb

How?

Just come by the store and see for yourself the amazing Spring Collection. You will get to see it, touch it, wear it and order it!

Bonus!

All customers who attend and give their email address to the party hostess will be entered to win a ten haircut package at Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb (winner will be announced on 4/7/12). No purchase  required to enter, but you must be an existing customer of Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb or Roswell. You simply have to come to the party!

What if I Have Plans on the Day of the Party?

We make it easy for you! We love Pigtails & Crewcuts West Cobb is the magic phrase. Click on it and you can be part of the party too! You will have to place an order to enter the drawing because otherwise we can’t count you in.

You Can Preview the Collection today! 

Simply click on the photo below to ‘thumb’ thru the collection!

 We can’t wait to see you!

We thought we would do the leg work for our Pigtails &      Crewcuts and provide a good list of where the Easter Bunny will be and memories can be created! Here are some of the Easter Egg Hunts open to the public and happening around West Cobb

Do you Patch? Patch.com is an online service that gives you very local news…put in your zip code and be in the know about what is happening in your community. Pigtails & Crewcuts is excited to share a recent article featured in the Marietta Patch this week about us! We feel famous.

You can read our article http://marietta.patch.com/articles/making-haircuts-fun-for-kids

We are so happy to serve our community, our neighbors, our friends and be part of your life and as I always say: to be part of your family!

We  do make kids haircuts fun indeed!

If you are not part of patch.com join today and see what is happening around you!

See you soon!

Nancy

How to Prevent and Remove Lice in Children’s Hair

Q and A with Pigtails & Crewcuts Owner Nancy Anderson

“Lice” is a four-letter word. Even hearing it is enough to make you itch and scratch. That’s because head lice is a very common and frustrating problem for parents and their children. The first two questions parents ask when their child comes home with lice are, “How did you get it?” and, “How are we going to get rid of it?”

It’s important to know that lice do not reflect a lack of hygiene. In fact, Lice actually prefer clean hair. The child’s home or school environment does not make a difference when it comes to lice. In other words, lice do not discriminate. Anyone can get lice.

What are lice?

Lice are the plural of louse. Lice are small, wingless bugs with six legs and claws that need human blood to survive. Humans are prone to something called pediculosis, which is the name for the actual disease of having body lice or head lice.

Because lice cannot fly, they can only be spread from head-to-head contact. Lice use their claws to attach to hair and to lay eggs. Lice eggs, or nits, are laid along the hair shaft to the scalp and attached with a substance that is similar to glue (proper treatment is needed to remove nits.) The nits hatch in seven to 12 days. Baby lice, or nymphs, are the size of a pinhead when they hatch and mature to adulthood in eight to 12 days. Then they start to reproduce.

Is there a lice “season?”

There is no real louse “season,” per se. Head lice and can be found year around. It tends to be more common during the academic year, simply because children are in close contact with each other. Lice also tends to be more common in elementary schools because children of younger ages are often more affectionate with each other, and tend to play in closer quarters.

What can I do if my child has lice?

Your best bet is to catch it early. If a nit can be removed easily with your hands, it is not lice. Combing is the safest way to remove the nits, and it’s important to get rid of the nits right away. Start with a comb and crème conditioner. Sit your child in front of his or her favorite show/movie, take a deep breath and start combing. Pin up large areas of hair and let down small pieces as you comb through. This is the most effective way to get rid of the nits.

If your child has lice it, keep him or her home from school and do not get frustrated—remember they feel badly about this. Reassure them—and yourself—that is going to be OK. You can get rid of lice efficiently.

Are there products that will help?

One lice deterrent product that has had high success rates is made by Fairy Tales. The company has developed organic and all natural products that have proved to be effective 92 percent of the time in independent studies, when it comes to lice. This is a much higher rate than other commonly known lice products, which can contain pesticides, such as Lindane. Many of those treatments have proven ineffective, because lice have become resistant.

Pigtails & Crewcuts carries Fairy Tales shampoo and crème conditioner for use every other day or every third day, and their leave-in conditioner for daily use. The rosemary scent helps repel lice. We also carry their complete Lice Good Bye Treatment package, which includes the ‘terminator metal lice comb.” Whatever product you choose, it will take a couple of treatments and combing a couple of times to get rid of the lice/nits.

You may have heard about home remedy methods, such as putting oil, mayonnaise or Vaseline in your child’s hair. While they may help prevent lice, these are not effective methods of actually getting rid of lice. And besides, who wants to smell like mayo?

How should I treat my home?

In your house, you should wash all bedding in hot water every morning. Lice can live away from the human head for 24 to 36 hours, which gives them time to rest in the pillow and re-attach to the head. Vacuum to remove lice from furniture, car seats, stuffed animals, etc. Finally, make sure to thoroughly check everyone in your house, including yourself.

How can I prevent lice?

Teaching your child to not share hats and not to come into close contact with classmates can prevent lice. But in reality, that’s pretty tough to enforce at all times. Here are a few easier things to try:

•         DO keep long hair in braids/ponytails,

•         DO NOT wash hair every day. Lice don’t like the natural oils that our hair produces. Plus, they’re better able to grasp clean hair.

•         DO check for lice once a week, even if there is no scratching

going on.

•         DO keep jackets and winter wear in a separate closet. Smells

like rosemary or citronella have been shown to repel head lice,

so consider put unlit candles or scented soap in the closet

Which means that spring is in your hair! Is that time of the year that we start to think about the kids haircuts to get them in shape and looking their best for their Easter photos!

As always, thinking of you, we are ready! We have all of our spring bows out and the latest hair accessories are ready to get your little princess picture perfect!

We have lots of new items, many of them handcrafted exclusively for our store. If you haven’t been in in a while be sure to do so, while the selection is large!

Flowers continue to be the trend with bright and bold colors! Headbands and hair clips galore!

We also carry Emmi- Jay hair ties and headbands, just like Jennifer Anniston and many other celebrities wear!

Treat yourself as well! We are a one stop shop, come see all the fun new things!