Cookie Cutters: Making Kids’ Haircuts Fun

Thank you to Cookie Cutters for giving this mom a fun, stress-free haircut experience for her kiddos!

“We’re getting haircuts today!” I announce cheerily to my kids. Cue the groans, crocodile tears and excuses pretty much immediately: I hate haircuts! The blowdryer is SO loud, it hurts my ears! The scissors are scary! It makes my neck itch! Haircuts are BORING!

Every couple of months, my kids and I go through the same song and dance when it is time for haircuts. We’ve tried what feels like all the salons in our area, and we’ve trekked to kids’ salons across town to try to make the experience a bit easier. So, when I saw that Cookie Cutters, a salon dedicated to children’s haircuts, was opening up just down the street from our house, I was hopeful.

From the moment we walked through the door, I could tell that Cookie Cutters was going to be a fun experience. We were greeted with big smiles from the Cookie Cutters staff, and the kids immediately began to play on the indoor play area and slide. The salon is decorated with bright colors and images, and everything from the floors to the play area to the chairs were impeccably clean.

The kids played happily while I got them checked in. Their stylist introduced herself to me, and we discussed what I wanted to do for each of their cuts. I really appreciated how the stylist took a few minutes with me to make sure we were on the same page and to find out what each of my child’s preferences were. I let her know that my son, Liam, doesn’t like loud noises, such as hairdryers, and that my daughter, Linda, acts like the hairbrush is made of flames when I try to brush any tangles out of her hair. The stylist smiled reassuringly and said, “No problem.”

When it was time for the first appointment, my kids actually fought over who got to go first! Usually, the heated game of rock-paper-scissors is to determine who has to go first, not who gets to go first. My daughter won and skipped happily over to the stations to choose her chair. The chairs are not your typical booster seats; each child gets to choose from a variety of fantasy chairs such as an airplane, pink car, or even a Spider-Man car. Each station features an individual screen and choice of children’s show or game. There is also a small basket of toys for the child to play with during their haircut.

Ready to take off for her haircut!

Once she was settled, the stylist took her time introducing herself to my daughter and walking her through what she was going to do. The stylist was friendly and engaging with my daughter, and the two of them chatted happily throughout most of her haircut. My daughter has bangs, and can get a bit antsy when the scissors are right in front of her eyes, but she was having so much fun talking and enjoying the experience, that she barely noticed or reacted during the bang trim. I think she was actually a little bummed when her turn was over, until she realized she could go back and play on the slide during her brother’s turn.

My son, Liam, does not like having to sit still, but he was so excited about his Spider-Man car, he didn’t fuss at all when it was his turn. He was much less interested in talking to the stylist than his sister, but he was content to push all the buttons in the car, play with the toy dinosaur and soak up all the sights and sounds during his haircut.

All smiles for his haircut!

In the chair next to my son, a smaller boy was getting his haircut, and he was NOT happy about. He was screaming and crying and kept trying to climb out of his chair. The stylist was so patient and kind to him. She did not get flustered by his cries, raise her voice at all or give the mom any what-am-I-supposed-to-do-about-this looks. She spoke calmly, got down on his level and distracted him with a small toy car and by blowing bubbles. It was such a sweet moment to witness, and I could tell the other mother was so appreciative of the way it was handled.

After their haircuts, each child gets to pick out a lollipop and a balloon. They were happy with their treats, and I was happy with how their haircuts turned out. As we were leaving, instead of complaining, they were both asking when they get to come back again.

Special Offer for JMB Readers

Cookie Cutters offers a variety of services for kids and adults and are giving JMB readers a special discount of $5 off a haircut throughout the month of March. Must mention this promotion when you call to book your appointment.

Jessica Stewart
Jessica is a North Carolina girl, who after living in New York City for eight years, is loving being back in the south since moving to Jacksonville in 2008. She is a stay at home mom to Linda Claire (3) and Liam (2). Prior to filling her days with parks and play doh, Jessica worked in event planning and marketing for financial and media companies, including This Old House. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, she is a passionate Tarheel fan, and college basketball season is her favorite time of year. Jessica spends her free time on the tennis court, training for races with her running buddies, or drinking wine her husband, Trevor. Her favorite things include snuggling with her sweet dog at the end of the day, hearing her kids laugh together, and pink cupcakes with sprinkles.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks for sharing your experience! I was just asking a friend the other day about this place 🙂

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