Shear Bliss: Cranberry Salon Lops Locks of Little Ones

The screaming. The tears. The ranting. The raving.

No, we’re not talking about Charlie Sheen. We’re talking about the temper tantrums children have at times -- in and out of the public spotlight.

Dare to say "No" to five more minutes at the park? Tears of fury stream down your child’s face. Made your little one clean up their toys? Furious screams ensue. Take your child to get a haircut? Get ready for a meltdown.

Haircuts can cause anxiety for you and your child, especially if you are the parent of a child with special needs. But, if your once-polished child now looks like a cousin of Cousin It, it’s time for a trim.

For parents who are uneasy about inflicting their child's potential meltdown on an upscale salon filled with posh people, Carey Checkan and Amanda Young of Kidz Cutz can help.

Specializing in haircuts for children with special needs, Kidz Cutz by Carey, located at the intersection of Rowan Road and Route 19 in Cranberry Township, offers a full range of salon services for the family, including waxing services, perms and “minicures” for your little princess.

The salon is designed to keep antsy or timid children occupied during what may be a stressful event. Young said many parents tell her they are relieved to take their children to a place where the staff understands that little ones may not be happy about having their manes tamed.

“Kids (who) have never been able to get a haircut, no matter how many times mom has tried, may come in screaming,” she said. “It’s true, the first couple times may be very rough for us, but we stick with them. Eventually the kids end up having so much fun.”

Because it’s designed with children in mind, this salon has no muted colors or chic artwork. Dora the Explorer and Care Bears rule these walls. The salon also has novelty cars, jeeps, and motorcycle seats for little ones to sit on while their locks are trimmed. This helps kids forget about the scary haircut they are about to receive and focus on more important things, such as turning on the CD player in the jeep or watching the movie they selected on individual flat-screens televisions at each hair-cutting station.

“Some kids, especially those with special needs, want nothing to do with a haircut,” Young said. “It is strange to them. It takes them out of their element. It really causes a lot of stress for both the parent and child. That’s why they are so relieved when they come here. We understand.”

Understanding a scared child is one thing, but providing a quality cut for a child who won’t sit still – or who is scared of the scissors -- is a form of art. Somehow, Kidz Cutz makes it happen.

Using a relaxed method, stylists Kidz Cutz doesn’t push for the unnecessary. The kids don’t have to wear a cape if they don’t want to. They may color while they get their hair trimmed. Heck, they don’t even have to hold still.

“I have had kids who just won’t sit in the chair,” Young said. “So I let them sit on the floor while I cut their hair. I have chased kids around this salon and cut their hair whenever they would stop for a moment or two. We do whatever needs to be done for the kids to feel comfortable.”

Open for almost two years, Kidz Cutz did not initially market its services to kids with special needs. Young said it just happened.

“It was gradual. It just so happened that a lot of our kids were autistic,” she said. “Thanks to the parents, word got around to special-needs communities that we were really willing to really work with the kids. We live in a really great and supportive community that takes care of each other.”

It’s not just a shiny new do that get kids excited about when coming to the salon. Regulars at Kidz Cutz know there are rewards once the haircut is complete, including books, stuffed animals, and new crayons to take home. The salon also offers the popular “minicure.”

A pint-sized version of the manicures mommy receives, the minicures give little girls the full salon experience. The girls can choose from bright and glittery nail polishes that line the salon’s manicure table.

“The minicures are very popular. Little girls love them,” Young said. “It makes them feel like a princess, and they want to come back.”

While she gets a kick out of the kids who come into the salon, Young said she also loves the reaction she gets from parents who are stunned by their kids’ good behavior.

“Yes, it is great to see the kids happy and cute with their new hair cuts, but it is amazing to see the parents’ reactions,” Young said. “There is nothing like watching a mother walk out of here with tears of joy and relief in her eyes because her child finally was able to get a haircut.

"It’s such a rewarding job.”