FAQ:
How can I make my child's haircut a better experience?
For adults, a trip to the salon can be relaxing. For kids, it can be the complete opposite. Many children are afraid of having their hair cut or find it difficult to sit still in the stylist’s chair. Here are some tips for making it a happy experience.
- Take your child’s schedule into consideration. Try to book an appointment when your child is well rested, fed and comfortable.
- If this is your child’s first visit, start preparing them a day or two before your trip to the salon. Let them bring a favourite stuffed animal or comfort item.
- For very young children, bring an easy to eat snack that can help distract them from what the stylist is doing.
- Kids are sensitive to the feelings you have and the words you use. Avoid using the word cut (cuts hurt!). Try using words like trim. Also, try to focus on the positive experience they could have instead of thinking it will be a nightmare.
- Bring an extra t-shirt. Some children react to having a cape put around them. An extra t-shirt allows you to change them immediately after the haircut and can help ease the tension by not having to drape them.
- If your child is super anxious about having their hair cut, bring them in for a visit to meet the staff and check out the surroundings.
How do the stylists make children haircutting a better experience?
- We greet kids in a fun and inviting manner
- We invite children to pick the chair they want to sit in and the movie they want to watch
- We take a no fear approach. No matter the amount of anxiety a child has, you will feel no anxiety from your stylist.
- We show your child the tools we use and invite them to touch them and show them how we use them.
- We keep the toys coming and will stop at nothing to get the job done.
- We communicate with the parent to ensure they are getting the cut they asked for with quality results.
- We truly love our job.
Do I need to make an appointment?
- No. However, if you are in a time crunch, appointments are recommended. Unfortunately, we are not always able to accommodate walk-ins. Learn more about our hours and location.
How long is the wait?
- Our walk-ins are done on a first come/first serve basis. We can often accommodate walk-ins between appointments, but you never know when you are going to walk in on the heels of Carol Brady and her six kids! If you arrive one minute before her, you will not wait as long as if you walk in one minute after her. We will do our best to get you in and out, but there is always some risk involved in walking in. Please call when you can.
Are haircut appointments guaranteed?
- We book your child's haircut appointment in half hour blocks. Most cuts take 15 to 30 minutes but sometimes can take slightly longer depending on the complexity of a cut or the mood of a child.
- We will hold your appointment as long as you can but will consider it lost if more than ten minutes late. We appreciate a call if you’re going to be late or unable to make it. There is no charge for cancelling last minute.
What if my child doesn’t “cooperate”?
- In our eyes, there’s no such thing. We will do whatever we can to make the service a success but if we feel it’s a safety risk to your child, we will stop. We would prefer you didn’t hold your child’s head still as they usually fight even more. We are used to working with children that squirm so while you might not get a precision cut, you will get a better cut than if you were to have someone else do it that is not used to it!
Why should I care who cuts my child’s hair?
- Rarely will you find another stylist that is intent on building a relationship with your child. A child should have a relationship with their stylist as you do with yours. We love children and choose to specialize in hair services for them. You will not find another stylist in Kingston or area that can say the same.
Who is your best hair stylist?
- Kelly, owner and stylist was trained on children, loves working with kids and has two boys of her own. To her, customer service and quality haircuts is of the utmost importance. To ensure the best experience possible, call and book with her. Kelly does support local co-op placements and apprentices whenever possible.
Why does Tortoise & the Hair support co-op placements and apprentices?
- Tortoise & the Hair is a proud supporter of co-op student and apprentices as they learn and grow as well as having hands on experience. Kelly, owner and stylist, was trained hands on with children, as an apprentice, and strongly believes that it is truly the way to learn.
What if I don’t like the haircut?
- Tortoise & the Hair offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied, we will fix it for FREE! Whether you don’t like the cut or it’s not quite short enough, bring your child in within seven days, no questions asked!