2017 Golden Teddy Awards — Shopping + Services

Winner: The Salon at Kids Club

Haircuts and wiggly children — what could possibly go wrong? Enter The Salon at Kids Club in Seattle’s University Village, where a potential catastrophe becomes a pleasant experience. Sharing space with Kids Club’s toy and clothing store, the salon features cool car-shaped chairs and jungle-themed murals. “The staff is friendly and patient!” says one reviewer. “They also offer toys and treats to the kids — and a balloon when we’re done!” Whether the challenge is your child’s hair type or his temperament, The Salon at Kids Club can get you both through the process tear free. Costing $30, the salon’s half-hour hair tutorials are priceless for many families. 

Finalists

Bella and Max, located in Bothell’s Country Village, is noted for its chic cuts and happy clients. “My son loves getting his hair cut here,” says one parent. Bella and Max can feel like a stylish little community, providing a full range of services for kids, teens and their parents. Bella and Max has grown up along with its clients, and now the salon has two little kids’ rooms (one with a TV and one without) featuring Thomas the Train and car-shaped chairs, as well as a third room for older kids, who still love their stylist but want a more grown-up experience. Boys and their dads can choose to get their cuts in the “Man Cave.” 

“My kids won’t get their hair cut anywhere else,” says one mom about Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, with locations in both the Bellevue Square mall and Seattle’s Ballard Blocks. Besides the usual car-shaped seats, the salons have added Xbox stations and spa parties to the mix of amenities. Discounts for cash payments, military families and parents who get their hair cut with their kids sweeten the deal even more than the free balloon and lollipop included with each haircut. 

The opposite of trendy, Tina Hair & Nails Salon in Columbia City is truly an insider’s secret, with no web presence beyond a few favorable Yelp reviews. No whimsical chairs or video games here; Tina is a full-service salon for the whole family that welcomes appointments and walk-ins and boasts prices last seen in the 20^th century. The unimposing storefront houses a sparkling neighborhood treasure that inspires fervid loyalty from locals of all ages.   

The “we’re ready when you are” walk-ins only approach of Snip-its kids’ salon in Bellevue is welcome to any parent who has had to deal with a last-minute change of plans brought on by a child’s sudden stomach bug or an over-tired meltdown. The kid-focused approach is equally in evidence once you arrive: kids get a welcome video, video games, and when they’re all done, a prize. In addition to haircuts, services include ear piercing and lice prevention. Snip-its stylists also receive special training to meet the needs of children with autism in conjunction with Autism Speaks — need we say more?