2018 Golden Teddy Awards — Shopping + Services

Winner: Kids Club and Salon

Haircuts and wiggly children — what could possibly go wrong? Kids Club, in Seattle’s University Village, turns a potential catastrophe into a pleasant experience. Sharing space with Kids Club’s toy and clothing store, the salon features 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 their temperament, the salon at Kids Club can get you both through the process tear-free. Its $34 half-hour hair tutorials are priceless for many families.

Finalists

“My kids won’t get their hair cut anywhere else,” says one mom about Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, which has locations in both Bellevue Square and Seattle’s Ballard Blocks. Besides the usual car-shaped seats, it has added Xbox stations, a Tween Lounge 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 “we’re ready when you are” walk-ins-only approach of Snip-its kids’ salon in Bellevue is welcomed by any parent who has had to deal with a last-minute change of plans brought on by a child’s sudden stomach bug or a 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?

Frances Grace Salon, in Mill Creek, is a full-service salon with a dedicated kids’ room, where kids younger than 10 can enjoy toys, games, videos and a mechanical elephant ride. Two of the salon’s stylists specialize in handling kids who have a hard time with haircuts. One happy reviewer says, “Our kids used to hate going to the barber. Now they all want to go first.”

It’s the one place nobody likes to go to, but that everybody is grateful for. Lice Knowing You, with multiple locations around the area, won’t give you or your kid a stylish new ’do. But when that red “lice” letter comes home with your child from school, the salon’s $15 Wet Head Lice Check will give you peace of mind that you’re lice-free. And if you aren’t, its staff will get rid of the lice for you ($100/hour, billed in 15-minute increments) with a 30-day guarantee. Families appreciate Lice Knowing You’s no-nonsense, nonjudgmental approach and the education (including tips for avoiding future problems) that comes with the service.