By Samantha Finglass
Most parents would agree taking their child to get their hair cut can be a daunting task. Between the scissors, razors, and smell of chemicals at a normal salon, kids get spooked walking in. But what if they walked into lime green and hot pink walls, police car and fire truck seats instead of high chairs, and a wall filled with TVs and Xbox players loaded with all of their favorite games? Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids combines all that with a kid-focused staff and quality service to provide the ultimate haircut experience for kids.
“There’s nothing like [Sharkey’s] in town, or even an hour away from here in any direction,” says Courtney Zalesak, one of the owners of Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids. Zalesak and her husband opened Sharkey’s because they found there was a lack of children’s entertainment in College Station. When looking through different franchise opportunities, Zalesak says they landed on Sharkey’s because they knew it was something that not just their family, but the entire community could enjoy.
Sharkey’s offers all of the services you would expect from a kids hair salon with a unique environment to help kids feel comfortable. Services include everything from standard hair cuts all the way to Glamour Girl parties. Their aim is to provide exceptional cuts without sacrificing the experience. “We are here to make kids feel comfortable and be able to have fun while getting their hair cut,” says Zalesak.
For the youngest clients, Sharkey’s lets them choose between sitting in a Batman car, Dodge Charger police car, fire truck, or Frozen Jeep. Older kids are able to play Xbox or hang out in the Tween Lounge during their cut. Each girl is able to have a complimentary “minicure” where they get their nails painted in the color of their choosing. For older girls, the glamour lounge was specially designed to make them feel extra special during their cut. No matter their age, Sharkey’s has something to offer for every kid.
In addition to kids cuts, Sharkey’s offers adult cuts for parents. Their parent-child packages help families save money while being able to spend quality time together. “It’s really fun when you see men come in with their sons and they’re both sitting here playing Xbox,” says Zalesak. “You don’t see that anywhere else.”
Outside of normal salon hours, Sharkey’s turns into a birthday party haven featuring princess and superhero parties. As their goal is to make things as easy as possible for the parents, Zalesak says they provide everything but the cake. “We provide food, drinks, all of the paper goods they would need, party favors, and costumes,” says Zalesak. Princess parties include hair, makeup, and nails for each girl, a runway fashion show, and the opportunity to meet a live princess. For superhero parties, a live superhero is brought in to guide all of the kids through superhero training.
What makes all the magic possible is the staff’s willingness to go above and beyond, says Sarah Sledge, the manager at Sharkey’s. “Everyone who works here now really has their heart in it,” says Sledge. The staff will accept and love on each kid and make Sharkey’s a positive place for them whether they are sitting in their mom’s lap or in a fire truck kiddy car.
“My favorite part [of working at Sharkey’s] is the challenges that come along with it and being able to see the kids grow and get comfortable, and making this place a positive experience for them,” says Sledge. “I like people and I like making them happy, which is why I got into hair in the first place.”
Knowing the experience they provide, Zalesak says to parents, “There is no fear in bringing your kid in!”
