Scattered thunderstorms, some strong this morning, mainly cloudy during the afternoon with a few showers. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Stylist Amanda Callaway gives a first haircut to Sadie Lawhorn, 2, of Huntington, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Pigtails & Crewcuts children’s salon in Barboursville.
Stylists Amanda Callaway (at left) and A.J. Jones (at right) are shown at their stations inside the new Pigtails & Crewcuts children's salon on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Barboursville.
Sadie Lawhorn, 2, of Huntington, sits down inside a racecar-themed styling chair as she prepares to receive her first haircut at Pigtails & Crewcuts children's salon on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Barboursville.
Stylist Amanda Callaway gives a first haircut to Sadie Lawhorn, 2, of Huntington, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Pigtails & Crewcuts children’s salon in Barboursville.
RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
BARBOURSVILLE — , a hair salon for children, opened its first West Virginia location in the Huntington Mall Plaza on March 11.
Pigtails & Crewcuts is a franchise based out of Atlanta. Local owners Jake and Kendra Bolen started the process of opening the salon about two years ago. They first went to a children’s salon when visiting family in New Jersey with their son, who hated getting his hair cut, and it changed the experience.
“There were movies playing, there were toys around, and he sat down and there were no tears, no crying. He was happy when he left and got a little photo opportunity at the end,†Jake Bolen said. “When we left … we talked a lot about how cool it would be if something like that was here, and that was 10 years ago.â€
The couple considered multiple franchise options but found Pigtails & Crewcuts to be the most responsive and easy to work with.
Sadie Lawhorn, 2, of Huntington, sits down inside a racecar-themed styling chair as she prepares to receive her first haircut at Pigtails & Crewcuts children's salon on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Barboursville.
RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Some families, like Dylan Lawhorn and Abby Maxey, have been waiting to take their 2½ year old daughter, Sadie, to the new salon for several months. She had her first haircut Wednesday.
“I was determined to wait for this place to open. They specialize in kids. They’re going to be great. They have the little cars; she’s going to love it. And like every parent, we tried to do it at home … no, no, it was traumatic for everyone involved. So we’re like, we’re going to leave it to the pros who know how to handle the children,†Maxey said.
Sadie seemed to enjoy the experience. She chose which car she wanted to sit in, her favorite show, “Bluey,†was on the TV, there were lots of bubbles and she got to choose a toy from a prize box at the end.
Catering to a special clientele
The salon caters to children 12 and younger. The cars are meant for toddlers and there is a larger chair in a separate room in the back with a video game console. Parents can get their hair cut, too. If a child is being really fussy, they can sit on their parent’s lap while they get their hair cut.
The owners say it’s their goal to have each child in-and-out in under 20 minutes. Even with the toys and children’s TV shows, waiting can cause restlessness.
Jake Bolen said they have five stylists on staff right now and are looking for one more. They cater to children of all ethnicities and those with disabilities, too, so every child can get their hair cut there.
The service menu includes a haircut, first haircut package, bangs, updos, shampoo, ear piercing, nail polish and more.
The salon’s first haircut package includes a lock of hair and keepsake card with photo. They offer a 10-haircut package that saves the cost of one haircut.
Stylists Amanda Callaway (at left) and A.J. Jones (at right) are shown at their stations inside the new Pigtails & Crewcuts children's salon on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Barboursville.
RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Coming to South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä?
Jake Bolen said the response from the community has been great and people have been really excited.
One big misconception Bolen says the salon has been dealing with relates to location. The salon is not in the Huntington Mall building; it’s between Best Buy and Michael’s.
Bolen said the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise insists all its locations be in an easily accessible spot like a strip mall. That way if a single parent wants to bring all their kids in at same time, it’s a short walk from their car to the store. They do accept walk-ins, but it might take a little longer and scheduling services in advance is recommended.
“We’ve had people from Pikeville [Kentucky]. When I was looking into this, we met a couple who, their son had Down syndrome, and they traveled two hours to get to a Pigtails & Crewcuts because that’s the only place he could get his hair cut,†he said.
The Bolens plan to open a location in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä at the under-construction Park Place Shopping Center, which is slated to include a Kroger Marketplace and Mission Barbecue. They’ll join the existing Chick-fil-A and Starbucks at that location.
