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Kid's Choice Hair Salon
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
1504 Encinal Ave(between Benton St & Paru St)
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-5437
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
18 reviews for Kid's Choice Hair Salon
I thought I'd be the kind of mom who would give her kids home haircuts but after I made my son look like Frankenstein (and right before the holidays and his first birthday--memorialized in all his photos for life) I have been going to kids salons and if that makes me a buppie than so be it.
I usually go to a lady at Cool Tops in Rockridge but she only works Fridays and Saturdays which are hard for me so I found Bridgette (the owner) of Kid's Choice through yelp. Great place. She let my son get used to the new space and he was having a ball--lots of toys in a living room like setting (couch, rug, fish tank) and even kinda messy like our space. She's fast but good--I asked her to do a cute little boy's hair cut keeping some of the length and she gave him a super duper cute cut. She's really good with kids. He didn't squirm once and was totally distracted by the really annoying toys that are must have's for hair cuts.
$21 is a few bucks more than what we pay at Cool Tops but that's ok by me--but not by my husband. He was truly horrified by that price for a kid's haircut and said he could just use his clippers and give him a #2. Um, I don't think so. I have to keep reminding him that it's the bay area and prices are higher and it does take some special skills to distract an active toddler--making it a pleasant experience. I would give this place 5 stars for service but I give it 4 b/c the price makes my husband grumble.
UPDATE: I just had to update this to 5 stars after I went again today. Bridgette is terrific. My son feels so at ease with her and I like her because she's so down to earth and easy to chat with. She's always been on time, and we're in and out of there in about 10 minutes. Well, my son always plays in the "living room" for about 5-10 minutes after the cut too.
Bridgette is still "between salons" so we made an appointment for her to come to our house for our daughter's first cut (at 2 years 1 month). My kiddo was a little scared at first but quickly won over by the promise of toys. The cut was super fast, Bridgette saved some locks for me, and kept my daughter's many cowlicks into consideration. She wound up with a very cute cut (basically a trim all around) and was overjoyed when Bridgette dumped a huge bag of toys on the living room floor for her to choose from (she went with the blue Mini-Cooper). A success all in all!
I absolutely praise Bridgette for opening up this much awaited hair salon for kids. Bridgette is the only salon I'd bring my kids to. She is very attentive and really wants your child to walk out of their looking good. She gives great attention and makes sure your child is as comfortable as they can be with the whole experience. (Much more than I can say about how other local salons treat children)
***Bridgette was my sons little league coach for the 07 season & she was a FANTASTIC coach!!!
If I could give this place 10 stars I would. My husband and I take our son (a year and a half old) there for his haircuts and it's dreamy every time. He's not fearful of haircuts, but it wouldn't even matter even if he was, because it doesn't take Bridgette more than 15 minutes to get the job done.
It's perfect there - everything from the fish tanks to kids being able to pick out a toy after the haircut - I can't recommend it enough.
Bridgette the owner was wonderful!!! my son is 14 months and hardly goes to anyone, so we wondered if she would even be able to cut his hair, but she was awesome, super friendly and my son loved her!! the shop is very cute with jeeps and motorcycles as seats. The washing station they climb up a ladder and lay down on a padded bed in a space shuttle. It was very cute a creative. My son was occupied the whole time with toys, and his haircut was done before he even knew what was going on.The haircut is adorable and we will def go back to her!!
Best place ever to take a child for a haircut, no matter how young. And Bridgette cuts adults' hair brilliantly too!
I can't believe there aren't any photos of this place, its great! The shampoo area is a space shuttle and all the cutting stations are cars and motorcycles. The haircut Bridget gave was great and its going to last a long time. Bridget was really wonderful and it was so worth the drive. She was happy to cut our hair too. We ended up hanging out there for an hour after the cut, playing with toys and the other children.
We love this place, especially after finally getting in with Bridgette herself. Before that we had seen some other woman who no longer works there, but always went a little shorter than we liked.
The atmosphere is great for kids. My son loves playing with all of the toys so much that he always cries when we leave b/c he wants to play some more. He is still not crazy about the hair washing, but always sits still and calm for the cuts. He loves all of the toys, and the seats for kids are so fun (motorcycle, race car, jeep). Bridgette is fantastic. She has an amzaing personality, and as other Yelpers have noted, she obviously loves kids. We got a cut that pleased my husband and I for once, (not too short and not too long). Even my mom liked it. This is the only place we will be going from now on. I realized that I could even get my hair cut in peace b/c my boy will love playing while she's cutting. So we will both be back.
Bridget is so fantastic with the kids. She is so kind and does an outstanding job cutting hair. She makes the kids feel so comfortable. My 5 year old loves going there because she knows she is going to get pampered. I highly recommend this salon for kids.... I hear she does a fabulous job on adults too. One of my girlfriends had her hair highlighted there and was so pleased.
Bridget has been cutting my daughters and my hair for years, she is a fabulous hair stylist and can fix any bad cut you may get else where; last year I went to a place on park st and man did they butcher me and burned my hair horribly, (I never will try another shop) she has helped me regain my confidence and got my hair back to looking natural and soft and it is finally getting longer; my daughter loves to go see Bridget at the shop; Bridget always has a nice little gift for the kids; all in all this is one terrific place to go.
I was looking for a new cafe with my 2 yo, and stopped in only for directions...but wow what an awesome saleswoman Bridgette is without trying. As we were about to leave, with our little stuffed animal from Bridgette, I saw that my daughter was in a receptive mood, and I had been meaning to get her hair cut... And so we did it right then. My daughter sat still and sweet with no problems. Bridgette is great with kids, and so nice to talk with. We even got a cute parting plaque for her first haircut, as well as a parting gift. I wish I'd known she'd cut my hair too or I would have asked for one for me! Maybe not if it cost 20 bucks too though, since I have naturally easy hair that only needs a trim. The only drawback is the price for me. It seems like 20 dollars plus tip is a lot, otherwise it was a pretty happy coincidence to find ourselves in her creative, fun shop.
My husband, my kids and I love every single thing about this place...from the excellent, expert, cute haircuts at amazing prices (for kids and adults) and the roomful of toys for the kids to play with while they wait and the "prize" box they get to choose a toy from after getting their hair cut to the wonderful atmosphere (colorful, creatively painted wall, fish tanks, the rocket ship you get to climb up in to get your hair washed before your cut complete with overhead space scenery to enjoy). And Bridgette (the owner) is one of the warmest, nicest people you could ever hope to meet. She is so kind and attentive to everyone and has a calming effect on even the most antsy of kids. This place is an absolute find!!
I read so many great reviews online. So we had to try this place out. We made an appointment with Bridget. There was plenty of street parking. My daughter can be a bit shy, but she was not at all scared. She loved the playroom, the space shuttle hair washing station and the choices of different cars to sit in for getting her hair cut. Bridget was warm, talkative, and very sweet. The phone rang the entire time which shows how popular the place is. Definitely call a day or so in advance if you want to get an appointment. I loved that Bridget believes in pampering kids. So many places that cut children's' hair can be so rushed, cold and non-attentive. They can do group parties, manis and pedis, and colored hair extensions. (My oldest daughter is looking forward to visiting.) Back to this visit, the only time kids cry is when it's time to go. After having her hair braided, choosing out bows and rubber bands, and being offered a prize...my daughter (surprise surprise!) didn't want to leave. She had such a special time. The haircut was $21, which was very reasonable for all the special attention and extras. Thank you Bridget and we wish you many more years of success!
I showed up for my son's appointment, and the salon was CLOSED. Are you kidding???
Earlier in the day, the reservationist told me that I could come in at 5 pm on Saturday for an appointment with "Lorna". Even though I was spending the day with my kids at Gilroy Gardens, I left the park early just to make my appointment. Well, traffic was GREAT and I showed up at 4:40 so that my son could play with the toys and warm up to the salon before his haircut. When I arrived, the shop was CLOSED! I banged on the door and stood outside the window in front for 10 minutes. Calls to the salon went unanswered and no one there at all.
We gave up and went home. Only then did I hear the message from the reservationist saying something like, "Oops I made a mistake. We actually close at 5, so can you please come a little earlier for your appointment?" Well, I WAS early and still no one was there! WTF???
I left an angry message for the salon and to date, no one has called back to apologize or explain the situation.
Next time I'm willing to spend $21 (before tip) on a 4 year old boy's haircut, I'm going somewhere else.
This place is absolutely wonderful. There are tons of toys around to make kids feel comfortable and they can sit in little toy cars or on a motorcycle while getting their cut! Bridgette truely seems to love kids and it really shows- from the decor to the way she interacts with her clientele. She also knows what she is doing. I have a little girl with stick straight hair (and remnants of a bad hair cut from Great Clips on South Shore) and she turned it into the cutest Suri Cruise/Shiloh bob! My little girl looks *so* cute. The cuts are competitively priced and she will do mommies and daddies for less than $30. And she has even mastered the 'Rachel'. Enjoy!
I was extremely impressed with this place! We went today for my son's haircut (he is 3 years old). He had a great time and we will absolutely be back for my daughter's first-ever haircut! All the fun chairs to sit in...the fish to watch...the toys to play with...you can tell that it was all designed by someone who really knows what kids like!
I refer all my friends w/kids to this wonderful hair shop! It's truly an experience just for them. It's practically Disneyland in there. Bridgette totally manages my son's longer hair so it looks great and he (a preteen) never fusses about going in for an appointment (what a relief!). She's fun & welcoming and when she's all through, the kids can pick out a little treat for themselves.
I love this Place I took my Daughter to get her first hair cut. Bridget cut her hair. She is very good with kids, made her feel comfortable and did a great job. Bridget is so friendly and makes you feel right at home. I also got a frame with a lock of her hair with a date. I plan on coming here for years to come!
