Hair salon targeting children sets openings in Reno, Sparks

Mike McBride,who gained experience with youngsters as the owner of two child-care centers in the Truckee Meadows,will expand his reach with hair salons targeted exclusively to children.

McBride purchased the northern Nevada rights to Snip-its, a franchised operation based at Natick,Mass.

He leased 1,600 square feet for his first store at Sierra Summit, the lifestyle center under construction at Highway 395 and Mount Rose Highway.

That store, which will be located near a Dillard's department store in the center, is projected for opening in March 2006.

McBride and his real estate agent, Gena Albanese of CB Richard Ellis in Reno, are scouting locations for a second store in northern Sparks or Spanish Springs.

That shop, he said, is expected to be open in late 2006.

Each of the shops, he said,will employ about eight to 10 hair stylists.

They'll need to have skills to cut the hair of only children all day, but McBride said they'll be paid at aboveaverage rates and can expect above-average tips from parents.

As kids get haircuts at Snip-it shops, they entertain themselves with an adventure play station.

Characters such as Flyer Joe Dryer, Curly Comb and Jean Luc le Spritz provide further atmosphere.

When their haircut is complete, children trade a lock of their hair for a prize.

The Sierra Summit store will include a "glamour party" room where parents can schedule birthday parties or other events at which children can dress up.

McBride,who also owns Little Rascals child care in Sparks and Child Garden in South Meadows, said he understood the need for a child-oriented hair salon from his experience as the father of a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old.

Snip-its has about 20 locations open or under development across the United States.