Cool Tops
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Re: Kids Haircut near Rockridge?
I really like Cool Tops in Rockridge. I have two boys and we go about once a month.
They are very good with the kids and do a good job at judging their temperment and
comfort level. It's a bit pricey for a cut - aren't they all - but they do a clean
professional job, and very quickly too. I find their cuts look the best and for some
reason, take the least amount of time. Go figure! Try it out!
loyal customer
I went to Cool Tops for my boy's very first haircut, and it was a great decision.
However, when I took him back a few months later for another haircut, they botched it
terribly and I actually had to go back the next day for a repair.
I won't be going back to Cool Tops, and I too look forward to recommendations for a
place to cut a 2-year-old's hair.
Snuggies
I recently had a horrible experience at Cool Tops. From the first moment
my four year old son sat in the chair, the haircutter was curt and abrupt.
When he asked about watching a movie, she barked, the other boy was here
first so he got to choose! Her behavior only deteriorated from there.
As my son giggled and talked, she responded with statements like Youre
not very nice today, are you? and Youre just not being nice to me. I
was standing right next to him and can verify that the only thing he said
that could be remotely construed as not nice, was something along the
lines of this is taking a long time not an unusual sentiment for a
young child, Im sure.
Not only was she wholly unskilled in how she interacted with him (no
anticipatory guidance to let him know what she was doing or was going to
do, no asking politely for him to be still or move his head, no
explanation of what she wanted), she was physically rough with him as she
moved his head and body to suit her needs. Every time he moved (something
many children do during haircuts), she responded with a heaving, loud sigh
of exasperation and frustration, jerking him back to where she wanted him
to be. In fact, at one point, her response escalated to the point where
she actually became enraged, THREW down her scissors and comb, stomped off
to the bathroom -- sputtering and huffing and puffing the whole way -- and
SLAMMED the door! She gave every impression that it was all she could do
to refrain from hitting him. I should have left right then, but it was so
surreal and insane that I was paralyzed with shock and couldn't quite
believe it was happening in the moment.
My son, who had been well-behaved, cooperative, and polite, was totally
bewildered and perplexed by her utter meanness and harsh words. I'm sure
this isn't the norm there, but her behavior was flat out abusive and
totally unacceptable and I will never go back there in spite of the fact
that I live around the corner. To top it all off, I wrote a letter to the
District Manager of Cool Tops describing the incident and never heard back
from her.
I don't have the original post in front of me, but I wanted to respond to
an inquiry about Cool Tops in Rockridge. First, let me say that we will
probably keep going back to Cool Tops because my daughter loves it and we
enjoy visiting the neighborhood together. (We live in Albany, but she
doesn't love Snippety Crickets.) We recently went to Cool Tops, where we
go approximately every 2 months. I think cuts are $28, but you can check
online. The service there has been getting worse and worse. When we
walked in, the man behind the counter (whom I assume is a manager, because
he rudely bosses everyone around) barely acknowledged us. He looked up
and said, ''Yeah?'' When I said who we were, he just called over to the
stylist. Never said hello or anything. The stylist was fine . . . polite
and friendly. The cut isn't anything to get excited about. But really,
the customer service at the desk is almost enough to prevent me from ever
going back. When we left, the man at the desk didn't thank us
(I left a 20% tip), offer a lollipop (the whole
reason my daughter goes), or say goodbye. Oh, and during my daughter's
cut, while she was trying to watch the movie (the other reason she goes),
the manager person and another stylist loudly gossiped about other
employees who apparently are not pulling their weight. The whole
experience was icky. One nice thing about Cool Tops is that the space is
pleasant and they have good magazines to read while you wait. I'd say
find somewhere else unless things improve at Cool Tops Rockridge.
Disappointed mama
I have to chime in here and agree with those who've had mixed results with
Cool Tops. We've had several good cuts there but generally find the
service/attitude to be curt and dismissive. My child isn't the most
fearless or cooperative hair-cut client but I think a place that
specializes in CHILDRENS' cuts should be versed in child development,
typical and atypical. And I wonder if it's unsanitary that the plastic
shoulder-covers are reused.
Going Back to Our Local Barber.
Oct 2007
Re: Stylish haircut for cheap guy?
My husband likes to go to Cool Tops, the kids hair place in Rockridge with
our daughter. They cut his hair and hers and you get a discount for both
of you. They have given him a good haircut twice and he has similar hair.
Cheap too! And killing two birds with one stone.
ACE
Re: Haircut for a 10-year-old boy (Feb 2005)
You should try the new Cool Tops in Rockridge. Across from BART,
just off College Ave. We just had a great experience there with
Marissa.
anon
Cool Tops in Lafayette
Re: Haircut for a 10-year-old boy (Feb 2005)
We've been going to Karen @ Cool Tops for the past 3 years and
love her. Their # is 925.284.5360. My son (now 7) has only had
his hair cut by Karen (except for once -- big mistake) and she
does a great job. The salon is set up for kids and they have
videos to watch as well as toys to play with while they wait for
their appt. It's worth a drive through the tunnel, as the big
mistake haircut was at the Cool Tops in Oakland off College.
MG
Re: Haircut for squirmy toddler (Dec 2002)
I think Cool Tops in Lafayette is great. We've been everywhere
from Solano Avenue to Rockridge and Piedmont Avenue and have
found Cool Tops the best by far. The stylists are far superior,
thet have movies for the kids and your little one can have
his/her haircut sitting on a horse, motorcyle or racecar.
kristi
Re: Haircut for squirmy toddler (Dec 2002)
I always take my son to Nancy at Cool Tops in Lafayette. We've
had mixed experiences with other people there, but Nancy has a
gentle manner and talks to my son and encourages him through
the haircut. She always asks what we want to do and how to cut
it (i.e. scissors or shears). Their ''chairs'' are a car, a
motorcycle, and a carousel horse. They also play videos for the
kids to watch during the haircut.
Re: Haircut for squirmy toddler (Dec 2002)
We live in Oakland and had tried several places.
We thought we found the perfect place--Cool Tops in
Lafayette. While it was a 20 minute drive, it was very clean,
had distractions to keep my son still, and I liked the cuts.
Then we had two bad experiences in a row. In the last one, the
hairdresser never showed up due to transportation problem--which
she called about 15 minutes after our appointment was scheduled.
The owner made no accomodation and told us that we should just
come back later if we wanted a cut. This was even though there
were no other customers in the store, there were two other
stylists (including the owner) sitting waiting for their next
appoinments, and not only did I have my 4 year old son, but a new
baby. So we've gone back to Snips again.
anon.
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