Snippety Crickets (Berkeley, CA)
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Snippety Crickets
Sept 2008
Re: Haircut for curly-headed preschooler
Lin at Snippity Crickets on Solano does a fantastic job with all
sorts of hair, including very curly. She's really good with kids
too, my son has been going there since he was 2.5 yrs.
anon
Sept 2007
Re: Haircut for a 3-year-old screamer
I would try Lynn at Snippity Crickets on Solano. She is very good, and someone told me
that they saw a boy sitting on his Dad's lap while he got a hair cut. They have a train
table there so the first couple of times I took my son we went a 1/2 hr early so he
could play and get used to the place. It took a lot of talking to get him to go, but now
he loves going there. My husband started getting his hair cut there too so now they go
together. The only thing about the place is you walk through a section of toys for sale
to get to the hair cutting part, but there's stuff of all price ranges so maybe that
will help bribe your son to go too.
anon
The people at Snippity Crickets are used to this. My son was a screamer too, and
they are great at getting the kids calmed down. They cut my son's hair
the first few times while he was sitting on my lap. And if all else fails,
they are SUPERFAST and impervious to noise.
After a few visits, my son looked forward to a
particular train toy they h ad in their basket of toys, and the train in
the window, and eventually the haircut became more of a treat than a trial.
Re: Haircut for African-American Boy's hair (Feb 2005)
The last time I took my son into Snippty Crickets on Solano,
there was an African American boy getting his hair cut. It was
obvious that the boy had been there before as they knew the
hairdresser (Lynn). I would recommend asking for Lynn - she's
really quick, gentle, and does a great job. The walls are
covered with pictures of kids after they've gotten their hair
cut, so you could go in and look around and see the cuts of
other African American children. I also suggest going in about
15 minutes before your appointment and letting your son play at
the train table, so he gets used to being there.
anon
Re: Haircut for a 10-year-old boy (Feb 2005)
Hi,
Try Lynn at Snippety Crickets on Solano. She does a great
layered cut for my 4 year old, consistently on repeated visits
(I tried 2 other places, because they were closer, and I
thought ''how difficult can this be?'')
Well, I came back to Lynn both times-
Janice
Re: Haircut for a 10-year-old boy (Feb 2005)
Try Snippety Crickets in Berkeley. They do great boys haircuts.
b3rk
Sept 2004
In perusing the archives, it seems the reviews of Snippety
Crickets (haircuts for little kids) posted in 2003 are mostly
positive, and those posted in prior years mostly negative.
What are people's current experiences there? (And if there are
still two haircutters, one of whom talks the parent's ear off
during the haircut, would it be fair to ask that person's name,
so as to make an appointment with the other one?) Thanks!
Anonymous
We've taken my 2.5-year old to Snippety Crickets since he was 1. We have
always seen Lin (the quiet one). The other woman who cuts hair there (I don't
know her name) is very nice and always friendly to the kids and parents, but
her voice is a bit loud. Since my son is pretty quiet, and isn't fond of getting
his hair cut in the first place, we've gone the quieter route with Lin. She is very
nice, does a good job, and is *fast*. My main complaint about the place are
the racks of semi-junky toys that greet you when you walk into the store;
haircutting is done in the back of the store, so if your kid is the type who will
beg you to buy a toy, getting his/her hair cut there may be a tiny little hell for
you. But on the plus side, they have a train table out that your child can play
with while you wait for your appointment.
Anon
We've had good experiences with Lynn at Snippety. At one point, I
felt we were outgrowing the place because my son is 7 but after
taking him to a haircutter who charges a little more and cuts the
hair much more slowly, we went back to Lynn. My son hates sitting
in a chair so Lynn's speedy and efficient style fits him well.
--El Cerrito mom
We have been going to Snippety Crickets for almost 3 years. My
children like it, and I'm always pleased with the way their hair
looks after a cut. I highly recommend Lynn. She is very gentle
with babies, toddlers and older children, and even manages to
cut hair well (and straight!) despite fussiness and tantrums.
Hi,
I avoided Snippety Crickets for the first couple years of my
first daughter's life, thinking it was overpriced and Supercuts
was just as good...then last year when she was 3 she wanted her
hair cut quite short, and on a whim we stopped by and got in
quickly because someone had cancelled. The woman (a dark haired,
middle-aged lady with an accent, possibly Russian) was fast and
the cut was amazing. My daughter LOVED her haircut, as did I.
We then went back to Supercuts for the next trim, thinking they
could just follow the same lines she had cut, but the style was
different, and not as easy to maintain. I'm convinced. I just
took my younger daughter (2 1/2) there for her first real
haircut, and she looks adorable. The cut took only 15 minutes or
so, and they're well stocked with little gadgets and hand-held
games for kids of all ages, so she was totally preoccupied, still
and quiet the whole time. That lady (sorry, don't know her name)
is incredible. (We've had the ''talkative'' lady too, and she's
just as talented.) I highly recommend Snippety Crickets.
heidi
My daughter got her first commercial haircut at Snippity
Crickets when she was two years old. The person who did her
hair was Lin. She has been wonderful and kind and has done a
great job, even in the early years when my daughter was fidgety
and scared. Lin has cut her hair for three years and we
wouldn't go anywhere else.
mparas
We've been going to Snippety Crickets for about 2 years. We
usually request the first appt on Saturday morning and it's
usually been the talkative lady, though 2 times we got the quiet
lady. My son was completely resistant the first few times,
screaming bloody murder and flailing around. His apprehension
has dramatically decreased with every visit until now he does not
mind it at all. He has thick straight hair, so mistakes show (and
that's why I don't cut it myself). It's just amazing how fast and
how calmly and how *well* they cut hair. I actually prefer the
talkative lady, especially when he was younger and more fearful,
because she was sort of a distraction for him - he wasn't so
focused on the chair, the scissors, and the buzzer, and she made
him more relaxed. But the other lady is good too. They are FAST
and GOOD.
Ginger
I love Snippety Crickets. I have not found that anyone talked
my ear off. I have had both Lynn and Bobbie Jo. Bobbie Jo is
great with my special needs child. Some kids need that extra
attention and they both seem to be good with that. I am not
sure who they were talking about but I have never had that
trouble with either of them. I have seen some very difficult
children/and parents in there. They are all dealt with calm
reassurance. I don't think I would have the patience that I
have seen Bobbie Jo and Lynn have with some of the problems that
come up with the haircuts. I take all of the negative reviews
with a grain of salt when it comes to personal opinions. I have
enjoyed talking to Bobbie about family stuff. She has special
needs family members and really helps me out. Lynn is just as
sweet. They both have given my children great haircuts.
cristina
My daughter (currently 26 months) has had two bang trims at
Snippety Crickets in the last 8 months or so. I thought they were
great. No one talked my ear off and my daughter was happy. They
distracted her with a toy and gave her stickers. We went on a
Saturday morning and asked to be right after another somewhat
older child so my daughter could see a tearless haircut.
Lori
We have gone to Lyn and have been pleased (not estatic) with the
results. I am rather particular, and do not want that typical
kid haircut - bangs slashed in the middle of the forehead
thing. But for my son, the trains at Snippity are a huge
distraction. I cannot get him out of the store. Yesterday I
tried a new place (by accident) COOL CUTS for kids in
Rockridge. The set up could not be better. Kids get to sit on
a car or a horse, and they get to watch the DVD of their choice
on a TV. Plus there are no trains. I explained exactly what I
wanted and I got it. We went to Dalila. They are right off
College avenue by the BART station. The haircut was $17.50.
Leslie
Hi, We are new to the East Bay and went to Snippety Crickets
for the first time last week. We were just passing by and my
daughter needed a trim so we stopped in. Frankly, I didn't like
the whole experience that much. The owner, or man behind the
desk, was grumpy, curt and just unfriendly to both me and my
kids. The stylist didn't introduce herself or say anything to
make my 6 year old particularly comfortable. It was just a
straight-forward trim so I can't speak much to the quality of
the cut but it took less than five minutes. She recommended
cutting a bit more than I asked because she said my daughter's
ends were dry. That was fine. It was $17. I don't know the
usual price range around here but I thought that was steep for
what we got. In Los Angeles my son gets a pretty complicated
haircut from a wonderful stylist that spends a good deal of
time and it is $15. So...I guess I didn't like the whole thing
very much but maybe they give a good haircut. Someone else will
have to tell you that.
haircut Mom
May 2004
Re: Hair Salon for 2yr old twin boys (May 2004)
We've had mixed experiences at Snippety Crickets--mostly good,
but one bad one where my son was crying a lot and the hairdresser
basically gave up on him and left him and me covered with bits of
hair as she went on to the next customer. We also tried the
Powder Box (a few doors up on Solano), where a very nice and
patient hairdresser cut my son's hair rather badly.
I'll tell you, though, what has really worked like a charm for
getting haircuts accomplished peacefully: a candy bribe. I tell
my son (who rarely gets candy) that if he sits still for his
haircut, he'll get a lollipop afterwards. If he starts to squirm
during the haircut, I just remind him, ''Remember, what do you get
if you sit still for your haircut?'' ''A lollipop!'' he says, and
sits still. I am reluctant to use junk food as bribes, but it
really works!
Parent of 2-1/2-year-old
June 2003
Re: Toddler daughter's first haircut
We've been very pleased with Lihn at Snippety Crickets on
Solano. I've taken my now 2 year old son there for the past
year. Lihn is great -- very gentle, calm, and efficient, and
I've always been happy with the cut.
Your daughter can sit by herself in the chair, or on your lap.
They have a variety of toys to keep the children
happy/distracted while she is cutting.
I didn't like haircut from one of the other stylists there, so
I'd specifically ask for Lihn. They take appointments.
Sally
Try Snippety-Crickets on Solano. The young woman (I think her
name is Lisa) in the back has cut my toddler son's hair twice
and did a great job.
Janice
Snipetty Crickets on Solano, about a block below Colusa. Call a
day ahead for an appt. And for us, playing up the ''big girl,
getting a haircut, just like Mommy and Daddy'' produced total
cooperation and enthusiasm.
anon
Our 16 month old did really well at Snippity Cricket on Solano
Ave. in Berkeley (there is one in SF too). Bobbie gave our son
his first hair cut. She allowed him to sit on my lap, was
friendly, entertaining, and very fast.
grace
SNIPPITY CRICKETS on Solano Ave. Kept my 18 month old
completely entertained with the a myriad of quacking ducks,
chicks, etc. And, the haircut came out remarkably even
considering he was throwing his head from one side to the other!
Leslie
April 2003
Re: Cheap but good haircuts for boys
Try Snippety Crickets on Solano. They charge $15 for a haircut
and both of the women who work there do an equally good job.
Dianne
Dec 2002
Re: Haircut for squirmy toddler
On the website you probably saw a lot of recommendations for
Snippity Crickets. I took my son there for his first haircut...
he was just over two. It was pretty great. They handed him a toy
to fiddle with, and were really fast getting the cutting done.
It was a wonderful first hair cut.
Since then I have not has as good luck with them. Once the
stylist was so busy chatting me up that she missed a whole
section of my kid's head... if I hadn't been watching it would
have been really annoying to get home and discover it. I figured
it was the end of the day and so I thought I would give them
another chance... BUT the few times I tried to go after that
they wouldn't take us because we were ''walk-in'' and they had
appointments booked. I can understand the need to keep
appointments, but the store was empty and the stylist was
sitting there doing nothing... I think they could have easily
sqeezed us in. Plus, if you aren't going to take ''walk-in''
appointments, you shouldn't advertise that you do... And, just a
warning if you do try them (my friend still goes with her son
and hasn't complained, so maybe it was just me)... the front of
the shop is a toy store of sorts... it can be hard to drag a kid
out.
We tried Snippity Crickets on Solano in Albany. The person
cutting his hair talked non-stop to me (not my son) and was
cutting his hair while looking in the mirror (instead of at my
son).
anon
I have taken my son (when he was between 1 and 2 years old -- he's 2 now)
to two places -- Snips on College and Snippety Crickets on Solano. Both
have lots of toys to try to distract a toddler. I was less satisfied at Snippety Crickets. I
called to say I would be a bit late, and was told that they might be able
to accomodate me (which sounded to me like I'd better get there
quickly). When I got there, there were no other customers. One woman
spent the entire time on the phone making a personal call, while the other
cut my son's hair. She was trying to be quick, and then stopped abruptly
to say she was done. After his hair dried at home, I could see that she
seemed to have cut too much from one side in the front -- probably because
he was squirming so much. It didn't look too bad, but I was annoyed that
she had just stopped rather than explaining what had happened. They also
have a lot of toys for sale there, so I ended up buying my son a toy truck
to avoid a fight when we left.
May 2000
Re: Haircuts for Children
I've tried Snippety Crickets ($15.00 or so) and the woman chatted a lot and
put all kinds of strange layers in my daughter's hair that took forever to
grow out. Cecily
Dec 1996
Re: Baby's First Haircut
i took my son to snippety crickets on solano avenue and found the
haircutter to be experienced with children and very accomodating. they
also took a photo of the new haircutted kid with their snippety cricket
mascot for posting to the wall with hundreds of other photos. the only
complaint i have about them is they have ALOT of those little inexpensive
plastic toys all around the front counter which made it almost impossible
to get TO the chair without confrontation (and you don't want junior to be
whipped up BEFORE the haircut) much less get out (now you have to write a
check and keep junior away from those toys at the same time)...
Dorothy
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