“Erica, you’re doing great,” exclaims the stylist as she blow-dries Erica’s tresses into a sleek, chin-length bob.
But this is no ordinary day at the salon: Erica is just 6 years old, and she’s getting her hair snipped at Beehives & Buzzcuts, a new hair and beauty salon that caters to the elementary-school set.
After school, the kiddie-centric joint is bustling with activity. A fake tree with sprawling branches — “I grew up swimming in lakes and climbing trees, so I wanted to bring that outdoorsy feel to the place,” says owner Karolyn Massey — greets customers as they enter. Crocheted pink hats, beehive wigs, games and other toys for sale sit neatly on the floor-to-ceiling shelves.
The salon, which opened last week on First Avenue at 21st Street, is one of only a few city salons that trim tresses for tots; Cozy’s Cuts has three locations in Manhattan, and kids’ cuttery Doodle Doo’s is located in the stroller-happy West Village. And though its clientele is primarily adults, even 2-month-old Flatiron spot Drybar offers a $28 “Shirley Temple” blow-out for the under-10 set.
But pampering reaches a new level at Beehives & Buzzcuts, where hair care isn’t the only thing on the service menu. In addition to the $30 haircuts ($10 more for a wash and blow-dry), $30 “fancy updos,” $20 “curly girl blow-outs” and “braiding parties” ($25 each, for three girls), the salon also offers manicures and pedicures ($12 and $15, respectively).
Massey says she ditched her 16-year career in corporate finance because she wanted to pursue her dream of opening a kid-friendly business.
“I’ve always liked doing hair,” explains the 39-year-old Murray Hill resident, her own long strawberry-blond hair blown out into flowing waves. “When I was growing up, I’d get up from the dinner table and start braiding my sisters’ hair, going from one sister to the next.”
All of it, Massey says, was created with her 5-year-old niece in mind.
“[Corinne] is such a girly girl,” she says. “She loves getting her hair done, but she never fit in any of the chairs. When she got a pedicure, her feet wouldn’t hit the water, and she’d have to sit on her heels to reach the manicure table.”
But experts argue that Beehives’ intense focus on beauty could be detrimental to young girls as they get older.
