Snot on chairs, ripped magazines, temper tantrums and broken equipment are among the gripes of the Auckland salon. Photo / 123RF
Snot on chairs, ripped magazines, temper tantrums and broken equipment are among the gripes of the Auckland salon. Photo / 123RF
An Auckland hair salon is demanding parents control their children better as it hikes the cost of kids' cuts in response to screaming and playing brats.
Snot on chairs, ripped magazines, temper tantrums and broken equipment are among the gripes of the Auckland salon.
The owners have now had agutsful and are increasing the cost of children's cuts to adult prices in response - and even threatening to hike the bill further if customers' kids misbehave.
H A i R Salon in Bucklands Beach announced on Facebook that a girl's cut and blow wave will now cost $90 and a boy's cut will cost $50, the same price as an adult.
The announcement also asked for parents who bring children along to appointments to consider others and keep control of their kids.
At the salon, children are not allowed to scream, roll around on stools, rip magazines or treat their property as a playground, the announcement said.
"If you have any problems with our rules please call 0800 parent helpline. Thank you," it reads.
Salon owners Ritchyrd and Jess Hirst told the Herald children's haircuts were done with just as much care as for adults - and cleaning up after children took more time and resources.
They saw no problem with covering the extra cost by increasing kids' prices.
"After 24 years of hairdressing our tools have been dropped and broken, scissors chipped magazines ripped, eftpos machine used as a toy.
"Screaming kids flying through the salon on our stools which break the wheels, and smacking into the walls damaging the paintwork, falling headfirst onto the floor. Snot rubbed into our chairs, dirty fingers rubbed into our windows and mirrors and food smeared on the floor,"
H A i R salon in Bucklands Beach. Image / Google
That behaviour put their business at risk, they said.
"Health and safety plays a big part. We can lose business from valued customers coming to us for a relaxing experience.
"We also find ourselves in an awkward position having to ask the parent or guardian to please sort their child out."
As parents themselves they knew "it can be tough taking children out especially into a professional, mainly adult environment".
