Splitting Hairs

So we took Vincent for a haircut this past weekend. Sure it doesn't sound too exciting but for this particular trip, we took him to one of these new "kids only" haircut places for the first time. We (read: Rose) normally cut his hair at home since there's something about a barber shop/salon that creeps the kid out. We learned that the hard way about a year ago. So this was the first time in a long time that we let a stranger do the job.

Rose read that this new franchise called Snip-its had opened up close to our house so we figured it might be an opportunity for Vincent to overcome his nervousness about places like this. We built up the fact that there were characters on the walls and videos to watch and games to play and prizes to win, all for the low, low cost of $15.95! He was amenable to this.

Let me stop here. The way I'm writing this makes it sound like Vincent freaks out the moment we walk in. Let me give away now the fact that he doesn't. He was nervous at first, but pretty soon after, he enjoyed walking around the place, looking at the $6.00 bottles of shampoo, and learning the names of the characters that adorned the wallpaper and the giant fiberglass arch that greeted us (Ed. note: Snips, Curly, Flyer Joe Dryer, Maranga, Jean Luc le Spritz, Marlene & Charlene - the Clipette Sisters).

To be honest, I think we were more creeped out by it than he was. I mean, the friggin' place looks like a candy store - all lime green and purple. And the girl behind the counter was darn surly for someone who worked at Snip-its. They also had this cloistered party room for little girls who want to put makeup on and play dress-up...at a barbershop.

The haircut itself went ok. Vincent cried early on when he realized he was actually going to have to get his hair cut and not be able to just watch the other kids. I think the worst part for him was the spray bottle. He reacted to it like it was shooting molten lava onto the back of his head, causing him to lean dramatically forward for most of the remainder of his stay. Other than that though, he did well. He got his prize and told Mom-mom later about good ol' Jean Luc Le Spritz.

Who knows if we'll go back? After the job they did on him, he won't need another haircut for awhile. And at the rate Peter's going, he may not need one until he's 4.