Carnival Cuts

Took my 18 month old son here when he started getting über shaggy and wouldn’t sit still much around sharp pointy shearing objects. Heard about this place by chance and arrived shortly after they opened on a weekday morning. We were the first customers there and one stylist was in attendance. They have some chairs up front with a few toy thingies to play with. I also noted an area with a small funhouse mirror. I would pack some entertainment from home if you come at a time in case there is a wait. I also had a mission walk from where I parked so mind your entry location.
They have cute chair options for kids to sit in. My son sat in the cop car chair and they also had a carousel horse that I saw. There was a small TV at the haircutting station playing an old school Disney Mickey mouse cartoon for some kid distraction and a small basket of lollipops for bribery a/​or a job well done of sitting your little ass still. I asked for a high-​and-​tight military cut and the tattooed (it *is* CARNIVAL cuts) stylist got pretty close to what I envisioned. I would’ve liked it a bit more shaved on the sides, but I was still impressed that she got the end-​result down to the degree she did being that my kid was crying and not being totally still. She mentiond she’d been working there about 4 years which was pretty shocking to me considering she deals with other people’s crying and fidgety kids (for the most part, I assume) all day long. They must issue combat pay up in there as my kid was even getting on MY nerves that morning. She handled him well enough throughout the haircut and was appropriately cooing and nice.
I would go back once his hair grows out at this point. Hopefully tattooed lady is still working there. They offer coupons for a small amount off on their website and haircuts are higher on the weekends. They also offer limited adult services like cuts and waxing. The area of the mall Carnival Cuts is located in is near the community kids play area and the Stride Rite store if you want to kill time doing either. Reminder to self: kid’s shoes off in the play area to avoid uppercrust stinkeye. Whoops.

Let me start by saying, I’m sure this is a great place to take an older kid. We took our 8 month old son here to get his first haircut. We live about 30 minutes away, but wanted his first cut to be a formal experience, and wanted to find a salon that specialized in kids. Enter Carnival Cuts.
We showed up about 5 minutes early, and were told we had to wait. That’s ok, except that there was no where to sit, because both stylists had their family members literally sprawling across the seating areas. We stood while we waited. The stylists came out and chatted with their family members for like 10 minutes before realizing we were there waiting for a cut.
When they brought us back, our stylist told us her kids were there, and that they kept acting up. She yelled at her daughter to stay still in another chair, and started cutting our baby’s hair. She was distracted by her kids while she used the clippers, which scared him to death, and she was kind of rough with him. She was like whipping his head around, and he obviously started crying. I was trying to comfort him, but he was getting more and more upset with how he was being handled. Finally when it came time for the scissors, he had calmed down. I know it must be difficult to trim a little guys head if he’s upset, but it’s all crooked looking on the sides and back, and it looks like he has a little scrape behind his ear from the clippers. I just wish she would have used the scissors to trim up near his ears, which is all we asked to have done.
We were finally done, and ready to pay. They have a sign saying «1^st Haircut Pictures $ 3.95», so we asked to purchase one for the baby book. The lady looked at us like we were crazy, and said they don’t do that anymore. They also said to another kid that they don’t do balloons anymore. Maybe they should take down their signs advertising this stuff then. I personally think $ 15 is a little rich for a crooked cut, but at least now we know not to come back.
*Would have been 2 stars, but they saved his first hair clippings for us, and gave him a cute 1^st Haircut Certificate, so that’s deserving of a star.

Zero stars. I was already not particularly in love with this place, but now I am severely disappointed! The stylist cut my daughters bangs significantly crooked, then proceeded to argue with me that they were straight, I was as nice as pie, pointing to the longer side and asking her to even them out. We went back and forth about four times, and finally I just paid and left. Seriously… did she just not want to be wrong? I guess so, because the bangs were OBVIOUSLY crooked. Will not to back. Do not take your child here!

If I could give them 10 stars I would. The entire staff at Carnival Cuts 12 Oaks is fantastic!!! All 3 of my kids get their haircut here and I have never had one complaint. It’s a fun place for the kids (movies playing, toys everywhere, etc.) and they offer a lot of great products. What I am happiest with is how they handle my son. He is 4 yrs old and autistic. Getting his haircut is like torture to him. I mean he literally has to be restrained and screams the whole time. I have never met such patient people. They treat him with such kindness and everytime his hair comes out great! A place like this is not easy to find and I am so thankful.