Former Stylist Steps Into Ownership With Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchise

Before Said Abrouch and his wife, Douaa Touris, decided to purchase their Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise in Snellville, Georgia, he told her, “You can’t work forever for someone.” Touris had wanted to be a hairdresser since childhood, and after earning her cosmetology credentials, she had been styling at another Pigtails & Crewcuts in Georgia for nearly a year. Abrouch knew she had found her passion, but also believed she was capable of more. When Abrouch’s position as a manager of financial analysis with Comcast was eliminated in 2025, he realized it was time to leverage his skills to help turn Touris’ childhood dream of becoming a hairdresser into a business of her own. After one visit to his wife’s workplace at Pigtails & Crewcuts and seeing the colorful, kid-friendly environment, Abrouch was convinced the franchise was perfect for starting this new venture.

It was the accounts of other Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees, as well as the collaboration with corporate representatives, that helped convince the pair to move forward with their purchase. Abrouch and Touris hope to establish themselves in the eastern Atlanta metropolitan area. Eventually, they hope to expand to Virginia-Highland or Decatur. They are confident they’ve found the right space to make haircuts fun for all children. As parents of a child with special needs, they are especially focused on creating a more comfortable haircut experience for children with sensory sensitivities.

Abrouch and Touris sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how her lifelong interest in hairstyling and their experience raising a child with special needs led them to pursue ownership with Pigtails & Crewcuts. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Said Abrouch: I was born in Morocco and eventually moved to the United States, spending my first year in New York City adjusting to a new country and a new life. After that year, I made a pivotal decision to join the U.S. Army. I served for three years, an experience that shaped my discipline, work ethic and perspective. When my service ended, I continued my connection to the military through the Oklahoma National Guard while earning my accounting degree from the University of Oklahoma.

After graduating, I moved to Atlanta to begin my professional career. My first role was with Turner Broadcasting System, supporting major cable networks, including Cartoon Network, TNT and TBS. After several years at Turner, I transitioned to Cox Communications and later to Comcast.

At Comcast, I advanced from Manager of Financial Analysis to Senior Manager of Financial Analysis. Late last year, the company underwent a major reorganization, and my position was eliminated. That moment forced me to pause and reassess my path. I realized it was finally time to pursue the dream I had carried for years: owning a business.

I have always been drawn to family-focused service, creating a welcoming environment, working directly with people, delivering great experiences and building something that brings real value to the community. Losing my corporate role didn’t close a door; it opened the one I had been waiting for. It gave me the push to finally step into business ownership and build something meaningful for my family and my future.

Douaa Touris: Since I was a child, I was always drawn to hair. I used to tell my family that one day I would become a hairdresser, and they would laugh and ask if I was serious. At the time, it was just a childhood dream, but it never left me.

As I grew older, life took me in a different direction. I went to college and earned my master's degree in project management. But after moving to the United States, raising my children and adjusting to a new life, I realized that working in a traditional corporate environment was not the right fit for me or my family.

I knew I needed to return to the passion I had carried since childhood. I went back to Morocco and completed cosmetology school there. When I returned to the United States, I wanted to expand my knowledge and learn the latest techniques, so I enrolled in cosmetology school again here.

I earned my license last year and have spent the past two years working as a hairdresser. I can finally say I am doing what I truly love.

I also bring personal experience working with children who have special needs. My own child has autism, and through that journey, I have learned how to support kids through anxiety, sensory challenges and unfamiliar environments. In the salon, I use that understanding to help children feel safe, calm and confident and to make every haircut a positive experience.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Abrouch: Before franchising, I spent my career in corporate finance. I managed forecasting, budgeting, monthly variance analysis and built financial models that helped guide business performance. When I moved into management at Comcast, I led a team of analysts and focused on transforming how Finance supported Operations. I pushed the team to use data as the foundation for decision-making, and we shifted from simply reporting numbers to influencing strategy.

Franchising made sense for me because it aligns perfectly with how I think and how I lead. I am not the person who needs to invent a brand-new concept. My strength is taking a proven model and running it with discipline, efficiency and a focus on results. Give me a solid framework, and I will optimize it, scale it and make it profitable. That is exactly what franchising offers: a strong concept paired with the freedom to execute at a high level.

Touris: I started my career as a women’s hairdresser because that was my passion, and later I transitioned to working at Pigtails and Crewcuts. When I first started, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it because working with children is very different from working with adults. But I quickly realized how much I loved it, especially when I began working with children who have special needs. I have personal experience in that area, so supporting them felt natural and meaningful.

The decision to pursue franchising was something my husband and I made together. I had always dreamed of having my own salon, and he pointed out that a franchise made perfect sense. I was already working for Pigtails and Crewcuts, I understood the brand, I connected well with the kids, and I genuinely enjoyed the environment and style of the salon.

When he said that, it clicked for me. I was already doing the work, already loving it and already thriving in it. So choosing to open a franchise felt like the right next step.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Abrouch: I had never heard of Pigtails and Crewcuts until my wife started working there. When I visited her salon for the first time, I immediately felt that the concept had real potential to grow. The environment was warm, joyful and genuinely valuable to the community. Watching how kids reacted, especially children with special needs, made me realize this was a business model that deserved to be expanded. Every child should have a place where getting a haircut feels safe, positive and fun, and Pigtails and Crewcuts delivers exactly that.

Once we decided to pursue franchising, everything was new to me. I had to learn how to form a company, open business bank accounts and understand the operational side of ownership. But the most challenging part by far was lease negotiation. Securing a strong location is extremely competitive, and facing landlord rejections is part of the process. Negotiating for a high-demand space comes with pressure, unfamiliar terminology and a lot of back-and-forth. It was the biggest learning curve and the most eye-opening part of becoming a franchisee.

The good news is that today, everything you need to learn is accessible, and the support we received from Ben Rigel, Director of Real Estate, made a tremendous difference. He helped us understand the terminology, guided us through the negotiation process and made the experience far more manageable.

Now that I am in franchising, what I want people to know is this: Franchising is not about inventing a brand-new idea. It is about taking a proven concept that already brings value to the community and executing it with discipline, efficiency and commitment. When you do that, franchising becomes a powerful and achievable path to business ownership.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Abrouch: As I mentioned earlier, I first discovered Pigtails and Crewcuts when I visited my wife at the salon where she was working. I immediately loved the layout and how welcoming and kid-friendly the environment was. It creates a space where children can have fun, feel comfortable and enjoy getting a haircut. Seeing that in person made me realize how much value this concept brings to the community.

Later, I visited the corporate office and met with Michelle Holliman and CEO Wade Brannon. I genuinely connected with the energy of the team. Their passion, transparency and commitment made a strong impression on me. It aligned perfectly with the long-term goal my wife and I had set even before she went to cosmetology school. We always knew we wanted a business in the cosmetology field. A restaurant or other type of business never interested me or excited me the way this did.

We are parents, we love kids, and we understand what it means to care for a child with special needs. All those pieces came together naturally and made Pigtails and Crewcuts the perfect fit for us.

On top of that, my research showed that the probability of success with this brand is very high. The salons perform well, and out of more than 85 locations, only one has ever closed. That level of stability and proven performance gave me confidence that this was the right brand to invest in.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Abrouch: What we hope to achieve with our business goes far beyond haircuts. We want to create a place where every child, especially those with special needs, feels safe, understood and genuinely happy. A haircut can be a stressful experience for many kids, and our goal is to transform that moment into something positive. We want children to walk in without fear of clippers near their ears, without anxiety about someone touching their hair and without feeling overwhelmed by the environment.

Our primary focus is building a salon designed with their needs in mind. We will have silent clippers, a quiet room and a calming space where children can step away if they feel overstimulated. They can sit, relax, play with puzzles or toys and take a moment to feel comfortable again. We want parents to know that their child is not just welcome but truly supported.

We also want our salon to feel like a family event. We want mothers and fathers to be able to get a haircut right next to their child, creating a shared experience that feels warm, connected and memorable. A place where families can come together, feel at ease and enjoy a moment that is usually rushed or stressful.

To make this vision real, we will invest in a well-trained staff who understand how to work with all children, including those with sensory sensitivities, anxiety or special needs. Our team will be patient, compassionate and equipped with the skills to help every child feel comfortable and confident.

Our long-term goal is to become the trusted salon for families who value patience, compassion and a positive experience. We want to build a reputation for truly understanding children, especially those who need a little extra care, and expand in a way that brings that experience to more communities.

Touris: If this first salon performs well, it will be an important step toward opening additional locations. Our goal is to learn how to manage the business successfully, build a strong foundation and then grow from there. We hope to do so well with this salon that it becomes the launchpad for opening additional locations. You never know where the journey will lead, but our intention is to grow thoughtfully and confidently once we master the operations of our first salon.

We believe in the concept, and we believe more communities should benefit from the value it brings. The experience, the environment and the way this brand supports children and families is something we want to share with as many communities as possible.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Abrouch: Becoming a franchise owner is challenging at first because everything falls on you. You are the administrator, the project manager, the negotiator and the decision-maker. You have to handle a lot of different tasks, and the learning curve is real.

My first piece of advice is to hire a real estate attorney. Lease negotiation is one of the toughest parts of the entire process, and having a lawyer who understands commercial real estate will help you navigate the terminology, protect your interests and win as many points as possible before you finalize the agreement.

Second, always get multiple quotes. Whether you are hiring an architect, a contractor or any other provider, costs vary dramatically. Do not settle for one or two quotes. Get at least five. You will be surprised by how different the pricing can be for the exact same service.

Finally, take advantage of the resources and experience of the franchisor’s team members. They have been through this process many times, and their guidance can help you avoid mistakes, answer questions and set you up for success.

Touris: My advice is simple: If you have the passion, go for it. Passion is the one thing that will carry you through every challenge, every long day and every moment of doubt.

If this is something you see yourself doing in the future, then why wait? Whether you take the step now or later, it is still the same step, and taking it sooner gives you more time to grow, learn and build something meaningful.

If you truly love the work, if you enjoy being around children, if you feel connected to the mission of the brand, then trust that feeling. Passion is what turns fear into courage and uncertainty into progress. The economy will always change, circumstances will always shift, and there will never be a “perfect” moment. The right moment is the one where your heart tells you it is time.

So my advice is this: Follow your passion, take the step and believe in your ability to learn and succeed. Passion makes the journey worth it, and it gives you the strength to keep going even when things get difficult. Go for it.

About Pigtails & Crewcuts: 

Pigtails & Crewcuts is a kids' hair salon franchise designed with family in mind. Franchising since 2005, it has become a premier destination for children’s hairstyling and a stress-free experience for parents. Pigtails & Crewcuts provides a range of hair care services for boys and girls aged zero to 12, and offers a custom line of child-friendly hair products, hair accessories, toys and gifts. Each salon is a fun, engaging space where children can feel comfortable and enjoy their haircuts, complete with activities, event areas and a family-friendly atmosphere. With over 85 locations across more than 20 states, Pigtails & Crewcuts is continuously expanding and establishing itself as a leading franchise in the growing niche market of children’s hair care. To learn more about Pigtails & Crewcuts or to find a salon near you, please visit www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Pigtails & Crewcuts, please visit www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com.