Pigtails & Crewcuts

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=celebrating-20-years-of-growth-michelle-hollimans-impact-on-pigtails-crewcuts-2728598" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>, the 80-plus unit kids salon that aims to make haircuts enjoyable for everyone involved, marks its 20th anniversary, one name stands out as a driving force behind the brand’s transformation:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-holliman-2132313/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=celebrating-20-years-of-growth-michelle-hollimans-impact-on-pigtails-crewcuts-2728598" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michelle Holliman</a>, Vice President of Franchise Development. This year, Holliman is also celebrating her 20th anniversary with the company, a tenure that has been instrumental in shaping the franchise into what it is today.<h2>From Receptionist to Franchise Leader</h2>Holliman began her journey in the franchising world as a receptionist before moving into franchise development roles. Holliman began her franchising career at Heavenly Ham, working alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-brannon-a1553418/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=celebrating-20-years-of-growth-michelle-hollimans-impact-on-pigtails-crewcuts-2728598" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wade Brannon</a> (who is now the CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>). When the company was acquired, she shifted to work in development roles at brands like Moe’s Southwest Grill and Planet Smoothie. Then, when Brannon acquired Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts in 2005, the two reunited to begin building the franchise program from scratch.“I started in February 2005, and the first year was all about laying the groundwork — getting the FDD [Franchise Disclosure Document] ready, building the operations manual, establishing vendor relationships and learning how to franchise the concept,” Holliman said. “But by the end of the year, we had awarded our first franchise and began setting the stage for national expansion.”<h2>Growing a Franchise Through Economic Shifts</h2>Over the past two decades, Holliman has guided the brand through economic shifts, industry changes and even a global pandemic. In 2008, when the financial crisis slowed franchise growth, she and the leadership team shifted focus to strengthening operations, supporting franchisees and refining unit economics.“Our job is to support our franchise owners and help them succeed,” Holliman said. “During the recession, we knew new franchise sales would be tough, so we concentrated on helping our existing owners thrive. That dedication to franchisee success has been a cornerstone of our growth.”The pandemic brought another major pivot. For years, Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts operated as a walk-in-only business, believing that parents with young children needed the flexibility of unscheduled visits. However, COVID-19 necessitated a switch to appointment-based service — a change that ultimately improved labor efficiency and customer experience.&nbsp;“It was a shift in mindset, but one that benefited both our franchisees and customers,” Holliman said. “Over 20 years, maintaining this flexibility and open-mindedness throughout the system has been incredibly beneficial.”<h2>Building a Culture of Innovation and Support</h2>Another key part of Holliman’s leadership has been fostering a culture of collaboration between the franchise headquarters and franchise owners. Many of the brand’s innovations, including operational efficiencies and new customer service initiatives, have come directly from franchisee feedback.“We welcome ideas from our franchise owners. They’re on the front lines every day, and their insights help us evolve,” Holliman said. “Being flexible and open-minded in collaboration with our owners has allowed us to grow while staying true to our core values.”<h2>The Future of Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</h2>Holliman is especially proud of Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts’ role as an inclusive, family-friendly space. The brand has made great strides in serving children with sensory sensitivities, providing a welcoming environment for all families.“As awareness around sensory-friendly experiences grows, we’re continuing to train our franchisees and stylists to better serve kids with autism, OCD or other sensitivities,” Holliman said. “It’s about making every child feel comfortable and making haircuts a positive experience.”Holliman shared a favorite memory from her 20 years with the brand, recollecting how a Tennessee owner created a safe, welcoming environment for a child’s first haircut.“A mom came to the Tennessee location expressing that she’d like to get her son’s hair cut, but he wasn’t ready. He had autism and needed to get comfortable in the environment first, and the owner welcomed them to visit weekly and allow the little boy to look around,” Holliman said. “Every week, he would come in to familiarize himself with the environment. The hairstylists would show him the clippers and explain what they sounded and felt like. His mom would ask if he was ready, he’d say ‘No,’ and they’d come back the following week.“One week, he came in and was speaking to the stylists, saying ‘Hi’ and asking how they were. Then he jumped up into a chair and told his mom, ‘I’m ready to get a haircut!’ The franchise owner was crying, the stylists were crying, mom was crying … And this sweet little boy was just excited for his haircut.”The commitment of the entire system — from the corporate team to stylists to kids feeling accepted and having great haircut experiences at Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts — is what makes the brand so special, and its ongoing commitment to this culture will continue to drive its success for years to come.Looking ahead, Holliman sees continued growth for Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts. With a strong foundation, a dedicated franchisee network and a focus on innovation, the brand is poised to expand further while staying true to its mission of providing a fun, stress-free haircut experience for kids.After 20 years, Holliman remains passionate about helping franchisees achieve success. Her deep knowledge of franchising, combined with her commitment to support and innovation, has helped shape Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts into the strong brand it is today.“It’s not just about haircuts — it’s about the experience we create for families and the opportunities we provide for franchisees,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please&nbsp;<a href="http://visit1851franchise.com/pigtailsandcrewcuts?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=celebrating-20-years-of-growth-michelle-hollimans-impact-on-pigtails-crewcuts-2728598" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">visit1851franchise.com/pigtailsandcrewcuts</a>.&nbsp;

photo of Michelle Holliman, smiling, in front of a white brick wall with colorful mural

Celebrating 20 Years: Michelle Holliman’s Impact on Pigtails & Crewcuts’ Franchise Growth

1851 Franchise

Michelle Holliman, who joined the brand just as it began developing its franchise system, reflects on two decades of evolution and success and shares excitement for the future of the brand.

This brand page has been paid for by PIGTAILS & CREWCUTS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Celebrating 20 Years of Growth: Michelle Holliman’s Impact on Pigtails & Crewcuts

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At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>, a haircut has never been "just a haircut." It's a milestone, a memory and for many little ones, a moment that takes a little courage. Now, the brand is doubling down on that philosophy with two exciting new initiatives: its very first children's book,&nbsp;<a href="https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/stylechat/pigtails-crewcuts-publishes-first-childrens-book-be-brave-today/">“Be Brave Today: Charlie's Haircut Day,”</a> and the launch of Pigtails University, a custom-built learning management system designed to strengthen its franchise network.<h2>A Story Born from Real Conversations</h2>“Be Brave Today” tells the story of Charlie, a young boy who’s nervous about going in for a haircut. The sound of clippers and the sight of scissors can feel overwhelming at first, something many kids (and parents) can relate to. With help from his friend Penny, Charlie starts to relax and see the experience differently. By the end, he’s not only gotten through it, he’s genuinely proud of himself.The idea for the book grew out of authentic conversations within the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a> team about how to make children feel comfortable and prepared before they ever set foot in the salon."All of our conversations went back to how families prepare prior to coming in, and how we make them feel good once they’re in the salon," said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-underwood305/">Theresa Vona</a>, Vice President of Franchise Support. “And out of all of those conversations,‘Be Brave Today’ came about so that parents could read this to their children before coming to the salon.”Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts has been thoughtful about how the book reaches families. Individual franchise locations have the flexibility to sell it as retail, use it to read aloud to kids in the salon or donate copies to local elementary schools. Many Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts locations have also installed&nbsp;<a href="https://littlefreelibrary.org/">Little Free Library</a> in front of their stores, and have been placing copies in community book boxes so families everywhere can access the story, no salon visit required."It's a nice way to introduce our brand to the community in a positive way," Vona said. "And it's something our competitors don't have. We are the first to produce our own book in our category."<h2>Pigtails University: Training Built to Scale</h2>While “Be Brave Today” speaks to families, Pigtails University is built for the people behind the scissors. The new learning management system is designed to standardize and streamline training across the entire franchise system for franchisees, salon managers and stylists.The platform organizes learning into curated, role-specific paths. New hires, for example, are greeted with a welcome video from the brand's CEO and Presdient, giving them immediate context about Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts' history and values before they ever pick up a pair of shears. From there, courses cover everything from brand culture and customer experience to marketing, operations and leadership development. The courses are all structured in digestible steps with quizzes and checkpoints to reinforce learning along the way.“We did a survey and our franchisees ranked us really high in some categories, like our trustworthiness. But one of the things they wanted to see more of was tools for training,” Vona said. "So we made this project a priority and are proud to be implementing it and rolling it out to our system."The team vetted platforms, developed content and collaborated with a marketing firm to bring Pigtails University to beta. Content is contributed not just by the corporate support team, but by franchisees and a newly appointed group of brand ambassadors, including two licensed cosmetologists who will help build out stylist-specific programming.<h2>The Right Kind of Growth</h2>Pigtails University is designed to support the brand's growth without sacrificing the quality of franchisee relationships that has made Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts a trusted business in their communities in the first place."The more salons we have, the more these tools will help franchisees get answers faster," Vona said. “To have answers at their fingertips will help us grow in the way we should grow, where franchisees can log on and watch a video at midnight, if that’s the best time that works for them.”As the franchise continues to grow, both of its new initiatives reinforce the same goal: creating an environment where kids feel comfortable, parents feel confident and franchisees feel supported.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts">https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts</a>.&nbsp;

Pigtails & Crewcuts Takes a Bold Step Forward with a New Children's Book and Training Platform

From a heartwarming story about bravery to a cutting-edge learning hub, the beloved children's salon brand is investing in its community inside and out.

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Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

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Pigtails & Crewcuts, kids haircuts, kids hair salon

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Pigtails & Crewcuts National Convention Spotlights a Business That Builds More Than Just Revenue

Why Franchisees Are All In: Pigtails & Crewcuts National Convention Spotlights a Business That Builds More Than Just Revenue

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-talal/">Kelly Talal</a> spent nearly 15 years building brands and guiding marketing strategy for major companies like Burger King, Honda, and United Airlines. But after relocating to the Atlanta area and becoming a mom of two young daughters, she and her husband began thinking differently about the future and what long-term ownership could look like outside the corporate world.That search resulted in the purchase of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a> salon in&nbsp;<a href="https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/marietta-west-cobb/">Marietta-West Cobb</a> in 2025. A few months later, two more opportunities followed in&nbsp;<a href="https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/roswell-ga/">Roswell</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://book.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/102610/home">Woodstock</a>. She now owns and operates three salons across metro Atlanta.Talal’s professional background is in advertising and brand strategy, helping companies allocate media budgets and reach their target consumers more effectively. While she loved her career, she knew she also wanted to build something of her own.“I really wanted to do something on my own,” Talal said. “And with two small kids, I knew that I wanted it to be in the children’s space.”<h2>Discovering the Right Fit With Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</h2>Talal and her husband first learned about an available&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a> salon while researching ownership opportunities in the Atlanta area and decided to meet with the seller to better understand the business and day-to-day operations.&nbsp;Meeting the previous owner and touring the salon confirmed that the business aligned with what she and her husband were looking for, reinforcing their confidence that the location was the right fit.As she evaluated the concept, Talal also began to see how closely the brand’s values aligned with the kind of environment she wanted to create for families.“It’s very inclusive to everyone,” she said. “We have a sensory safe room where kids who have sensory needs can escape to if the main salon floor is a bit too busy. I also think it’s really wholesome. It just preserves kids’ innocence.”<h2>Growing From One Location to Three</h2>After purchasing the first salon, Talal began connecting with other franchisees in the system. When another local owner decided to exit the business due to a job opportunity elsewhere, Talal saw a chance to grow.“We were approached by another owner in this area who knew that we were looking to grow our footprint,” she said. “We went and checked out his salons and all of the relevant financials and decided it was a good decision for us.”Notably, Talal still maintains her corporate advertising role, something she credits to strong teams and a brand model that supports flexible ownership. She also points to hands-on franchise support as a key factor in her decision to scale.“I get text messages and phone calls from my franchise support specialist, just checking in to see how we’re doing. I feel like we’ve been partners in this,” she said.<h2>How Talal Is Increasing Sales</h2>Since acquiring the additional salons in June and July, Talal has focused on making practical operational changes designed to increase accessibility, consistency, and confidence across her teams. She adjusted salon hours so locations that were previously closed on Sundays are now open, after recognizing that nearby competitors were capturing that demand. She also eliminated lunch-hour closures by staggering staff breaks, keeping salons open throughout the day.Training has become another major priority. Talal has implemented CPR training, sensory training, ear-piercing training, and continuing education to ensure staff members feel confident handling a wide range of services. She is also working to cross-train stylists on front-desk operations and the point-of-sale system so locations can operate efficiently even when a dedicated receptionist is not scheduled.Inside the salons, Talal has expanded retail offerings, which has improved the guest experience and driven incremental revenue. She has also leaned into fun, community-oriented events, such as hosting Santa in the salon during the holidays and running seasonal retail promotions to create a more magical experience for families.“I love putting retail in the salon,” Talal said. “Really beefing up our product and retail selection has helped a lot.”<h2>Building Community&nbsp;</h2>Talal wants to lean further into local partnerships and community outreach as she grows. Her salons already work with nearby schools, but she sees room to deepen those relationships and team up with other neighborhood businesses as the three locations become more consistent in their operations.On a personal level, Talal says the business has become a true family affair. Her daughters love spending time in the salons and even play “salon” at home. One of her 4-year-olds recently asked for a vanity for Christmas, then set it up with a notebook, brush, and toy safe.“She turned around and said, ‘Look, mommy, I have my own salon now, too,’” Talal said.What once felt like adding another responsibility has evolved into something that brings her family closer together.“For a long time, I thought I was putting one more thing on my plate,” she said. “But it has really become like a family affair now. They come in with me, and retail the stores and chat with the women. The girls love it.”As Talal continues to grow her Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts footprint across metro Atlanta, she is creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where kids feel safe, parents feel supported, and communities feel connected.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts">https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts</a>.&nbsp;

Marketing Professional Grows Multi-Unit Pigtails & Crewcuts Presence Across Metro Atlanta

After a successful career in advertising, Kelly Talal is growing a multi-unit portfolio in Marietta, Roswell, and Woodstock, GA, while balancing corporate life, motherhood, and franchising.

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Celebrating 20 Years of Growth: Michelle Holliman’s Impact on Pigtails & Crewcuts

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