Kelly Talal 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 Pigtails & Crewcuts salon in Marietta-West Cobb in 2025. A few months later, two more opportunities followed in Roswell and Woodstock. 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.”
Talal and her husband first learned about an available Pigtails & Crewcuts 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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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 & 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 https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
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.
Kelly Talal 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 Pigtails & Crewcuts salon in Marietta-West Cobb in 2025. A few months later, two more opportunities followed in Roswell and Woodstock. 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.”
Talal and her husband first learned about an available Pigtails & Crewcuts 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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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 & 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 https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
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