Deean Ferrone wasn’t looking to start a business when she took her two young sons for a haircut. At the time, she had been an elementary school teacher for more than ten years. But as she sat in the salon, she noticed a sign for franchise opportunities, sparking a conversation with her husband, Joe. The idea of business ownership wasn’t something they had considered before, but it piqued their interest.
Eager to explore their options, they began researching brands. However, one company they reached out to never responded to their inquiries. Then, they contacted Pigtails & Crewcuts — and within 15 minutes, they had a callback with detailed answers to all their questions and a meeting scheduled for the very next day. The difference in communication made the decision easy.
Ferrone and her husband started with one Pigtails & Crewcuts location, acquiring the brand’s top-performing salon. Within months, they expanded to three Colorado locations in Westminster, Denver and Parker. The transition from teaching to business ownership wasn’t something she had ever imagined, but the franchise model made it possible. Instead of starting from scratch, she had a proven system, corporate support and a network of other owners facing the same challenges.
Now, with plans to open a fourth location, Ferrone has found success in an industry she never expected to be part of. More importantly, she’s gained the flexibility that teaching never allowed — time for her family and a business that continues to grow. What started with a haircut turned into a career shift that has given her control over her time and future.
1851 Franchise spoke to Ferrone about her franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Deean Ferrone: By training, I’m a teacher. My undergrad was in theater, and I worked on a cruise ship for several years doing various show business-related jobs. I decided I didn’t want to do that long term, so I went back to school and earned my master’s degree in elementary education. I taught various grades in elementary school, worked as a data specialist and literacy coach, and held both administrative and educator roles in Florida, Colorado and California.
We lived in California for six years before moving back to Colorado. By then, we had two little boys. When COVID hit, I was teaching fourth grade and kindergarten both virtually and in person, and the constant back-and-forth became overwhelming. During that time, we flipped a house, but I realized I didn’t want to return to teaching, theater or house flipping.
One day, while talking with our neighbor about kids' haircuts, they asked if we had heard of Pigtails & Crewcuts. We hadn’t, but the idea of a child-focused salon franchise intrigued us. My husband has always been entrepreneurial, running various side businesses, while I’ve been more of a traditional steady-paycheck person. Curious to learn more, my husband immediately looked up Pigtails & Crewcuts and gave them a call. Within minutes, we had a response, and everything started to fall into place.
Within 15 minutes, [Franchise Development Coordinator] Hannah [Swanson] from their main office called us back, answered all our questions and scheduled a meeting with [Vice President of Franchise Development] Michelle [Holliman] the next day. Everything was highly organized, professional and low-pressure — more about seeing if it was a good fit for us.
As we were reviewing the initial materials, Michelle called and mentioned an opportunity to acquire an existing salon — the number-one location in the network, open since 2010 — because the owner was looking to sell. We hadn’t considered an acquisition, but we had dinner with the previous owner and her husband, who shared insights about the brand and business. Three months later, we bought the Westminster location, which was already well established and required minimal changes.
Initially, we had signed for two locations: the Westminster acquisition and a new build-out in Longmont. We thought we would wait a year before opening the second, but only three months later, Michelle called again. The owners of the Parker and Northfield locations were looking to sell. She asked if we were interested in acquiring both.
At first, I thought it was too much — Parker was an hour away, Westminster was 15 minutes from us, and Northfield was 35 minutes. But after discussing it with my husband and the previous owner, and learning that a long-time manager was staying on, we decided it made sense. It was a very different experience buying a well-established, top-performing salon versus two struggling locations that had never broken the top ten and needed significant turnaround efforts.
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?
Ferrone: I honestly had not considered franchising beyond fast food. Years ago, my husband looked into Yogurtland, and we had discussed brands like McDonald's and KFC, but we didn’t realize many other businesses were also franchises. I didn’t fully understand the concept — how you’re a small business owner running your own operation while following an established system.
The biggest thing I tell people about being part of a franchise network is the support. If you start your own business from scratch — like a coffee shop — you have to create everything yourself. You need to find someone to build your website, decide if you want uniforms and where to order them, and figure out where to get supplies. In a franchise, all of that is built in. Someone has already done the work to provide vendors for uniforms, equipment and supplies.
Beyond that, you have a network of other owners running the same business. While there may be some geographic and cultural differences, they face similar challenges. For example, after COVID, hiring was a major issue. Owners shared strategies like recruiting at beauty schools and posting on job sites, but also more creative solutions, such as offering incentives for current staff to refer experienced stylists.
The support and communication with other owners are invaluable. They’re not competitors — especially in my area, where the nearest Pigtails & Crewcuts is an hour away in a completely different market. Over time, these people become friends. When I left education, I worried about losing that professional camaraderie, especially after my husband — who started this with me — returned to his previous career in commercial insurance. Running the business on my own, I feared feeling isolated, but the network of other owners has been incredible.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Ferrone: There were two main reasons. First, the team genuinely cares about the business and the brand. They’re not just trying to sell as many locations as possible; they want to find the right people who will represent the brand well and truly enjoy it. I never felt pressured. It was always about making sure it was the right fit for both sides.
Second, the brand itself is adorable. When we started, my kids were three and four, and I saw the joy in their eyes when they walked in — bright colors, toys, Disney movies and getting to sit in a car for their haircut. The experience is completely different from taking them to a traditional salon. Before owning Pigtails & Crewcuts, we went to other children’s salons, and while my kids didn’t hate haircuts, the wait was long and it wasn’t an engaging experience for them. Here, they interact with professional stylists who genuinely enjoy working with kids.
Beyond that, it’s a unique, niche business. Hair salons are everywhere, but what we do as a brand and as a community service truly stands out. From a business perspective, that niche model is a major advantage because we know exactly who our client is.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Ferrone: We still plan to build one location from scratch and have already committed to opening a fourth salon. I want to gain that experience of building from the ground up.
In terms of growth, my goal is for the other two salons to perform at the same level as Westminster. That includes building a strong, long-term staff — finding stylists who truly enjoy the brand and want to stay. We have a few at each location, but I want to continue fostering a sense of team unity and belief in the brand across all employees.
For the past two years, my focus has been on consistency and refinement. Rather than setting specific goals, I chose those two words as guiding principles, and I feel we’ve established them well at all three locations. Moving forward, I plan to continue reading leadership and business books, making small refinements to improve efficiency and productivity, and strengthening community outreach. There are always new kids needing haircuts for the first time, so we need to ensure our service offerings, product lines and overall operations are as dialed in as possible.
My specific growth goal for this year is a 10% increase in retail and haircut revenue. Last year, we met that goal at one location, and the other two were just shy of it.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Ferrone: If someone unfamiliar with this brand or business ownership comes across this article and is considering franchising for the first time, I would say, “Believe in yourself.” As a teacher, I never thought I could run my own business, but the skill set educators have — planning, organization, empathy — transfers well to business ownership. You can learn how to read a profit and loss statement, but having confidence in your ability is key.
Especially for women considering business ownership, it is 100% possible. Being part of a franchise network makes it even more accessible and realistic. A brand like Pigtails & Crewcuts provides incredible support, making business ownership achievable.
Another major factor for me has been time freedom. I initially thought teaching would offer a great schedule for having kids, but in reality, the structure was extremely rigid. Now, I have the flexibility to drop my kids off at school, take them to soccer, go on field trips and control my own schedule. That autonomy is invaluable. And on top of that, I’m making more money than I ever did as a teacher.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Ferrone: For anyone considering franchising, the recipe for success is already there. If you follow the system, use the support provided — both from the corporate team and other owners — you’ll have a much smoother experience than starting a business from scratch.
About Pigtails & Crewcuts:
Pigtails & Crewcuts is a kid’s 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 80 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.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
Deean Ferrone never imagined leaving education for business ownership until a haircut for her two sons ultimately led her and her husband to franchising with the family-focused kids salon.
Deean Ferrone wasn’t looking to start a business when she took her two young sons for a haircut. At the time, she had been an elementary school teacher for more than ten years. But as she sat in the salon, she noticed a sign for franchise opportunities, sparking a conversation with her husband, Joe. The idea of business ownership wasn’t something they had considered before, but it piqued their interest.
Eager to explore their options, they began researching brands. However, one company they reached out to never responded to their inquiries. Then, they contacted Pigtails & Crewcuts — and within 15 minutes, they had a callback with detailed answers to all their questions and a meeting scheduled for the very next day. The difference in communication made the decision easy.
Ferrone and her husband started with one Pigtails & Crewcuts location, acquiring the brand’s top-performing salon. Within months, they expanded to three Colorado locations in Westminster, Denver and Parker. The transition from teaching to business ownership wasn’t something she had ever imagined, but the franchise model made it possible. Instead of starting from scratch, she had a proven system, corporate support and a network of other owners facing the same challenges.
Now, with plans to open a fourth location, Ferrone has found success in an industry she never expected to be part of. More importantly, she’s gained the flexibility that teaching never allowed — time for her family and a business that continues to grow. What started with a haircut turned into a career shift that has given her control over her time and future.
1851 Franchise spoke to Ferrone about her franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Deean Ferrone: By training, I’m a teacher. My undergrad was in theater, and I worked on a cruise ship for several years doing various show business-related jobs. I decided I didn’t want to do that long term, so I went back to school and earned my master’s degree in elementary education. I taught various grades in elementary school, worked as a data specialist and literacy coach, and held both administrative and educator roles in Florida, Colorado and California.
We lived in California for six years before moving back to Colorado. By then, we had two little boys. When COVID hit, I was teaching fourth grade and kindergarten both virtually and in person, and the constant back-and-forth became overwhelming. During that time, we flipped a house, but I realized I didn’t want to return to teaching, theater or house flipping.
One day, while talking with our neighbor about kids' haircuts, they asked if we had heard of Pigtails & Crewcuts. We hadn’t, but the idea of a child-focused salon franchise intrigued us. My husband has always been entrepreneurial, running various side businesses, while I’ve been more of a traditional steady-paycheck person. Curious to learn more, my husband immediately looked up Pigtails & Crewcuts and gave them a call. Within minutes, we had a response, and everything started to fall into place.
Within 15 minutes, [Franchise Development Coordinator] Hannah [Swanson] from their main office called us back, answered all our questions and scheduled a meeting with [Vice President of Franchise Development] Michelle [Holliman] the next day. Everything was highly organized, professional and low-pressure — more about seeing if it was a good fit for us.
As we were reviewing the initial materials, Michelle called and mentioned an opportunity to acquire an existing salon — the number-one location in the network, open since 2010 — because the owner was looking to sell. We hadn’t considered an acquisition, but we had dinner with the previous owner and her husband, who shared insights about the brand and business. Three months later, we bought the Westminster location, which was already well established and required minimal changes.
Initially, we had signed for two locations: the Westminster acquisition and a new build-out in Longmont. We thought we would wait a year before opening the second, but only three months later, Michelle called again. The owners of the Parker and Northfield locations were looking to sell. She asked if we were interested in acquiring both.
At first, I thought it was too much — Parker was an hour away, Westminster was 15 minutes from us, and Northfield was 35 minutes. But after discussing it with my husband and the previous owner, and learning that a long-time manager was staying on, we decided it made sense. It was a very different experience buying a well-established, top-performing salon versus two struggling locations that had never broken the top ten and needed significant turnaround efforts.
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?
Ferrone: I honestly had not considered franchising beyond fast food. Years ago, my husband looked into Yogurtland, and we had discussed brands like McDonald's and KFC, but we didn’t realize many other businesses were also franchises. I didn’t fully understand the concept — how you’re a small business owner running your own operation while following an established system.
The biggest thing I tell people about being part of a franchise network is the support. If you start your own business from scratch — like a coffee shop — you have to create everything yourself. You need to find someone to build your website, decide if you want uniforms and where to order them, and figure out where to get supplies. In a franchise, all of that is built in. Someone has already done the work to provide vendors for uniforms, equipment and supplies.
Beyond that, you have a network of other owners running the same business. While there may be some geographic and cultural differences, they face similar challenges. For example, after COVID, hiring was a major issue. Owners shared strategies like recruiting at beauty schools and posting on job sites, but also more creative solutions, such as offering incentives for current staff to refer experienced stylists.
The support and communication with other owners are invaluable. They’re not competitors — especially in my area, where the nearest Pigtails & Crewcuts is an hour away in a completely different market. Over time, these people become friends. When I left education, I worried about losing that professional camaraderie, especially after my husband — who started this with me — returned to his previous career in commercial insurance. Running the business on my own, I feared feeling isolated, but the network of other owners has been incredible.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Ferrone: There were two main reasons. First, the team genuinely cares about the business and the brand. They’re not just trying to sell as many locations as possible; they want to find the right people who will represent the brand well and truly enjoy it. I never felt pressured. It was always about making sure it was the right fit for both sides.
Second, the brand itself is adorable. When we started, my kids were three and four, and I saw the joy in their eyes when they walked in — bright colors, toys, Disney movies and getting to sit in a car for their haircut. The experience is completely different from taking them to a traditional salon. Before owning Pigtails & Crewcuts, we went to other children’s salons, and while my kids didn’t hate haircuts, the wait was long and it wasn’t an engaging experience for them. Here, they interact with professional stylists who genuinely enjoy working with kids.
Beyond that, it’s a unique, niche business. Hair salons are everywhere, but what we do as a brand and as a community service truly stands out. From a business perspective, that niche model is a major advantage because we know exactly who our client is.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Ferrone: We still plan to build one location from scratch and have already committed to opening a fourth salon. I want to gain that experience of building from the ground up.
In terms of growth, my goal is for the other two salons to perform at the same level as Westminster. That includes building a strong, long-term staff — finding stylists who truly enjoy the brand and want to stay. We have a few at each location, but I want to continue fostering a sense of team unity and belief in the brand across all employees.
For the past two years, my focus has been on consistency and refinement. Rather than setting specific goals, I chose those two words as guiding principles, and I feel we’ve established them well at all three locations. Moving forward, I plan to continue reading leadership and business books, making small refinements to improve efficiency and productivity, and strengthening community outreach. There are always new kids needing haircuts for the first time, so we need to ensure our service offerings, product lines and overall operations are as dialed in as possible.
My specific growth goal for this year is a 10% increase in retail and haircut revenue. Last year, we met that goal at one location, and the other two were just shy of it.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Ferrone: If someone unfamiliar with this brand or business ownership comes across this article and is considering franchising for the first time, I would say, “Believe in yourself.” As a teacher, I never thought I could run my own business, but the skill set educators have — planning, organization, empathy — transfers well to business ownership. You can learn how to read a profit and loss statement, but having confidence in your ability is key.
Especially for women considering business ownership, it is 100% possible. Being part of a franchise network makes it even more accessible and realistic. A brand like Pigtails & Crewcuts provides incredible support, making business ownership achievable.
Another major factor for me has been time freedom. I initially thought teaching would offer a great schedule for having kids, but in reality, the structure was extremely rigid. Now, I have the flexibility to drop my kids off at school, take them to soccer, go on field trips and control my own schedule. That autonomy is invaluable. And on top of that, I’m making more money than I ever did as a teacher.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Ferrone: For anyone considering franchising, the recipe for success is already there. If you follow the system, use the support provided — both from the corporate team and other owners — you’ll have a much smoother experience than starting a business from scratch.
About Pigtails & Crewcuts:
Pigtails & Crewcuts is a kid’s 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 80 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.
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