When Marylou Gonzalez and her husband, Juan, were searching for the right business to own, they never expected their personal experience as parents to lead them to Pigtails & Crewcuts, the kid’s hair salon franchise.

As a former elementary and special education teacher, Marylou put her career on hold to raise and homeschool her children. But finding a comfortable, child-friendly place for haircuts proved difficult for their son, who has sensory sensitivities. The themed chairs, TVs and fun atmosphere of Pigtails & Crewcuts transformed the experience for him — but the nearest salon was 45 minutes away.

That’s when they decided to bring Pigtails & Crewcuts to their own community.

Now, three years later, they’ve expanded into a second location, continuing their mission to make haircuts fun, welcoming, and inclusive for all families.

1851 spoke with Marylou to learn more about her background, her franchising journey with Pigtails & Crewcuts and her plans for the future: 

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

Marylou Gonzalez: I was an elementary and special education educator, and my husband is a District Operations Manager. I put my career on hold to raise and homeschool our children, but my husband always dreamed of owning a business.

Over the years, we tossed around different ideas, and he did a lot of research. But the idea of opening a kid’s hair salon came from personal experience — out of necessity.

Our son has sensory sensitivities, and haircuts were always a struggle. The fun, child-focused atmosphere of Pigtails & Crewcuts — themed chairs, TVs, toys — made a huge difference for him. But we had to drive 45 minutes just to get him a haircut.

We finally decided to take the leap and open one ourselves. There are so many families - like ours - who find kids' haircuts challenging for different reasons. We wanted to create a place where kids feel truly seen, parents feel understood, and everyone feels cared for.

We also put together an amazing team that shares our mission and is passionate about working with kids. On top of that, we partnered with an amazing local occupational therapist, who trained our stylists to make haircuts easier for children with sensory challenges.

Now, I’m beginning the process to officially certify our salon as a sensory-safe salon.

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

Marylou: Franchising allowed us to open a business with the added benefit of a framework and support.

As first-time business owners, we needed guidance, and we knew we would excel with a support system in place.

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

Marylou: We wanted to fill a gap in the community and create a space that felt truly inclusive  for all families. That was really important to us.

What sold us on Pigtails & Crewcuts was the people. From the very beginning, we felt an immediate connection with the leadership team. It was clear that they cared about their franchisees, and we could see that they had a strong business model and solid support team in place.

Now, after being with Pigtails & Crewcuts for three years, we’ve built a strong network with other owners. We constantly share advice and best practices, and support each other. It’s an amazing community of franchisees.

Their mission also aligned with our own values — to make haircuts fun, memorable and inclusive for all families.

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

Marylou: We are excited to continue serving our community and offering a safe and welcoming space for all families.

As for growth, we recently purchased a second salon in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It needed some work, but we’re using everything we’ve learned from our first location to turn it around. Right now, we are focused on building a strong and passionate team.

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

Marylou: Sometimes, people choose a franchise thinking it will be easy because there’s a framework. But owning a business — even a franchise — is hard work. That said, it’s also incredibly rewarding.

For us, the biggest reward is seeing the impact we have on families — especially those with kids who struggle with haircuts and often feel overlooked in the salon space. The pride comes from seeing happy customers and creating a space where families feel welcome and cared for. Every small win feels personal, and that’s what makes owning a business so special.

Do your research and choose a company that aligns with your goals and values. That’s why Pigtails & Crewcuts was the perfect fit for us, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision.

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.