It has yet to catch up to toy stores, McDonald's, and tot couture, but the kids' haircare industry is now in a growth spurt.
Ilze Meija, a former attorney and stay-at-home mom, was surprised at the lack of a children's salon in Ann Arbor. Other moms she knew were either taking their kids to the big chains, which can turn out uneven results, or to their own fancier salons, a pricey option for young ones.
"So there was nothing in between that was just for kids," Meija says. Hence, she founded
zoey + joey, a hair care studio dedicated to the under-18 set.
zoey + joey, located at 3260 Washtenaw Avenue, in the Arlington Square Plaza on the corner of Huron Parkway and Washtenaw, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11-4.
The build-out is still underway at the 1,750 square-foot full-service salon, which will have seven hair-cutting stations. Younger clients will sit in mini Mini Cooper cars while getting hair-dos, and the older set can watch sports or play video games while seated in regular chairs. And expect an indoor play structure with a slide in the waiting area. Adults can't fit in the Mini Cooper seats (the main focus is kids, after all) but they, too, can get coiffed.
Meija, who owns the salon, will be managing a staff of five stylists and a receptionist.
A "green salon", zoey + joey will use vegan shampoo and non-toxic nail polish for girls' mini-manicures. A wash, cut, and style runs $21 for boys, $23 for girls.
"It's a growing industry; we just haven't seen it here in Ann Arbor," Meija says. "On both coasts, in California and New York, it's a really big booming industry to open up a hair salon that's just for kids."
Source: Ilse Meija, owner and founder, zoey + joey
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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