With the great news that Bertie & Belle children’s hair salon in opening in Keynsham, we spoke to owner Gareth Sanders about what makes this such a special venue
It’s great to see Bertie & Belle coming to Keynsham. Can you tell us what it will offer to families paying a visit?
Bertie & Belle is the exclusive children’s hair salon. This unique venue is designed to make life easier for parents, offering an unforgettable experience. From the first steps through the doors, Bertie & Belle will capture the hearts of children and adults alike. Children’s hairdressing becomes fun and not a chore.
Where did the idea for Bertie & Belle come from?
Bertie & Belle was born from the minds of Bertie and Belle, a husband-and-wife team who, almost 15 years ago, saw a gap in the market for giving children an experience rather than just an encounter when having their hair cut. I approached them a year ago after I couldn’t find a great experience for my eldest son who is now three, so while back visiting family in Brighton we popped in for a haircut, got talking with the owners and ended up buying the brand.
What makes it different from other hair salons?
We are an exclusive children’s salon, we do not cater for adults. We have tablets with games and videos to keep the children entertained while they sit in their custom car seats, as well as toys and books for them to enjoy while waiting. This means they fidget less when having their hair cut and have a better overall experience. We also have an Xbox for the older children to play with while they have their hair cut.
What is different about cutting children’s hair compared to adults?
I passed this question over to our salon manager who gave me the following response: “Children are carefree, fun, loving and joyful characters who are inquisitive while having their hair cut, they wriggle, move and continually ask questions. They are everything an adult wishes they could be.”
Why did you choose to come to Keynsham?
I have been 2010 living in Kingswood so being around this area was a no-brainer for me.
What are some of the funny things that have happened to you and your team when cutting children’s hair?
The Brighton salon once swapped out some of its chairs for new ones, which included a digger with a working arm. Once one child knew how to work it they telepathically told all the rest and before long child after child was coming through the salon wanting to sit in the chair and knocking everything off the shelves. The digger lasted a week before it had to get swapped for a less chaotic chair!