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KidSnips
KidSnips
KidSnips

KidSnips Lincoln Park

Hair salon in Chicago, IL · 7 locations

Rated 4.5 out of 5 (515 on Google Maps) (opens in a new tab) Closed · opens at 9 AM

The business was started by two mothers, Jill Gordon and Kim Stolze, who had met in 1979 in Northwestern's MBA program. The first salon opened in August 1997. Co-owners Jillian Gibson and Johanna Aardema later took over ownership from the founders. The salon describes itself as mom-owned, women-operated and a women-owned small business, and says it has been in operation for over 27 years and has donated more than $182,000 to causes it supports.

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About

The business was started by two mothers, Jill Gordon and Kim Stolze, who had met in 1979 in Northwestern's MBA program. The first salon opened in August 1997. Co-owners Jillian Gibson and Johanna Aardema later took over ownership from the founders. The salon describes itself as mom-owned, women-operated and a women-owned small business, and says it has been in operation for over 27 years and has donated more than $182,000 to causes it supports.

A visit usually begins with a short consultation. Children sit in car-shaped cutting chairs and can watch videos on iPads or screens during the haircut, which the salon says usually takes about 15 minutes. The cut is finished with a style that may use hair gel or glitter, and each child leaves with a treasure from the Treasure Board and a lollipop. The waiting area has shelves of toys to browse, and some toys are for sale in the salon.

The salon says it welcomes every child regardless of age, ability or background, including children with special needs or sensory challenges. Its stylists are trained to work with children who are nervous or fidgety. Sensory-needs appointments require a short form emailed after booking, and the appointment is not confirmed until the form is completed. A special care hair form is available for children with thicker, curlier or more textured hair, which may need extra time.

Every child is checked for lice before a haircut. Following state guidelines, the salon will not cut hair or perform treatments until both lice and nits are fully gone. It does not offer lice removal, but it sells lice treatment kits and prevention products.

A child's first haircut is treated as a milestone, with a personalized certificate and a lock of hair kept as a keepsake, and parents are encouraged to take photos. Hair can be donated to Wigs For Kids through an appointment, and the salon also supports Turning Pointe Autism Foundation and Gigi's Playhouse. Each April the salons make a donation to Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, and free haircuts are offered for local school and charity fundraisers.

The salon is built around children and says it welcomes children of every age and ability, using gentle professional hair products chosen for children's hair. It states that it intends to keep the same haircut quality and standards as it grows.

Toy-filled and designed for children, with car-shaped cutting chairs and a waiting area full of toys to browse.

Specials & promotions

  • $5 coupon for your next visit after a hair donation

    Hair must be at least 12 inches, clean, dry, tangle-free and non-chemically processed. By appointment. One donation per day, per location.

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

  • Holiday Sale

    On their website as of Oct 28, 2026 · Where we saw it

Services

Final prices may vary.

Detangling treatments, lice checks and private lessons on styling children's hair, including a half-hour option that covers braids and ballet buns.

  • Detangling Treatments $29
  • Lice Checks $29
  • Private Lessons $60
  • Private Lessons (half hour) $60

Children's cuts for ages 12 and younger, along with simple buzzcuts without scissors, lining and carvings, bang trims, shampoo with a cut, braids or ballet buns, and detangling treatments.

  • Lining and Carvings $5
  • Bang Trim $8
  • Shampoo (with cut) $8
  • Simple Buzzcut (no scissors) $24
  • Braids or ballet buns $29
  • Children's Cuts (Ages 12 and Younger) $29
  • Detangling Treatment $29
  • Special Hairstyles (Up-dos, Iron Works, Blow Dry Styles) $60

Up-dos, iron works and blow dry styles, with pricing that starts at 60 dollars; details are available by calling the local salon.

  • Iron Works Blow Dry Styles $60+
  • Up-dos, Iron Works, Blow Dry Styles $60+
  • Up-dos Price at booking

First haircuts, plus Wigs For Kids hair donation appointments, which include a haircut at the regular price.

  • First Haircut $29
  • Wigs For Kids Hair Donation Price at booking
  • Wigs For Kids Hair Donation (regular haircut price) Price at booking

Men's, women's and teen haircuts for clients beyond the children's range.

  • Men's Haircut $35
  • Men's Haircuts $35
  • Teen Haircut $35
  • Teen Haircuts $35
  • Women's Haircut $60
  • Women's Haircuts $60

Photos

  • Girl smiling and holding two haircut ponytails
  • Stylist cutting a young boy's hair on a rocket ride
  • Smiling boy with curly hair after a cut
  • Holiday display of hair bows and plush toys in the store
  • Two staff members standing together in the store
  • Boy with a spiky cut and shaved design in front of the storefront
  • Toddler with a short blond cut at the toy car station
  • Young boy with a bob-style cut and bangs eating a lollipop
  • Girl with a braided updo being styled by a stylist
  • Boy in a dinosaur cape showing a curly textured cut
  • Smiling boy with a buzz cut in a paw-print cape
  • Child browsing toy shelves in the store

Meet the team

Their website doesn't list the team, so we don't either.

Highlights
  • Car-shaped cutting chairs with videos on iPads or screens during haircuts
  • Personalized first-haircut certificate and a keepsake lock of hair
  • Treasure Board pick and a lollipop included in each children's visit
  • Lice check before every haircut, with no cutting until lice and nits are gone
  • Free redo within 10 days if a customer is not pleased with a haircut or service
  • Hair donations for Wigs For Kids, with a haircut at regular price and a 5 dollar coupon; donated hair must be at least 12 inches, clean, dry, tangle-free and not chemically processed, and is accepted by appointment only
Good for
  • first haircut
  • young children
  • children with special needs
  • sensory sensitivities
  • thick, curly or textured hair
  • teens
  • adults
  • nervous or fidgety children
  • special occasion styling
  • hair donation
Treats
  • detangling
  • lice checks and prevention
  • nervous or wiggly children
  • sensory needs
  • hair donation
  • special occasion styling
  • braids and ballet buns
Techniques
  • buzzcut without scissors
  • lining and carvings
  • bang trims
  • shampoo with a cut
  • braids
  • ballet buns
  • up-dos
  • iron works
  • blow dry styles
  • detangling treatments

Products & treatments

  • Detangling products
  • Lice prevention products
  • Glitter and temporary color products
  • Pool-friendly hair care
  • Hairbands, bows, clips, brushes, combs and headwraps for sensitive scalps
  • Lice treatment kits
  • Arts and crafts toys, educational toys, birthday gifts and gifts under 5 dollars

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