Students seek new ‘dos
By: Jessica Beym
As 8-year-old Emma Corr sat in the barber’s chair at Village Haircutters on Tuesday, she said goodbye to her spilt-ends and summer sun-streaked hair in time for the start of school.
The visit to the salon was just one of many stops that Emma, her 10-year-old sister Olivia and her mother Cheryl made this week as part of back-to-school preparations.
Shopping for shoes and new fall outfits at the mall, and buying notebooks, folders and pens at an office supply store were also on their agenda.
And the Corrs aren’t the only family making appointments at the Main Street salon for end-of-summer haircuts.
Co-owners Linda Harding and Lorraine Perna said their date book started filling up a few weeks ago and they would continue to take appointments as the final days of summer wind down.
"Most people call in the morning to make an appointment," Ms. Harding said Tuesday afternoon as she looked at her schedule for the upcoming days. "If a slot opens, you better fill it up."
This year, young boys and girls who are heading back to Cranbury School or Princeton High School have been coming in for a variety of cuts.
From just a few inches trim which is what Emma and Olivia had done to a whole new look, Ms. Harding said she has seen a range of styles this season.
"It’s definitely a personal preference," Ms Harding said as she snipped away at the ends of Emma’s hair.
Ms. Harding said that while many of the boys are coming in for the standard buzz cuts, there are a lot more who come looking for more of a style.
"The boys are making more of a statement than ever," Ms. Harding said. "They’re wanting longer hair and starting to realize they can do a lot more with hair gel."
As the stylists snipped away, they also talked about different beauty tips and how to keep hair from getting damaged over the summer months. Olivia, who will be entering sixth grade this year, said she was getting a new trim to complement the new clothes that she plans to wear the first week of school.
The first day back is always a big affair, Ms. Corr said.
"She plays soccer and goes to the beach, so she has a lot of element damage to that hair," Ms. Corr said. "Plus, she’s getting ready for the sixth-grade dance that Friday, so she picked out a new outfit and we’re getting our nails done. It’s a big thing."

