Cutting-edge salon opens

Paul Clinton

Little Max Kelly rocked back in the orange barber chair and screamed

until his face turned red.

Max, 2, was one of the first customers at First Cut, Fashion

Island’s newest shop. Once store owner Leora Fogel slipped Max’s

favorite DVD, “Baby Mozart,” into one of the 11-inch TV screens, the

screaming stopped.

That allowed a First Cut stylist to start clipping off Max’s

locks.

“Having the TV is a great idea,” said Natasha Rodwell, Max’s

nanny. “It’s a good concept.”

First Cut made a splash Wednesday as the first-of-its-kind child’s

barbershop in Newport-Mesa. In addition to the haircutting, the salon

offers diversions for the youngsters as they go through the often

tortuous childhood haircuts.

First Cut opened at 10 a.m. and, an hour later, had already served

six clients.

The appointment books filled up quickly. The phone rang off the

hook and Lance and Leora Fogel ironed out the final bugs in the

shop’s operation.

Laguna Beach resident Bea Bennett came in for a haircut, bringing

her daughter-in-law and three grandchildren for the same.

“There are three generations here today,” Bennett said with a warm

smile. “We were happy to hear a child’s salon was opening [in Fashion

Island].”

With First Cut, the Fogels have created a 1950s Jetsons-style

salon with an effusion of greens, oranges and other pastel colors.

The salon has 13 cutting stations, many of which feature 11-inch

televisions, video game consoles and fun rocket-ship capsule seats

for the children.

The idea is to take the child’s mind off the haircutting by using

fun distractions, the Fogels said.

“We’re the first kids’ salon like this,” Lance Fogel said. “It’s

not something that patronizes to children, but at the same time, it

has got the upscale atmosphere.”

Children at First Cut can choose from 180 DVD titles of family

movies and 20 video games on a Nintendo GameCube.

For a child’s first haircut, parents can purchase a $150 package

that includes a video, a lock of hair, a commemorative album and a

Webcast of the haircut.

All children are given a small toy and lollipop.

About 20 stylists will ultimately work the salon. Stylist Luisa

Heckman, who lives in Costa Mesa, said she likes the store’s concept.

“I’ve worked in the high-end salons,” Heckman said. “Working in a

posh salon, it’s hard to introduce kids to that atmosphere.”