Michael and Yvette Stumpf’s path to opening the new Happy Valley location of Pigtails & Crewcuts salon could be better described as a journey three years in the making.

While living in New Orleans, they visited a children’s dentist and loved the kid-centric approach. Another hair salon not far from their home closed and the light bulb went off. They loved working with kids. Michael’s mother was a hairdresser with two salons of her own when he was young. They decided they would turn that closed hair salon into a children’s salon. This would be the first bump in the road; the space they were hoping for had been leased to another owner and would be gutted.

This event led the Stumpfs to research other children’s hair salons. It was then that they found Pigtails & Crewcuts. After visiting the Pigtails & Crewcuts in Baton Rouge, they knew it would be a great fit. Michael and Yvette called the franchise office, intent on opening a salon in New Orleans. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in April 2018 when Michael’s father in Phoenix passed away unexpectedly. They immediately knew they would be moving back to Phoenix, Michael’s hometown, to be closer to family. They called the team at Pigtails & Crewcuts to let them know they wouldn’t be able to continue with the process in Louisiana. “They informed us they did not have a single salon in Arizona,” Michael says. They decided to move forward with a three-salon deal to bring Pigtails & Crewcuts to various areas in the Valley.

In December 2018, Michael and Yvette decided on the Norterra/Happy Valley area to open their first location. Powering through more roadblocks and delays, including the pandemic, the Stumpfs never gave up hope that the kids’ salon they began talking about in February 2018 would open. And it did, three years later. “It was 100% worth the wait,” they both say, “We love this community and look forward to serving the children and their families for many years to come.”
Pigtails & Crewcuts – Happy Valley is located at 1730 W. Happy Valley Road, Ste. 105, in Phoenix. To learn more about the salon, visit pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/happyvalley.