Birds Barbershop

I’m half-embarrassed to admit that I have been anxiously awaiting my kids’ next haircuts, watching the hair creep over their ears and their eyes excitedly for the opportunity to take them to Birds Barbershop.  This is a hair salon “chain” (local) that caught my eye when we were driving around South Congress, then South Lamar, and then another one popped up on my radar when we were cruising East 6th after our recent El Chilito experience.  We were coming back from Phil’s Ice House one day, and lo and behold.  There’s another Birds Barbershop on Burnet.

What was this place?  I started to follow Birds on Twitter after my first encounter, and whoever their social media maven is, hilarious.  I was intrigued.  They would offer free beer (or free Sweet Leaf Tea), and they host various events with titles like “Manfest.”  So why would a place like this interest a mom?  They offer a mohawk haircut.  No, I did not get my kids mohawks, but I was laughing at the idea of doing this just to see what the grandparents would say.  I was curious because upon some digging, Austin Chronicle readers have picked Birds as “Best Haircut” for kids, and for prices similar to what we get at kiddie salons, we went.

This is coming from a pop-culture geek so take it for what it is worth.  We went to the Burnet Rd location, and from the moment that I saw the Atari-like graphics on the wall, I was hooked.  There was nary a flat panel playing Dora the Explorer DVDs.  No plastic cars for my kids to sit in while getting haircuts!  There is nothing blatantly “kid looking” about this place.  The decor was strictly a nod to the 80s video game goodness.  AWESOME.  More than awesome, like Fast Times at Ridgemont High kind of awesome.  ;-)

I thought my kids would be bored out of their minds here without the standard train table at the kiddie salons, but they weren’t.   My kids loved looking at the wall art.  They quickly discovered an arcade video game circa my childhood at Showbiz Pizza, which predated Chuck E. Cheese.  There is a time limit on the arcade game, but no one was there so my kids “played” multiple rounds.  The place is spacious and down right kid friendly without having to resort to kiddie schtick.  We walked in and waited maybe 10 minutes.  (Next time, I will call ahead though as there was a wait when we were leaving.) After my kids got their kidcuts, I got the ladybird shampoo, cut, and blow out.  Great experience.

Kudos to the hair dresser Vanessa and the receptionist for helping to keep my kids happy while I was in the chair.  Kudos to Vanessa for being so patient with my kids while giving each their haircut, and she gave my kids adorable haircuts. She took as much care in their styling as I have seen at most adult salons.

Birds Barbershop ROCKS. (They have Wi-Fi too.)

6800 Burnet Rd.
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 454-1200

2110 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-8800

1107 East 6th St.
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 457-0400

1902 S. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-0500

Walk-in or call ahead
7 Days a Week

Related posts:

1. K.A.O.S. Children’s Hair Salon
2. Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids (Cedar Park)
3. Cool Cuts 4 Kids (Lakeline location)
4. Pigtails and Crewcuts kid hair salon
5. Freebirds Fill the Foil BOGO deal (Thursday 6/11/09)