Next week, it will go even further to help the special needs community.
In honor of the store's one-year anniversary, 10 percent of all proceeds from Nov. 1-6 will be donated to the Mitey Riders therapeutic riding program for children with disabilities.
No appointments are needed, and the salon offers entertainment options for little ones, both while they're waiting, and while they're in the stylist's chair.
Shop owners Hailey and Mike Arthur chose to benefit the Mitey Riders program because they have a child with special needs. Their oldest son, Shep, has cerebral palsy, and he is in his second year with the therapeutic riding program in Weddington.
Mitey Riders is a nonprofit organization that provides therapy through horseback riding to kids facing challenges associated with conditions like Down syndrome, spina bifida, autism and cerebral palsy. And it does it all at no cost to the riders' families. Classes are free; parents are only asked for 30 hours of volunteer time. Mitey Riders is able to provide its services without charging fees in part because the land and the facilities are donated. Misty Meadows Farm is owned by Harry and Marilyn Swimmer, who began the Mitey Riders program in 1993 after seeing first-hand the effects a ride on a horse had on a friend's child. Another factor is the dedication of a large group of volunteers, many of whom have been a part of the Mitey Riders family for 10 years or more.
Mitey Riders is certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), and includes five NARHA-certified instructors. The riders participate in a one-hour class each week, with activities designed to help improve flexibility, balance, coordination and muscle strength.
Mike and Hailey Arthur have learned to look past obstacles.
Shortly after the birth of their first son, they were told he may never talk, walk or eat on his own. Thankfully, they didn't listen.
Shep Arthur, 6, is now an exuberant charmer who loves to sing, teaches other kids his dance moves, attends first grade at Weddington Elementary, and will happily tell you he rides a horse named Snow Lily.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by damage to the brain that affects its ability to control muscle movements. Shep was diagnosed as the result of a brain injury he suffered during the birthing process. The ramifications of cerebral palsy vary greatly depending on which area of the brain is affected, but may include exaggerated (high or low) muscle tone, involuntary movements, difficulty swallowing, problems with speech, sensory issues and abnormal perception. Shep exhibited all of the symptoms at an early age.
The Arthurs had to make major changes just to manage Shep's care.
Hailey left her job as a recruiter with Bank of America to stay home full time, and Mike took a pay cut to leave a position at a consulting firm and rejoin ADP, the payroll company, where he had previously worked.
"It was an instant change of priorities, after we got the results from Shep's MRI," said Mike. "But it was definitely the right move. I took the job with the stipulation that I could be home-based. My boss was very supportive."
Their lives soon became filled with various types of therapies, all aimed at improving Shep's quality of life.
"We're so fortunate because Shep has never fought it with PT (physical therapy) and OT (occupational therapy). He's always smiling. He's the happiest kid," said Hailey.
Shep's biggest advancements occurred after trying a therapy the FDA has yet to approve for treating cerebral palsy: hyberbaric oxygen therapy, which consists of sitting in an enclosed chamber while pure oxygen is flowing under a controlled amount of pressure, allowing the body to absorb up to 20 times more than usual. The Arthurs say Shep's results were incredible.
"Before we started hyperbaric he was pretty much nonverbal. He just used single words like 'eat' to communicate a need. He couldn't hold a crayon, and he couldn't walk," said Hailey. "After the second week of HBOT, he said his first full sentence. It was a huge moment for us, and Mike and I were bawling. At the end of eight weeks, he could write his name. Five months later, he was walking."
Shep's improvement has continued through his involvement with Mitey Riders. Instructors have seen an increase in his core strength, and he has progressed to trotting.
Hailey and Mike welcomed twins David and Lane in September 2007, and moved to Weddington from Fort Mill soon afterward.
The advancements Shep has made in recent years and the twins' entry into preschool allowed Hailey to start thinking about going back to work. The Arthurs researched franchises and settled on Pigtails and Crewcuts because it allows for a flexible schedule, while also providing an opportunity to help families like theirs.
"So many kids with special needs have sensory issues and getting a haircut can be a traumatic event. We understand that because we've been there," said Hailey.
The Arthurs see their business as a way to help others, to show thanks and to support the special needs community they are proud to be a part of.
"The last seven years have taught us that everything happens for a reason," said Hailey. "Everyone in their life has a moment that defines who you are, and I am so glad that we have already had ours. It affects the way you treat people, the way you look at things, the way you go through your life. We would be completely different people if we hadn't had Shep."
Angel Trimble is a freelance writer for South Charlotte News. Have a story idea for Angel? E-mail her at trimblecreative@carolina.rr.com.
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