Like father, like son: Youngster receives 1st haircut at same Monroeville salon as Dad

There is nothing like a fresh haircut to boost self- esteem and make a person feel brand new.

Nineteen-month-old Robby Kalas got to experience that feeling for the first time when he received his first haircut in the same salon whereas his father, Robert Kalas, did 29 years ago.

Robert and his brothers, Andy and Mike, were Judy Lynn’s very first customers at Little Crickett Hair Salon in Monroeville. They arrived at the salon at 9 a.m. on opening day for their first time in the salon chair.

This June 18, Robert’s family returned to witness the same milestone for his son, with the same stylist.

“It was like I went back in time,” said Kathy Kalas, Robby’s grandmother. “Robert pointed out the curling rack and said, ‘I remember I used to play with those curlers all the time.’ The shop looked the exact same as when I would take my boys there.”

The haircut — with Robby held by his mother, Colleen — was a mix of crying and laughing from every member of the family. Everyone shared funny stories and memories of the shop as Lynn performed the trim.

“It was truly such a magical moment. We were all crying. I was, Judy was and my son was,” Kalas said. “Robby was doing a little bit of laughing and crying. He didn’t know why we kept touching his head, but we gave him a comb so he could brush his own hair, and he was happy.”

Little Crickett was opened by Lynn and her twin sister, Trudy, in 1993. The shop has remained popular in the community ever since.