Before becoming a licensed barber or having kids of her own, Cozy Friedman was struck by a revolutionary idea: create a salon where kids are a priority, not a nuisance. Inspired by a friend’s tale of her little nephew’s tearful visit to an intimidating—and unwelcoming—grownup salon, Cozy investigated the market and discovered that parents were clamoring for a salon dedicated to junior cuts.
After earning her barber’s license, Cozy opened the doors to her first salon on Madison Avenue in New York City. Staffed with stylists attuned to the unique needs of children and stocked with the latest, greatest toys, Cozy’s Cuts for Kids was an instant success. Instead of dreading their next trim, kids actually looked forward to haircuts like a visit to Serendipity or FAO Schwartz, and parents were thrilled to put their little ones in the care of professionals who were just as skilled at looking after children as they were at handling hair.
Fifteen years and two kids later, Cozy continues to provide stress-free cuts for New York kids. At her two uptown salons, one on the Upper West Side and one on the Upper East Side, Cozy and her team of experts deliver charming, on-trend styles and plenty of smiles. In response to client demand, Cozy also created So Cozy Hair Care For Children, the first- ever “designer” line of hair care products created exclusively for kids. Available nationwide, these unique, Paraben-free formulas are designed to gently and naturally treat children’s hair using only the most nourishing ingredients, and are developed with yummy scents for a kid-friendly bath time experience.
In February 2011 Cozy launched her much-anticipated debut book – Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls’ Hair – putting two decades of Cozy’s expertise at the fingertips of eager parents. Unlike hair books of the past, Cozy speaks to every hair type and texture offering all of her best kept secrets. With a handy index, illustrated how-to instructions, and gorgeous photos, Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls’ Hair makes learning fun and easy. The book is available Barnes & Noble and through all online book-seller sites.
Cozy continues to inspire women and future business leaders everywhere, and appeared on the panel of The Tory Burch Foundation’s Mentoring and Discussion For Women Entrepreneurs event, alongside such luminaries as Lauren Bush Lauren, CEO of Feed Projects LLC, and Cindi Leive, Editor-In-Chief of Glamour. In addition, Cozy spoke at the 2012 HBA Global Expo, which garners an audience of over 16,000 beauty and wellness professionals each year. During a session entitled, “Carving Your Niche,” she shared her two decades of experience in the children’s hair care industry and her strategies for continuing to build her formidable brand. Cozy has been featured on The Today Show, The View, and The CBS Early Show, and her expertise has been quoted in American Baby, The New York Times, MORE Magazine, Parents Magazine, and USA Today, just to name a few.