---
title: "How Wade Brannon Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts Into a National Franchise"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/118ceb77-46ce-4134-8de6-4bd4a6d8fa0a
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/emerging-franchise-brands-podcast-how-wade-brannon-scaled-pigtails-crewcuts-into-a-national-brand-2729865
category: "Hair & salon suites"
industry: "Beauty & Wellness"
segment: "Hair & salon suites"
published: 2025-07-21T17:12:05.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T00:53:40.382Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1753123718_2729865.png
---

# How Wade Brannon Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts Into a National Franchise

**TL;DR:** Wade Brannon, President and CEO of Pigtails & Crewcuts, grew the brand into a national franchise after purchasing it in 2004. Today, Pigtails & Crewcuts boasts 81 locations with more on the way.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2025-07-21. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/emerging-franchise-brands-podcast-how-wade-brannon-scaled-pigtails-crewcuts-into-a-national-brand-2729865).*

## Story

Brannon recounts how, after selling Heavenly Ham in 2002, he took time off to focus on family. But after a few years and a chance visit to a children's salon with his son, he saw an opportunity. The experience, which was radically different from the traditional barbershop his son dreaded, sparked the idea to transform the brand into a scalable franchise. He purchased Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2004 when it had just one location and spent the next year building the foundational systems to support franchising.

The conversation touches on the challenges of turning a single-location concept into a national brand, including the importance of developing replicable systems and staying focused on the franchise model rather than company-owned growth. Brannon also discusses navigating the 2008 economic downturn and how moments like those shaped his perspective on sustainable growth.

Today, Pigtails & Crewcuts boasts 81 locations with more on the way, thanks to a strong support system and a clear vision for delivering a stress-free experience for parents and kids alike.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise growth (topic)
- Retail (sector)
- Pigtails & Crewcuts (company)
- brand transformation (topic)
- Wade Brannon (person)
- Heavenly Ham (company)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/emerging-franchise-brands-podcast-how-wade-brannon-scaled-pigtails-crewcuts-into-a-national-brand-2729865). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/118ceb77-46ce-4134-8de6-4bd4a6d8fa0a).