Get the signature look

The look of choice at this salon is either a tight bun with a tiara or a colored hair extension teased out into a fan of, say, pale pink flamingo-style fluff. On top of that, hair is lacquered with gel and topped with a large amount of glitter. It’s a little bit punk rock, and a little bit costume ball. For some families, it may be a little bit too much.

But here’s the good news: You don’t have to select this over-the-top look for your princess. Instead, ask for a tasteful “Elsa” braid or some other Disney Princess-inspired hairdo and they will happily comply. You can opt out of the glitter, too, which takes days to wash out but is certainly fun for the princess. She is asked to hold a clear plastic shield in front of her face while her Fairy Godmother shakes the glitter out of a star-capped wand as if by magic. The words she chants? “Bibbidi bobbidi boo,” of course!