Carolyn Thomas of Mathews is in her 30th year of owning a hair salon in Gloucester—three of them actually.

Thomas started On the Circle on Main Street in 1987, working alone for the first year or so. Later, she added employees and independent contractors. She worked there for eight years, then changed her location to a nearby hill and changed the business name to On the Hill and operated there for 10 years.

Twelve years ago Thomas moved again—this time to her present location just off Main Street near the Gloucester Post Office. With that move came yet another name: Hair Works.

She said her regular clientele are men, women and children. The shop offers appointments and accepts walk-ins.

In the early years, Thomas said she did a lot more permanents than color treatments. In recent years, the trend is for more hair color and fewer perms, she said, adding there are more vivid color choices now.

Thomas rents booth space in her current location to Cherie Cook of Mathews, wh...