Minnesota twins Sharon and Karen have worked at their local, independently owned Great Clips® salon for a combined 70 years. Before they folded their capes and cleaned their clippers for the last time, we sat down with these veteran stylists to learn about their time with the Great Clips brand, why they stayed, and advice they would offer to stylists just getting started in the industry.

Interviewer: You started with the Great Clips brand at a franchised salon back in the 1980s?

Sharon: When I finished school, I thought I wanted to work at a full-service salon. I was shot down. I had no experience, and honestly, I didn’t know how to cut hair. I applied at the local, brand-new Great Clips salon. I was able to go through the Great Clips training program, which was key. I built my skills, and I learned how to tweak techniques to what worked for me.

Karen: I joined the salon after Sharon. I didn’t like doing color and roller sets, so I really liked the Great Clips concept which was focused on haircutting. I also liked the built-in customer base.

You liked it enough to stay for decades!

Sharon: I stayed for 40 years! I worked full time and had kids, so I really liked the flexibility Great Clips offered.

Karen: I worked at a Great Clips salon twice. After a few years of working with Sharon, my husband was relocated. The places we moved to did not have any Great Clips salons at the time, so I worked at a different salon and a beauty supply. But when we returned to Minnesota, I came back to Great Clips. Sharon wanted me to come back!

Sharon: Yes, because I was your boss!

Sharon, you had become the salon manager while Karen was out of state?

Sharon: Yes, I was a salon manager for years, until I went part time in 2019.

What’s the secret to being a great salon manager?

Sharon: If you are fun, it makes the whole salon feel fun.

Speaking of fun, you two have probably seen every hairstyle under the sun over the decades. What have been your favorite haircuts?

Karen: I liked the bi-level wedge, and the mullet—your husband had one!

Sharon: He did! I liked the bowl cut. My son had a cute bowl cut. Now I like the fades.

Karen: I wasn’t very fond of hockey hair. But I do like the modern mullet.

What about customer relationships?

Sharon: Over time, we’ve seen customers through births, deaths, and marriages. Some of our original customers brought us their kids and are now bringing their grandkids!

Karen: I’ve had some customers for 27 years. One customer had twins, and she always asked Sharon and me to cut their hair together at the same time. They loved that we were twins giving twins a haircut!

Sharon: I said goodbye yesterday to one customer; I’ve cut her hair for 40 years.

Retirement sounds bittersweet. What advice do you have for stylists who are fresh out of school, or still new to the industry?

Sharon: When you start with a Great Clips salon, you make money right off the bat. And the customers are great tippers, too. After COVID, they are so much more appreciative of our skills. They realized during that time that they can’t cut their own hair, and that we are trained with advanced haircutting techniques.

Karen: Great Clips is a great starting point, and it’s also a great place to build a career. You have a built-in customer base from day one. I have a special needs son and my husband worked long hours. With the flexibility Great Clips offers, I was able to work around my husband’s schedule and not have to pay for daycare.

Could this job flexibility blend well with retirement?

Karen: I don’t want the salon to call me for a month, but yes, I’m open to filling in for someone if they’re sick!

The franchisees who own your salon must be sad to see you go.

Karen: Normally you give a company two weeks’ notice. One of the owners of our salon asked for a year’s notice. I laughed at him!

Sharon: We ended up giving him two years’ notice. It was the longest notice ever! But we needed to do that. It’s hard to say goodbye.

Great careers start here

Search current job openings to find opportunities at a franchised salon near you.

View more #GreatClipsLife News & Stories!

All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all employment-related practices and policies at their individual salons. Pay, benefits, and other aspects of employment may vary among franchised salons.