Jamie Campbell makes the final cut

After nearly three decades cutting the hair of Carbon County residents, Jamie Campbell, owner of Jamie's Clip & Curl, is handing over her scissors.

Campbell has strong roots in the county. Raised on a Valley ranch and a graduate of Platte Valley High School (now Saratoga Middle High School), the fourth-generation resident attended the University of Wyoming.

"While I was at college, I discovered I was more of a hands on person than a book person," Campbell said. "That is when I decided I wanted to cut hair for a living."

Campbell was certified in Colorado, because there were more schools to choose from, and then came to Wyoming to work in Rawlins.

"I started cutting hair in 1978," Campbell said. "The person I started with was Rae Gill."

Campbell worked in Rawlins for 13 years and came back to Saratoga in 1991. She didn't cut hair for a year, but rather worked at the Cedar Chest Gallery in Saratoga.

"I worked at the Cedar Chest until I found a beauty shop," Campbell said. "I ended up buying the Clip and Curl from Wanda Jackson in 1992."

Her first dollar came from Betty McIlvaine, who served on the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce. Campbell is not exactly sure who was her first customer.

"At that time my mom and two grandmoms lived in Saratoga," Campbell said. "So although I cannot remember exactly who was my first customer, those ladies would have been right up there."    

For eight years Campbell ran her business in downtown venues. Then, on September 11, 2000, she bought the building that became the present day Clip and Curl.

"My clientele has ranged in age from six months to 90 plus years old," Campbell said. "I have had the pleasure of watching customers being born to the experience of following customers as they go to the nursing home and doing their hair there." 

She said that the Saratoga community has also supported her. Campbell can remember a snowy day when she saw Dr. John Lundt shoveling her sidewalk.

"He is just one example of how people watch out for others in this town," Campbell said. "There is a real spirit of helping others."

Campbell said she can feel a sense of loyalty as customers come back time after time. Saratoga resident Mary Pigg, for examples, has been coming to get her hair done since 1994.

For eight years, during the summer months, Campbell had one customer who truly challenged her abilities.

"I cut the employees' hair at the A Bar A ranch for eight summers," Campbell said. "They would throw a chair out on the lawn and line up and I would cut hair. One day I did over three dozen haircuts and couldn't move the next day."

She said it was only possible because they were quick haircuts and there was no shampooing. Campbell said it is not out the realm of possibility to do three haircuts in an hour, but at Clip and Curl she averaged two.

Campbell also did hair for the actors in the 4th of July melodramas and for kids in plays because she was committed to helping the community.

"This is my home," Campbell said. "There is a bond that grows between a hair cutter and a customer that is very natural. My grandfather had businesses in Saratoga and it is just in our family blood to be a part of the community's life."

Campbell said it was common for her to put in 10 to 12 hour days. She did all those hours to accommodate her customer base because she liked to spend time with clients and not rush them through.

"You know hair cutters are famous for talking with their clients," Campbell said jokingly. "A haircut is like a visit with a friend. You don't rush that."

Campbell said she is in one of the industries where personal interaction is constant. By cutting hair, the stylist is listening to a customer's wants. The snipping and cutting to get the haircut to the person's satisfaction means becoming involved with whomever is in the chair. Over, time with repeat customers, Campbell said she is aware how the person wants their hair, so other small talk starts. After 29 years cutting hair in Saratoga, these customers become friends.

Campbell said she loved cutting the hair of the kids in the community. So much so, a board was created of different pictures showing prom and graduation haircuts.

"It started out as just a bulletin board that I got when I first opened for the first graduation announcements and I put all graduates on the board," Campbell said. "Then over the years, as I put more pictures on, it just started overflowing. It was probably the hardest thing to take down as I got my things out for Lacey (Hanson, owner of LJ's Cuts)."

Campbell makes clear she has enjoyed her years as a hair cutter.

"I truly have loved my career," Campbell said. "I have made so many friends from this job. There is so much sharing that goes on that I could never really explain it well."

When she bought the building where Clip and Curl has been based for nearly 21 year years, Campbell did cut back on the outside visits. Then a few years ago, she cut back on how many days she was open.

"Now I am ready to hand over my customers and building to Lacey," Campbell said. "I couldn't have retired if Lacey wasn't taking over. I couldn't leave my customers hanging. I really am excited. The transition has been easy and it is a good fit. Even my customers are excited."

Campbell decided it was time to retire because she and her husband James (Jimmy) Campbell were going to open an RV park.

"Our plans were that I was going to be running the RV park and I knew I could do both but, the way things are, the RV park isn't going to happen," Campbell said. "But since that isn't happening, I am entering the best job ever. I am going to be grandma."