By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

PALATINE BRIDGE — Shear Delights, a salon owned and operated by town of Palatine resident Trisha Mattice, opened Dec. 22 in the Dutchtown Plaza between Subway and Big Lots, on the opposite side of the hall.

Owning her own salon has been a dream of Mattice’s since she embarked on that career path years ago, first attending HFM BOCES following her graduation from Canajoharie High School, then working to build a client base at Palatine Bridge’s Cutting Crew, where she worked for four years before moving to Fantastic Sam’s, Johnstown, where she worked for one year.

While for some, a move to a location 30 minutes away might have forced them to begin building a new client base from scratch, Mattice said that she was lucky to have loyal customers that followed her to Johnstown. She noted that she’s thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to offer them services locally once again.

Renovations to the salon were fairy extensive, with walls fixed, a bathroom added, flooring installed, and piping added for the sinks — a task which Mattice said called for a bit of creativity. “We had to figure out a way to get water in here,” she explained, as the store wasn’t previously fitted with plumbing.

Mattice noted that while there were “a few hiccups” along the way, the salon ended up being ready Dec. 22, over a week prior to when she hoped to open, Jan. 1.

The finished Dutchtown Plaza salon has been painted in sheik, modern colors, with tons of natural light pouring in, and graphic adornments that perfectly suit Mattice’s friendly, upbeat personality.

Of owning her own salon, Mattice said, “It was always a goal,” as was working for others following her HFM BOCES graduation, allowing her to build her skills and save money before venturing out on her own. The goal came into focus more clearly when, after reviewing numerous locations prior to finding the Dutchtown Plaza site, the pricing and location fit exactly what Mattice was searching for.

Shear Delights offers haircuts for women, men and children, along with coloring for women and men. The salon also offers perms, styles and up-dos for events such as proms or weddings, and waxing. Mattice said that she hopes to incorporate more services the longer she’s at the location, also stating that she eventually plans to hire additional staff.

Mattice — comparing working for others to working for herself — said the biggest change, aside from the pay and the quieter work environment, has been that she’s now “more in control of what I do.” Mattice said that she’s allowed “more freedom, more creativity,” and noted that having a shop to call her own — while before, she’d go into work, punch a clock upon arrival and again at the end of the day — has allowed her to understand every facet of the business, and “makes you appreciate what you have a little more.”

Shear Delights is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shear Delights is closed Sunday and Monday. To make an appointment, or with questions, call (518) 844-1173. Mattice can also be reached by email, at shear_delights@yahoo.com. Appointments are appreciated, but walk-ins are welcomed.