Long-time hair salon owner stays in the business with shop at her home

Photos by Tom Rivers – Norma Chambers opened a hair salon in her Shelby home last week at 4503 Mill St. She has been in the hair-cutting business for a half century.

SHELBY – Norma Chambers started cutting hair more than 50 years ago. She started at her small shop – “The Shelby Center House of Beauty.”

With a growing clientele, she moved the business to downtown Medina, changing the name of the business to “Clip Joint.” She started hiring people.

She was successful, and would own and operate five Clip Joint hair salons, with businesses in Medina, Albion, Holley, Middleport and Lockport.

Chambers, now 77, employed many people out of beauty school. That gave them the basics of the business, but Chambers said she worked with them to do more and really hone their skills.

“I trained people how to cut hair successfully,” she said today.

Norma Chambers isn’t ready to retire. She is pictured outside her home and the location for her hair salon.

She is semi-retired now, but still wants to cut hair. Chambers last week opened the Norma Chambers Buzz ‘en Cut. Her great-granddaughter, 9-year-old Nevaeh Mae Roberts, thought of the name for the business.

Chambers works out of her home at 4503 Mill St. She takes customers by appointment only.

“I can’t retire,” she said. “I’d rather work. It’s too much fun.”

Her daughter, Rita Scupien, worked at Clip Joints for about 30 years. She recently moved back to Shelby after living in Florida. She said her mother was a mentor to many women in the hair-cutting business.

Chambers enjoys the history of the Shelby community. She has collected some key artifacts, including this millstone from a former mill. She had a friend, the late Tony Kozody, move it to her house with a loader.

“She is a trusting ole’ soul who believes in people and wants to give them a chance,” Scupien said. “Because she went through some hard times herself, she was always willing to help the young girls. She is a very giving person.”

Chambers said she has made numerous friends through the years with so many customers.

“I love the people,” she said. “I like to make people look good.”

Chambers is available by appointment only. Call (585) 318-4561 for more information.