Montville — Debbie Caron had just turned 20 when she and a partner started their own hair salon on Route 32. She later bought out the partner, purchased the building and, five years after the business opened, expanded by doubling the size of the salon, called Shear Timing.

"Dad built the stations and desks," Caron said. "We remodeled over the weekend."

Now Shear Timing Hair Salon is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 will hold an open house that includes raffles for gift baskets and refreshments.

Caron said she had plenty of help along the way. Her dad, local businessman W.R. Allen, helped her open and emphasized the importance of the salon's location along a busy road. Her husband Bill is the salon's maintenance man.

"I had very supportive parents," she said, including her late mom Roz.

She also gave credit for the salon's longevity to her five employees, who all get benefits, including holiday pay and Christmas bonuses.

"I fully believe in having my team," she said. "That's a huge part of my business. I have a great team."

A Montville High School graduate, Caron went straight to the former Albert Beatrice School of Hair Design in New London for one year of training in everything from hair design to nails and pedicures. She opened Shear Timing after five months of working in another salon.

"It's something I always wanted to do," she said.

Caron caters to men, women and children at the salon, which includes a mini boutique in the waiting area.

She said the salon is able to handle just about any grooming need. When she first opened, perms were all the rage, and now everything is about color.

"I did a rainbow color one time," she said. "We do a lot of specialty colors."

And hairdressers are always going back for continuing education, which means the salon keeps up with the latest trends. So anything one hairdresser knows how to do gets passed around to other employees, she said.

"We work as a team — that's our motto," Caron said. "We figure it out."

The salon gets particularly busy during the holidays, and slows down slightly afterward, but it's a pretty steady business, she said. Some people come in weekly, and there is a customer reward program that allows regulars free services after the card is filled up.

Caron, who has two grown children, Claudia and Patrick, said the salon has been a great place to run while raising a family.

"I've always been happy here," Caron said. "My customers are like family."

Its location on Route 32 means there are plenty of walk-in customers, whom Caron does her best to accommodate. The salon is open Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

"We don't talk politics and religion," she said. "We try to keep it very upbeat and positive."

l.howard@theday.com