BLACK HAWK — After more than four decades of cutting hair, Tracy Tyrer has seen styles come and go. Big hair, perms, highlights, and bright colors have all had their time, and some have even come back around again.

These days, Tracy is doing it all from her small salon, Hair by Tracy, at 972 Golden Gate Canyon Road.

She has been doing hair for 42 years and has been licensed since 1985. She started working in the mountain community in 1999.

Coming back to the Gilpin area has brought some familiar faces through the door, along with plenty of new ones.

“I actually am way busier than I was when I was in Ned,” Tracy said.

Her first salon in the area was actually just across the hallway from her current space. Back then, she built up a clientele from Central City and Black Hawk, and some of those customers are now coming back.

Her Nederland clients are making the drive, too. Others come from Sugarloaf and Idaho Springs. One woman, Tracy said, drives about an hour to see her.

Even with the growing client list, Tracy is happy keeping the salon a one-woman operation. 

“Hair by Tracy and Tracy only,” she joked. She isn't looking to hire a crew or turn the shop into something bigger. Having her own place lets her set her hours and be flexible with customers who might have unusual work schedules.

“Freedom,” she said when asked what she likes most about owning her salon. “I can make my own hours. I can do my own thing.”

I got to see Tracy at work when I recently brought my 17-year-old daughter in for a haircut.

There was no rushing through it. Tracy asked what she wanted, talked through the length and layers with her, and offered a few suggestions along the way. She added texturizing layers to give her thick hair more movement and body, then let her shake it out and take a look.

“Are you happy?” Tracy asked. “Yes,” my daughter said with a smile.

After 42 years behind the chair, Tracy seems comfortable with exactly what Hair by Tracy is: a small salon where she can do what she knows how to do and get to know the people sitting in her chair.

Haircuts are $55 for women and $40 for men. Highlights start at $150, root touch-ups at $105, fantasy colors at $175, and perms at $105. Tracy also offers gift certificates.

She generally works Wednesday through Saturday, with flexible appointment times and an occasional Sunday. She expects to close a little earlier during the winter months.

Her clients keep her plenty busy. Old customers are finding her again, Nederland folks are driving to her Gilpin location, and new people continue to walk through the door.

Hair by Tracy is located at 972 Golden Gate Canyon Road. For appointments or information, call 720-966-7676.