Tyler's Salon, located on Emory Street, originally was in the Hunting Creek Plaza for over 20 years. This year, the business is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The family-own and operated business opened four years ago at its Emory Street location, but the Tylers' work has already been known throughout Newton County.

Gail Tyler, a Covington native, has been in the salon business for over 40 years, starting in the 60s. With just $500 in her pocket, she started a salon on Brown Street and has owned a shop ever since in the Newton/Rockdale area.

"It was - is - a hobby of mine," said Gail. "And my hobby also turned out to be my career. And you don't ever quit your hobbies."

Her son, Tim, was no stranger to the business. Growing up in Gail's various salons over the years, Tim eventually found that he shared his mother's interests in the hair business.

After graduating high school, Tim completed Rockford cosmetology school in 1986, then went on to pass the state board exam. After a short stint in Florida following the exam, Tyler returned to Georgia, where Gail had just opened two-day spas in Roswell and Conyers.

When Tim decided to start up his own business, he began looking at several properties around the county. However, he always had his eye on the Emory Street location.

"I've always loved the building growing up," Tim said. "I would ride my bike up and down the street and thought it was such a neat looking house."

The building itself has some history. Built by Homer Piper for residential purposes, the property would later be turned into a commercial building before it was bought by Bobby Sigman, who then remodeled it into a salon at the request of his wife.

When Tim acquired the property, Gail decided to close down her salon, Tyler's Salon 55 (on Crowell Road), to give Tim a hand as a stylist.

"This is my salon, but a lot of people still think it's hers," Tim said. "That's why I say this is our salon, our family business, because I couldn't have done it without her.

He added that most of their customers are repeats - most of them are made up of Gail's loyal customers.

"I still have people coming in here telling me how they used to carry me when I was a baby," Tim chuckled. "And I'm 45 years-old."

And it's true. Many of Gail's clients have been coming to her for over 30 years.

"I come out here because I need it," Regina Harrington, a longtime client of Gail's, said with a smile. "But I like coming out to see Gail. And Tim was still growing up in the salon when I would come in."

The salon offers an extensive array of services in addition to hair styling and cuts, including tanning, hair removal, hair conditioning and coloring.

Tyler hopes to bring in skin care treatments to the business in the near future, with plans to bring an aesthetician that can perform a number of treatments, including deep pore cleansing, hydroxyl masks and facial massages. This addition to the salon would categorize it as a full-service salon.

As the business continues to flourish, Tim hopes to increase the number of community events the salon participates in. The salon has previously held a number of charitable events, like cut-a-thons for the Make a Wish Foundation.