Jamie L. Claypoole has been involved in the beauty industry since the age of 13, when she got her first job helping out at her mother’s salon, Custom Cut & Style, an Aveda affiliated salon in Butler, Pennsylvania. Following high school, she briefly switched paths and pursued a degree in molecular biology with a Latin minor, but ultimately realized that college just wasn’t for her and returned to her mother’s salon. She solidified her skills with an Associate of Arts from the Butler Beauty School in 2004 and has been certified in three different methods of hair extension and as an innovative color artist.
Now an Aveda senior color artist, Ms. Claypoole specializes in precision cuts, fashion color, balayage and foil extensions. In 2007, she took over as the owner of Custom Cut & Style, though her mother remains with the salon as an Aveda senior artist, specializing in curly hair and color and foil. In her role as owner, Ms. Claypoole not only does hair, but also manages the overall operations of the salon and coaches the other stylists and staff. During the three months they were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, she used that time to focus on continued education for her and her staff. Recently, Custom Cut & Style began offering Vomor hand tied wefts, a luxury hair and lash extension line that is exclusive to Aveda.
Attributing much of her success to her mentor and business coach, who she also credits for her growth as an entrepreneur and a person, Ms. Claypoole has made a name for herself for her focus on not just her own growth and success but that of her team as well. She would advise young and aspiring professionals in the field that the truest route to success is to work smarter, not harder. In order to keep abreast of developments in her field, Ms. Claypoole maintains professional affiliation with the Professional Beauty Association and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
For her excellence, Ms. Claypoole has been widely recognized for her achievements in the beauty industry. Custom Cut & Style has been featured among the Top 200 Salons in North America by Salon Today magazine three years running, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and was also presented with the Stamp of Success from Salon Today’s annual marketing program in 2020. Ms. Claypoole considers the salon being featured among the Top 200 Salons in North America to be the absolute highlight of her career and hopes to continue to cultivate Custom Cut & Style’s excellence to keep it on the Top 200 list for years to come. Above everything, she hopes to leave a legacy as someone who always went above and beyond with her services.