Patti Linn is no assembly line businesswoman. At her hair salon in West Tisbury clients walk down a brick path lined with flower pots and a small American flag. The salon is an office through the side door of her home. It is breezy and pleasant, and equipped with all of the quality products found in any major salon. The main difference: just a single black chair sits in the middle of the room.

Pairing nicely with the in-house, one-on-one service, Ms. Linn keeps her business classic. She does some coloring and highlights, but she specializes in simple cuts.

“I am more of a conservative hairdresser, but I have a little flair to me on the other side, too,” she said with a smile.

It’s a combination her clients appreciate. This weekend Ms. Linn is celebrating 30 years in business with a client appreciation day party on July 1. The party is no short affair either. She plans on opening up her backyard from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. so that guests will be able to stop by at any point throughout the day.

“I want to thank all my clients, past, present and all that might come in the future,” she said. “One client said, ‘We should be thanking you,’ and I said, ‘You do, every time you make an appointment!’”

Ms. Linn never thought she would become a hairdresser. In college, she studied nursing and then switched to working in a restaurant after she finished school. In 1981, she was managing Among the Flowers in Edgartown, but grew tired of the restaurant business. Rick Harrington, who was a regular customer and owned a barber shop in Edgartown, encouraged her to go to skin care school with his wife, so that Ms. Linn could work in his salon. She took his advice and attended Von Lee International School of Esthetics and received her Esthetician’s license. One summer she worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in Palm Beach doing makeup and waxes. Then, again with the encouragement of Mr. Harrington, she went to hairstyling school.

Though she had all the proper salon education, Ms. Linn says she acquired her confidence and unique style with experience.

“You learn the technique, but you basically teach yourself,” she said.

After working in Mr. Harrington’s salon from 1981 to 1986, Ms. Linn opened up a salon in her home, and many of her original clients are still with her 30 years later.

And what is her secret to maintaining and gaining loyal clientele? Trust. People know that Ms. Linn is meticulous.

“With my haircuts, they grow out nicely because I take my time, and they compliment the person wearing it. That’s what I think a hairstyle should do.”

Though the average person treats a hair appointment as just that, another appointment, and requests the same cut each time, some of Ms. Linn’s clients walk through her door asking her to give them a new look.

“Some people have the same hairdo that they have had for 35 years, and some people want a change. And when they want to change, that’s when I get creative. That’s the fun part.”

But no doubt, Ms. Linn’s favorite part of her job are her clients.

“I’m blessed to have had the clientele and the friendships with my clients over the years...many of them are not just clients, they are friends,” she said.

Patti Linn's salon is located on State Road in West Tisbury. Her phone number is 508-693-4103.