ROCKLAND — Friday, Dec. 21, is the last day that Judy Galipeau will walk out of Sisters Two Hair Design at 82 Camden St. in Rockland as the owner of the salon.

Galipeau has owned and operated Sisters Two, which she originally started with her sister, Ruth Carney, since 1979. Galipeau bought out Carney in 1998, and Carney went on to open Local Color in Thomaston.

"I have owned the salon for 33 years, 13 of which were spent on Main Street in Rockland before we built this building in 1992," said Galipeau. "I have been styling hair for 44 years, starting in Camden at Talk of the Town at the age of 19."

Three of her longtime stylists, Heidi Carroll, Lorrie Staples and Tracy Morrill have decided to continue on together and keep the Sisters Two name for the business. They will be opening in a new location – 690 Main St. – Jan. 8 with the same phone number. The business on Route 1 will close Friday, and the next two weeks will be spent moving equipment and painting the new salon. Carroll said the phones are being forwarded after Friday and appointments will be taken during the closure and relocation process.

Staples has been with Sisters Two for 31 years, Carroll, Galipeau's niece, has been with the salon for 18 years and Morrill has cut and styled hair for Galipeau off and on since the 1980s. For Galipeau, the transition is much akin to keeping it all in the family.

"We are already booked with appointments for opening day," said Carroll. "And I know we will be crying that first day we walk in and Judy is not there with us. But we're really looking forward to a new adventure and Judy needs to take some time for herself."

Originally from Massachusetts, Galipeau moved to Maine with her family when she 5 and went through the Rockland school system. After graduation, she attended Mr. Bernard's School of Hair Fashion in Lewiston.

Her interest in hair styling was cultivated many years before that, she said.

"I always loved hair. I did my mom's pin curls when I was 11 and I was still doing her hair as she grew older, right up until she died at 92," said Galipeau. "For me, hair is like a fabric and I really enjoy creating with it."

Galipeau describes herself as "a cutter, I love to cut and style hair." And she said over the years, she has watched people's attitudes about hair change – for the better of the industry and consumers.

"It started that people, mostly women, came in once a week at the same time. They knew what they wanted, and they made sure they came at the same time as their friends. People didn't want to admit they colored their hair and they didn't move from their natural color, but Europeans changed attitudes about color. And Vidal Sassoon changed the whole thing when he let women be free to be themselves, to break out and try new things with their hair and that's where hair design for cutters like me started," said Galipeau. "I love to cut hair and the artistry is what always excited me."

Asked what she'll miss most about her hair cutting and styling career, Galipeau said, "The people."

"The best thing about what I do is the people I've met, that have touched my life and become my friends," said Galipeau. "You have to love people to do what we do, and I truly get my energy from them."

For many, the stereotypical visit to the hairstylist means a chance to "gossip," but Galipeau said it's not gossip like people think. It's more like therapy.

"This is where friends get a chance to catch up with each other and it's so nice to be able to make someone feel good for a little while by being able to talk to them, making them look and feel beautiful," said Galipeau.

Galipeau's decision to retire from her business came soon after her husband, 62-year-old Paul Galipeau, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident early this fall. Paul was out riding his 1998 Harley Davidson Aug. 15 when Judy said a van towing a camper pulled out in front of him and Paul crashed into it. He died at the scene; the driver and a passenger in the van were uninjured.

"My focus 100 percent now is spending time with our son, Hunter — and family," said Judy. "We were so blessed to have Hunter when we were in our 40s, and we are going to stay at the farm Paul and I bought when Hunter was born."

Avid horse owners, riders and competitors, the Galipeau's farm had always had at least a couple of horses in the pasture until recently. They used to compete in team penning locally, nationally and in Canada before moving to reining competitions and keeping horses elsewhere.

While Judy cut hair during the week, Paul, formerly a Bath Iron Works shipfitter and contract negotiator, went to school in Oklahoma to become a farrier in 1998 and their weekends and vacations were often spent traveling around the country to ride in and watch team penning and reining competitions.

In 2006, Paul bought NQH Sweet Little Spook, then a yearling, at the NRHA/Markel Insurance Marketplace Sale in Oklahoma. Paul competed in reining on Spook, who then went on to be named the 2010 NRHA Novice Horse Open Level 2 Reserve World Champion under rider Daniel Sanborn of Salisbury, N.H.

A year after winning the Reserve Champion title, the Galipeaus sold Spook and decided to stay home and focus on being a family.

"After years of having our horses out of state we put horses back in the pasture at home," said Judy. "Paul found two colts online in Montana, and we named them Yuma and Scoot."

"Going for a scoot" was how Paul and Judy described Paul's motorcycle rides.

"Yeah, I told Paul to go out for a scoot the day he died, that I would stay home and fix dinner for when he got back," said Judy. "When Paul died, the horses went to a friend's farm but they'll come back when we figure things out."

Galipeau said running the farm will be a lot to take care of without Paul, but it's what she wants to do now, for herself and for Hunter.

"I got an offer on the building on Paul's birthday, and it was a sign to me that I was doing the right thing," said Galipeau. "It made it clear that it was time to go home and be with Hunter. He is the most important thing as he was a gift to us, to have him later in life at 45."

And the ladies back at the salon said they know it's what she needs to do now, as well.

"She will have a hard time staying away, but she'll be back to the salon at some point," said Carroll. "But I can also see her working with horses again, teaching kids how to ride. She would be really good at that. But we'll miss her."

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.