After a late-in-life career change, Christine Eber is spreading her wings with the opening of her first business – The 603 Nail Salon in Jaffrey.

“I’m so scared, but I’m excited – half terrified, half thrilled. I just want to thrive and meet fun people. That’s my favorite part – meeting new people, making new friends. I’ve met some incredible people doing nails,” Eber said during the ribbon-cutting for the new salon April 28.

She said she has already seen a great response from the community, with her first two weeks of business already booked out.

Eber has been a nail technician for a decade, most recently working at Relaxing Nail Spa in Peterborough. She said when she entered the profession, it was a complete change of tracks for her. Prior to becoming a nail technician, Eber was working in the health care field, doing medical transcription and reception. She said the particular specialty of the office she worked in dealt mostly with pediatric cancers, and it was a highly stressful and emotionally draining career, plus the commute was long.

Eber said one day her husband encouraged her to do something for herself, so she booked herself and her daughter a pedicure. But it wasn’t the de-stressing experience she was hoping for, she said. The nail tech overruled her choice of color, and refused to give her the rounded edges she requested due to the amount of time she spent on her feet.

“He said, ‘I don’t do that. You get what you get,’” Eber recalled. She ended the appointment early, and the next day, enrolled in a nail technician course.

She said she asked one of her teachers, “Is this the dumbest thing I’ve ever done? I’m 50.”

But, she said, she was assured that a lot of women her age were pursuing new careers, and threw herself into the course. She said it was a very different atmosphere – often filled with laughter – than her previous profession.

“I’ve met some of the most-interesting, incredible people. It’s fascinating the people that are in this community,” Eber said.

She said there are still some tears – during the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes nurses would come in, exhausted and stressed and put their hands out and their heads down.

“They needed a refuge, and I love being that,” Eber said.

She said when she had the opportunity to open her own salon, she decided to take the jump. She decided on the name “603” in honor of the state’s area code, in acknowledgment of her adopted home. Originally from the Southwest, Eber said she and her husband moved to the area, where he’s originally from, and she has since fallen in love with it.

“Where I lived it was cracked and dry and brown with tumbleweeds – aesthetically, not pleasing,” Eber said. “Here, it’s green, there’s trees, the water flows, and I would not trade the seasons for anything. I wanted something to reflect feeling a part of that community.”

The salon opened for business on May 1, and offers a full range of nail services for manicures and pedicures, as well as hot stone and heel treatments and spa services.

The salon is located at 28 Peterborough St. in Jaffrey. The salon’s hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To book appointments, contact 844-603-NAIL (6245) or by email at the603nailsalon@gmail.com. For information, visit the603nailsalon.com or The 603 Nail Salon on Facebook.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.