Our Blog

The start of the new year marks a new beginning and an opportunity to change or start new habits. Whether you're a new Sola professional or you've been around the block a few times, take advantage of this fresh beginning by stepping up your salon game. At Sola, we have your back with educational resources, cutting-edge technology and ongoing business and marketing support. So get ready to kick off the new year by taking full advantage of all the Sola tools available at your fingertips. Here are just a few ways for you to get more out of Sola in 2020...  Read More

When a new year rolls around, people tend to use the excitement and momentum to inspire change for the purpose of growth in one or more areas of our lives. Whether it’s a short-lived resolution or a complete lifestyle change, a new year is an ideal time to evaluate where you currently are and where you want to be.  Read More

2019 was more than the end of a decade. For us at Sola, 2019 was a year of change, growth and endless possibilities. Before we leap into the next decade, we wanted to take some time to recap on all the milestones we reached in 2019.  Read More

The holidays bring light into the coldest and darkest days of the year with some festive cheer. There is something comforting about stepping into businesses and homes that have been given a holiday makeover, even something as simple as peppermint candies in a glass bowl or a poinsettia plant on the window sill. If you love to go all out for the holidays but haven’t had the budget to back you up, you can still bring your clients into a world of festive fun with these simple budget-friendly hack to get your studio into the holiday spirit.  Read More

Fall back into savings! The weather is cold, but these deals are hot! We know some of these lines sound super cheesy, but there’s a reason small business owners use them anyway. Seasonal marketing works! As the holidays approach, grab the attention of your clients with these simple seasonal marketing strategies.  Read More

"I'm telling you, every morning when I head into work I have to pinch myself. This is my life. I actually get to make a living doing something I’m truly passionate about! I am able to be creative while creating smiles, it’s one of the most incredible feelings.”  Read More

Living with an attitude of gratitude is a surefire way to have a better business and a better quality of life. Studies on the benefits of gratitude practices show that sharing gratitude via journaling and thank you notes can improve long-term happiness by more than 10% (Conscious Lifestyle Magazine). Both acts of kindness and feelings of gratitude stimulate the release of dopamine in our brains. Dopamine is a chemical linked to the way that we experience pleasure. When we allow ourselves to truly feel gratitude for something or someone, we feel a natural high from both internalizing the gratitude and expressing our feelings.    Read More

Being grateful makes us feel happier. It really is that simple! Find ways to focus on the everyday things that fill you with joy, and you can turn what you already have into everything you could possibly want. No need to wait until Thanksgiving Day: Start unlocking the fullness of life right now with these practical tips from Sola stylists.  Read More

While many refer to the upcoming holiday season as " the most wonderful time of the year," in the salon world, it can be, by far, the craziest and most stressful time of the year. Suddenly, those clients who've been ignoring your text messages for months are practically banging down your door trying to squeeze in so they can feel fab before heading to their holiday celebrations. You can find yourself working earlier days and later nights all while wondering when you are going to have time to pick up those stocking stuffers or prep the Thanksgiving turkey.  Read More

Oh, Yelp! The risky, helpful, intimidating, complex and effective world of Yelp. The goal of Yelp is to connect people with great local businesses. The platform enables customers to review business with ratings and written commentary, in order to showcase real-life experiences with the business in question. At Sola, you are running your own small local business, so Yelp is a great way to get discovered by customers searching for what you have to offer.  Read More

Instagram is a powerful tool for any beauty professional to connect with their clients, showcase their work, attract new clients and promote new services and products online. As the algorithms for Instagram are constantly evolving, new tricks arise for how to gain traction, engagement and followers. However, one thing never changes - the more followers you have, the greater reach and impact your account will have on the wide world of Instagram.  Read More

Each season is an opportunity to freshen up your studio look and feel. Even the smallest seasonal touches can go a long way in making your salon feel festive and bright as the days get shorter. Fall is a great time to pump up the ambiance to bring in the buzz of the holiday season. Who doesn’t love pumpkins, gourds and candy for October? Or maybe the more subtle and chic fall toned flower bouquets and cinnamon essential oils are more up your alley.   Read More

You’ve been dreaming about owning your own salon, about the flexibility and autonomy of being your own boss, in a place where YOU get to make all the decisions, including setting your own schedule, picking what products to carry, and decorating the space to fit your personal style. Sounds pretty good, right? Follow these six simple steps to turn your dream of salon ownership into a reality.  Read More

The 11th Sola Sessions took place in Nashville on September 16th, where 300 Sola professionals gathered for a day of inspiration and education from top educators in the beauty industry and their Sola community.Kim Bennett, our event emcee and the first Sola stylist, kicked off the day with a beautiful message of what Sola means to her, which extended throughout the rest of the event. It was all about cultivating a community that focused on "Support, Opportunity, Love, Aspire.” We took that message to heart, and wanted to help support you with opportunities to spread love and aspire for more - whether you were with us at the Sola Sessions or not! Here are some of our top takeaways and favorite moments from the Nashville Sola Sessions!   Read More

At Sola, you simply get more. Since 2004, when the first Sola location opened in Denver, Colorado, Sola has been changing the game for independent salon owners. It’s our mission to focus on what’s best for you, so you can focus on what’s best for your business. In other words, we want you to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. But what does that actually mean for you as a business owner? We broke it down for you...  Read More

A business plan is like a blueprint for the success of your business. It states the goals and operations of your business, tallies the financial inputs and outputs, and outlines what steps you’ll take to turn services into revenue into profits. While it takes a bit of forethought and work upfront, a good business plan will save you time, effort and stress moving forward while boosting your productivity through improved oversight and direction.  Read More

Balancing work and life while running your own studio can at times get chaotic. With freedom comes responsibility - and nothing helps more to stay organized and efficient than tidying up. Keeping a clean and organized space truly improves productivity, efficiency, workflow and state of being. The summer is over - what better time to ready your studio for a productive fall? Just by cleaning shop, you’ll set the stage for a happier day at work.   Read More

In today's digital age, one of the most important places you can show off your work is social media, and even more specifically Instagram. We know mastering the art of Instagram can be overwhelming, so we broke it down for you with 10 Instagram tips for beauty professionals so we can help you shine just like you do for your clients.  Read More

At Sola, we are a community of dreamers. The concept of Sola sprouted from a dream to create a better opportunity for independent beauty professionals to thrive on their own terms. Growing a community of over 14,000 Solapreneurs is more than a dream come true for us. And every time a new salon is opened and another beauty professional has the chance to live the life they love, another dream takes flight.   Read More

We are gearing up for our first-ever SOLD OUT Sola Sessions in Nashville on Monday, September 16th. As excited as we are? Check out these 10 reasons you should be pumped!  Read More

There are many paths to take as a beauty professional and sometimes it’s hard to know what’s best for you. We connected with three Sola pros, all with different paths and different reasons they chose to go Sola —Tammy Muniz (Chattanooga, TN), Kim Bennett (Denver, CO) and Roxanne Muir (Toronto, CA) —to find out why they made the switch from salon booth rental to being independent and how it’s benefited their careers and overall lives.  Read More

Being an independent contractor is nothing new for hairdressers. It’s how Kim had been making a living for years, but she’d been paying someone to rent a chair in their salon. What Matt and Stratton were offering her was the opportunity to become a salon owner, not just rent space from one. Better yet, it was a turnkey approach with Sola providing a high-end, fully-equipped salon with the support and tools Kim needed so she was free to focus on her art and “dream my business into reality.”  Read More

Are you ready for the sounds of summer? Whether you prefer old school favorites or new age vibes, we’ve got you covered to get your guests feeling as good as you’re making them look!  Read More

Can you believe it’s already the summer solstice? In celebration of the longest day of the year, we want to share some inspiration for making the most of your extra long, extra sunny summer days.   Read More

Maybe summer is a slow season in your salon. Or maybe you’re simply looking to boost your bottom line. Whatever your motive, we’ve got you covered with 5 effective strategies for raising revenue. By unearthing new ways to service and attract clients, you can increase everything from your average ticket to your salon’s foot traffic.  Read More