Our Blog

Our Sola community is a culture of beauty professionals who are continuously motivating each other in and out of the salon. We come from all walks of life, share like experiences and strive to be successful business owners. What’s beautiful about this community of ours is that we have all either given or received some great career advice at some point that we can pay forward. We asked our 2018 Faces of Sola to share what their best career advice would be. Here's what they had to say...  Read More

In today’s world of non-stop information, it is often difficult for clients to tell the difference between the skin care myths and the skin care facts. But don’t worry! We’re here to help you identify truth from fiction. We’ve asked a panel of licensed estheticians and skin care experts what sun care myths they hear most often – and what the truth is behind these myths. Here are the top SPF myths you should warn your clients about.  Read More

In honor of Father’s Day, we’d like you to take a few minutes and read what Faces of Sola, Alex Sylvester, had to say about time management, priorities, and working behind the chair as a single dad when we recently caught up with him this Father’s Day weekend.  Read More

Our resident salon pro/lawyer/branding and business expert Christopher Matthew, owner of Dillinger’s Hair Company, is back with another lesson in building your brand. This time, he is going to explain why it is important to create a brand that is…offensive. It sounds risky, but when you read his reasons why, it makes absolute sense.  Read More

Ashley Lewis, a.k.a. @the_blondologist, from Nest Hair Studio in Richmond, Virginia has us in complete swoon-mode over this absolutely striking icy blonde bob that is just perfect now that “winter is coming.” This end result is one that does NOT happen overnight; it has required time and proper execution to achieve.  Read More

Ever thought about giving back to the industry that has given you so much? Rona Bunch’s salon mentorship program provides a practical model for experienced stylists who are ready to take on an apprentice.  Read More

For many beauty professionals, making the transition to salon ownership is a true leap of faith. When you run your own business, you wear many hats – you're a hairdresser (nail tech, esthetician, etc), marketer, bookkeeper, receptionist...among others!  Read More

What if we said you could pay your monthly Sola rent by retailing products properly? That shampoo, conditioner, hairspray and everything in between can pay your monthly rent and everything you make from cutting, coloring, and styling services can be used to order supplies and…profit. For some of you, this concept sounds easy, but for many of you, it sounds unachievable. Au contraire, mon frère! Ashley Lantz, owner of TressPassing Salon in Avondale, Arizona, and one of our 2018 Faces of Sola does just this—she pays her rent in retail.  Read More

No matter your Sola specialty, Spring and Summer present tons of options for profitably growing your business during the height of wedding season. From the couple and wedding party to mother-of-the-bride, flower girl and every invited guest, opportunities abound for growing your salon’s client roster.  Read More

On Monday, April 9, 2018, 200 Sola pros gathered at the Wyndham Grand Jupiter for a day of inspiration, education and community! With eight Sola Sessions under our belt, we are continually amazed by the ambitious small business owners who come from far and wide, eager to take their salon businesses to the next level. From launching the Sola 10,000 celebration to learning from the industry's best to inspiring one another, it was a day we'll not soon forget.  Read More

Everyone endures stress - whether it's from financial troubles, relationships, health problems — you name it, there's pretty much an endless list of things that can rile you up, leaving you feeling frazzled — or worse — ill. Faces of Sola stylist Ashley Lantz shared, “Going into owning my salon was literally based off reducing stress." Since April 7th marks World Health Day, we’re sharing terrific tips from our family of Sola pros across the country for banishing bad juju, because as the proprietor of your studio, taking sick days will stress you out more on so many levels - from rescheduling your clients and affecting your bottom line to enjoying free time.  Read More

It’s not every day you can get sage advice from an attorney without spending a dime! Fortunately for our Sola community, one of our 2018 Faces of Sola is not only a barber working in the salon 3-4 days a week, but he’s also an attorney, practicing law 3 days a week. When Christopher Matthew isn’t servicing clients at Dillinger’s Hair Company, he is helping businesses protect their brands. We asked him to give us five must-remember business tips. Here’s what he suggests:  Read More

‘Tis the season for beachy waves and tousled tresses, thanks to spring break on the horizon. This is a great how-to you can teach your clients to recreate while they are on vacation and it is also one that is easy to achieve when you’re pressed for time in the salon and need to give a client a finished look in a flash.  Read More

Try thinking differently this Spring - as if every appointment is welcoming a good friend into your home. What impression was created? Are the little details contributing to your big picture the way the should be? Similar to a posh resort spa, where every sense is immersed and each object has its proper place, your studio serves as a showcase for your personal style and warm hospitality…and it all starts with a clean, organized space.  Read More

More than a professional objective, lifelong learning is a mindset - one that helps motivated professionals distinguish themselves in a dynamic, fast-paced industry. Ready to catapult your career in 2018? We've got good news! At Sola, there's no shortage of ways to stay educated.  Read More

The month of February is Black History Month, and it got us thinking, "How has the professional beauty industry changed over the past 60+ years for the advancement of black beauty professionals? What kind of evolution has occurred since the Civil Rights Movement, and since iconic individuals like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X had their voices heard? How has this movement and awareness paved the way for the African-American beauty professional?"  Read More

Let's face it - we live in a world where consumers rarely make decisions without first visiting the web. When was the last time you went to a restaurant or paid for a service without searching Google to find pictures and info? Whether we like it or not, the web has changed the way we find, interact with, and review businesses.  Read More

The day of love, romance, and little pink hearts is just around the corner, and – trust us – Cupid isn’t the only one capable of boosting business in February. Read on for easy Valentine’s Day marketing strategies that’ll have your clients falling head over heels for your services!  Read More

Over the course of three appointments, Ashley Lewis, @the_blondologist, from Nest Hair Studio in Richmond, has been strategically transitioning her long-term client Kristina Wade’s color into this bright balayaged ombré. In this how-to, she shares her last stage color formulas along with an image of her placement to help you recreate this color service on your client.  Read More

When you work hard, you catch people’s attention, and when you make an impact and a lasting impression, you deserve some recognition for all your efforts. This is why we’ve created the Faces of Sola. Each year we select 10 salon professionals in the Sola community who have done just that; individuals who have earned the opportunity to be acknowledged for what they’ve done well. They are beauty pros that are excelling not only in the careers but also in their Sola studios.  Read More

You know the drill: There’s a mad rush to book appointments between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then – come January and February – business lags. What’s a salon owner to do? You can start by checking out these practical tips for keeping revenue flowing steady into the New Year.  Read More

A self proclaimed control-freak, Sharon Hinkle, owner of Blend Studio in Tacoma, Washington, was fed up with working for salon managers and owners who were focused on quantity over quality. In this Q&A, Sharon shares a few time management strategies, in salon practices and social media tactics that have helped her create her own definition of success.  Read More

Fernie Adame is giving thanks on so many levels this Thanksgiving. He was diagnosed with skin cancer last year and can happily say he has beaten it and is cancer-free today. In addition to that, he has opened up his second Sola location and is successfully operating two salons in two different cities in two different states, New Mexico and Nevada. Business is booming thanks to a clever social media strategy he'd like to share with you all, today.  Read More

On Monday, November 6, 2017, 200 Sola professionals from across the nation gathered at the Juniper Hotel Cupertino for the Sola Sessions: San Jose. Wow. We at Sola are overwhelmed with gratitude for the #SolaFam and all the artists and educators who joined us for a one-of-a-kind day filled with new ideas, budding friendships, awesome stories, and more than a little magic.  Read More

Find out how Amber Lee, owner of Roots Hair Studio in Wilmington, North Carolina has built her business to having a 2-3 month wait list for new clients. Private salons like the ones offered at Sola are very conducive to building strong relationships with salon guests. “You’re alone in your studio, and you have that intimate, one-on-one time with your clients,” Amber says. “What I love about Sola is that you aren’t totally alone. You also have a family to empower you.”  Read More