Our Blog

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

After going lavender during her last appointment, Sharon Hinkle’s client Kornya wanted to become more of a peachy-pink rose gold. After viewing a number of inspiration photos on Instagram and a thorough color consultation, Sharon knew exactly the formulas and steps needed to transition Kornya’s color.  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

As they say, “Happy wife, happy life.” When Tammy Muniz’s client Sean came in with pictures of Ryan Gosling in hand, she knew she had to trim up his long hair and give him a bit more of a GQ-worthy look. The end result is a short-layered and chic new cut (to make that wife of his happy!).  Read More

With a new year upon us, there's no better time than now to set exciting, new intentions for your Sola business. And there's no better place to get inspiration than from our ambitious, thriving community of like-minded salon owners.  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

Clients who know exactly what they want are a dream come true, right? But it’s nice every now and then when they like to switch things up and let you take the wheel. That is what happened for Sharon Hinkle of Blend Studio in Tacoma, Washington. Her client Kathy came equipped with ideas and let Sharon take the lead on this one.  Read More

Sadly, this most joyful time of year can also be a popular time for online criminals to defraud hardworking consumers. And if you think there’s no way you’d ever fall for an online scam, consider this: Phishing has been around almost as long as the Internet, and there’s a reason the technique continues to be successful! Here’s what you need to know to detect a phishing scam before it’s too late.  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

As a small business owner, now is your chance to capitalize on the holiday cheer. By now, most of your guests have already made Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s plans, and you know they are going to want a haircut, color, eyebrow wax, facial, manicure and spray tan before they go home and potentially run the risk of bumping into any old exes unprepared. And in addition to the fact that everyone hits the salon before their slew of holiday parties, you have an awesome opportunity as a salon owner to kick up your retail sales, too. So read on for a checklist chalk full of ideas…’cause it’s time to SLEIGH.  Read More

Kenya Kirk is one of our 2017 Faces of Sola who is quite savvy when it comes to creating events and services in her salon that help her book stay full and keep clients consistent with pre-brooking. In addition to thinking outside the client retention box, she is giving back to her community in a beautiful way with a nonprofit dedicated to making wigs for kids with cancer. In this Q&A, she shares some wisdom that will help you grow your heart and your own businesses.  Read More

Social media is a crowded place. Learn how to create content that stands out, tells a compelling story and captivates your followers in a way that's unique to you!  Read More

With more than 30 years experience behind the chair, Peter G' is sharing his best tips for staying on the cutting edge of education and paying his studio rent in retail!  Read More

This season, make your studio a place for tricks and treats with simple marketing strategies that won’t break the bank.  Read More

Have you ever cut or colored someone’s hair and at the end of the appointment, they say they love it, pay you (with tip) and you send them on their merry way? Of course, that happens every day! Well, we all know that once in a blue moon, that same person contacts you the very next morning through phone or text and says that she is unhappy and wants her money back, or asks if you can to re-do it. Yep, it happens. How do you respond? It often puts people at a loss for words. You thought everyone was happy and then suddenly you are hit with this confusion. How do you handle it?  Read More

We'd love to escape to your Sola, too!  Read More

This cut and color is perfect for that client who wants a bright-as-the-sun blonde and a modern haircut and style to accompany it. We spotted this cut/color combo on Jennifer LaVinge’s Instagram (@jenniferlavignehair) and got her color formulas, cutting how-to, and styling steps so that you can recreate this in your own Sola studio.  Read More

There’s no place like your Sola home!  Read More

Ashley Lecroy and Sabrina Solis just took their first vacation in two years! And the stylists have had plenty to toast to since opening their joint salon – Lush Hair Studio – in July of 2015 at Sola San Marcos. When Ashley and Sabrina met a decade ago in beauty school, the two were fast friends. The stylists even share a similar story regarding their journey into the industry. After high school, both Ashley and Sabrina enrolled in college for a semester — then promptly switched to cosmetology school!  Read More