Our Blog

It’s no secret that this year has been challenging for everyone - and the beauty industry has been hit particularly hard. Throughout hardships and uncertainties, wouldn’t you feel relieved knowing you had a community that had your back? At Sola, we don't just tell you, "We've got your back." Let us show you all the ways we've got you, no matter what curveballs life throws your way.  Read More

Aside from routine cleaning, mask-wearing, and all the other precautionary measures you are taking to keeping your salon as clean as possible and to avoid Coronavirus, what are you doing to keep yourself as healthy as possible? It’s important, especially during this time, that you are making yourself a priority. Stress is high and things are unpredictable, but its important to focus your energy on what you can control - like keeping yourself healthy! Not only is it crucial in efforts to stop the spread of COVID, but also to help you stay strong in mind, body, and spirit – all of which affect your salon business. Here are 5 tips to keep you healthy (and energized) in the salon!   Read More

Are you utilizing Instagram to build your brand? Instagram is a hot spot for beauty professionals because it’s such a visual platform that lends itself to showcasing your talent with the snap of a photo.  But it’s more than just a picture - it’s about knowing your audience, telling your story, and building a brand that represents you and your amazing services!  Read More

Despite your best efforts to keep yourself and those around you safe, you might face a situation where you test positive for COVID-19. Please know that this is not your fault; we are in a global pandemic. Coronavirus can spread very quickly even when implementing the utmost sanitation and safety precautions. If a positive COVID-19 diagnosis does arise, the most important step to protect our communities is to communicate with your guests or anyone else you have been in contact with as soon as possible.  Read More

We want to talk about retail because, in a salon studio environment, retail can be a tremendous opportunity to boost your bottom line. We know that with COVID-19 closures, you are probably trying to make up for the lost time, and with the need to sanitize after every guest, it's almost impossible to double book as you may be used to. Tune in to this Quick Tip to for 10 tips to help you boost your bottom line and retail like a boss. Sit back, take notes, and get ready to start paying your rent in retail!   Read More

In our digitally-driven world, it is rare for consumers to make decisions without first visiting the web. Think about it. When was the last time you went to a restaurant or booked a service without first stopping by your trusted friend Google? Whether we like it or not, the Internet has forever transformed the way we find and interact with businesses and ultimately make purchasing decisions.  This presents an amazing opportunity to market yourself and your business. When you efficiently capitalize on your available online resources, you no longer need to fully rely on referrals from existing clients to get new eyes on your business. These days, people trust online reviews from strangers just as much or more than they trust a recommendation from someone they know.  Read More

The past few months have been filled with unprecedented challenges, and for many salon professionals, the thought of getting back into the salon and back into a groove provided much-needed comfort and excitement. However, reopening is no walk in the park. It comes with longer days, eager clients, anticipation to get “back to the way things were”, and navigating a new normal of increased sanitation, wearing a mask, and calming client nerves.  Read More

As her first Solaversary approached, Staten Island stylist Jodi Cali had no idea that she would soon be fighting for her life. In January 2020, Jodi was diagnosed with breast cancer, and shortly after her first chemo treatment, she could not get out of bed. She experienced a lot of pain around her neck and throat and thought it was due to the side effects of her treatments. But after her symptoms continued to worsen, she learned she had also contracted COVID-19.  Read More

In recognition of Juneteenth, we wanted to give a special shout out to some of our black Solapreneuers who truly embody what it means to achieve greatness. Our culture is built upon diversity and we are proud to celebrate Juneteenth and recognize the contributions made to elevate our Sola community and industry as a whole.  While we'd need more like a novel than a blog post to speak about all the incredible accomplishments these Faces of Sola have achieved, we've highlighted a few of our favorites below. Watch, read and enjoy getting to know these incredible members of our community as much as we have.   Read More

It's common in the beauty industry to find yourself at a career crossroads, especially after an unexpected global pandemic. The traditional salon you were working in may have closed down or you may be looking for a safer, more private environment for you and your guests. But opening a storefront salon may not be feasible due to financial burden and other risks and responsibilities that come with opening a brick-and-mortar salon.   Read More

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain - here is a playlist with 20 songs to dance your heart out to today!  Read More

As exciting as it is to reopen, it's no secret that life inside the salon will look (and feel) vastly different. But, as we've said from the beginning - you're not in this alone. The best thing we can do right now is to share and learn from one another and lean on each other to help all of our #SolaFam open as strong as possible.  As exciting as it is to reopen, it's no secret that life inside the salon will look (and feel) different in our post COVID world. But, as we've said from the beginning - you're not in this alone. The best thing we can do right now is to share and learn from one another in our community to help each other get back to business as strong as possible. From mask comfort to client connection, check out these tried and true tips that our Sola pros shared for a successful reopening!   Read More

Over 16,000 beauty professionals have discovered the Sola Difference and created a business they can call their own. So why do so many beauty professionals choose Sola? We wanted to go even deeper and ask, out of all of the salon suite models and companies out there, why choose Sola over another salon suite?  Read More

Are you ready to reopen your salon? Listen, as Jennie and her guest, 2020 Faces of Sola Katie Oakes, discuss what the new normal looks like after returning to her salon since reopening after her state-mandated shutdown. Katie is from Savannah, Georgia, and just reopened her salon on April 27th, after being shut down for COVID-19. We wanted to bring her on the Sola Stories Podcast to share her experience with us about her reopening journey.    Read More

“For all of us, the question right now is: How do we take this moment to look at our business and ask, what is going to help us thrive?” – Celeste Hilling, CEO of Skin Authority. In our Facebook Live with Celeste Hilling, she walks us through four ways we can use this time during COVID-19 to re-evaluate our business, engage with our clients in new and exciting ways, and ultimately emerge as more well-rounded salon owners.  Read More

In this episode of Sola Stories, listen as Jennie chats with the woman in charge and the ultimate #SolaBoss, Christina Russell, CEO of Sola Salon Studios. Christina shares her journey from a small business owner to eventually taking her seat in executive leadership, what she loves most about working with the Sola team, and how she’s pivoted the company’s focus once the COVID-19 pandemic hit.  Read More

As we adjust to this new normal, now, more than ever, you need a salon that's going to work for you. Whether you are looking for total control of your salon environment, less to space to manage and sanitize on a regular basis, or a way to help you and your clients feel more comfortable upon reentering the world, a private studio at Sola - with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors - may be the perfect place for you.  Read More

Is taking care of yourself something you prioritize or put on the back burner? On this episode of Sola Stories, listen as Jennie chats with Amanda Fagan, one of our 2018 Faces of Sola, about the importance of self-care, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic. Amanda shares how she is approaching the reopening of her studio and what changes she is making to ensure both her needs and the needs of her clients are being cared for. Listen as Amanda shares what tools she’s using to help streamline and supercharge her grand reopening.  Read More

You might be thinking – is now the right time to raise my prices? Should I be charging a COVID-19 fee? What will my customers think? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer here, and only you know what is best for your business and your clients, we laid out some pricing options to help you find one that feels best for your business and ensure you are staying safe and profitable during this time.  Read More

As the world continues to change and salon doors are slowly re-opening, it’s no secret that salon studios offer an ideal environment for a post-coronavirus world. This is why we gathered four of our rockstar Faces of Sola (past and present) for a panel discussion hosted by Jennie Wolff, Sola’s Chief Marketing Officer, on their unique journeys to salon studio ownership.  Read More

In addition to in-depth interviews with Solepreneurs and industry thought-leaders, Sola Stories brings you Quick Tips to give you bite-sized pieces of valuable information that you can use to improve your business when you have a few minutes between clients or driving to work. On this first Quick Tip, listen as Sola’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jennie Wolff, shares some marketing tips to help you find fun over fear when marketing your business. Jennie eases us into the sometimes frightening world of marketing and teaches us the importance of knowing how to tell your story.   Read More

When the world presents us with challenges, the Universe responds with opportunities to grow. Yes, this is an unprecedented time and no one knows what the future looks like post-COVID-19, but within the DNA of the entrepreneurial spirit is the power to rise above challenges. We’ve compiled 8 steps you can take in your finances to weather this difficult time.  Read More

When the world presents us with challenges, the Universe responds with opportunities to grow. Yes, this is an unprecedented time and no one knows what the future looks like post-COVID-19, but within the DNA of the entrepreneurial spirit is the power to rise above challenges. We’ve compiled 8 steps you can take in your finances to weather this difficult time.  Read More

On this episode of Sola Stories, we are joined by four Faces of Sola to share their stories, tips and advice they have learned as independent salon owners at Sola. Joining Jennie, we have Lindsey Couch (@thehungryhairdresser), Diana Antes (@dianaanteshair), Tara Chilton (@merakisalonandco), and nail artist Stefanie Stair (@the_stair_way). Listen, as these amazing women share how they overcame their fears of going out on their own, the systems they believe are essential to success, how they handle retail in their studios and the importance of caring for your mental health when working behind the chair.  Read More

On this episode of Sola Stories, host Jennie Wolff chats with Steven Wren, one of Sola's 2020 Faces of Sola. Listen as they discuss why he made the career change to become a barber at 30 and how going independent has given him freedom, growth and control in his career.  Steven, owner of Steven Brandon Hair Studio in Chicago, first caught our attention right when he joined the Sola family a little over a year and a half ago. We have been following him on social media and love watching him inspire others through education, mentorship and by being a great member of our community.  Read More