Our Blog

If there’s anyone who understands evolution in the beauty industry it’s Gordon Miller. Gordon has been a part of the Sola family for many years as both a speaker at the Sola Sessions and Sola Summit as well as a close friend and mentor to Jennie Wolff. Gordon’s insights and mentorship have made tremendous impacts on Sola’s evolution and programs over the years, including his advice when we first decided to launch the Sola Stories podcast!  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

On this episode of the Sola Stories podcast, Tara shares how she and her salon co-owner, Shelbie Donoho, became a part of the Sola family and how having a great mentor helped her along her journey. Tara also opens up about losing her father how she’s used that devastating challenge to propel her career forward. Tara said, "I wanted to pursue the life he wanted to give me and live the life he couldn't," and that has been her inspiration to make every day count.  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

Also known as “The Hungry Hairdresser,” 2020 Faces of Sola Lindsey Couch knew from a young age that she wanted a career that enabled her to make people happy. After making a last-minute change decision not to pursue psychology at a traditional college, but unsure what she should do next, her mom encouraged her to become a hairstylist. As Lindsey says, “Mom knows best!” because in cosmetology school, Lindsey quickly found her tribe and for the first time, felt like she belonged.   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

This episode was recorded prior to the launch of the Sola Stories podcast, with a Sola professional who has a heart of gold, and at 75 years young, has been behind the chair for 55 years. Polly Sanders-Peterson was the first black student accepted into her beauty college and was the first black salon owner in Denver's primarily white, affluent Cherry Creek neighborhood.   Read More

Growing up, Diana Antes was encouraged to follow a career path that yielded stability and security - like healthcare professional - rather than one that promised fulfillment and joy. But with a calling to pursue her passion for hair, Diana forged her own path, overcoming all obstacles, to eventually create a thriving career as an independent salon owner and one of our 2020 Faces of Sola. Join us for another episode of the Sola Stories Podcast (pre-recorded at the Faces of Sola Experience on March 3) as Jennie sits down with Diana to discuss her journey to Sola and how she has grown her business into the success it is today.   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

Mama, you've been working hard! With kids at home and stress over your salon, you deserve today to kick back and relax and enjoy Mother’s Day, quarantine-style. Check out these 10 ways to take care of YOU this Mother’s Day.  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

As the world continues to adjust to the effects of COVID-19, one thing is certain: Life post-pandemic will be different. Expectations are changing around social interactions and attention to cleanliness will be incredibly important. Customers want to feel safe and secure in your salon, and you want to feel comfortable and confident having clients in your chair. Now is the time to adjust, adapt and implement new sanitation practices and procedures. When it's time to reopen your salon doors, follow the below best practices to keep your studio as clean as possible for you and your guests.  Read More