Our Blog

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

Here at Sola, we are a community of like-minded individuals—beauty professionals who thrive in the “suite life,” running our own business and building successful brands. Within this beautiful community of ours, we have many working parents and many women to celebrate this Mother’s Day. We recently chatted with Amanda and Mahogany and asked them both, “How do you balance salon ownership and motherhood?” Here's what these two working mothers had to say...  Read More

Mother’s Day is right around the corner! What better chance to offer some truly decadent and pampering services than Mother’s Day? Now is the perfect time to put together some Mother’s Day packages and promotions for your salon! 7 Mother’s Day Promo Ideas...  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

“I’m stronger than I thought I was, both mentally and physically,” says stylist Traci Claycomb, salon owner at Sola Vero Beach. Traci was featured in the March issue of Woman's Day magazine, and appeared as a guest on The Today Show, after losing 60 pounds in eight months. She lost the weight – and transformed her health – while participating in the Live Longer & Stronger Challenge, an annual challenge hosted by Woman's Day, to help a small group of selected candidates lose weight while lowering their risk of heart disease.  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

From cleansers to concentrates, there seems to be a new skin care ‘must-have’ launched every week. Clients can feel overwhelmed and end up with bathroom drawers full of fad products they don’t really need. Discerning which skin products are actually beneficial can be confusing, but read this quick guide of skin care swaps your clients should make to declutter their routine and actually see results.  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

This rooty blonde is perfect for that client who wants to transition out of her buttery, summer blonde and into something that pairs well with cooler temps and cozy sweaters. Jennifer LaVinge posted this before/after on her Instagram and was so generous to share her color formulas, cutting how-to, and styling steps so that you can recreate this in your own Sola studio.  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

The Sola Sessions is a full day of inspiration, education, community - and so much more! Join us in West Palm Beach for an event unlike any other in the beauty industry.  Read More

By signing your lease for your brand new Sola studio, you have just made an exciting and positive change for your life and career. Since becoming your own boss and opening up your own salon comes with new challenges and responsibilities, it’s not unexpected to take a break from being on cloud nine and ask, “Where do I even begin?” Here’s a quick-list of tasks and items you should spend the next few weeks focusing on.  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

Helping clients improve and maintain the integrity of their hair is always high on the priority list for a hairdresser, especially clients who come in with damage and breakage. LaShonda Banks had quite the task at hand when first-time client Kiesha Jones walked through her Sola studio door. Her hair was in need of a cut and some long overdue deep conditioning. “Kiesha prefers to wear her natural texture more often than not so I put her on a quarterly schedule for an Olaplex treatment and trim to maximize on growth retention while maintaining her curl pattern,” shared LaShonda. Take notes on her technique and what products she used to achieve a healthier hair condition for her now long-term client.  Read More

When Kim Bennett moved to Sola Salon Studios 15 years ago as the first-ever Sola salon owner she had no idea that she was about to fall head over heels in love, with not only her career, but every aspect of her life. In a nutshell, here's a look at the things that make Sola's culture ambassador cherish her life at Sola.  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

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