Our third 20th-anniversary spotlight is Sola pro, Melanie Hasson from Sola Staten Island – South Shore Commons! She’s a hairstylist with a decade of experience under her belt, specializing in lived-in color, an educator for other independent beauty pros, an ambassador for BaBylissPRO, and last but not least (and the reason we found and connected with her!), she’s a content creator. With an impressive Instagram following of 143k and a feature in BLP's 30 Under 30, Melanie is a shining example of what it means to thrive after going independent. Her Sola journey began 5 and a half years ago – and we were immediately inspired by her story of innovation within the beauty industry. “I liked the freedom that I could have with Sola. I liked the idea of being a part of something, being surrounded by people, but having my own space... I do independent education, and I don’t have to ask my bosses if I can have time off. I’m able to work whatever hours I want to work, I can come and go as I please, and I run the business the way I want to and that works for my lifestyle and my schedule.”