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Here’s a look at how some Sola Salons stylists are giving back. We hope this list inspires you to get involved with your local community, too — And, if you do, we want to hear about it: Share your story or post a picture, and don’t forget to tag #solasalons.  Read More

It’s crazy how quickly summer has turned into fall. The leaves are falling, the decorations are going up, and thoughts are turning to fun holiday gatherings with friends and family. The holidays can be a great time to build your salon’s business, too. Here are seven marketing ideas to help your salon get a bump in business this holiday.  Read More

“From a young age, I’ve always had an eye for artistry,” says Sola Salons Middletown’s Kristyl Bell, owner of Brows by Kristyl Bell. Business is booming; but, Kristyl’s still found time to offer master brow training classes for other professionals at her salon, and she even gets folks from other states, too. “Chicago, Pennsylvania, Tennessee: That’s absolutely humbling that they would travel so far to take a class with me,” Kristyl says. We aren’t surprised, given this guru’s natural talent, expertise and passion.  Read More

“Bookkeeping,” explains Cindy Dudden, Partner CPA with Gracey & Dudden, PC, “is necessary for any small business because it is the way to gauge the health of your company.” Compiling and consolidating financial data – that’s bookkeeping in a nutshell! – tells you about your total expenses, which, in turn, will help you discern your business trends and determine your bottom line: Are you making or losing money? Boost your business with these bookkeeping practices.  Read More

Instagram has had a meteoric rise in popularity since it was founded in 2010. More than 300 million people use the social media app every month! Maintaining an Instagram account for your salon is a great way to showcase your talent, and even drum up some new business. It’s a visual platform, which makes it perfect for the salon industry. While the majority of content shared on the app is photos, videos are becoming more and more popular.  Read More

For many salon owners, there’s nothing more perplexing than how to price their salon services. In fact, many of us fear “getting it wrong” so much that we underprice our services, leaving money on the table and jeopardizing the very health of our business. Well, don’t fret. The truth is there’s no such thing as the “RIGHT” price. So, don’t worry about getting it perfect. Perfect doesn’t exist. Strive to reach a healthy balance with optimal pricing. Optimal pricing is getting the highest price possible for your services and your clients leave feeling as though they’ve still received great value.  Read More

“In Indian, Yeshe’ means ‘wise one,’ and that was my mother’s nickname,” says Monique Je' Muhammad, owner of The Yeshe' Salon at Sola Salons Preston Park Village in Plano, Texas. Monique’s wise about all things hair, and she isn’t afraid to admit it. When she was ready to open her second salon, Monique needed a name that really stood for something; she also wanted to honor the woman who had helped her distinguish herself as a stylist and business owner.  Read More

At Sola Salon Studios, our goal is to make it easy for beauty professionals to own and manage their own businesses. From our onboarding process and ongoing educational offerings to our superior social media prowess, here are a few lesser-known tidbits to help you take full advantage of all of the benefits associated with salon ownership through Sola.  Read More

From subtle, natural tones to can’t-miss-‘em bursts of color, there’s a color trend for every client, and a few of Sola’s distinguished colorists are offering up a preview of the season’s hottest hues. Go ahead: Try something new on your (willing) clients this week!  Read More

Starting your own salon business is probably one of the main reasons you came to Sola Salon Studios. It’s a great feeling to be in control of your own destiny, but sometimes there’s just no substitute for teamwork. Strategic partnerships are certainly nothing new in business and marketing.  Read More

Born into a family of stylists, Sue Scott followed her passion – and her legacy – when she entered cosmetology school to pursue a career in hair. “In this industry,” Sue continues, “You can be whatever you want to be.” — especially with Sola around to help.  Read More

One of the greatest benefits for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. At Sola Salon Studios, the possibilities are endless—from handpicking the professional brands of your choice to deciding how to market your products to clients. The intimate atmosphere provides a comfortable place to discuss your clients’ needs, allowing a level of ease for making product recommendations throughout each area of the salon.  Read More

A day in the life of a salon professional is busy and social. You jump from client to client, throwing energy into your craft and relationships alike, rarely taking time to rest and recuperate. This lifestyle can lead to fatigue and exhaustion; but the next time you go to reach for that 3rd cup of coffee, try these energy boosters to rejuvenate naturally! These 5 simple tricks can work with your body and mind to build and maintain vitality:  Read More

Every month, Jenni Bailey, Natalie Palmer and Alissa Vallee pool together 10 percent of the profits they’ve made on services, and they donate that sum to a charity or cause of their choosing. The three young, energetic and passionate stylists at Sola Salons Carlsbad near San Diego are making a big impact in a relatively small space.  Read More

Since coming over to Sola and opening her salon, BAB & Rojo, Rona has brought over four more stylists, including those two friends who joined in on the initial meeting with Miller. “I love it at Sola,” Rona says. It’s a sentiment her friends obviously share, too.  Read More

When it comes to education and inspiration, John Paul Mitchell Systems has undoubtedly become an industry leader. With a focus on leadership, business building and finding one’s own path to success, the Business rEvolution 2-day event featured speakers from all aspects of the professional beauty industry. The Sola team feels incredibly fortunate that we had the opportunity to attend this event and wanted to share a few of our favorite takeaways with you:  Read More

When temperatures heat up, business sometimes cools down…with beautiful weather, fun activities, and weekends away, salon visits can slide to the end of the to-do list. Facebook promotions are a great way to help increase business and get your salon through the mid-summer slump. Everyone loves the chance to win free products or discounted services, and encouraging communication on your Facebook Timeline is a fun and easy way to keep your clients engaged (and happy).  Read More

Hair is important. There’s just no getting around it. It’s tied to self-esteem and identity, and it plays an important role in how we present ourselves to the world. Our appearance impacts our lives socially, professionally, and personally. For many women (and men), hair loss is a devastating experience, which can lead to low self-esteem and even depression. “People may not know this, but there are over 30 million women in this country who have experienced some type of total or diminished hair loss,” Roxanne Scrivens, aka Jilena, explained.

Join us in celebrating 5,000 stylists & salon professionals nationwide at Sola Salon Studios! The Faces of Sola will give you a peek inside our dynamic and thriving community – enjoy this series of Q&As with some of our successful rock stars!

Name: Cora Rose

Sola Location: Phoenix, AZ

How many years have you been in the salon industry? 9 Years

Customer loyalty is arguably the most important factor in business today. According to Forbes, loyal customers visit more often, spend more during those visits and provide free word of mouth promotion. And yet small business owners like salon professionals often focus their efforts on chasing new customers as a way to increase foot traffic and cash flow. New business is great, but don’t neglect those clients you’ve already snagged! Try these tips today for increasing the kind of loyalty that’ll have customers coming back for decades.

As the son of a part-time barber in Chesapeake, Virginia, Derek Williams picked up more than a few tricks of the trade while hanging around the neighborhood barbershop. His dad always discouraged him from cutting hair, though, because, Williams says, “he didn’t see any money in it.”

When Williams was thirteen, despite his father’s advice he “started shaping up guys in the neighborhood,” he says. “Next thing you know, you’re doing a haircut.” And, that was Williams’ informal induction into the fast-paced, billion-dollar, demand-driven industry of hair.   

After a winter that felt far too long, summer is finally here! That means school is over, vacations are starting, and your customers are busier than ever. Unfortunately, this can mean that your bookings may slow down. If you’re facing the summer slump, selling products is more important than ever. Since products typically have a higher profit margin than services, they’re a great way to help boost your bottom line.

As a salon professional, you rarely take a minute to sit down and eat a balanced meal. That does not mean that you must skimp on the wholesome nutrition you deserve! Next time you know you have a busy schedule, whip up one of these tasty, balanced meal replacements in your blender and stick it in the fridge for a quick meal on the go.

Go Beauty, Stop Cancer — That’s the slogan for Eyes on Cancer, a nonprofit cancer awareness organization that teaches beauty professionals to identify skin cancer in its earliest stages. We’ve taken a few moments to catch up with the husband-wife responsible for this innovative organization: retired orthopedic surgeon and cancer survivor Dean Foster and his wife, Jeanne Braa Foster, a beauty guru who spent the latter part of her career working closely with the legendary Paul Mitchell.

Clients come to Jackie Shoop-Zugschwert and Kim Zugschwert “for a good laugh, good time and good hair,” explains Jackie, the more organized, chattier spouse. “Kim’s definitely the dreamer,” Jackie continues, calling herself a realist.

The stylists’ individual journeys into hair offer more insight into their unique personalities.