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

Summertime usually means vacations, pool days, downtime and relaxation. Although this summer might not look like it usually does, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some time off! Take advantage of these longer days with the help of SolaGenius!  From effortless booking and rebooking, ability to block personal time, and SolaGenius’s White Glove Service - it’s never been easier to stick to a summer schedule and enjoy some much-needed fun in the sun.   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

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

Thinking of going independent? At Sola, we strive for every salon owner to experience the freedom they've been looking for; freedom to pick their service menu and products, and the freedom to have the work-life balance they desire. That's the reason why more than 15,000 beauty professionals have chosen to go Sola. So sit back, relax and ask yourself: are you ready to experience the freedom of salon ownership?!   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

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

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 Juneteeth, we wanted to give a special shout out to our past and current black Faces of Sola 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 black members of our community as much as we have.   Read More

As we all adjust to this new normal, our goal is to provide as much support as possible to our Sola professionals to help get you back doing what you love! With so much going on to keep you and your customers safe, there's no better time to uplevel your business with SolaGenius.  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

As advertising and marketing have increasingly become an online game, social media has become the most accessible tool for self-promotion as a small business owner and entrepreneur. However, running social media platforms can be a challenge - especially when you feel like there is so much to do and so little time. We’ve put together some resources that can boost your creativity, maximize your content, cut down on your posting time, and improve your efficacy on social media.  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