How To Start Over in a New City

There are infinite ways life can throw curveballs your way, but the only thing you can ever be sure of is a change is gonna come (cue Sam Cooke). Change can be great. It can open us up to new opportunities and new people we never would have met. But change can also bring uncertainty and fear.

One of the biggest, and often most daunting changes to face, is moving to a new city. Whether you’re looking to be closer to family, advance your career, or experience the culture of a new city, moving is never easy. And for beauty professionals whose livelihood is an established, local clientele, this change can be quite challenging.

But, it can be done. And your #SolaFam is always here to support you through the process!

Take LaShonda Banks for example. A single mom at the age of 15, she was forced to make a change to better her career, her own life and the life of her son. During our 2018 Faces of Sola shoot, we asked LaShonda what lessons she learned from tackling a major move to a new city. Here’s what she had to say:

“I had my son at the age of 15, and since then, I’ve always had someone else looking up to me. This was an absolute motivating factor for me to relocate back to Atlanta from Ohio. There wasn’t a lot of opportunity for growth me in Ohio. I needed to advance my career and to also grow as a person. I was living in a very close-minded community and I needed to remove myself from that. In the 14 years of living in Atlanta, I’ve been able to not only grow my career but also grow as a person.”

She went on to add:

“The first year living in Atlanta was a definite challenge. It was all on me and up to me to make it all happen. I knew my worst-case scenario was if it doesn’t work out, I could always go back home and pick up where I left off. There was definitely a degree of fear, but I powered thru it because I believed in myself.”

Relocating or moving successfully is all about preparation and planning ahead. We asked LaShonda to share some helpful tips and reminders to keep in mind.

A Social Media Move

“I suggest building your social media following if you haven’t done so already. If your page is set up as a business account you can check your insights to see where most of your followers reside. You may want to consider that particular city as an option if you’re planning on making a personal change and can move wherever your heart desires.”

Birds of a Feather…

“If you’re in a rut and no longer feeling inspired by your current surrounding, a change of scenery might be good. Check out cities that draw the type of clientele you’d like to cater to. For example, men’s hair replacement is huge in Florida. If you’re into extensions, cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta are great options. If you’re more interested in fashion or print work, check out New York City.”

Get Grounded

“Something else to consider when relocating might be to work in a commission salon for a few months or a year. Working commission gives you a chance to build and grow your clientele without the responsibility of marketing and day-to-day salon overhead. Once you get acclimated to your city and get a nice core group of clients, then you can branch out and live the ‘suite’ Sola life once again.”

Networking in a New City

“Be sure to network with other salon professionals in your new city whenever possible! You never know who’s connected and able to put in a good word for you. Also, look into local Meetups, join Facebook groups that are specific to your new town, and get well connected with your local Chamber of Commerce.”  

Last but not least, LaShonda shared the most important advice to hold close to heart.

“Take your time and create a plan, and make it a realistic one! Set goals and be willing to invest in the time and remain patient. Remember, nothing happens overnight. If it does happen overnight, then the foundation is weak and it will eventually crumble.”

We'd love to hear from you! Have you made a move to a new city? What lessons did you learn that you can share with others in your Sola Fam?

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