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When you open an independent salon, aside from being an artist, you’re suddenly a receptionist, bookkeeper, marketing director — the list goes on. The good news is, and salon software can wear many of those hats for you – your in-studio superpower! You can run your business from anyplace with a Wi-Fi connection — which might explain why so many stylists are now running their business from a mobile device. Salon software makes it easy!  Read More

Pashion Salon co-owner Mysly Jean-Julien lives and breathes hair! And, it’s been like that since she was a kid. Mysly and her younger sister -- Pashion Salon co-owner Cynthia Gervais -- “grew up on the islands,” Mysly begins. A cousin did hair, and Mysly says, “Every weekend, it was just hair all day.” Mysly explored a few different career paths -- makeup, nails, nursing -- but was destined for the hair industry. “I always found myself going back to hair; I couldn’t get away from it,” she reiterates. Cynthia, on the other hand, never even tried to escape her fate! “My older sister Mysly’s passion inspired me,” she says.  Read More

Love them or hate them, hashtags have become an important component of online communication, and many experts agree that they’re here to stay. If you haven’t done so yet, it’s officially time to acquaint yourself with hashtags!  Read More

Even top-of-the-line salons deal with the headache – and financial strain – of cancelled appointments. In fact, you’d probably be surprised by how often it happens. That’s why many salons and spas lay out cancellation policies for their clients. Here’s a look at how those policies work, and how you can benefit from instilling this added precaution at your studio.  Read More

After coaching hundreds of hairstylists, the most common roadblock that keeps most salon studio owners from marketing themselves and their services is FEAR: fear of rejection; fear of failure; fear of losing money; fear of ridicule or fear of looking silly or foolish. We tend to think the worst about potentially scary situations to keep us from experiencing the bad feelings that COULD come from not getting the results we want. While these fears are understandable, they don’t have to stop your success. Here are a few ways to overcome your fear of marketing.  Read More

To her clients, industry veteran Michelle Jacobs is known as The Hairgenie. “My husband came up with that,” Michelle says, explaining, “He says I perform magic on hair.” Michelle’s story – her journey to Sola – is atypical, to say the least. That’s because she opened a studio through Sola Salons after she’d run a successful brick-and-mortar salon for over two decades!  Read More

If the summer sun’s strong enough to tan your skin, then it's strong enough to damage your clients’ beautiful tresses, too. There are so many ways to increase the life span of the beautiful summer creations waltzing out of your studio door! We asked two esteemed Sola stylists to weigh in on the best bets for keeping locks healthy from Fourth of July fireworks all the way through Labor Day pool parties.  Read More

Maybe your salon has been impacted by our capricious economy — or maybe you’re simply looking to boost your bottom line. Whatever your motive, we’ve got you covered with 5 effective strategies for raising revenue. By unearthing new ways to service and attract clients, you can increase everything from your average transaction size to your salon’s foot traffic.  Read More

When part-time stylist Deborah Wright Peters’ stepson, Jake, was diagnosed with a severe and debilitating illness, her Sola community stepped in, raising some serious cash for Jake’s long-term care and treatment.  Read More

“I specialize in a lot of things — almost to the point of not being able to say I specialize,” says thirty-year industry veteran Shanna Moll. Shanna began her career doing cuts and color, and moved into extensions twenty years ago. “I’m triple certified in extensions and in color, and I’m a big believer in education and certification,” Shanna says.  Read More

You’ve built a solid business at Sola Salons. Now what? If you’re looking to grow your brand and you live in a city with multiple Sola locations, then you might consider investing in a second suite. Here’s a look at how stylist and entrepreneur Evelia Rios increased her clientele and overall revenue via multi-unit ownership.  Read More

Promotions are a fantastic way to bring new and repeat business into your salon. They give your clients an extra special reason to book an appointment, and they entice potential clients to give your salon a try. There are so many opportunities to create excitement around holidays, themes and important times in people’s lives; promos invite your guests to connect with your salon throughout sentimental times of the year.  Read More

Every one of us wants to succeed in our careers. Some people want to make an endless amount of money while others like the fame it brings them. Thirty years in the beauty business has taught me many lessons, and some of them were not so fun to learn. While others have made me into the hairstylist/owner I am today, I ask you to ask yourselves this question before you go any further reading this article: Do you have what it takes to be great at your job?  Read More

Congratulations! You're a salon suite owner. So, how do you take full advantage of the opportunity you have and create the income and freedom you really want in your salon business?  Read More

We asked the Sola community to share their number one studio jam, and they delivered so much more than just one song! These days, so many people are tuning into music streaming services, like Pandora, that invite you to discover new music and enjoy old favorites. Pandora has one mission, to only play music you’ll love! So let us invite you to fall in love with a new artist, genre or song with these 25 Pandora Stations to Tune Into:  Read More

“I knew Sola was right for me because all of the amenities,” adds Sade. Finally she could decorate to her liking, name the salon what she pleased and choose whether to hire an employee or fly solo. Sade opened the Sade Milinda Studio last June, and that transition was straightforward. “Because I had formal training and had already had a chance to implement what I’d learned while renting a chair, moving to Sola wasn’t scary at all,” Sade says.  Read More

On Monday, April 25, 2016, 200 salon professionals from nearly 10 states gathered at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Minneapolis for the second-ever Sola Sessions event. With a focus on inspiration, marketing and business in the morning, and artistic learning in the afternoon, the event featured educators from various aspects of the professional beauty industry. The Sola team feels incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to welcome so many rock stars to the Sola stage, including several stylists who had a chance to stand in the spotlight as well!  Read More

Marketing is an ever-changing industry, and businesses always are trying to keep up with the latest trends. For small business owners, like salon owners, this can be especially difficult. They often are faced with handling everyday tasks while trying to find the time and the budget to create a practical and cost-effective marketing plan. Fortunately, business owners can utilize some of the technology they already use.  Read More

Changing seasons provide built-in times of year to ramp up your marketing efforts! The trick is using fresh ideas to keep your guests connected and coming back year-round. Try one (or all!) of these five sizzling warm weather sales ideas, and you’ll be well on your way to having your best season yet.  Read More

Social media is strategically significant to growing your business and keeping existing clients. Stylists and salon owners all over the country have been finding fantastic success by using social media to gather new clients and referrals, but one thing is for certain; just because you have an Instagram or Facebook presence doesn’t mean you’ll see results automatically!  Read More

Daniel Dela Cerda Gets Real About His Transition to Sola Salons. “This venture has been a longtime dream of mine, and I couldn't be happier to have Sola as my new home,” says Daniel Dela Cerda, owner of the Daniel Brian Salon at Sola Salons West Lakeview.  Read More

Mother’s Day is right around the corner – Sunday, May 8, 2016! With just about a month left to prepare, now is the perfect time to put together some Mother’s Day packages and promotions for your salon. Read our blog post from last year or check out our list at the end of this post for some great promotion ideas. Once you know which promotion (or promotions) you’d like to use, it’s time to get the word out! Writing your own ads can feel overwhelming, so we wanted to share examples of what to say on a few different marketing channels.  Read More

Ahhh…. Spring is here! Now is the perfect time to shake off the winter blahs and do some spring cleaning and declutter your salon. From time to time, getting rid of things that no longer help you achieve your goals or the things you want in life is necessary. Decluttering increases your ability to focus, reduces overwhelm, and help produce better results in your business. Here are 5 areas to declutter for greater success in your salon.  Read More

Prom is big business. According to Fortune Magazine, the average American family spends $919 on prom-related expenses…including salon visits! Prom can be a great way to not only bump up your seasonal business, but also gain new regular clients. Here are some ideas that may help you increase your salon’s prom biz.  Read More

Entrepreneur Nicole Digilio – owner of the Gypsy Hair Lounge at Sola Salons Port Jefferson Station – keeps a sign on her door. “Good Vibes Only,” it says — and, that mantra pretty much sums up the stylist’s new business mentality.  Read More