Sola Stories

John Mosley, also known as Mr. Popular Nobody, is one of the most iconic and sought after barbers in the industry. John is the founder and CEO of his own brand Popular Nobody and the current artistic director of John Paul Mitchell Systems. He has been named Top 100 Industry Game Changers by Modern Salon Magazine as well as Barber Educator of the Year by Barbershop Connect. Although he wears many hats, John always makes time to pour love and inspiration back into his community and the greater beauty industry. 

We are so grateful to call John a friend and a true supporter of the Sola family. He has been on the Sessions stage twice before, and we are thrilled to have him join us virtually at The Sola Sessions Reimagined on Monday, September 27th . 

Tune in to learn about John’s background, his journey creating and growing his brand, and get inspired by his passion for education. 

In This Episode

[1:38] - John Mosley (@popularnobody) is one of the top and highly sought after barbers in the industry.

[3:51] - John is a big believer in friends for life. He keeps people close to him.

[5:08] - He was playing college football and decided it wasn’t for him. He followed in the footsteps of his family members in the beauty industry. 

[6:39] - John explains how he was loyal to the barbershop he worked in until he was able to open his own.

[10:23] - You can’t be successful until you start. John keeps it real on social media to avoid influencing the next generation with disillusion.

[12:54] - Our minds are trained to crave instant gratification, but John explains the importance of patience and long term goals.

[14:02] - Lean into education opportunities in the industry.

[15:19] - John appreciates the process over the end result. His advice is to fall in love with the process in building your business.

[16:53] - Branding is not just a logo. It is an identity.

[18:24] - Maximize your opportunities to build your brand.

[20:06] - John offers a branding course and discusses the importance of aligning everything.

[26:16] - Many times, we create our own anxiety.

[28:37] - In this industry, we put our customers first, sometimes to a fault. How can you do small things to put yourself first?

[30:43] - John is passionate about educating others and gives his classes everything he’s got.

[32:56] - Education has many more impacts than just getting better at your craft.

[33:40] - John shares his thoughts about Sola Sessions and the Sola Family.

[34:53] - What can you expect from John at the upcoming Sola Sessions?

[36:17] - Being innovative and a role model are what keeps John motivated.

[38:01] - Find The Popular Nobody App on Android and Apple device app stores.

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Purchase Ticket to September 27th Sola Sessions

The Popular Nobody Website

Popular Nobody: The Apex Podcast

Popular Nobody on Instagram

We are thrilled to have industry icon Sonya Dove on this episode of Sola Stories...and even more thrilled to have her as an educator at The Sola Sessions Reimagined on Monday, September 27th! As Wella’s Global Creative Ambassador for over 35 years, Sonya plays an integral role in the brand’s trade presence with color innovation, inspiration, and education. She collaborates with educators from a range of professional haircare brands creating editorial and competition shoots, as well as education and trend development designed to inspire stylists all over the world. Sonya is fueled by her passion for every aspect of her career, and she actively surrounds herself with creatives of all industries. She uses her life experiences as an inspiration when mentoring or judging hair competitions, backstage at New York Fashion Week, producing photo shoots, in film wig work, and on stage at industry shows and events.

Sonya is a beacon of inspiration, education, and mentorship for the stylist community. Her commitment to developing others to find their own voice within the beauty industry is truly her strength and it shines in today’s conversation. Listen to her stories, both personal and professional, and let your own light shine as you learn from one of the greatest. 

In This Episode

[0:36] - This episode’s guest is industry icon, Sonya Dove. 

[1:45] - Sonya will be an educator in September at The Sola Sessions Reimagined.

[2:40] - Sonya shares her background and how she ended up on her career path.

[4:12] - Eventually, Sonya started entering into competitions and before she knew it, she and her husband were doing shows for Wella.

[5:56] - Through her journey, Sonya moved to the United States.

[7:54] - In 2007, Sonya and her husband opened their own salon in Los Angeles. The time was unfortunately hard due to a recession.

[8:42] - Wella stepped in to help for one year and helped Sonya avoid bankruptcy.

[10:43] - One of the reasons people choose to own their salon through Sola is freedom.

[12:01] - It is important to Sonya to be aligned with the Wella manufacturer. She has been with them for 35 years.

[14:57] - Sonya is one of Wella’s global artists. She describes what she does in this role.

[16:16] - Sonya does it all and she loves the variety in her job.

[17:18] - Take care of yourself to avoid burnout and learn to say no to some things.

[20:19] - Sola provides so much education. Sonya describes how she delivers education, too.

[23:11] - Create the space and culture you need in your salon. The details make a difference.

[25:14] - How did the pandemic impact Sonya? How did she manage the negativity?

[28:10] - Most of Sonya’s work with Wella now is virtual.

[30:52] - It is so important to give yourself a mental break.

[32:14] - Sonya created a show on all of her personal loves including how nature, food, and music influence her hairstyles.

[35:00] - Sonya shares that she failed in school and was always told she would not be successful.

[36:10] - In her personal life, Sonya has had many ups and downs.

[38:56] - Sola Sessions are for education with inspiring leaders in the industry.

[40:01] - Sonya explains that she never lost momentum in her career. You can have it all.

[41:42] - Something we need to be conscious of in this industry is to support each other.

[43:22] - What will Sonya be sharing at the next Sola Sessions?

[46:17] - You can purchase your tickets to the Sola Sessions on September 27th at SolaSessions.com.

[47:03] - Sonya is very active and responsive on Instagram and her website SonyaDove.com.

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Purchase Ticket to September 27th Sola Sessions

Sonya Dove - Website

Sonya Dove on Facebook

Sonya Dove on Instagram

Sonya Dove Hair YouTube Channel

Wella - Website

Wella Education Website

Wella Education on Facebook

We’ve got a lot of amazing stuff up our sleeves for The Sola Sessions Reimagined, a virtual education event for independent salon owners, coming to you live on September 27th. Tune in for 10 (of the many) reasons you’ll want to join!

In This Episode

[0:30] – 10 reasons why you don't want to miss The Sola Sessions: Reimagined!

[1:29] – Reason #1 – learn from the industry's best educators!

[2:17] – Second reason is that you can choose your own journey!

[2:46] – The vendor expo.

[3:28] – Two hosts that you are familiar with!

[4:25] – The next reason is that the event is offered at a low price!

[5:02] – On-demand access until the end of the year!

[5:27] – The eighth reason is that there will be prizes and giveaways!

[5:41] – There will be live Q&A sessions!

[6:00] – The tenth and final reason is the Faces of Sola panel discussions!

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Sola Blog

The Sola Sessions: Reimagined

Jennie’s Instagram Page

Having boundaries is crucial to running a successful business and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. And while boundaries have always been important, they have been an especially hot topic during the pandemic. 

Salon business educator Gina Bianca joins us in this episode to share her expertise on this very topic. Gina wears many hats as a salon owner, an educator, a coach, and a content creator. How does she do it all, and do it well? It all boils down to one thing: boundaries. 

Tune in to hear about this young woman’s journey to success; how she got into the business and gained all of the valuable experience that she now has, the importance of mentorship and paying knowledge forward, and why setting boundaries are absolutely crucial to being a success in the beauty industry. She encourages listeners to just say no, emphasizing that just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean that you should. She also recommends having a mission to better ensure that everything that you do revolves around your core values, revealing that her mission is all about elevating the beauty industry.

In This Episode

[0:32] – Gina recently talked about boundaries in this industry.

[2:33] – Gina having to set a boundary with her mother.

[5:30] – Setting boundaries is especially hard when you're codependent.

[7:37] – Mental health and setting boundaries have a history of being taboo topics.

[10:34] – Gina dives into sharing her journey.

[13:00] – Gina learned everything by taking risks and putting work in.

[16:09] – A little bit of background information about Gina outside of her business.

[18:56] – How Gina decided on the importance of mentorship for her.

[21:36] – Gina takes pride in paying kindness forward.

[24:11] – Learn who Gina credits as having literally saved her life.

[26:18] – This industry is so giving!

[28:44] – People often like to hoard knowledge rather than share it.

[31:00] – Sola has 17,000 small business owners in the United States as well as locations in Canada and Brazil!

[33:45] – Multiple revenue streams.

[35:12] – Why making money tends to be a taboo topic.

[37:55] – Bad work vs. good work.

[40:32] – The abundance mindset.

[43:02] – Many salon owners aren't taking advantage of retail.

[44:31] – Gina's theory on why people in the service industry have trouble setting boundaries.

[47:33] – You have to work hard before you're in demand.

[50:25] – You sometimes build long-lasting relationships with your clients.

[53:40] – Have boundaries with your time!

[54:13] – Say no when you need to!

[56:28] – Elevating the beauty industry is Gina's mission.

[59:24] – It's hard but so important to say no.

[1:00:26] – How listeners can connect with Gina.

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Sola Blog

SolaGenius

The Sola Sessions: Reimagined

BeautyHive - Website

Clubhouse

Giana's Instagram Page

The Network Salon - Website

Mastermind - Website

If offering retail is not a part of your salon business, there’s a chance you’re leaving some money on the table. But when it comes to stocking your backbar, there’s a lot to consider – including partnering with the right brands that fit the culture of your salon.

Tune in to this episode where we chat with Hunter Donia, Ashley Lantz and Kim Bennett to discuss all things stocking your studio with retail and backbar. Find out how to select a brand that meets the needs of your brand and your target market, as well as how to make retail a part of your amazing customer experience. They also share ways to become more confident when offering your clients retail, tips for staying organized, and so much more. 

So, the question is: Are you ready to streamline your backbar ordering systems and rock the retail game?

In This Episode

[0:24] – Stocking your studio with retail and backbar.

[2:30] – Why partnerships are very important.

[3:58] – Color, Hunter argues, is the pinnacle of the hair salon industry.

[5:39] – Shoutout to Kim Bennett and how products are a huge part of her salon experience!

[7:30] – Kim agrees with Hunter's point about marketing with a brand.

[9:30] – Why it's so important to choose a brand that will support you.

[11:38] – Kim advises salon owners to have a separate financial account for retail.

[14:13] – Ashley discusses her brand partnership.

[16:13] – How Hunter brought his brand into his Sola studio and the importance of his core values.

[18:39] – Salon owners are salespeople.

[21:03] – Efficiency and ordering when stocking your retail and backbar.

[22:19] – How to make sure that what you bring in doesn't collect dust.

[25:13] – BeautyHive has a nifty feature that makes it easy to reorder!

[26:11] – Hunter's take on organizing your stock.

[28:13] – Retail customers can be just as valuable as service customers.

[30:40] – Do you value a brand having an affiliate code program?

[32:59] – Bookkeeping and keeping track of your numbers is very important.

[35:22] – Kim redirects the conversation back to restocking.

[38:14] – Whether or not Kim sells a lot online.

[40:07] – Kim discusses her color backbar.

[42:18] – It's smart to keep notes about your clients on SolaGenius.

[43:45] – The importance of the guest experience.

[45:58] – Kim's experience during COVID.

[47:58] – Jennie's customer perspective.

[50:58] – Salon owners should assume that the client knows nothing about their hair.

[51:45] – Angela's customer perspective.

[53:50] – Hairstylists are the authority of what they do.

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Sola Blog

SolaGenius

BeautyHive - Website

The Sola Sessions: Reimagined

Clubhouse

@hairbyhunty on Clubhouse

All good things must come to an end. With summer winding down, it’s time to capitalize on the busy back-to-school season, and we're willing to bet this season is going to be especially busy because, for many kids, this is their first time back in a normal in-person school setting.

From collaboration with your community to sales that are too hot to resist, tune in for our top tips for capitalizing on this back-to-school season.

In This Episode

[0:30] – Salon Marketing for the Back-to-School Season from the Sola Blog.

[1:08] – Understand your audience.

[1:45] – Markdowns and retail incentives.

[2:20] – Start a rewards system for repeat customers.

[2:55] – You should collaborate with other small business owners.

[3:36] – Have a back-to-school open house event!

[4:13] – Use social media to target students.

[4:40] – Consider hosting contests on social media.

[4:58] – Remember parents' needs and wants too!

[5:42] – The Sola Sessions are coming back on Monday, September 27th!

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Sola Blog

Carlisha Duffey is one of our 2020 Faces of Sola and the owner of Southern Girl Natural Hair Studio in Topeka, Kansas. As Carlisha puts it, her studio is a safe place for naturally curly hair. Carlisha is a woman who wears many hats, as she is not only a hairstylist but is also a trained figure skater, writer, photographer, published author and student. She joins us on the Sola Stories Podcast to discuss her experience as an independent salon owner and how she manages to balance it all. 

Carlisha shares how she got into the beauty industry, initially having done costuming, hair and makeup for Disney World! She goes into detail about how she established her Kansas salon location, and she also elaborates upon her why and the philosophy behind what she does in her studio.

She also talks about her skills as a photographer and how she came to shoot a cover featuring Tippi Shorter for Beauty Launchpad, and she looks toward the future and discusses what's next for her on the horizon. Tune in to be entertained and inspired by Carlisha's aspirational journey and endless success.

In This Episode

[0:46] – This episode's guest is Carlisha Duffey of Southern Girl Natural Hair Studio!

[2:40] – Learn about Carlisha's journey in the beauty industry.

[4:58] – How Carlisha got her cosmetology license

[5:52] – Discover how Carlisha established her Topeka, Kansas location.

[7:58] – Starting this journey was scary for Carlisha, and she had to take a leap of faith.

[10:20] – Carlisha is now a mentor for up-and-coming salon owners.

[13:17] – Carlisha shares her why behind her studio.

[16:07] – Carlisha's philosophy about styling hair and how her studio is a judgment-free zone.

[18:22] – Carlisha explains the meaning behind her motto – Your hair is a crown that you never take off.

[20:33] – What being one of the Faces of Sola means to Carlisha.

[23:28] – Carlisha was fired from a traditional salon because of pursuing her own salon.

[27:04] – Carlisha has such an incredible story!

[28:58] – Carlisha compares her studies in school to the X-Men.

[31:17] – Learn about Carlisha's talent as a photographer.

[34:02] – Carlisha's multiple skills meant that she was able to pivot on set.

[37:06] – Carlisha is able to accomplish her goals even when she is outside of her comfort zone.

[38:42] – How Carlisha came to shoot a cover for Beauty Launchpad.

[41:21] – Carlisha knew what she wanted in her life and made it happen by asking for it.

[44:20] – What's next for Carlisha!

[45:20] – Carlisha's book Begin Again is out now, and Shampoo Girl is coming soon!

[48:59] – How listeners can connect with Carlisha.

Links and Resources

Sola Salon Studios' Instagram Page

Sola Salons Studios – Website

Carlisha’s Website

Carlisha’s Instagram Page

hairbycarlisha - Instagram Page

Southern Girl Natural Hair Studio - Instagram Page

Carlisha A. Duffey – Begin Again

BeautyHive – Website

Beauty Launchpad - Website

Read the full blog: Tips to Get Over a Creative Block

Do you find yourself wanting to uplevel your craft, offer something new, or produce content, but feel stuck or don’t know where to start? As a beauty professional, you are an artist, subject to the same creative blocks and slumps that infamously plague writers, performers, musicians, fine artists and creators of all kinds. 

Creative blocks are barriers to inspiration that get in the way of accessing your inner creativity, lasting anywhere from hours to years. Often this can become a self-defeating cycle, where creative people will actually beat themselves up for their slump, driving the creative block further into the psyche and cementing it into the brain.  

Whether you want to try a new balayage technique or post your photos on Instagram, we want to help pull yourself out of creative ruts faster with these tried and true ways that artists have relied on to move past creative blocks and recover your creative spirit.

In This Episode

[0:51] - Do you feel stuck and not sure where to start in upleveling your business?

[1:26] - Creative blocks can last from hours to even years.

[2:35] - Tip #1 is rest and relaxation. Seems counterproductive, but gives your creative spirit time to breathe.

[3:38] - Tip #2: Write it Out. This is a key to unlocking creativity.

[4:58] - Writing it out also challenges your negative self-talk.

[6:19] - In writing your thoughts daily, you will feel more connected to your creativity and get to know your inner voice.

[6:34] - Tip #3 is all about education. As a creative, it is important to expand your knowledge.

[7:38] - Tip #4: Digital Detox. Three to seven days can give your brain a reset.

[9:15] - Tip #5 is to stop trying and do something that you love. What are your hobbies?

[10:05] - Above all else, be kind to yourself. Accept your creative blocks.

Links and Resources

Follow Sola on Instagram: @solasalons

Read more on the Sola Blog

Sola Pro App

BeautyHive

During The Sola Sessions Reconnected, we hosted a panel discussion about charging what you're worth. We received a lot of questions about charging hourly from Ashley Lantz - so many, in fact, that we decided to bring her on as a guest to discuss her recent change in price structure. Ashley is the owner of MAUVE Salon in Avondale, Arizona as well as one of the 2018 Faces of Sola and a member of Thrivers Society. She is a speciality colorist and has grown into a very successful salon owner over the last five years at Sola.

Ashley joins us to talk about her recent decision to charge hourly and her best tips to make the change yourself. She offers advice on how to determine an hourly rate that is appropriate for you and your business as well as how to set your prices if you're going straight into a salon studio as opposed to transitioning from one salon to another. This insightful conversation is a must-listen if you are considering making the change to hourly pricing or could use a boost to start charging what you’re worth! 

In This Episode

[0:58] – We got so many questions from Ashley Lantz about charging hourly.

[2:31] – Ashley has grown into a larger studio over time.

[5:00] – How Ashley priced her services when she first moved into Sola

[6:20] – Learn how to price your services if you're going straight into a studio.

[8:18] – How Ashley rebranded between her previous salon and her new salon

[9:30] – What inspired Ashley to charge hourly.

[11:07] – What was most difficult for Ashley about making her pricing structure transition.

[15:09] – Charging hourly is a good way to get rid of services that don't serve you anymore.

[16:21] – Ashley offers more reasons to switch to charging hourly.

[17:52] – How Ashley plans to track success with her new pricing structure

[19:54] – Learn how Ashley chose her hourly rate.

[22:07] – Ashley discusses determining your hourly rate using the goal digger method.

[24:42] – Ashley used SolaGenius to tell her clients about the change in pricing structure.

[27:42] – It's so difficult to avoid emotional discounts for loyal customers.

[29:25] – Ashley talks about the relationship between prices and rent.

[32:20] – One of the main reasons stylists join Sola is to avoid traditional salons and commissions.

[33:23] – Reach out to Ashley on Instagram.

[34:11] – Last words of wisdom for anyone considering changing to charging hourly.

Links and Resources

@solasalons Instagram

www.solasalons.com

Sola Stories - Episode 57: Charge What You’re Worth

SolaGenius

BookNow

BeautyHive

@ashleylantzhair

Running a salon isn't just about hair and makeup. It’s about a personalized experience where your clients can feel comfortable, vulnerable, safe and beautiful from the inside out. That's why creating an amazing guest experience for clients is so important.

Wondering how to create an experience worth coming back for? What small (or big) things can you add to your salon environment or service to make them feel special? 

Tune in to this episode as Angela Ribbler, Jennie Wolff, Hunter Donia and Ebony Nelson share how to create a memorable guest experience in a salon studio, while also incorporating your personality and core values into your safe haven. Your clients don’t just come to you for a service but rather a holistic experience. Creating a next-level guest experience is a win-win because they feel pampered, and you can feel comfortable and confident charging what you’re worth.

In This Episode

[0:31] – A Clubhouse conversation about creating a great client experience in a suite.

[1:52] – What makes what Ebony offers unique.

[3:54] – Ebony compares the guest experience to customer service.

[5:52] – Ebony makes it a point to hype her clients up!

[8:28] – Jennie confirms how important it is, as a customer, to feel seen.

[9:14] – How Hunter's salon offers a unique experience.

[11:02] – Hairstylists are problem solvers!

[12:08] – Hunter reveals a couple of ways that he makes the experience with him tailored to his clients.

[13:05] – Angela offers her perspective as a client and discusses the booking process.

[13:58] – Ebony's thoughts on booking appointments.

[15:44] – Simplify your marketing!

[17:05] – Hunter offered a complementary Zoom consultation before prospective clients booked appointments with him.

[19:22] – Why a pre-consultation can be very important.

[22:28] – Your consultation is a chance to excite prospective clients!

[25:03] – More insight about making clients comfortable.

[26:01] – Always improving the experience gives you a reason to raise prices.

[27:34] – Challenge creates opportunity!

[29:43] – Read your guests so that you can interpret what they want that day.

[31:08] – What Katie has been doing to make her clients comfortable.

[33:53] – Incorporate your personality into your salon experience!

[36:25] – Hunter builds his brand around low maintenance.

[39:49] – How to encourage clients to relax and enjoy quiet time during a lengthy appointment.

[40:58] – Hunter discusses setting boundaries.

[43:19] – Your client wants their hair to look good which you can't do if you're drained of energy.

[44:33] – Movies and shows are one way to keep clients occupied.

[47:11] – You can create a better experience for guests when you know them!

Links and Resources

Follow Sola on Instagram: @solasalons

Follow Hunter Donia on Instagram:@hairbyhunty

Follow Ebony Nelson on Instagram: @theebonynelson

Follow Angela Ribbler on Instagram: @acontentqueen

Follow Jennie Wolff on Instagram: @jenniethewolff

BeautyHive