I’m sitting in my new space right now and I honestly still can’t believe it.
I just signed a 3-year lease on a 1,900 sq ft salon space, and if I’m being real with you, I had a moment where I thought: “Did I just do something crazy?”
But the truth is… it doesn’t feel scary this time. It feels right. And if you’re a hairstylist thinking about opening a salon, leasing a space, or transitioning your business, this is the conversation we need to have.
The Difference Between My First Salon vs This One
When I opened my first salon space eight years ago, it was scary. I didn’t know what I was doing between city permits, hiring the right contractor, or that everything would cost 3X what I initially thought. The crazy part is every single salon owner warned me about all the things, but “I was going to do things differently”. So I thought.
I had no idea how much everything would really cost, or if I would even succeed. I was literally running on hopes and dreams.
This time? I have clarity. That’s the biggest difference!
After 25 years in the industry, building a 7-figure salon, going through a pandemic, bad hires, a salon walkout, and rebuilding from scratch, I know exactly what I want.
And more importantly… I know what I don’t want.
Why I Didn’t Choose a Salon Suite (And You Should Think About This Too)
Originally, I was looking at salon suites, solo studios, or Phoenix-style rentals, but here’s the problem…
Most of them are small tiny spaces, most don’t have windows, and lack natural lighting. And if you’re a content creator like me, or a hairstylist who takes their salon marketing seriously, that matters more than ever. Lighting is everything!
What was really important to me, besides having a micro salon to do hair services, was that I would be able to have a large creative space to expand my online education business, grow my YouTube, and pick back up on my podcast.
I walked into this space and immediately thought, “This checks every box”.
The #1 Thing That Will Save You THOUSANDS When Leasing a Salon Studio Space
If you take nothing else from this blog, take this 👉 Find a space that used to be a salon.
This alone can save you thousands on plumbing, electrical, and months of build out time. Not to mention city permits which can add more to your bottom line. They city loves a good blueprint from a costly architect.
The space I found? Well, it used to be a hair salon for decades. Most recently, it was a lash studio but the plumbing and the infrastructure was already in the walls. This meant that it was almost turn key.
And that is a massive advantage when opening a salon.
What I’m Actually Building (This Might Surprise You)
This isn’t just a salon. This is a content-first studio.
Inside this space, I’m building:
- A micro salon with only 5 chairs
- A full content creation studio
- A podcast setup
- Headquarters for:
- Hair B&B University
- Manelli Hair Extensions
- My education brand
This is the shift most hairstylists don’t see coming.
👉 The future is not just behind the chair
👉 It’s owning your content and your audience
I’ve worked really hard the last few years building my brand so I don’t have to rely on a ‘brand deal’ to be successful. While most hair influencers brand hop and chase titles like ‘artistic ambassador’, I’m changing the way I do education and business. If I use a product or promote it, it’s because I genuinely love it.
Booth Rent vs Employee Salon (My Honest Take)
If you’ve been following me, you know I made a big shift:
I transitioned my team from employees to booth rent earlier this year.
Was it scary? Yes.
Was it necessary? Also yes.
Because here’s the truth most salon owners avoid. Managing people is a full-time job and not everyone wants that long-term. At least I never wanted that. I never wanted to be a salon owner, per se. I’ve always wanted a creative studio where I could focus on my digital education. The salon was just the bread and butter part of the business.
Check out this blog to learn why I shifted my business
In this next phase, I’m removing myself from managing a large team, daily salon operations, and eing responsible for everyone else. Gone are the days of paying people (ahem, employees) to get coached and mentored by me. Realistically, my career is in a place where people pay me for that!
So now I’m stepping into full on creator mode, full time educator, and business owner on my own terms.
The Reality of Leasing a Bigger Salon Space
To be honest, this space is bigger than I originally wanted. Yes, I was looking for a suit for crying out loud. At most I was looking for around 1,000 sq ft.
This space is 1,900 sq ft.
But sometimes the right opportunity doesn’t look like what you planned. It just fits. And this one did.
What Happens Next (If You’re Thinking About Opening a Salon)
Here’s what actually comes after signing a lease:
1. City + Licensing
- Business license
- Occupancy approval
- Zoning confirmation
2. Build-Out (Even if it’s small)
- Plumbing adjustments
- Shampoo bowls
- Minor construction
3. Furniture Investment
- Chairs
- Stations
- Cabinets
- Lighting
This is where costs can stack up fast.
Am I Crazy… Or Is This the Right Move?
Maybe both, but I know this:
I’ve been manifesting this space for over a year… and it showed up exactly how I needed it to.
Not smaller. Not different. But exactly this.
Final Thoughts for Hairstylists Thinking About Opening a Salon
If you’re considering:
- Leasing a salon space
- Opening your own salon
- Transitioning to booth rent
- Building something bigger
Here’s my advice:
👉 Get clear on what you actually want
👉 Don’t rush into the wrong space
👉 And think beyond the chair
Because the industry is changing. And the stylists who win are the ones who evolve with it.
Watch the Full Journey
If you want to see the full behind-the-scenes of this decision and what this space looks like:
If you’re a hairstylist who wants to:
- Build confidence behind the chair
- Learn real techniques that actually work
- Grow your business
👉 Download the Hair B&B University app to get started for free.
