Daily Inspiration: Meet Rachel Swire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Swire.

Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a salon suite owner with Sola Salons. I got started 22 years ago and I opened my Sola suite 18 years ago. I attended Clark Atlanta University and decided that was not the best fit for me since I already knew cosmetology was where I wanted to be. After that revelation, I dropped out of college and attended Empire Beauty School. While in hair school I started assisting at a local salon, Hair Atlanta of Buckhead, and learned the hands-on techniques it took to grow a clientele that trusts you. I learned how to apply the science of hair to help clients get to their ultimate hair goal. That approach transformed how I saw the industry and is a practice I still hold true to this day. It’s all about the client and educating them on what it takes and how to get them to their best hair.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth journey. As a solo business owner you have to learn everything on the fly, or at least I did. As a result I have made PLENTY of mistakes and some of them have cost me a great deal of money to fix. I am a “jump first ask questions later” type of person which can work because I’ve landed in positions that have lended to some pretty amazing experiences. At the same time I’ve paid a hefty price for not always doing my research beforehand. You won’t always have to correct answer as an entrepreneur but you most certainly will need to do your research before making major business decisions.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help women get their hair healthy so we can start to have fun with color and extensions. I came up in a time when you had to have one thing OR the other when it comes to your haircare choices. I firmly believe that in most cases you can have what you want, it’s just a matter of how to get there. I’m known for healthy hair options AND allowing women to explore different versions of themselves. With proper maintenance and education, I believe you can have color and extensions and still keep your hair healthy all throughout the journey.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned throughout my journey is to never stop growing and learning. The moment you stop taking classes, attending industry events and no longer getting to know your fellow creatives in the industry, you start to lose the edge that keeps your clients engaged and inspired by what you do. For me, I lost my creative motivation when I shut down that part of growing. Once I started taking classes and got back to doing what I loved, it made all of the difference in my clientele growing again, my income increased and I enjoyed being in my salon space again. When I saw the difference it made to continuously grow, I’ve held that standard to never stop learning and growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Rachel-Olivia.com
• Instagram: @Rachel_Olivia_Hair
• Youtube: @RachelOliviaHair