Life & Work with Jess Fisher of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Fisher.

Hi Jess, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been in the beauty industry for 17 years and owned Salon Lola for the last 8. Like a lot of stylists, I started because I loved doing hair, but over time I realized I was just as passionate about helping people feel confident and creating opportunities for other stylists to grow.

Early in my career, I noticed there weren’t many salons in my area that truly specialized in curly hair and textured hair care. As someone who loves education and believes every client deserves to feel seen and understood, I built Salon Lola around that idea. What started as a small salon has grown into a space known for curly hair, extensions, dimensional color, and a client experience that puts education and personalization first.

Today, my role looks a little different than it did when I started. While I still work behind the chair with clients I love, much of my focus is on leading the business, mentoring my team, developing education programs, and building a salon culture where success, creativity, and work-life balance can coexist.

Entrepreneurship hasn’t always been easy. There have been plenty of challenges, lessons, and moments where I had to figure things out as I went. But those experiences have shaped both the leader and salon owner I am today. Looking back, I’m proud of the business we’ve built, the team we’ve developed, and the impact we’ve had on our clients and community. And honestly, I still feel like we’re just getting started.

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 definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to transition from being a hairstylist to being a business owner and leader. Doing great hair and running a successful company require two completely different skill sets, and a lot of what I’ve learned came through trial and error.

Like many salon owners, I’ve faced challenges with hiring, training, team development, cash flow, and figuring out how to grow a business while still working behind the chair. There were seasons where I was trying to do everything myself, and that led to burnout pretty quickly.

The beauty industry has also changed significantly over the years. Between navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, shifts in consumer spending, and an increasingly competitive market, there have been plenty of moments that forced me to adapt and rethink how I lead and operate the business.

Looking back, though, those challenges taught me some of the most valuable lessons. They’ve helped me build stronger systems, become a better leader, and create a salon culture that focuses on education, accountability, and long-term growth. I don’t think success comes from avoiding obstacles—it’s built by learning how to navigate them and continuing to move forward even when things don’t go as planned.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m best known for my work with curly hair, but long before I became known for curls, I was known for making people feel seen, heard, and understood. Hair is important, but what clients remember most is how you make them feel. I’ve always believed that a great salon experience starts with listening.

Today, I specialize in curly hair, extensions, and dimensional color, and I’ve built Salon Lola around education, personalized service, and creating a welcoming environment for all hair types and textures. What sets us apart is that we don’t just focus on the hair—we focus on the person sitting in the chair.

While I’m proud of the technical work I’ve done throughout my career, what I’m most proud of is the impact we’ve had on both clients and stylists. Over the years, I’ve trained and mentored more than a dozen hairstylists in curly hair care and helped build a salon culture centered around collaboration, growth, and continuous learning.

Teaching isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. Seeing a stylist gain confidence in their skills or a client finally feel understood after years of struggling with their hair is what keeps me passionate about this industry. At the end of the day, beautiful hair matters, but helping people feel confident and empowered is what matters most to me.

How do you think about luck?
I believe luck exists. Sometimes people are in the right place at the right time or get opportunities they didn’t necessarily plan for. But when I look at my own journey, I don’t attribute much of it to luck.

Everything I’ve built has come from years of hard work, continuous learning, and a willingness to adapt. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I’ve always tried to learn from them rather than let them stop me. I’ve also been fortunate to have incredible mentors, industry peers, team members, and clients who have supported me, challenged me, and helped me grow.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success is rarely a solo effort. While I may have laid the bricks, there were a lot of people who shared knowledge, offered guidance, and believed in the vision along the way.

So if luck played a role, I think it was in crossing paths with the right people at the right moments. The rest came from showing up consistently, putting in the work, and continuing to build one step at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.salonlola.co
• Instagram: @jess_salonlola and @salonloladayton
• Facebook: @salonloladayton