Hey babes—welcome back! In this video I’m doing a client experience silk press on this beautiful 4C/4-family hair (and yes, it eats down every single time). While I’m pressing and getting her hair all the way together, I’m also talking about a huge topic in the hair industry right now: salons vs. salon suites, and why it feels like everybody is leaving traditional salons. From my experience, the biggest reason people move is because everybody wants to be their own boss—but baby, the game is completely different in a suite. I break down what I’ve learned and what I’d tell an up-and-coming stylist: start in a salon first. In a salon you get built-in word of mouth, referrals from other stylists, foot traffic, walk-ins, and marketing that helps you build clientele—especially if you’re starting with little to no clients like I did. I also talk about the real-life differences: overhead costs can be lower in a salon (usually just booth rent), but in a suite anything extra you want for your space comes out of your pocket. And let’s be honest—suite life can be quiet. There’s often less community and networking because everybody’s on different schedules. At the end of the day, it’s about what fits your goals and what responsibilities you’re ready to carry.