What Winning the Salon Today 200 Seven Times Taught Anna Wash About Building Lola
Seven years. Seven wins. A lot of learning in between.
When Anna Wash first entered Lola Hair Studio into the Salon Today 200, she wasn't sure the business was worthy. Now, seven years later, she knows better — not because the doubt has disappeared, but because she's learned what the work actually reveals.
We sat down with Anna to ask her ten questions about what those seven years have actually taught her. The answers were honest, grounded, and — if you're building anything — worth reading slowly.
"Was my little business worthy of this honor?"
The first time Anna entered the Salon Today 200, she hesitated. Who was she to compete? It wasn't until she sat down to write the application essays — auditing Lola's progress with fresh eyes — that she saw how far they'd actually come.
By year seven, she still approaches it the same way. Not as an expectation. Not as a guarantee. But as an invitation to get honest about what you've built.
"It's an honor to win. It's not an expectation. I have to find ways to put our achievements on paper — and there are other amazing salons out there. So I am deeply grateful every single time."
The lesson: Don't wait until you think you're "ready" to be recognized. The act of measuring your own progress is the point.
"I had not yet realized that I was running a company."
In year one, Anna was still behind the chair most of the time. She was a stylist who happened to own a business — not a business owner who happened to be a stylist. That distinction, she says, changed everything.
Somewhere along the way, she made the shift. She stopped thinking of herself as a hairdresser keeping the lights on and started thinking of herself as a visionary — someone building something, leading people, creating a culture.
"I had not yet realized that I was running a company and becoming the visionary and leader of a successful business — and the privilege that came with leading amazing people and being part of their journey."
The lesson: Your title isn't "owner." Your job is vision, culture, and leadership. The sooner you step into that, the sooner your business can breathe.
"Isolating what we are doing well and improving upon that helped me to center in on what makes a difference."
Anna will be the first to admit it: entrepreneurs get distracted. There's always a next thing. A new idea. A shiny pivot. She's been there.
The shift happened when she realized that the discipline of improving what's already working is far more valuable than constantly launching something new. Focus first. Expand when it's earned.
"Once I isolated what we were doing well and improved upon it, I could center in on what makes a difference. Then — and only then — could I take on something new."
The lesson: Vision is essential. But vision without a filter is just noise. Flush out the idea before you change direction.
"The things I feared were exactly what was needed for the greater good of the team."
This one, Anna says, is hard to narrow down. Because there were many. But the through-line? The lessons that were hardest to learn were the ones she resisted longest.
She had to put systems in place to identify when something wasn't working — and then actually move quickly to change it. She had to learn that her instinct to keep people happy sometimes conflicted with what the business needed. She had to build KPIs, not just feelings.
"My emotion — my wanting to make people happy — can get in the way of the business thriving. The things I feared were what was needed for the greater good of the team."
The lesson: Create the structure that tells you the truth even when you don't want to hear it. Then listen to it.
"I was slowing us down. That's also part of the entrepreneur's journey."
Lola grew fast — and for a while, Anna was the bottleneck. She was doing too much herself, trying to support her team while still holding on to the doing.
The moment things changed? When she let go. When she built a team of Directors — Education, Marketing, Operations — who actually wanted to help Lola grow. When she saw what happened when great people had ownership, she couldn't unsee it.
"Once I saw how much better things ran with a great team, we grew very fast. I was slowing us down — that's also part of the entrepreneur's journey. We feel like we should be doing it all."
The lesson: Hire leadership sooner than feels comfortable. The team you build is the business you become.
"When we finally learned to get real with each other was when things started to change."
The relationship between Anna and her team has evolved in ways she didn't anticipate. It started with doing tasks. It grew into ownership. It deepened into trust — the kind that requires leaders to be held accountable and to hold themselves accountable in return.
This past year, her team accepted the Salon Today 200 award without her. She was proud in a way that surprised even her.
"I was really proud for them to go without me. They deserved to accept the award for all their hard work — to advocate for themselves, network, and be part of the industry as a whole."
The lesson: A team that can represent the brand without you isn't a liability. It's the goal. Build people, then trust what you built.
"When one of my team tells me they've never made so much money — that's when I feel it most."
Anna could list trophies. Revenue milestones. Awards. Press. But when asked what moments actually stick — the ones that remind her why she built Lola — she goes somewhere quieter.
It's the team member who quit a second job. The one who bought a home. The one who planned a future she couldn't have seen before Lola. The wedding. The vacation. The text that says: because of this place, my life is different.
"When they get married, plan for a future, quit second jobs, buy homes, take vacations — that's when I feel it most."
The lesson: Build a business that changes people's lives. Then pay attention to the moments it actually does. That's the whole point.
We asked Anna what she'd say to the version of herself who first walked into this industry with big ideas and no roadmap. She didn't hesitate:
Celebrate more wins.
Hire and grow leadership sooner.
Listen to your coaches — stop resisting so much.
Never lose sight or belief of your vision.
Think bigger.
Seven years of Salon Today 200. Seven years of lessons that don't come from any course or coach — only from doing the work, getting honest, and building something that matters.
Lola Hair Studio isn't just a salon. It's proof that when you lead with purpose, invest in people, and stay humble enough to keep learning — the business becomes something bigger than any one person.
Including the person who built it.
At Lola Hair Studio, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional hair care services specialized to the needs of our discerning clients. Our team of expert stylists is trained in the latest techniques and trends, ensuring that you receive a personalized and luxurious experience every time you visit.
We start with a thorough consultation to understand your style goals and preferences. Using high-quality products and advanced techniques, we then create a customized color plan that enhances your natural beauty while reflecting your individuality.
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