Meet Donna Toland | Hair Salon owner over 30 years

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donna Toland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donna, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
passion, passion, passion. You have to love what you do in order to be the best. Passion keeps you move forward, directs your moves to succeed. There’s an old saying that if you really love something (a hobby, an art) and turn it into making a living then it really isn’t working. My love for hair and making people look and feel beautiful is truly what keeps me going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What makes the hair business exciting is its always changing. The basics are the same as far as different hair cut techniques and does and don’t when it comes to healthy hair. But wow !!! The product market as far as colors, hair products, classes, fashion looks, styles. new technology and techniques is never ending. As a salon owner you have to make sure your style are kept in the loop of changing trends products, looks from colors to Keratin treatments, extensions and certification required to master their craft. However what we absolutely love the most is making sure our clients look and feel happy. We do a lot of work for our community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well I’m no longer the party girl I used to be but I still have my favorites. Atlanta offers so many different options when it comes to food, and must see places. The Atlanta aquarium is a must Coca-Cola factory, Ferrus Wheel to get a glimpse of Atlanta from a cool perspective, Fox theater, I love Marry Max southern restaurant. I also enjoy the idea of just parking the car or taking MARTA just to walk the city by foot Highlands Park (for example) and explore the architecture and use a day as a surprise adventure. I would have them explore Buckhead, Roswell to get a feel for the surrounding areas. There are just too many restaurants to enjoy and I don’t feel I would being it justice to start naming them ALL.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother always taught us to go after what we love. I graduated vladovsa college in Warner Robin’s GA but my true love was fashion, particularly hair. My older sister Debbie also enjoyed hair, and my cousin Collette absolutely loved hair. I would have to say my mother pushing me and my sister to follow our dream so eventually after college I went to cosmetology schools as did my sister and Collette. After many years of aprentership and tutelage my sister and I opened our salon Boardroom Hairstylists in 1994. After two years in business Debbie moved on to Alabama with her husband and I’ve been running BHS ever since. My cousin Collette also started her own salon.

Website: https://www.boardroomhair.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boardroomhairstylists/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boardroomhairstylists/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BHairstylis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boardroomhairstylists

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boardroom-hairstylists-atlanta-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP-n2flmK1E