When Ayla lost her hair during treatment for a rare form of leukemia, her sister and several members of her Brownie troop decided they wanted to donate hair to Wigs for Kids. The team at Impressions in Mequon, WI, made that happen, and here Ayla makes the first cut.
When Ayla lost her hair during treatment for a rare form of leukemia, her sister and several members of her Brownie troop decided they wanted to donate hair to Wigs for Kids. The team at Impressions in Mequon, WI, made that happen, and here Ayla makes the first cut.

These Salon Today 200 honorees sweep this category by leading with their hearts—they search their communities for causes where their talents can make the greatest positive change. At the same time, they know the goodwill generated and the connections forged can help grow their own businesses.

The team from Five Senses Spa and Salon in Peoria, IL, all dressed up for Catwalk for Water.
The team from Five Senses Spa and Salon in Peoria, IL, all dressed up for Catwalk for Water.

FIVE SENSES SPA AND SALON
Peoria, IL
fivesensesspaandsalon.com
Paola Hinton
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
PRIMARY EVENT: “Ponytails for a Purpose”
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Web App Clouds
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Ponytails for a Purpose challenges students to donate their hair to Children with Hair Loss, a non-profit organization that provides wigs to children with medically related hair loss. We do the hair cuts at the local elementary school.”

IHLOFF SALON AND DAY SPA
Tulsa, OK
ihloffspa.com
Marilyn Ihloff
SQUARE FEET: 6,000; 4,000; 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 144
PRIMARY EVENT: “Through a Child’s Eye” benefiting The Tulsa Girls’ Art School
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: SpaRitual, CND
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, ZeeZor
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, 2 to 10 Network
“This year is the 19th annual Creative Team Fall Show, displaying the talents of the Ihloff Creative Team in a runway setting. We partnered with a local art school and raised more than $200,000.”

IMPRESSIONS
Mequon, WI
impressionsdayspa.com
Kitty Tierney
SQUARE FEET: 4,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 43
PRIMARY EVENT: “Wigs for Kids”
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Pureology, Redken, Aveda
COLOR: Redken, Pravana
SKIN CARE: Eminence
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Mikal, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: ABN, CC, NCA, PBA
“Every year, our boutique has a surplus of gloves, hats and jewelry. We take our excess inventory to the homeless or abused women and children’s shelter. It’s also a good time to look at excess products that have been repackaged or discontinued to distribute to the needy.”

MARK PARDO SALONSPA
Albuquerque, NM
markpardo.com
Mark Gonzales
SQUARE FEET: 3,800; 3,600; 3,300; 1,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 125
PRIMARY EVENT: Benefit Fashion Show
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND, Gelish
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce, Voice Solutions
ASSOCIATION: 2 TO 10 Network
“We organize and host the Mark Pardo SalonSpa Do Hair Do Good Fashion Show, a joint collaboration with United Way that benefits survivors of domestic violence. In 2015, we donated $11,000 to organizations who assist survivors of domestic violence.”

The team from New Identities Hair Studio in Tampa, FL.
The team from New Identities Hair Studio in Tampa, FL.

NEW IDENTITIES HAIR STUDIOS OF TAMPA
Tampa, FL
newidentitiessalon.com
Kelly and Marc Rockquemore
SQUARE FEET: 2,000; 2,300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
PRIMARY EVENT: Valentine’s Day Makeover for Domestic Violence
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $31
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, Constant Contact
“On Valentine’s Day each year, we invite three local domestic violence shelters to bring residents to the salon for a day of makeovers and pampering. They are treated to food provided by local restaurants and receive donations collected by our staff and guests.”

The Salon Nouveau team in costume in Tucson, AZ.
The Salon Nouveau team in costume in Tucson, AZ.

SALON NOUVEAU
Tucson, AZ
salondn.com
Kathy Alexander
SQUARE FEET: 2,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
PRIMARY EVENT: “Remove”
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $55
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Joico
COLOR: Eufora, Joico
SKIN CARE: Glo Therapeutics
NAIL CARE: CND, Young Nails
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“We choose events where we will be the only salon there, like a recent ‘Women and Finance’ event sponsored by the YWCA. We have a drawing for a $75 gift card and send a follow-up e-mail to those who entered to remind them to take advantage of the coupons we gave them.”

The team from Shear Delight Salon and Spa, LLC, in Erie, PA, after participating in a Color Run.
The team from Shear Delight Salon and Spa, LLC, in Erie, PA, after participating in a Color Run.

SHEAR DELIGHT SALON AND DAY SPA LLC
Erie, PA
sheardelightsalonanddayspa.com
Pamela Turner
SQUARE FEET: 4,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
PRIMARY EVENT: “Come Wine With Us”
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $35
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora
COLOR: Eufora
SKIN CARE: Eufora
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Salon Iris
ASSOCIATION: ESON
“Our guests’ favorite event is our “Come Wine with Us.” A $50 ticket to this annual event includes a limo bus ride to seven wineries, all wine tasting fees, a T-shirt and dinner with a Chinese auction.”

Team members from Taj Salon and Spa in Brooklyn Park, MN, shop at Target for the Adopt a Family program.
Team members from Taj Salon and Spa in Brooklyn Park, MN, shop at Target for the Adopt a Family program.

TAJ SALON & SPA
Brooklyn Park, MN
tajsalonspa.com
Andria Strandin and Jeanne Strandin
SQUARE FEET: 5,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 44
PRIMARY EVENT: Fashion Show
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Pureology, Unite
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Eminence, Dermalogica
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND, Gelish
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, Web Openings, Facebook
“Our Community Involvement Committee was put together to reach out to a local homeless shelter each month and do as many haircuts as we can for those who don’t have the resources.”

Tonya Jones, owner of Tonya Jones Salonspa in Birmingham, AL.
Tonya Jones, owner of Tonya Jones Salonspa in Birmingham, AL.

TONYA JONES SALONSPA
Birmingham, AL
tonyajonesssalon.com
Tonya Jones
SQUARE FEET: 3,500; 6,900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 35
PRIMARY EVENT: Cut-a-thons and Silent Auctions
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce,  PBA, 2 to 10 Network
“I’m a board member at Camp Smile-A-Mile, a free summer camp for children with cancer. Our team chose it as the local charity to be a part of and from 2014 to 2015 we donated more than $15,000 through sponsorships, sales of silent auction items and donations.”

The team from Trixies Salon in Des Moines, IA.
The team from Trixies Salon in Des Moines, IA.

TRIXIES SALON
Des Moines, IA
trixiessalon.com
Tricia Rivas
SQUARE FEET: 1,500; 1,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
PRIMARY EVENT: Dreamcatchers Foundation
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $28
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10 Network, Fashion International
“We started a non-profit organization, Dreamcatchers Foundation, to help those in need. This year we provided services for personal nominees of patients and their caregivers, hospice patients, Alzheimer’s groups and more.”

Additional Honorees
Aveda Institute Denver, Denver, CO
Aveda Institute Phoenix, Tempe, AZ
Bijou Salon, Skaneateles, NY
Blo, Raleigh, NC
Brown & Deline, Ann Arbor, MI
Cutting Loose Salons, University Park, FL
Ginger Bay Salon and Spa, Kirkwood, MO
Headlines The Salon, Encinitas, CA
Interlocks Salon & Spa, Newburyport, MA
Ira Ludwick Salon, Bethesda, MD
Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon, Inc., Houston, TX
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Salon, Fishers, IN
Mane Attraction Salon, Phoenix, AZ
Nuovo Salon Group, Sarasota, FL
NVS Salon & Spa, Bel Air, Maryland, MD
Omagi Salon Spa, Louisville, KY
On the Green Salon and Day Spa, Saint Marys, GA
Paris Parker Salons & Spas, Ann Arbor, MI
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Phia Concepts, Columbus, OH
Progressions Salon Spa Store, Rockville, MD
S Salon and Studio, Fairbanks, AK
Salon Allure, Huntsville, AL
Salon Gloss, Woodstock, GA
Salon Spa W, Des Moines, IA
Savvy Salon and Day Spa, Cornelius, NC
The Studio For Hair, Farmington Hills, MI
Studio Montage, Great Falls, MT
Sereni Salon & Spa, Hudson, MA
Shear Delight Salon and Day Spa LLC, Erie, PA
Sky Salon, Strongsville, OH
Tangerine Salon and Spa, Murfreesboro, TN
Tonya Jones SalonSpa, Birmingham, AL
Utopia Salon & Day Spa, Vancouver, WA

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