For the most successful service providers, education is a career-long process. The strongest salons and spas develop education systems that enhance the skills and confidence of their newest team members while encouraging and supporting the seasoned staff to continually stretch creatively.
The team from Allure Designs in Beauty in Libertyville, Illinois, enjoy a casino night.
ALLURE DESIGNS IN BEAUTY
Libertyville, IL
alluredesigns.net
Shelly Malizola
SQUARE FEET: 3250
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Oribe
COLOR: Aveda, Goldwell, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Aveda, Glo
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Bonusly
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We partner with a local shelter that helps women in recovery. Working on live models and making a difference in women’s lives has been a game changer for our education program. We have watched women gain confidence and return to the workplace, and many have returned to thank our team and share their stories.”
The team from Avalon Salon Spa in Lake Zurich, Illinois.
AVALON SALON SPA
Lake Zurich, IL
avalonsalonspas.com
Bonnie Conte
SQUARE FEET: 6300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Amika
COLOR: Aveda, ColorSpace, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Aveda, Intelligent Nutrients
NAIL CARE: OPI, Essie, Dazzle Dry
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: Cosmetologists Chicago, ICA, PBA
“Meeting with our three hair deparment educators we brainstormed a new education program last year with an accelerated timeline of four-six months. Since 2020, we’re seen cosmetology students driven to work behind the chair faster than ever.”
An inside look at Ellie K Salon in Frisco, Texas.
ELLIE K SALON
Frisco, TX
ellieksalon.com
Amy and Kerry Hovland
SQUARE FEET: 3000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 26
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Redken
COLOR: Aveda, Redken
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Salonclouds+
“Halfway through our education program, our new stylists get an ‘opportunity shift’ to fill with their friends and family, which eliminates home haircuts and sharpens their soft skills. Opportunity shift pricing is half-price for clients, and it allows new stylists a chance to practice behaviors that set them up for success.”
GADABOUT SALONSPAS
Tucson, AZ
gadabout.com
Frank and Jana Westerbeke
SQUARE FEET: 3121, 3300, 6000, 5400, 7000, 24800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 211
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, R+Co, Hair Art
COLOR: Wella, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Skin Authority, Comfort Zone, Bare 101
NAIL CARE: OPI, Qtica, Signature
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Tippy, Suretint
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, ISBN, ISPA, PBA, 2 to 10
“We have three different education paths: 1) apprenticeship, for those working with us to gain hours for school to eventually license; 2) internship, for those with licenses but need to gain experience and confidence; and 3) experienced stylist track, for those licensed five or more year.”
An inside look at Glow Beauty Boutique in Braintree, Massachusetts.
GLOW BEAUTY BOUTIQUE
Braintree, MA
glowbeautyb.com
Shelley North
SQUARE FEET: 1800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
SKINCARE: CLN&DRTY, Control Corrective
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Mya
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“It is mandatory for every esthetician to attend three classes per year that pertain to a topic of their interest and is paid for by Glow. Annually, the team invites guest speakers to our team meeting where we lay out the groundwork for a successful year.”
JAMES GRIFFITH SALON
Venice, FL
jamesgriffithsalon.com
James and Christine Griffith
SQUARE FEET: 4500 1500 2040
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 85
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Kerastase, Shu Uemura
COLOR: L'Oréal, Aveda
SKINCARE: Epionce, Jurlique, Aveda
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI, Essie
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA, 2 to 10
“Our beginner/intermediate programs are two-hour training sessions every other Mondays. Before they learn the basic French haircutting techniques, they first must master the art of a perfect French blow dry. They are required to do a minimum of 50 blow dries before moving on to haircutting.”
A class is underway at Lords & Ladies Salon and Medical Spa in Douglassville, Pennsylvania.
LORDS & LADIES SALON AND MEDICAL SPA
Douglassville, PA
Lordsandladiessalons.com
Rebecca Ezolt, CEO
SQUARE FEET: 4461, 4551, 3531, 4551, 3372, 6188
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 275
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L'Oréal, Redken
COLOR: L'Oréal, Redken
SKINCARE: Revision, Medica, Circadia
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard, Tippy, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, 2 to 10, AmSpa
“We host more than 14 world-renowned platform artists every year at our Education Center. These industry leaders share their expertise with more than 200 service providers on all aspect of the beauty business. Classes are offered as often as twice a month.”
MANE ATTRACTION SALON
Phoenix, AZ
maneattractionsalon.com
Chris and Jenny Knudsen
SQUARE FEET: 2376
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 27
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Bumble and Bumble
COLOR: Wella, Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We launched our very own apprenticeship through the Department of Economic Security and the state of Arizona. We are now licensed to allow students who have not gone to cosmetology school to attain their state board hours while working and training in our salon. Currently, four of our eight proteges are apprentices.”
Allison Yeager and Brandon Patrick, owners of OS Salon in Geneva, Illinois.
OS SALON
Geneva, IL
ossalon.com
Brandon Patrick, Allison Yeager
SQUARE FEET: 1800, 1600, 1200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 30
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: None
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mailchimp, Google, Dialpad
“Our training program consistes of nine service training modules, professional goals and performance benchmarks. We upload all documents and materials to Google Drive, allowing us to share materials across all our locations.”
Debra and Charles Penzone, owners of PENZONE Salons and Spas.
PENZONE SALONS + SPAS
Columbus, OH
penzonesalons.com
Charles + Debbie Penzone
SQUARE FEET: 13000, 7900, 12000, 1100, 3000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 381
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, L'Anza, Amika
COLOR: Schwarzkopf, Davines, Evo
SKINCARE: Eminence, Jan Marini, Dr. Dennis Gross
NAIL CARE: OPI, Mazz Hanna, Footlogix
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, ISBN, PBA
“We’re renovating our original Grand Salon to create a Penzone campus adjacent to our flagship. Every inch of the 11,000 square-foot space has been maximized for flexibility and multiple uses. BASE ONE will offer training, wellness, experiences, coworking and a creating studio. It’ll be a training center for our team and an education hub for everyone in the industry.”
The team from Pinup Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina.
PINUP STUDIO
Raleigh, NC
pinupstudionc.com
Christina Kirkey
SQUARE FEET: 1500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Amika, Virtue
COLOR: Pulp Riot, Redken, Kenra
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard, Honeybook, Tippy, Mya, Canvasme
“Once associates have completed 50% of our program, we provide guidance in social media and allow for open model days once a week. This opportunity opens the door for clients to be on their books immediately rather than waiting for them to graduate.”
REDBLOOM SALON
Calgary,
redbloom.ca
Troy Winget & Shannon Robinson
SQUARE FEET: 1500, 2300, 2300, 1900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 52
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Evo, Olaplex
COLOR: Aveda, Schwarzkopf, Evo
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: 2 to 10
“For all employees, we have built a proprietary wellness program, which teaches conflict mitigation, how to manage heavy conversations, client-related stress management, and how to engage in a healthy work-life balance.”
The team from The Gilded Lilly in Chicago, Illinois. 
THE GILDED LILY LLC
Chicago, IL
gildedlilychicago.com
Mallory Seisser
SQUARE FEET: 1200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kevin.Murphy, Leaf+flower
COLOR: Kevin.Murphy
SKINCARE: Patchology Masks
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy, SnapSnip, Flodesk, Jotform
ASSOCIATIONS: Cosmetologists Chicago
“We have a Google classroom channel that supports our apprenticeship training. It contains information such as product knowledge, videos that detail how we perform certain services, color charts, a consultation guide and Business Basics Bootcamp.”
Kerry and Amy Hovland, owners of Von Anthony Salon in Frisco, Texas.
VON ANTHONY SALON
Frisco, TX
VonAnthonySalon.com
Amy and Kerry Hovland
SQUARE FEET: 3400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 32
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Oribe, Virtue
COLOR: Wella, Redken
SKINCARE: Gm Collins
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, SalonClouds+
“Requiring stylists to bring in a model in every week is part of our training, and helps them learn how to build a book. They fill one day, and we fill one day. It builds accountability throughout the program.”
ZINKE HAIR STUDIO
Boulder, CO
zinkehairstudio.com
Jolene Zinke & Megan Robertson
SQUARE FEET: 2100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 22
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Aura
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Moving to Florida and starting a new salon has been a fun business adventure. We hired four stylists who had just graduated, but because we were going through a six-month buildout, we had to get creative about where to train. I moved the furniture out of my dining room and set it up as a temporary space. It wasn’t ideal, but we made it happen.”
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