The team from Refined Beauty in Naperville, Illinois.

The team from Refined Beauty in Naperville, Illinois. 

 

For a salon or spa, it requires the mastery of a number of best practices to fuel sales growth, which propels the overall trajectory of the business. This year, the SALON TODAY 200 grew at a rate of 8.22% and above.

An inside look at M. Hair Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

An inside look at M. Hair Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. 

M. HAIR STUDIO
Nashville, TN
mhairstudios.com
Mandi Paola
2022 Sales: $253,000
2023 Sales: $414,000
GROWTH: 63.64%
SQUARE FEET: 500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $77
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Kevin.Murphy 
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Mangomint, SalonScale  
“We set our team on the path to success by working with them to define their own set of goals and creating a measurable action plan on how to achieve them. They are invested in their success when it is their own goal; we believe in personal empowerment.”

MANE 18 SALON & SPA
Augusta, GA
manexviii.com
Kessler Davis
2022 Sales: $549,000
2023 Sales: $612,000
GROWTH: 11.48%
SQUARE FEET: 4100     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Oribe 
COLOR: Goldwell, Redken Shades EQ 
SKINCARE: Obagi Medical 
TECH SUPPORT: DaySmart, Square 
“I prioritized amenities and comfort for my stylists alongside our clients, including a 1,000-square-foot breakroom, lounge and education space. It may seem complicated, but the reality is simple: when you create this environment, the top stylists in the area choose to work for you, bringing talent and clients with them.”

The team from Mirante Hair Studio in Clayton, North Carolina.

The team from Mirante Hair Studio in Clayton, North Carolina. 

MIRANTE HAIR STUDIO
Clayton, NC
mirantehairstudio.com
Felisha Stevens & Kyle Stevens
2022 Sales: $499,000
2023 Sales: $702,000
GROWTH: 40.68%
SQUARE FEET: 1150     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 23
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $49
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Loreal, Surface Goldie Locks
COLOR: L’Oreal, Pulp Riot 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Square, SalonScale  
“We are the only employee-based and education-focused salon in our community, and I believe that has been the biggest factor in our impeccable reputation and 30% gross annual sales growth! While it was an adjustment for guests at first, clients now enjoy meeting our new mentees and watching them grow through the program. This has allowed us to serve more guests and meet more diverse budgets.”

The team from Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas.

The team from Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas. 

MIRROR MIRROR SALON
Austin, TX
MirrorMirrorAustin.com
Martha Lynn Kale
2022 Sales: $3,291,000
2023 Sales: $3,815,000
GROWTH: 15.92%
SQUARE FEET: 4256     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 43
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $85
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Davines, Virtue
COLOR: Goldwell, Redken, Alter Ego
TECH SUPPORT: Mindbody 
ASSOCIATIONS: Green Circle
“We encourage collaboration. Help us find a solution to improve the way we do business. If we can’t change something, we ask that you accept that, to know that you love 99% of everything we do here and nothing is perfect. Accept that we are always striving to do our best for the good of the team and health of our business. This works!”
 

The team from Misbehaven Spa and Salon in Walla Walla, Washington.

The team from Misbehaven Spa and Salon in Walla Walla, Washington. 

MISBEHAVEN SPA  & SALON
Walla Walla, WA
misbehavenspasalon.com
Jeanese Humbert, Ashlee Elsey, Kacey Gartner, Rachelle Johnson
2022 Sales: $2,015,000
2023 Sales: $2,368,000
GROWTH: 17.52%
SQUARE FEET: 6500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 36
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kevin Murphy, Moroccan Oil 
COLOR: Kevin Murphy, Moroccan Oil 
SKINCARE: Hydropeptide, Eminence 
NAIL CARE: Dazzle Dry, The Gel Bottle, Eminence
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy, Vish, Gusto
“We saw leadership opportunities in three of our department heads and realized as a team of 35+ employees how important growing a leadership team is to our future and the vision for the legacy we want to leave. We have started investing into their leadership and helping them discover the love for serving and growing others.”

Wafaya Abdallah, owner of Oasis Curl of Rockville, Maryland.

Wafaya Abdallah, owner of Oasis Curl of Rockville, Maryland. 

OASIS CURL SALON
Rockville, MD
curlyoasis.com
Wafaya Abdallah
2022 Sales: $689,000
2023 Sales: $785,000
GROWTH: 13.93%
SQUARE FEET: 2334     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $165
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Curly World, Innersense Organic Beauty, Max Green Alchemy
COLOR: Wella Professional, Pulp Riot 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest 
“We are all here to have the human experience; it's like a big experiment. When we are in fear and doubt, we miss the lessons and opportunities that are presented. This doesn’t mean disregarding discernment, strategy, or timing; it simply means going for it and releasing fear and doubt.”

An inside look at Origins Salon in Castle Rock, Colorado.

An inside look at Origins Salon in Castle Rock, Colorado.

ORIGINS SALON
Castle Rock, CO
OriginsSalon.com
Kim Trumbull and Harmony Jolly
2022 Sales: $1,623,000
2023 Sales: $1,865,000
GROWTH: 14.91%
SQUARE FEET: 2800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 28
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken, Pulp Riot 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Mya, SalonScale, TrueLark
“We have bimonthly promotions for our guests and bimonthly team and individual incentives. It keeps things exciting. There's so much excitement in the beginning of these promotions, and then we always see a drop-off drastically at the six-week mark. Implementing daily prizes or games helps us to finish strong.”

The team from Panache in Saint Augustine, Florida.

The team from Panache in Saint Augustine, Florida. 

PANACHE
Saint Augustine, FL
getpanache.com
Kristy Weeks and Michelle Vijgen
2022 Sales: $3,223,000
2023 Sales: $3,533,000
GROWTH: 9.62%
SQUARE FEET: 3400     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $78
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Color Wow Keratin
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda, Eminence 
NAIL CARE: SNS, OPI 
TECH SUPPORT: Salonbi, Vish, Mya, Reach.ai
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle
"We implemented Chair Side Guest Care to grow our bottom line, including hiring staff to help stylists by refreshing beverages, finding and booking future appointments and consulting the stylist about home care suggestions. This has relieved congestion at the front desk, grown our prebooking from 37% to 47% and and raised our RPCT to $17.50 from $15."

PHILIP JOHNSON SALON AND SPA
St. Louis, MO
philipjohnsonsalon.com
Josh Beatty
2022 Sales: $661,000
2023 Sales: $728,000
GROWTH: 10.14%
SQUARE FEET: 1800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $64
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda, Glymed+ 
NAIL CARE: Zoya, CND 
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Imaginal Marketing, Textel 
“Corresponding through text, everyone’s preferred method now, has enhanced the ability to communicate with guests quickly, which proves invaluable when guests are late or need to make a last-minute change or cancellation. It also allows us to market to them in a way that feels familiar to them, and it allows us to solicit reviews the moment someone walks out the door. We have seen our Google reviews skyrocket since we implemented this.”

POSH SALON AND BOUTIQUE
Grand Junction, CO
poshsalonandboutique.com
Erika Brown
2022 Sales: $540,000
2023 Sales: $609,000
GROWTH: 12.78%
SQUARE FEET: 3800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $59
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L'Anza, Pureology, L’Oreal
COLOR: Redken, Matrix, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: FarmHouse Fresh  
NAIL CARE: Young Nails, OPI, Artistic
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mya, Vish, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, local salon owners group
“Switching to a premium color line and refining our pricing has enhanced service quality, boosted profitability, and increased pricing transparency. This shift lets us reinvest in our team with benefits like paid health insurance and team outings. With our back bar now supporting the bottom line, we’re excited to add more perks, including paid vacation, to reward our team’s dedication.”

Celebrating the grand opening of their newest location, the team from Pure Capelli Salon & Med Spa.

Celebrating the grand opening of their newest location, the team from Pure Capelli Salon & Med Spa. 

PURE CAPELLI SALON & MED SPA
Davidson, NC
purecapelli.com
Kelly and Jacob Grathwohl
2022 Sales: $1,331,000
2023 Sales: $1,472,000
GROWTH: 10.59%
SQUARE FEET: 1400 2500    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 38
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Shu Uemura, Oribe
COLOR: Redken  
SKINCARE: Cosmedix, Zo, Glo
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon, American Med Spa Association
“Hiring a coach helped us to create and mature a great associate program, offer a clear career path for our service providers, but also, most importantly, it helps keep us as owners out of our own way.”

The team from Pure Salon and Spa in Ankeny, Iowa.

The team from Pure Salon and Spa in Ankeny, Iowa. 

PURE SALON AND SPA
Ankeny, IA
mypuresalon.com
Leah Moravec
2022 Sales: $2,075,000
2023 Sales: $3,151,000
GROWTH: 51.86%
SQUARE FEET: 2100 1200 3100 1800  
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 52
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $67
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda, Oligo, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Ultraceuticals, Aveda 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest 
“To address the challenge of last-minute openings in the salon, we developed a menu called ‘PURELY Quick Deals,’ which we present to guests upon arrival if their stylist has availability immediately following their appointment. This menu offers discounted services ranging from 15% to 20%. We have observed a satisfying 25% increase in service bookings that we attribute to this menu.”

Owner Rachel Stearns and Salon Manager Emily Mattews of Razmataz Salon in Georgetown, Texas.

Owner Rachel Stearns and Salon Manager Emily Mattews of Razmataz Salon in Georgetown, Texas. 

RAZMATAZ SALON
Georgetown, TX
razmatazsalon.com
Rachel Stearns
2022 Sales: $1,090,000
2023 Sales: $1,458,000
GROWTH: 33.76%
SQUARE FEET: 2500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $78
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Moroccanoil, Eufora
COLOR: Aveda, Moroccanoil 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: Green Circle
“After looking through our pricing really hard, we found our biggest loss was not charging a style time with our color services if guests were not getting a haircut. Therefore we implemented a style charge to be added to every service that was booked that did not include a haircut. With an increase of 19.5% in revenue from color services we couldn't be happier!”

Jennifer Jade Alvarez, owner of Refined Beauty in Naperville, Illinois.

Jennifer Jade Alvarez, owner of Refined Beauty in Naperville, Illinois.

REFINED BEAUTY
Naperville, IL
refinedbeautyboutique.com
Jennifer Jade Alvarez
2022 Sales: $544,000
2023 Sales: $912,000
GROWTH: 67.65%
SQUARE FEET: 1500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $56
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Evo 
COLOR: Davines, Evo 
SKINCARE: Comfort Zone   
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti, Mya, Vish 
ASSOCIATIONS: Cosmetologists Chicago, PBA 
“After struggling with inconsistent hair quality from suppliers, we made the bold decision to launch our own premium hair extension line—ensuring the highest standards for our clients while taking control of quality and cost. This shift became a game-changer, driving 67% business growth and increasing our hair extension revenue to nearly 25% of total service sales. It also empowered our stylists to build six-figure careers and positioned us to expand further.”

The team from Rejuve Salon Spa in Carmel, Inidana.

The team from Rejuve Salon Spa in Carmel, Inidana. 

REJUVE SALON SPA
Carmel, IN
rejuvesalonandspa.com
Nicole and Troy Hardister
2022 Sales: $1,711,000
2023 Sales: $1,890,000
GROWTH: 10.46%
SQUARE FEET: 4000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 21
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $59
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda 
COLOR: Aveda 
SKINCARE: Aveda 
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti, SalonClouds, Vish
“Our goal is to establish a full apprenticeship program within the salon, with the aid of the state of Indiana, to license stylists and build a foundation of talent to nurture and grow within our salon. While putting together processes and standards to achieve this, it provides us the ability to go back to our team and implement these same standardizations.”

The team from Reverie Hair Co. in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The team from Reverie Hair Co. in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

REVERIE HAIR CO.
Raleigh, NC
reveriehairco.com
Tiffanie Whitt
2022 Sales: $888,000
2023 Sales: $1,007,000
GROWTH: 13.40%
SQUARE FEET: 1800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 18
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Mr. Smith 
COLOR: Redken, Wella 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mya  
“Creating the role of a salon Education Director is a significant investment for us. We are very fortunate to have multiple certified educators in our salon who are eager to take on this endeavor. This role is crucial for our vision of establishing a robust apprenticeship program and ensuring continuous professional development for our team.”

Ashley Boehler, owner of Revive Salon & Day Spa in Findlay, Ohio.

Ashley Boehler, owner of Revive Salon & Day Spa in Findlay, Ohio.

REVIVE SALON & DAY SPA
Findlay, OH
revivefindlay.com
Ashley Boehler
2022 Sales: $926,000
2023 Sales: $1,069,000
GROWTH: 15.44%
SQUARE FEET: 3000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 16
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Pulp Rio,t Aiir
COLOR: Davines, Pulp Riot 
SKINCARE: Comfort Zone  
NAIL CARE: DND, GelX, Nailberry
TECH SUPPORT: Vagaro,
“We had our brand educator come in for the launch of our new and improved skincare line. We held a day of education and then had a masterclass for clients to sign up and learn techniques of how to properly cleanse and gua sha their face.”

The team from Rituals Salon-Spa in Midlothian, Virginia.

The team from Rituals Salon-Spa in Midlothian, Virginia. 

RITUALS SALON-SPA
Midlothian, VA
ritualssalon.net
Pete & Sheri Polignone
2022 Sales: $3,872,000
2023 Sales: $4,227,000
GROWTH: 9.17%
SQUARE FEET: 5500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 35
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $77
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Eufora, Gold
COLOR: Davines, Oligo, Schwarzkopf
SKINCARE: Eminence, PCA, Epicutis
NAIL CARE: Emma, FarmHouse Fresh 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Vish, SalonClouds, Live Chat
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle 
“This year, we raised prices across the board in all services.  With that we added more pricing tiers to accommodate all budgetary needs for guests. One was a lower tier for our junior stylists, and the other was the highest level for our Master Exclusive stylists.  With this, it allowed us to add new services, such as HydraFacial and scalp treatments to expand our clientele into new services.”
 

Christy Vowers, owner of Rowdy Hair in Phoenix, Arizona.

Christy Vowers, owner of Rowdy Hair in Phoenix, Arizona. 

ROWDY HAIR
Phoenix, AZ
rowdyhair.com
Christy Vowers
2022 Sales: $1,190,000
2023 Sales: $1,330,000
GROWTH: 11.76%
SQUARE FEET: 2100     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Pureology 
COLOR: Davines, Wella, Reken Shades EQ
SKINCARE: Skin Script
TECH SUPPORT: Daysmart
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“I have found a way to encourage my team to become a part of our brands by allowing their ideas, passion and support, and this is showing in the numbers. One stylist became a brand ambassador and our go-to for training new hires, bringing in new products and guiding promotions. Another stylists enjoys the organization and commitment to our inventory; therefore she manages all backbar ordering and budgeting.”

The team from Sahair Salon in Parker, Colorado.

The team from Sahair Salon in Parker, Colorado. 

SAHAIR SALON
Parker, CO
sahairsalon.com
Nicholas and Barbi Horn
2022 Sales: $2,588,000
2023 Sales: $2,976,000
GROWTH: 14.99%
SQUARE FEET: 1600 1610    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 47
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Redken 
COLOR: Redken, Pulp Riot 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mya, TrueLark, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Summit Salon Business Center
“To enhance the guest experience, we send a personalized introductory email with a video from their Stylist, welcoming them into the salon. This small yet significant gesture helps new guests feel comfortable and connected before they even walk through our doors.”

A team effort at Salon 27 in Mesa, Arizona.

A team effort at Salon 27 in Mesa, Arizona. 

SALON 27
Mesa, AZ
salon27az.com
Chet and Amber Pope
2022 Sales: $862,000
2023 Sales: $933,000
GROWTH: 8.24%
SQUARE FEET: 3100     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $79
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, K18, Paul Mitchell
COLOR: Paul Mitchell, Redken Shades EQ, Danger Jones
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard, Vish, Salon.marketing 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle 
“We increased the service tickets with add on treatments through expert group consultations. This peer side by side and the client approach guided the guest through the consultation process and prescribed the recommended treatment for the guests hair needs.”

SALON BLOND
Dunedin, FL
thesalonblond.com
Victoria Marino
2022 Sales: $1,026,000
2023 Sales: $1,159,000
GROWTH: 12.96%
SQUARE FEET: 1000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Mya  
“After Serious Business and reading Unreasonable Hospitality, we transformed the guest experience at Salon Blond with thoughtful, luxury touches. The result was powerful: I wanted guests to feel compelled to leave a 5-star review, and we were inundated with them.”

The team from Salon Council in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

The team from Salon Council in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

SALON COUNCIL
Pembroke Pines, FL
saloncouncil.com
Joel Wasserman and Allan Januras
2022 Sales: $1,206,000
2023 Sales: $1,358,000
GROWTH: 12.60%
SQUARE FEET: 1300 1100    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 23
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“We engaged a new accounting firm to help keep focus on our industry numbers and identify saving via taxes and deductions, as well as comparing revenues and expenditures more closely with the salon industry.  Additionally, we will continue to negotiate our pricing with our main vendors.”

A stylist at work in Salon Dulay in Windermere, Florida.

A stylist at work in Salon Dulay in Windermere, Florida. 

SALON DULAY
Windermere, FL
salondulay.com
Laura Dulay
2022 Sales: $4,619,000
2023 Sales: $5,079,000
GROWTH: 9.96%
SQUARE FEET: 2500 2000 1700   
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 75
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $90
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Brazilian Blowout 
COLOR: Aveda, Redken Shades EQ
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Emma  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“We stepped away from hiring through Indeed. We’d get 300 applicants, sift through them and only one out of 10 people would come in for a job interview. The last few times we’ve hired for our front desk, we sent out an email and social post to our guests. We’ve gotten wonderful, qualified people this way. Clients know our standards and are familiar with what the job entails.”

The team from Salon H.Davis in Ammon, Idaho.

The team from Salon H.Davis in Ammon, Idaho. 

SALON H. DAVIS
Ammon, ID
salonhdavis.com
Niki Fitzgerald
2022 Sales: $861,000
2023 Sales: $986,000
GROWTH: 14.52%
SQUARE FEET: 2700     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $49
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L’Oreal R+Co Blind Barber
COLOR: iNOA, Redken Shades EQ 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle
“The development of our leadership team took a tremendous load off me as an owner both mentally and physically. Having three incredible stylists take on the challenge of leadership is a source of great pride for me. My three-person leadership team tackled such tasks as standardizing salon processes, recruiting new talent from local schools and improving inventory efficiency and ordering.” 

The team from Salon Michelle in Berthoud, Colorado.

The team from Salon Michelle in Berthoud, Colorado. 

SALON MICHELLE
Berthoud, CO
salonmichelleberthoud.com
Michelle Wykoff
2022 Sales: $269,000
2023 Sales: $344,000
GROWTH: 27.88%
SQUARE FEET: 1049     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L'Anza, Aveda
COLOR: L'Anza, Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda, Image, Hale & Hush
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: ISBN, PBA, SHRM
“One constant challenge with being a hybrid salon is having booth rent look like the final destination for ‘the thought’ of more money and time/freedom. With that in mind and wanting the commission stylist position to look more appealing, we did a complete business model overhaul. We now have a comparison spreadsheet to show how limitless the potential to earn as commission service provider and the real apples-to-apples on costs for the booth renter.”

The team from Salon Rootz Inc. in Medina, Ohio.

The team from Salon Rootz Inc. in Medina, Ohio.  

SALON ROOTZ INC
Medina, OH
salonrootz.com and Iwanthairextensions.com
Jen Tryon and Sheila Barco
2022 Sales: $846,000
2023 Sales: $959,000
GROWTH: 13.36%
SQUARE FEET: 1800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 19
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Davines, L'Oreal
COLOR: L'Oreal, Shades EQ, Wella Blondor
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Textel, Emma, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“In our efforts to really amplify our marketing efforts around extensions and emphasize our expertise in this sector of the industry, our team created IWantHairExtensions.com. You might be wondering why we launched an entirely new website. The answer is SEO for several reasons, including increased visibility. Good SEO practices also often align with providing a better user experience. This includes having a well-organized website, fast-loading times and easy navigation—all of which can lead to higher client satisfaction and retention.”

SALON SECRETS SPA
Kennett Square, PA
salonsecretsspa.com
Tiffany Lahn
2022 Sales: $1,496,000
2023 Sales: $1,619,000
GROWTH: 8.22%
SQUARE FEET: 5500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $78
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda 
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda 
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Reach.ai, Tippy 
“We’ve created a rhythm of implementing price increases each year in October. Because of this we are able to project our sales increase for our last quarter, helping us hit our annual goals then plan for the following year. We communicate with our guests how the increase benefits them and their stylists—why we value investing in education, easily $40,000 a year to improve their experience through our stylists’ skills. Because of the consistency of a yearly increase, there’s no big surprise, relieving the tension that typically occurs.” 

The team from Six Ten Salon & Boutique in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania.

The team from Six Ten Salon & Boutique in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. 

SIX TEN SALON & BOUTIQUE
Wind Gap, PA
sixtensalon.com
Ashley Thomas
2022 Sales: $1,159,000
2023 Sales: $1,720,000
GROWTH: 48.40%
SQUARE FEET: 6500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 29
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $68
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: R+Co, Ecru 
COLOR: Oligo 
SKINCARE: GlyMed 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mya, Vish 
“It is challenging to stay ahead of industry trends and to simultaneously maintain our brand identity, which we’ve worked so hard to curate. We are committed to adjusting our services to include new services or enhance our current services, offering additional benefits such as PTO and Flex Hours, and offering continuous training and education for our team to keep up with the industry changes and stay competitive in both the client-based and recruiting markets.”

The team from Steel Blade Mens Salon in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The team from Steel Blade Mens Salon in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

STEEL BLADE MENS SALON
Albuquerque, NM
steelblademenssalon.com
Brandie Lohmann and Stacey Holmes
2022 Sales: $588,000
2023 Sales: $784,000
GROWTH: 33.33%
SQUARE FEET: 1500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 10
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $58
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Keune, Tailor’s, Eufora
COLOR: Milbon, Keune, Igora
SKINCARE: Wolf  
NAIL CARE: OPI  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Mya
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“We found support, accountability and inspiration from our fellow salon owners in our community. The shared experiences and collective knowledge fostered a sense of camaraderie and motivated us to push our boundaries. We took risks, experimented with new ideas and ultimately elevated our business to new heights. We went from simply providing haircuts to curating an exceptional client experience embracing a hospitality mindset that soared in personalized attention.”

STUDIO WISH SALON, INC.
Twinsburg, OH
studiowish.com
Rowena and Eric Yeager
2022 Sales: $839,400
2023 Sales: $967,000
GROWTH: 15.20%
SQUARE FEET: 4500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 13
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $72
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Amika, Wella, Eimi
COLOR: Wella
SKINCARE: Circadia, Jan Marini 
NAIL CARE: OPI  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Mya, Vish, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA, Ohio Salon Connection, Green Circle
“We take photos of team members dressing for ultimate success. Hair on point. Make-up on point. Choice of outfit on point. All photos are then hung up in the back room for everyone to see. At the end of the month, each person has one entry for each photo for a drawing to win prizes donated by our manufactures.”

Janine Argila, owner of The Collective Salon in Saint James, New York.

Janine Argila, owner of The Collective Salon in Saint James, New York. 

THE COLLECTIVE SALON
Saint James, NY
collectivesalonny.com
Janine Argila
2022 Sales: $561,000
2023 Sales: $656,000
GROWTH: 16.93%
SQUARE FEET: 1000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 9
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $103
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Tec Italy, Kitsch
COLOR: Eufora, Redken 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, SalonScale, Fully Booked AI
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“We created our Code of Honor, developed collaboratively by our team, which outlines our expectations and allows us to hold each other accountable in a constructive and reflective manner. We revisit the code quarterly, encouraging self-assessment on how we show up as team members. This code fosters open accountability and empowers the team to take responsibility for their relationships while encouraging initiative in problem-solving.”

The team from The Man Cave Hair and Beard Parlor in Escanaba, Michigan.

The team from The Man Cave Hair and Beard Parlor in Escanaba, Michigan. 

THE MAN CAVE HAIR AND BEARD PARLOR
Escanaba, MI
themancaveup.com
Tonia Curry
2022 Sales: $610,000
2023 Sales: $753,000
GROWTH: 23.44%
SQUARE FEET: 900 1800 800 1200  
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 26
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $25
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Paul Mitchell, STMNT, Mad Viking Beard 
COLOR: Paul Mitchell  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“We hire attitude, passion, drive. Those characteristics we can't teach. How to do a great haircut, fade, beard trim, we can. It is about helping stylists/barbers be successful in the industry. We want them to thrive and set them up for a bright future.”

David Colonna and Erica Stratton, owner of The Maven and The Muse in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

David Colonna and Erica Stratton, owner of The Maven and The Muse in Stoneham, Massachusetts. 

THE MAVEN AND THE MUSE
Stoneham, MA
themavenandthemuse.com
David Colonna and Erica Stratton
2022 Sales: $589,000
2023 Sales: $830,000
GROWTH: 40.92%
SQUARE FEET: 2000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $116
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, R+Co
COLOR: R+Color  
SKINCARE: Truth Treatment Systems Hydrafacial None
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest,
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA  
“The days of preaching to the team about the difficulties we faced at their age became obsolete. Instead, we focused on what was important to them and related it to what mattered to us as a company. The method? Learn about them first—their needs and desires as a brand within our brand. Once we had their input, we aligned it with the initiatives, promotions, and goals for the week.”  

Alea Barr, owner of the Shoppe An Alea Michelle Salon & Spa in Hudson, Ohio.

Alea Barr, owner of the Shoppe An Alea Michelle Salon & Spa in Hudson, Ohio. 

THE SHOPPE AN ALEA MICHELLE  SALON & SPA
Hudson, OH
shoppesalon.com
Alea Barr
2022 Sales: $639,000
2023 Sales: $732,000
GROWTH: 14.55%
SQUARE FEET: 3200     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $57
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Amika, Moroccan Oil, Paul Mithchell
COLOR: Paul Mitchell, Wella, Pravana
SKINCARE: Image  
NAIL CARE: OPI, DND 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy, Emma 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We offer our guests two solutions for each hair/skin/nail obstacle they are facing. One solution is a service such as deep-conditioning, a smoothing treatment, extensions or glossing. The second solution is a retail prescription that will help correct the obstacle, thus creating an opportunity for the guest’s expectations to be exceeded and resulting in a higher client retention/rebooking rate.”

The team from The Style Lounge Salon in Austin, Minnesota.

The team from The Style Lounge Salon in Austin, Minnesota. 

THE STYLE LOUNGE SALON
Austin, MN
thestyleloungesalon.com
Lindsey Compton
2022 Sales: $782,000
2023 Sales: $880,000
GROWTH: 12.53%
SQUARE FEET: 2200     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Redken, K18
COLOR: Redken  
SKINCARE: Jane Iredale  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Mya, Reach.ai, SalonScale
ASSOCIATIONS: High Performance Salon Academy
“We honored our legacy guests—the people who have been coming to us loyally for years, who purchase retail, rebook all of their appointments, have color and extensions services. We did weekly shout-outs on social media to the people individually and gave them VIP gift boxes at their appointments.”

The team from Thirty Hair from Columbia, Maryland.

The team from Thirty Hair from Columbia, Maryland. 

THIRTY HAIR
Columbia, MD
thirtyhair.com
Dustin Mariman and Sarah McGee Mariman
2022 Sales: $1,358,000
2023 Sales: $1,474,000
GROWTH: 8.54%
SQUARE FEET: 2400     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 16
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda    
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Emma, Textel 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“I began to reward the desk team for accurately retrieving new client information, updating their birthday and address so we could send them ‘fun mail.’ We also included a new push of client mailers for their first-, third- and fifth-year anniversary with us with the five-year card including a note from the owner and a free haircut. The joy around a free haircut has been huge and a great way to show loyalty!”

An inside look at Thompson & Company Salon Parlor in Iowa City, Iowa.

An inside look at Thompson & Company Salon Parlor in Iowa City, Iowa. 

THOMPSON & COMPANY SALON PARLOR
Iowa City, IA
THOMPSONCOSALON.COM
Bobby and Kayla Thompson
2022 Sales: $2,455,000
2023 Sales: $2,718,000
GROWTH: 10.71%
SQUARE FEET: 1900 1800    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 23
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Back of Bottle, Oligo, Thompson & Co.
COLOR: Oligo  
TECH SUPPORT: Boulevard
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA  
“The main fear we had when expanding our walls [to a second location was maintaining our culture. How exactly are we going to be able to take our culture, and be able to copy and paste this? We gathered all of our long-term employees and presented them with the opportunity of becoming partners in [the second location]. One of our salon managers and one shift lead took on their chance with us, we all rolled the dice, and there were now four owners of Thompson & Company Crosspark Coralville.

The team from Trios Aveda Salon in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The team from Trios Aveda Salon in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

TRIOS AVEDA SALON
Fort Collins, CO
triosaveda.com
Karen and Joe DeAnda
2022 Sales: $1,461,000
2023 Sales: $1,681,000
GROWTH: 15.06%
SQUARE FEET: 2800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $76
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: OPI, Aveda 
TECH SUPPORT: Aura 
“In hiring experienced stylists, we use a psychoanalysis assessment based on “the perfect Trios stylist.” If an applicant scores 85% or higher, they will most likely be a success in the salon. We weight this number with the results of the actual in-person interview and team interview as well as the technical interview.”

The team from Tulip Salon Spa in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The team from Tulip Salon Spa in Fredericksburg, Virginia. 

TULIP SALON SPA
Fredericksburg, VA
tulipsalonspa.com
Amber Festa
2022 Sales: $1,599,000
2023 Sales: $1,769,000
GROWTH: 10.63%
SQUARE FEET: 4000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 27
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: OPI, Madam Glam, GelX
TECH SUPPORT: Salon Biz, Demandforce  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“We developed minimums and maximums for every single product for back bar and retail. We are able to auto generate an order, which is really helpful but it also gives us a basis when physically reviewing what we actually need. Since we do orders weekly, we are able to mark things off that could wait another week or two. This allowed us to reduce investment in inventory, which directly affects our bottom line.” 

Tricia Gray, owner of Twig Hair Lounge in Carlsbad, California.

Tricia Gray, owner of Twig Hair Lounge in Carlsbad, California. 

TWIG HAIR LOUNGE
Carlsbad, CA
twighair.com
Tricia Gray
2022 Sales: $750,000
2023 Sales: $1,026,000
GROWTH: 36.80%
SQUARE FEET: 1500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $95
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Unite 
COLOR: Davines, Oligo 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo 
“I built out a deal with my product rep to give me a price break on travel-sized products. I added value to new color clients by offering a complimentary take-home trio of a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. It costs me very little to make them feel good about their purchase, introduce them to our retail, and give our stylists the opportunity to educate them on how to properly care for their new color without the pressure of ‘selling.’”

The team from Utopia Salon in Vancouver, Washington.

The team from Utopia Salon in Vancouver, Washington. 

UTOPIA SALON
Vancouver, WA
theutopiasalon.com
Lisa Houser
2022 Sales: $469,000
2023 Sales: $524,000
GROWTH: 11.73%
SQUARE FEET: 1100     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 13
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Surface, Arrojo, Aveda
COLOR: Surface, Prorituals, Tressa Liteworx
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy, Reach.ai, Emma
ASSOCIATIONS: ICA, PBA 
“Promoting one of my stylists to manager was the best investment made; providing training for her to become a great leader has helped the salon grow leaps and bounds. The team now has someone other than me to confide in and ask questions of. When the team saw her success, they wanted to follow, so now I can hand over some of the responsibilities like training, coming up with events and education. All of this has made them more excited to have a say in how we do things and has created a great feeling of community.”

An inside look at Varuna Aveda Salon Spa in Annapolis, Maryland.

An inside look at Varuna Aveda Salon Spa in Annapolis, Maryland. 

VARUNA AVEDA SALON SPA
Annapolis, MD
varunasalonspa.com
Rebecca and Riccardo Santoro
2022 Sales: $1,333,000
2023 Sales: $1,558,000
GROWTH: 16.88%
SQUARE FEET: 4000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 28
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $72
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda, Color Space 
SKINCARE: Aveda, Jan Marini, Zemits
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Reach.ai 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“During slow periods, or when we are launching a new stylist, we offer $35 blowouts or $50 haircuts for new appointments. We also offer $50 facials to cross market the salon and spa. Our $20 bounce-back card encourages salon guests to become spa guests and vice versa. These marketing tools help to fill up any open appointments on our schedule.”

The team from Vault Salons in Rocklin, California.

The team from Vault Salons in Rocklin, California. 

VAULT SALONS
Rocklin, CA
thevaultsalon.com
Rosie Wescott
2022 Sales: $1,425,000
2023 Sales: $1,792,000
GROWTH: 25.75%
SQUARE FEET: 1200 2300    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 21
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $78
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L’Anza, Eufora 
COLOR: L’Anza, Eufora 
SKINCARE: Dr. Dennis Gross  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Salon Ninja, Mya, SalonScale 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“We expanded our level system from five to ten levels. This enriched structure offers clients flexible pricing options aligned with various budgets, making our services more accessible to all. For our stylists, the expanded levels create more frequent opportunities for promotion and recognition, fueling motivation and a sense of accomplishment.”

The team from Venue Salon & Spa in Lakeland, Florida.

The team from Venue Salon & Spa in Lakeland, Florida.

VENUE SALON & SPA
Lakeland, FL
venuesalon.com
Patricia Uiterwyk
2022 Sales: $1,050,000
2023 Sales: $1,213,000
GROWTH: 15.52%
SQUARE FEET: 3200     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $73
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda, iS Clinical 
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Vish, Mya
“We threw our first Hair Show and invited every nearby salon and school for this non-branded event where artists could let their creativity shine and perform out-of-the-box services. We found a cool local bar/event space to use as our venue for free (I let them know we had plenty of hairdressers who would keep them busy all night) and a food truck that sold out. It was a free event for the community that marketed our salon and talent and brought us together with fellow salons and talented artists in our area.”

An inside look at Verde Salon in Braintree, Massachusetts.

An inside look at Verde Salon in Braintree, Massachusetts. 

VERDE SALON
Braintree, MA
verdesalon.org
Ashley Sexton & Deanna Murphy
2022 Sales: $1,657,000
2023 Sales: $2,123,000
GROWTH: 28.12%
SQUARE FEET: 4000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 26
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $105
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kevin Murphy, Eleven Australia, Actyva Care
COLOR: Kemon 
SKINCARE: Botnia  
TECH SUPPORT: Vagaro, Mya, Ververy
ASSOCIATIONS: Green Circle
“One of the biggest shifts we made was diving into paid marketing on Facebook and Instagram. Using paid ads allows us to target specific groups of people in our area who likely interested in our service. This strategy not only attracts new clients but also builds brand awareness.”
 

The team from Whip Salon in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

The team from Whip Salon in Ridgefield, Connecticut. 

WHIP SALON
Ridgefield, CT
whipsalon.com
Amy Pal
2022 Sales: $3,292,000
2023 Sales: $4,054,000
GROWTH: 23.15%
SQUARE FEET: 1600 1500 1500 2000 1200 1200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 76
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $120
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Color Wow, Balmain, Whip Salon Brand
COLOR: L'Oreal, Keune, Redken
TECH SUPPORT: MyTime, Customer.io 
“Having opened seven locations to date, I've learned it's far easier to transform an existing salon with stylists and clients in place than building from scratch. The main reason is time. It takes 1-2 years to build when you open a new location from scratch, particularly if it's with stylists who don’t yet have a following. You have to put in far more effort with marketing and be patient until you get those new clients and they rebook and return.”

The team from You Beauty Lounge in Anchorage, Alaska.

The team from You Beauty Lounge in Anchorage, Alaska. 

YOU BEAUTY LOUNGE
Anchorage, AK
youbeautylounge.com
Mechille South
2022 Sales: $1,633,000
2023 Sales: $2,057,000
GROWTH: 25.96%
SQUARE FEET: 3982     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 45
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Davines, Goldwell
COLOR: Goldwell, Matrix Color Sync 
SKINCARE: Alastin, Epionce, PCA
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti
ASSOCIATIONS: ISBN, PBA , Green Circle
“We made the bold decision to invest in developing our own ‘think tank’ for best practices by collaborating with industry experts across multiple fields. We heavily engaged salon industry experts and business consultants, and we found that investment incredible dividends in profitability for the salon.”

Beau Barbee and Drew Anderson, owners of Z Studio...The Art of Hair in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Beau Barbee and Drew Anderson, owners of Z Studio...The Art of Hair in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Z STUDIO… THE ART OF HAIR
Tulsa, OK
zstudiotulsa.com
Beau Barbee and Drew Anderssen
2022 Sales: $1,162,000
2023 Sales: $1,374,000
GROWTH: 18.24%
SQUARE FEET: 3000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kevin Murphy, KMS, Kerasilk
COLOR: Goldwell 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“I always tell them they will miss100% of the shots they don’t take—so why not ask the guest if she wants to buy the styling product or add on a treatment? Nobody should have to scramble from paycheck to paycheck—and we help them see and seize the opportunities.

Megan Robertson and Jolene Zinke, owners of Zinke Hair Studio in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Megan Robertson and Jolene Zinke, owners of Zinke Hair Studio in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 

ZINKE HAIR STUDIO
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
zinkehairstudio.com
Jolene Zinke and Megan Robertson
2022 Sales: $1,237,000
2023 Sales: $1,646,000
GROWTH: 33.06%
SQUARE FEET: 2100 1500 2000   
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 51
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $90
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Aura, Vish 
ASSOCIATIONS: Green Circle 
“Facebook groups like Jacksonville beach locals provide daily posts of someone looking for a hairstylist. Commenting on and inviting people into the business has been gold. A stylist has already commented something like, “Hi I would love to do your hair,” we will all chime in, add hearts, thumbs up, etc. A busy salon benefits everyone, so marketing is a joint effort.”

Rosanne Ullman

Rosanne Ullman

Project Editor

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