MENU
SEARCHAt the best salons, education is a career-long process—from streamlined training programs designed to get associates on the floor with talent, confidence and business skills to advanced education programs that keep stylists of all ages ...
The team from Eric Fisher Salon in Wichita, Kansas.
At the best salons, education is a career-long process—from streamlined training programs designed to get associates on the floor with talent, confidence and business skills to advanced education programs that keep stylists of all ages creatively stimulated and growing.
AVEDA ACADEMY DENVER & PURE TALENT SALONS
Denver, Colorado
avedaacademydenver.com
Kevin and Tiffany Krauklis
SQUARE FEET: 9,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 52
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $52
TRAINING PROGRAM: 36 weeks / 9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1600
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce, LocBox
ASSOCIATIONS: The Day Spa Association, NCA, PBA
“As part of the orientation for educator training, we highlight the importance of living a healthy lifestyle as this will nurture their inner and outer beauty. Our educators are taught about wellness practices to ensure they are aware of how to live a balanced lifestyle.”
ERIC FISHER SALON
Wichita, Kansas
ericfishersalon.com
Eric and Mary Fisher
SQUARE FEET: 4,000; 1,500; 1,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 97
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $42
TRAINING PROGRAM: 18 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: up to $2000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aquage, Biomega, Kerastase
COLOR: Goldwell, L'Oreal, Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: STX, Survey Monkey
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We fly in five to six of the nation’s top stylists for our Summit, a Sunday evening hair show and workshops all day Monday. More than 50 models are presented with the latest cuts, colors and long hairdressing. We’ve been doing this hands-on, unplugged event for 15 years and it keeps getting better.”
INTERLOCKS SALON + SPA
Newburyport, Massachusetts
interlockssalon.com
Ginny Eramo
SQUARE FEET: 4,300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 46
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
TRAINING PROGRAM: 24 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $4,000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Shu Uemura, Thermafuse
COLOR: Wella, Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“The education we obtain via travel provides exciting opportunities with other salons and help staff experience the industry on a greater scale. We have attended Cosmoprof Bologna, SALON in London, Tracy Cunningham’s Mane Addicts in Miami, the Wella Studio in New York and several industry trade shows.”
LUX SALON
Fullerton, California
luxsalon.com
Wade Zylstra and James Cook
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 34
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
TRAINING PROGRAM: 24 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Groupon
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Every service provider can earn money toward professional development through their Lux Pro bank account. They earn credits through retail commissions, anniversary awards, teaching bonuses, etc. Many young team members have limited financial responsibility, and this is their first experience with a checks-and-balances system.”
PURE SALON SPA
Louisville, Kentucky
puresalon-spa.com
Laura Watkins
SQUARE FEET: 1,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $36
TRAINING PROGRAM: 9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $750
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Web Openings
“We have streamlined our training program so our new team members can provide paid services faster. They start training on shampoo and style and then all the add-on services that guests can choose from the upgrade menu. This module takes about 30 days.”
TAJ SALON & SPA
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
tajsalonspa.com
Jeanne Strandin
SQUARE FEET: 5,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
TRAINING PROGRAM: 3-9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Pureology, Unite
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: NCA, PBA and I/SPA
“Aside from classroom-style learning, we support hands-on activities that help service providers utilize their talent and skills. This includes our yearly Taj Mode’ Fashion Show where we support a charity by using our skills to transform local volunteers into fashion models for the night. The hair and makeup of each model is critiqued and the winning models and stylist win prizes and recognition.”
THE CIRCLE SALON
Chicago, Illinois
thecirclesalon.com
Jamie Bushman
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 10
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $82
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Davines
COLOR: Davines, Pravana
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Millennium, MailChimp
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, PBA
“The majority of the training is provided by the salon owner and manager. We designate portions of the training to each employee in order to give our new hires some quality one-on-one time with their new co-workers.”
THE HAIR COMPANY
Leonardtown, Maryland
thehaircompany.biz
Jackie Buckler and Debbie LInk. Stockholders: Jill Murray, Amber Long, Heather Gray
SQUARE FEET: 4,400; 4,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
TRAINING PROGRAM: 10 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $745
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon Business Center
“Every other year, we host a two-day staff retreat. We change the location each time and don’t reveal it until they arrive. The time together is spent on team-building activities with a little bit of business-building sprinkled in.”
THREE CUTTERS
Denver, Colorado
threecutters.com
Justin Williams & Brad VanDyke
SQUARE FEET: 750
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $66
TRAINING PROGRAM: 8 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“During our quarterly team meetings, staff members who have recently passed any additional education courses are encouraged to share their experience with the team and pass along their most valuable piece of information.”
WESTSIDE HAIR CARE LLC
Hackettstown, New Jersey
westsidehair.com
Maureen Kimble
SQUARE FEET: 1,700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $43
TRAINING PROGRAM: None
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1,000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“At the end of the year, we develop an education plan for the next year for the salon as a whole, but we also sit down with each service provider to set up their individual goals. It’s important for us to know that our team is always learning, growing and bettering themselves.”
Additional Honorees
A New Beginning Inc., Bethel, CT
Avant Salon Spa, Austin, TX
Charles Penzone Salons, Powell, OH
Clive and Co., Dallas, TX
Elements of Style Salon & Day Spa, Eldersburg, MD
Ginger Bay Salon & Spa, St. Louis, MO
Impressions, Mequon, WI
Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon, Houston, TX
Mango Salon, Richmond, VA
Michael Helene Salon Gallery, Dulles, VA
Neroli Salon & Spa, Milwaukee, WI
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Progressions Salon Spa Store, Rockville, MD
Spa Mizan, Lafayette, LA
The Fixx Hair Studio, New Braunfels, TX
Vanity Salon, Houston, TX
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
