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SEARCHThe SALON TODAY 200 honorees, who earned top marks in Customer Service, know that the key is to deliver a consistently strong experience at every point of service, with every guest, at every visit.
The management team from Vanity Salon in Houston, Texas.
A warm welcome, a refreshing beverage and the close personal connection a client feels with a salon can be as important in retaining her business as the precision of her hair cut or the dimension of her color. Customer Service impacts the client’s overall experience, and the salons and spas that deliver it with each and every visit boost their overall sales as well as client loyalty.
Aria Salon Spa Shoppe
Alpharetta, GA
ariasalons.net
Mechelle and Matthew Khodayari
SQUARE FEET: 2,700; 2,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 32
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $61
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millenium, ZeeZor, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, Atlanta Top 10 Salons
“The $500 Experience Concept visuales what a $500 haircut experience should look like from the first point of contact to the last. We strive to bestow the same experience at a fraction of the price. It starts It includes scripting dialogues, standardizing consultations, ensuring the clients are offered the stress relieving treatment and finish with a pleasant checkout process.
Avalon Salon Spa
Deer Park, IL
avalondeerpark.com
Bonnie and August Conte
SQUARE FEET: 5,300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Ergo
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: Gelish, OPI, Essie
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, SureTint
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, ISPA, PBA
“Ease of reserving appointments, seamless check-in and out, and control of communication preferences is something that keeps customers happy. They can book appointments or buy gift cards online, and can set preferences for appointment confirmations through texts, emails, or telephone calls.”
Maggie The Salon
Pembroke Pines, FL
maggiesalon.com
Maggie DiFalco
SQUARE FEET: 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Eufora
COLOR: Aveda, Eufora, Artisan
NAILCARE: CND
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, ZeeZor
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“Because our salon is very open, lots of action goes on. Our guests love to mingle with one another and often interchange stories while sitting around our color bar. It’s a place where people gather to relax, eat, drink and be merry.”
Mane Attraction Salon
Phoenix, AZ
maneattractionsalon.com
Kendall Ong, Beate Assmuth-Ong, Chris Knudsen, Jenny Knudsen
SQUARE FEET: 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 28
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $89
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble
COLOR: Wella, Pulp Riot
NAILCARE: Smith And Cult
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Constant Contact, Salon Clouds Plus
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“Our attitude about customer service is that we are a concierge for our clients. We not only make out-of-town referrals and appointments, we also book appointments at local nail and skin studios and we even book appointments at other hair salons if we are unavailable.”
Salon M2
Charlotte, NC
Salon-M2.com
Michele Matkovich
SQUARE FEET: 1,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Oribe, Goldwell
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Meet Your Stylist
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We value the reviews Phorest Software provides for us. It allows us to do our weekly follow-up calls that we do for every new guest with full details and support and not being blindsided. We know exactly what our staff did from the full profile they put together and the before and after pics they take.”
Soiree
Hunt Valley, MD
soiree-salon.com
Sarah Weiskittel and Debbie Filling
SQUARE FEET: 3,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: Zoya, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Our men’s area is private, features a dark color scheme, oak furniture and a putting green. It’s quieter than the hustle and bustle of the main salon. We provide a hot-lather shave and cucumbers on the eyes, something men generally won’t ask for but when we provide the service, they love it.
Square One Salon and Spa
Dayton, OH
squareonesalon.com
Owners: Square One Salon
SQUARE FEET: 1,400; 2,400; 4,700; 5,200; 3,100; 3,700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 185
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $51
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Salon Clouds Plus
“We have a separate bridal coordinator at every salon whose job is to make sure everything runs perfectly for these guests. Bridal parties work exclusively through this person so brides can depend on a single point of contact. Consistency helps maintain a smooth, easy process during a hectic time.
The Lordis Loft Salon and Day Spa, LLC
Charleston, SC
lordisloft.com
Linzie A. Davis
SQUARE FEET: 2,700; 1,700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $61
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: OPI, Smith and Cult, Zoya
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
“As our guests approach our greeting station, they are warmly welcomed, offered a variety of beverage, including our signature wellness Aveda Tea as well as Lordis Loft offers its guests a complimentary mimosa bar.”
Vanity Salon
Houston, TX
vanity-salon.com
Fiona and Rory Tolunay
SQUARE FEET: 3,200; 1,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 36
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, ZeeZor Presence AI
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10
“Our guests are very diverse, so we have made sure that half of our team is bilingual, including our front desk. We are also accommodating to the various religions and cultural beliefs our guests hold. If a woman needs a private space away from men to receive her service, we will make that happen for her.”
Westside Hair Care, LLC
Hackettstown, NJ
westsidehair.com
Maureen Kimble
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $51
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, iContact
“We use one of John DiJulius’s techniques which is called FORD (Family, Occupation, Recreation and Dreams) in order to remember key things about our guests. We make note of these important life events in our computer system or on their color cards.”
Additional Honorees
A Roland, New Cumberland, PA
Aveda Institute Denver, Denver, CO
Bella Style Salon, Slidell, LA
Bii Natural Salon and Shop, West Dundee, IL
Bijin Salon and Spa, Prairie Village, KS
Blo, Raleigh, NC
Brio SalonSpa, Lethbridge
D Ametris Aveda, Olde Town Arvada, CO
Eric Fisher Salon, Wichita, KS
Five Senses Spa Salon & Barbershop, Peoria, IL
Fringe A Salon Inc, Chicago, IL
Gervais Salon & Day Spa, Eugene, OR
Ginger Bay Salon & Spa, Kirkwood, MO
Glow Beauty Boutique, Braintree, MA
Ihloff Salon and Day Spa, Tulsa, OK
Impressions, Mequon, WI
JB Cavour Salon Spa, New Brighton, MN
Joli Salon & Day Spa, Lexington, KY
Josephine’s Day Spa and Salon, Houston. TX
NUOVO Salon Group, Sarasota, FL
Phia Concepts, Columbus, OH
Posh Salon and Day Spa, Kokomo, IN
Progressions Salon Spa Store, Rockville, MD
Pure Salon Spa, Louisville, KY
RedBloom Salon, Calgary
Salon Halo, Spring Hill, FL
S-kape Salon & Spa, Leonardtown, MD
Solaris Aveda, Evansville, IN
Studio Eleven, Maryville, IL
Von Anthony Salon, Frisco, TX
It's that time of year again: SALON TODAY 200 Application Season! To celebrate our 30th anniversary we have a new best practice category--Talent Recruitment and Retention. Applications due October 31st!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
At night, Dominic Michael Salon keeps the interior lights on, as the illuminated, eye-catching contemporary design serves as a billboard that consistently attracts new guests.
Built from the ground up, Mane 18’s design strikes a balance between an elevated experience for guests and the functionality and flow necessary for team members to perform at their best.
Andreas Hogue Salon’s recent renovation surprises visitors with the interior’s expansion of space, elevated retail area, and changing views of the restored Chicago prairie.
It's Day 10 of our SALON TODAY 200 reveals, and we've reached the end! Today, we toast the honorees in the second half of growth--the salons, spas, and barbershops that constantly strive to build stronger bottom lines, including Brandy Smith Stephens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Day 9 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 reveals, a big 'Huzzah' to our first look at the salons, spas and barbershops that fueled their growth by mastering a number of best practices, including the fun team from Lavish Hair Lounge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (P.S. The second half of Growth comes tomorrow.)
A big "Bravo!" to the salons and spas that develop strong cultures that fuel growth while retaining team members, such as Soleil Salon & Spa team in Windham, New Hampshire, who catch up reading last year's 200 issue.
We tip our hats to the salons and spas that genuinely connect with guests and strive to elevate their service, including Chenica Racine and Ricka O'Bannon, owners of C&R Beauty Bar in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hats off to the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who make education a priority for employees at every level, including Eric Fisher Salon, which hosted Educator Oscar Bond for a cutting class in Wichita, Kansas.
Today, we have two 2026 SALON TODAY 200 categories as we hail the salons that find creative ways to build client loyalty and the ones that constantly explore and embrace new technology to further their businesses, including the social-savvy team from Verde Salon Group in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
For today's SALON TODAY 200 announcements, we toast the honorees who prioritize the environment in their business decisions and those who take retail to the next level, including the excited team from Pure Salon Spa in Louisville, Kentucky.
Cheers to the SALON TODAY 200 honorees who give their time, talent and fundraising efforts to their communities, including Eli Mancha and the team from Bang! Salon, whose cut-a-thon has collected more than 1,200 coats that have been donated to Chicago's unhoused.
It's Day 1 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 announcements, and today, we raise our glasses for the honorees in the Business Builders category. These salons, including Elan Hair Studio in Spring Lake, New Jersey, took strategic risks that paid off in revenue-generating success.
It's time to celebrate the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who design rewarding career paths and seek out enriching benefits to keep their team members healthy, happy and growing, including the team from Pinup Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina, who always enjoy a good pajama party.
With a training salon, treatment rooms, education and collaboration spaces, a podcast studio and a yoga studio, BASE ONE is the foundation for the future growth of PENZONE Salons+Spas, as well as the company's gift to their community and the industry. Peruse the image gallery or take the personalized video tour led by Debra Penzone to see this exceptional space.
