For the most successful service providers, education is a career-long process. The strongest salons and spas develop educational systems that enhance the skills and confidence of their newest team members, while encouraging and supporting their seasoned staff to continually stretch creatively.

Bang Salon
Denver, CO
bangsalon.net
Rodger and Lisa Garcia
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80
TRAINING PROGRAM: 9-12 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Oribe, R+Co
COLOR: Wella
SKINCARE: Oribe
NAILCARE: R+Co
TECH SUPPORT: STX, Demandforce, SureTint
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, Summit Salon
“Each class we hold in the salon is given a point value. Stylists have to earn a minimum of 12 education points a year to reach the next level. This way, staff is able to pick and choose the classes they would like to attend.”

Chameleon Haircolor Cafe
North Haven, CT
chameleonhcc.com
Carleen Buden
SQUARE FEET: 2,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $62
TRAINING PROGRAM: 6 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble, Oribe, Goldwell
COLOR: Goldwell
SKINCARE: Glo Minerials
NAILCARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Millenium, Demandforce, Constant Contact
“Using multiple ways to communicate to staff has shown to be helpful. Written handouts, emails, roll playing and lots of visuals has been key; one-size-fits-all training no longer seems to work.”

Clique Salon
Houston, TX
cliquesalon.com
Natalie Wood
SQUARE FEET: 1,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80
TRAINING PROGRAM: 8 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $2000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Unite, Oribe
COLOR: Paul Mitchell, Redken, Oligo
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
“Throughout the year we expect the team to attend at least two outside education events a year. We reward them for their attendance to outside education by giving them a day off and extra vacation hours for attending.”

Ian McCabe Studio
Washington, DC
ianmcccabestudio.com
Ian McCabe
SQUARE FEET: 1,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $150
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12-18 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $800
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Shu Uemura
COLOR: Redken, Framesi, Clairol
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon
“Colorists and stylists graduate and get promoted by rank through a level system. Each level is achieved based on workmanship, new clientele, sales and retention. At each level, employees are required to attend a certain number of classes and earn funding for professional development opportunities.”

Karen Allen Salon and Spa
Riverside, CA
karenallensalon.com
Karen Nguyen
SQUARE FEET: 2,500; 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 46
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
TRAINING PROGRAM: 6-8 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, ZeeZor
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10, Green Circle
“Our education actually starts during the interview process. As part of the interview, we ask the stylist to bring a haircut model as a way to evaluate their skill level as well as give constructive feedback.”

Paris Parker Salons and Spas
Hammond, LA
parisparker.com
Debra Neill Baker and Edwin Neill
SQUARE FEET: 6,800; 8,800; 1,800; 2,300; 2,800; 9,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 231
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $57
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: Spa Rituals
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Presence AI, ZeeZor
ASSOCIATIONS: ISBN, PBA, 2 to 10, Green Circle
“We offer a two-tiered system—Fundamentals 1 is all about learning the rules, the techniques, the right way to do things. Once those skills are acquired, Fundamentals 2 teaches how to be more creative and bring individual personality to what has been learned.”

Progressions Salon Spa Store
Rockville, MD
progressions.com
Cynthia Feldman
SQUARE FEET: 9,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 60
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $92
TRAINING PROGRAM: 6-8 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Oribe, Bumble
COLOR: Goldwell, Redken, Wella
SKINCARE: Eminence, Alchimie, Hydrafacial
NAILCARE: OPI, Deborah Lippmann
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, ZeeZor, Textel
ASSOCIATIONS: ISPA, PBA, Summit Salon
“We hired a communications expert to work with the team on ‘conversational intelligence’ this year…The result will be a more productive and fulfilled team. It gives our coaches a deeper layer of communication skills to use.”

Savvy Salon and Day Spa
Cornelius, NC
savvysalonanddayspa.com
Pat Helmandollar and Lauren Springer
SQUARE FEET: 6,300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 38
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
TRAINING PROGRAM: 6 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Bumble and Bumble, Aveda
COLOR: Wella, L'Oreal Professionnel, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Dermalogica, Cosmedix, Aveda
NAILCARE: CND
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We have a thorough training manual that includes links to training videos that we have created ourselves. It outlines specifically the step-by-step process a new hire must complete before graduating the training program.”

Station 710 Salon
Bloomington, IL
station710salon.com
Megan Jenkins
SQUARE FEET: 2,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
TRAINING PROGRAM: 3 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, R+Co, Aveda
COLOR: Goldwell, Aveda, Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Salon Clouds Plus
“With our special education program called ‘Destination Education,’ a team member can earn a class in a location of their choice and bring another team member with them. They earn this reward by earning points through their numbers, retail, marketing, social media skills and being a team player.”

The Root Salon
Phoenix, AZ
therootsalon.com
Lauren Hart and Sam Sciotto
SQUARE FEET: 1,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 months
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Alfaparf, Milano, Ergo
COLOR: Alfaparf, Redken, Wella
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle
“The salon pays for half of whatever class a team member wants to take, as long as it is in line with the services we provide and the brands we utilize. We have multiple iPads in the salon and the team is encouraged to learn online during down time.”

Additional Honorees
Be Inspired Salon, Inc., Madison, WI
Bii Natural Salon & Shop, West Dundee, IL
D Ametris Aveda, Olde Town Arvada, CO
Gila Rut Salons, San Diego, CA
Hollywood Hair Salon and Spa, Centralia, IL
Impressions, Mequon, WI
Logan 14 Salon Spa, Washington DC
Mane Attraction Salon, Phoenix, AZ
N Style Salon, Santa Clarita, CA
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Pin-Up Curls, Ft. Wayne, IN
Randolph’s Salon, Rochester Hills, MI
Salon Adelle, Greenville, SC
Vanity Salon, Houston, TX
Xanadu Hair Salon, Chesapeake, VA