Got a Gorgeous New Business? SALONS OF THE YEAR Application Now Open!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
by Stacey Soble
Announcing the 2025 SALONS OF THE YEAR
Graeber & Company in Boise, Idaho, naps the top spot, while 23 other salons are showcased in the national salon design competition.
October 28, 2025
The community-encouraging salon floor at Ahead of Hair in Midlothian, Virginia.
1/24
2 min to read
Graeber & Company, owned by Shelby Bills in Boise, Idaho, has been crowned the Grand-Prize Winner in SALON TODAY's SALONS OF THE YEAR, a design competition that open to salons, spas and barbershops that were newly built or renovated in the past two years.
The competition also named Parlor by Thompson & Company as the Barbershop of the Year, The Glam Room Salon, Medical Spa and Beauty Bar as the Spa/Medspa of the Year; Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute New York as the School of the Year, and PENZONE Salon + Spa New Artist Concept as the New Artist Salon of the Year. Andreas Hogue was named First Runner-Up, Mane 18 is Second Runner-Up, and Dominic Michael Salon was named Third Runner-Up. In addition, 16 salons were named Salons of Distinction. (See the full list below.)
All of the winners will be honored at Data-Driven Salon Tour, in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 2. Readers will be able to dig into the details of each salon design and enjoy video tours in an experiential microsite released later this year.
GRAND-PRIZE WINNER
Graeber & Company
Boise, Idaho
Shelby Bills
CATEGORY WINNERS
BARBERSHOP OF THE YEAR
Parlor by Thompson & Company
Bobby & Kayla Thompson
Coralville, IA
SPA/MEDSPA OF THE YEAR
The Glam Room Salon, Medical Spa and Beauty Bar
Carl Glorioso
Kansas City, MO
NEW ARTIST SALON OF THE YEAR
PENZONE Salon + Spa New Artist Concept
Dublin, OH
Charles + Debbie Penzone
SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
Aveda Arts and Sciences Institute New York
Brooklyn, NY
Beauty Basic Inc., Edwin H. Neill, III, President
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Andreas Hogue
Northbrook, IL
Ashley and Andreas Hogue
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Mane 18
Augusta, GA
Kessler Davis
THIRD RUNNER-UP
Dominic Michael Salon
Chesterfield, MO
Dominic Bertani
SALONS OF DISTICTION
Ahead of Hair
Midlothian, VA
Heather Meredith
Blake Charles Salon
San Francisco, CA
Blake C. McCall
Cypress & Myrtle Salon and Spa
Dothan, AL
April Payne
Excuria
Williamsville, NY
Peggy and Paul Grenauer
HAUS Salon
Minneapolis, MN
Jessica Riepke
Hollywood Hair
Edwardsville, IL
Sonya Gettinger, Jessica Freels, Abbey Jones, Ally Deerling
Jamison Shaw Hairdressers
Atlanta, GA
Candy Shaw & Fred Codner
Martino Cartier Salon
Sewell, NJ
Martino Cartier
Nicholas Sebastian Salon & Spa
Newtown Square, PA
Nick & Helene Scamuffa
Red Salon and Spa
Fort Meyers, FL
Kathleen Cantu, Ernest Cantu
Rooted Beauty
Westford, MA
Amy Bernardo and Kourtney Brown
Sage Hair Company
Franklin, TN
Michelle Oliver, Elizabeth Littell, Avery Burch
Salon deZEN
Alexandria, VA
Maria Elizabeth
Shear Studios
Chesterfield, MO
Sherrie Anderson
Trés Bella Salon & Spa
Boerne, TX
Pam Wiese
Virtue Vegan Salon
Columbus, OH
Melanie Guzzo
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Awards & Contests
Got a Gorgeous New Business? SALONS OF THE YEAR Applications now Open!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
by Stacey Soble
Energized and Exceptionally Thoughtful
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.
by Stacey Soble
Timeless Sophistication
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.
by Stacey Soble
One Delightful Design Discovery
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.
by Stacey Soble
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Growth Part 2
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.
by Stacey Soble
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Growth, Part 1
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.)
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Salon Culture
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.
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Customer Service
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.
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Employee Education
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.
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Technology and Client Retention and Referral
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.
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Environmental Sustainability and Retail & Merchandising
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.
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Philanthropy
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.
by Stacey Soble
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Business Builders
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.
by Stacey Soble
2026 SALON TODAY 200: Compensation and Benefits
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.
A Space to Ground Down and Level Up
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.
by Stacey Soble
SALON TODAY 200 Announcements Coming Soon!
As our judges read those last essays and create their list of honorees in each category, we're planning to start announce the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 starting February 25.
by Stacey Soble