MENU
SEARCHSometimes life gets so hectic we forget how important it is to take a break. A recent stay at a boutique hotel reminds Editor Stacey Soble to slow down and enjoy the journey--and she finds the escapist quality in many of this year's SALONS OF THE YEAR.
A real metal key was such a novelty.
Is it just me, or does life seem a little more complicated these days? Daily headlines seem louder, everyone’s expectations seem higher, and it’s becoming increasingly harder to find the balance between our professional and personal lives. Sometimes we don’t know how much we need a break from life’s stresses, until we unexpectedly find ourselves enjoying one.
That happened to me during a one-night stay at boutique hotel with a funny name—the Staypineapple in Chicago, Illinois. Honestly, I booked the night on Expedia because it was one of the least expensive hotel rooms with a high rating in an area where I needed to stay. But as it turned out, every moment of my stay reminded me to slow down and enjoy the journey.
When I checked in, the front desk attendant handed me a real metal key and invited me to enjoy coffee and the afternoon cupcake service. My room was small, but brightly lit and welcoming with a modern gray décor punctuated with lemon yellow.
Everywhere I looked the room spoke to me through its own quirky sense of humor. An oversized pillow on the bed was embroidered with a pineapple and the phrase “Sleep with Me,” while a friendly stuffed Husky pup invited me to take him home with a donation to the Humane Society. The bed came with instructions—a placard walked me through how to sleep European style with the double duvet comforters that promised to remind me of my childhood blankie. And, the yellow Seersucker robe came with a warning-- “Don’t answer the door naked!”
With each delightful discovery, I found myself slowly unwinding and losing myself to the experience. And, that’s the exact reaction you want each client to have when they visit your salon.
While judging this year’s SALONS OF THE YEAR we discovered a plethora of thoughtful touches that create a welcoming experience for salon and spa clients. There were VIP rooms with private entrances, color bars that invited guests to the creative process, personal touches like purse hooks and phone-charging outlets at stations, outside terraces where clients can enjoy lunch with a view, and photo areas where the newly styled can capture and share their great new looks.
Thoughtful interior design encourages clients on an experiential journey. Take the Champagne Nail Lounge in Los Angeles, California. Owner Tommy Le gave designers Soheila Adl and Elizabeth Troitsky at AT Design specific directions that he didn’t want his resulting salon to resemble any other nail salon, but really wanted the design to transport clients into a lush lounge where women would gather for high-end cocktails.
Through a whimsical sense of humor, clients discover subtle references to champagne bubbles in the lounge’s design. The glass used in the reception desk encases sparkling bubbles, and the backdrop behind the desk suspends chrome spheres on vertical strands. Wood dividers with a reversed bubble pattern help separate the nail area from the reception space, and the Maya Romanoff wall covering features larges circles. Throughout the space, a palette of amber and soft lavender further communicate the elegance of champagne.
We were impressed with this 1,500-square-foot nail salon’s ability to elbow its way out of the pack of gorgeous salons and spas to capture its place as Third Runner-Up. So much so, we decided to give them an additional title, 2017 NAILS Salon of the Year, in honor of our recently formed sisterhood with NAILS magazine.
We trust our SALONS OF THE YEAR will take you on a few design journeys, and maybe even encourage you to examine your space through your clients’ eyes and discover ways to heighten their experience.
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.
