MENU
SEARCHWith three locations in Chicago, the Charles Ifergan Salon looks ahead at a transition of leadership as the founder turns over the reins of the company to the next generation--his children Olivia and Philippe.
Philippe, Olivia and Charles Ifergan of the Charles Ifergan Salon, with three locations in Chicago.
In Chicago, the Charles Ifergan Salon on Oak Street, as well as two salons in upscale suburbs, hold special favor among fashionable clients looking for stylish and effortless French influence for their hairstyles.
Since 1973, Charles Ifergan, a native of Paris France, has focused on his clients’ needs by offering constant hair innovations while pursuing excellent service. For almost a decade the salon has exclusively partnered with Goldwell to provide exceptional color services for clients.
Now, a new Ifergan generation is poised to bring the venerable salon mini-chain into the future with new technology, training, website, an in-salon color and style “look-book”, design and more for the salon, its team and clients.
Olivia Ifergan grew up with a love of fashion and beauty. Her childhood birthday parties were held at the salon and she remembers her Dad reading Vogue and Bazaar in lieu children’s stories! After college, she took classes at the famed Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, she then returned to Chicago and announced to her parents she wanted to go to beauty school. She graduated from the Steven Pappageorge Academy and began assisting in the salon where she now leads trend and fashion training for stylists to keep the salons on the cutting edge.
As a young boy, Philippe Ifergan remembers days of sweeping floors at the salon. He went on to entrepreneurial positions in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, where he now resides. About five years ago, his father asked him to join the family business to take over Ifergan Salons’ marketing. Philippe jumped at the chance and now commutes to Chicago on a regular basis and manages brand marketing and product development.
In the past few years, the younger Ifergans have influenced the direction of the salon, while Charles maintains his behind the scene leadership as he slowly allows them to take the reins of his eponymous business. From revamping the website, clients’ and technicians’ Apps, updating the logo and retooling the technicians training, the influence of Olivia and Philippe have been noticed by clients, especially younger women who also appreciate the iPad LookBook they created and the rebranding of all price lists and cards in the salon.
As they move forward with new styling products and marketing ideas, the younger Ifergans are excited to continue to work so closely with Goldwell, which provides all color products used in the three salons.
“We used to have many color lines,” notes Charles, “which were difficult to manage and teach. Since we partnered with Goldwell we have reaped many benefits, as have our clients. Goldwell offers us excellent color products and extraordinary education benefits both inside and outside the salons. With our color director, George Zafiris’ expertise and Olivia’s sense and knowledge of upcoming trends, our color department is a ‘beehive” of creativity.’”
Olivia adds that their partnership with Goldwell allows for our amazing team of stylists to attend Goldwell Global Zoom in international cities and immerse themselves in hair trends and educational classes as well as a new country and culture. “Our staff works so hard and are incredibly talented so it’s amazing to be able to send them to Global Color Zoom for a chance to travel to new countries as well as attend and be inspired by the Goldwell artists that are there. We have been able to send about ten stylists and colorists to Barcelona two years ago, Stockholm last year, and Toronto this year.”
Philippe concludes: “Our vision is to preserve the French-influenced effortless beauty culture our father has created while making our salons an immersive experience full of creative energy.”
As the Ifergan Salons continue to evolve under the influence of Olivia and Philippe, one thing hasn’t changed. The focus remains on providing the finest color and styling services to clients seeking a bit of French flair in the center of America.
CLICK HERE to check out Charles Ifergan's blog focusing on Five Tips for a Smooth Generational Transition.
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.
