Maybe it’s wishful thinking for all of us, but as SALON TODAY’s Salons of the Year judges gathered, there almost was a feeling of Spring as we poured through the images submitted by this year’s applicants.

Bright colors took center stage in some salons while serving as a mood-lifting accent in others. Separation walls between stations have come down, while salons integrated cafes, color bars and color processing tables and other areas where clients could gather and network. Many owners customized stations with wheels, allowing them to clear the space for community events, client parties and educational classes.  

Overall, these salon designs are filled with hope. They stand as visual testament that the beauty of business is back, and strongly moving toward a new future.

The SOTY Judging Process

The judging for the 2022 Salons of the Year took place in multiple phases. First, the SALON TODAY team reviewed the entries, including essays and images, qualifying each entry. Next, a panel of editors and art directors from SALON TODAY, MODERN SALON and NAILS carefully evaluated each entry to select the finalists, scoring each in six different décor categories, including Use of Color, Lighting, Flooring, Efficient Use of Space, Consistency of Design and Overall Aesthetics. Judges’ sc ores were combined to determing the Grand-Prize Winner, the Barbershop of the Year, the Nail Salon of the Year, the Runners Up and the Salons of Distinction.

And, here are the 2022 Salons of the Year. 

Grand-Prize Winner:

Ottalaus Salon
South Jordan, Utah
Owners: AnneMarie and Joe Krainich

Barbershop of the Year:

TwinCutz
Fort Myers, Florida
Owner: Sean Casey

Nail Salon of the Year: 

Sandals Nail Spa
Sylvania, Ohio
Owner: Heather Vo

1st Runner Up:

DL Lowry Salon
Indianapolis, Indiana
Owner: David Lowry

Second Runner Up:

Indigo Child Salon
Dallas, Texas
Owner: Sarah King Lynch

Third Runner Up: 

Avalon Salon Spa
Lake Zurich, Illinois
Owner: Bonnie and August Conte

Salons of Distinction:

Bella Nova
Londonderry, New Hampshire
Owner: Faith St. Gelais

Bonjour Belle Salons
Montgomery, Texas
Owners: Tim and Christina Lynch

Forme Hair Salon 
Vancouver, British Columbia
Owner: Michael Hashimoto

Ginger Vine Salon
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Owner: Allison Everage

Gordon Salon
Evanston, Illinois
Owners: Pam and Tony Gordon

Grow A Shane Archer Concept
Knoxville, Tennessee
Owner: Shane Archer

Industry Hair Co.
Washington, Pennsylvania
Owner: Jennifer Ursic

Phoenix 
Montgomery, Alabama
Owner: Linda Echols

Saint Germain DC
Washington, DC
Owners: Terry Ku and Franck Rihouey

Salon Jaylee
The Villages, Florida
Owners: Janet West and Joyce Parker

Something You Salon and Spa
Champaign, Illinois
Owner: Amanda Baer

Terrame Day Spa and Salon
Madison, Alabama
Owners: Mike Johnson, Charla Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Charles Johnson, Lisa Adair

The Artisan Parlour
Temecula, California
Owner: Lauren Lake

Virtue Vegan Salon
Columbus, Ohio
Owner: Melanie Guzzo