
The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
Landmark Events in the Industry & Timeline of Issues
A selection of SALON TODAY’s major issue themes that appeared in the past 15 years mirrors the industry progress during that period:
>1994
“Compensation 101: Paying for Keeps” recognized that the commission structure was only one of the options open to progressive salon owners.
>1995
“The Costs of Converting” took a microscope to the process and expense that a salon faced in choosing to add day spa services.
>1996
“Make Your Space” updated salon owners on the latest trends in using natural materials and clued them into the critical role of both traffic flow and retail merchandising.
>1997
“Nail Care: Counting on Fingers” anticipated the exploding mani/pedi market.
>1998
“Can You Clone Your Success?” offered a blueprint for launching additional locations.
>1999
“Tax Facts” helped owners cope with newly stringent requirements for both salons and staffers in reporting tips on IRS tax returns.
>2000
“10 Salons on Warp Speed” presented meaty examples of how salons were applying a host of cutting-edge technologies.
>2001
“Retail State of Mind” pulled retail out of the corner, giving at-home maintenance its own profit center chair at the salon industry table.
>2002
“Higher Learning” celebrated the benefits of ongoing training with inspirational words from educators and a helpful list of advanced academies.
>2003
“Niche Marketing” identified 20 target markets that posed great potential for the savvy salon owner who could address those distinct needs.
>2004
“Get Down to Business: Writing Your Plan for Growth” urged owners to fuel continued success and not rest on the laurels of their recent good fortune.
>2005
“Male Call” helped spas to tap into the burgeoning mens’ market.
>2006
“Prescription for Medispa” examined the spa industry’s cautious but steadily developing partnership with the medical field.
>2007
“Brand Your Business” enlightened owners still engaged in traditional marketing about the rewards of branding strategies.
>1984
First World Championships of Hairdressing, the precursor to HairWorld
>1985
Merge of manufacturers’ associations to create a unified voice through the American Beauty Association (ABA)
>1987
Industry’s first national lobbying group, the NCAPAC, developed by the National Cosmetology Association
>1989
Launch of the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA)
>1990
First International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference
>1991
First ISPA conference
>1993
Expanded reach of NAHA under the new direction of the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute (BBSI)

Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.

Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.

When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.

Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.

At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.

In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.

Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.

Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.

In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.

The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti

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.

In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.

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.