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SEARCHFor our annual design competition, SALONS OF THE YEAR, submitting the best imagery is the most important part, so our judges share their top photography tips.
Never discount the impact of a gorgeous exterior image, like that of last year's Grand Prize Winner, Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas.
Each year, SALON TODAY names the most gorgeous new and newly renovated salon, spa and barbershop designs through its SALONS OF THE YEAR competition. As the application for this year just opened, we thought it would be helpful to share some strategies on how to submit the images of your beauty-based businesses since this is a photo-based competition.
Hire a professional photographer. Salon mirrors and lighting are just two of the challenges in capturing the ambiance and impact of your beautiful new or improved salon. A professional photographer experienced in shooting interior environments will know how to navigate these challenges and show your business in its best light. While using a professional photographer can be expensive, think of the multiple ways you’ll be able to use these images, for example on your website, in social posts and in staff recruitment materials.
Make them people-free. While we do invite each applicant to submit one picture of their owners or of their team, the rest of the images should focus on the design of the space and not the clients or team members within it.
Remove the clutter. While we want to see lovely product on your retail shelves or neatly lined up tubes of color on your color station, take a close look at your stations, work surfaces and the top of the front desk and make these as clutter free as possible.
Remove protective coverings. When owners have recently invested in new chairs, it can be tempting to leave the protective clear vinyl on them, but this can be distracting in your images. Remove them for the pictures, even if you choose to put them back on again after your shoot.
Don’t date your images. When you schedule your shoot take a critical look at your salon, and think about how any décor could date your images. For example, Christmas or Easter decorations can help set a mood for your clientele in the season, but they can be jarring to judges when they review those images in another season.
Tell a visual story. Review the essay questions and think how your images will support the stories in your essays. For example, we ask you to describe your three favorite design choices. Clearly mark your images so our judges understand what they are looking at or refer to specific photo images in your essays.
It's that time of year again: SALON TODAY 200 Application Season! To celebrate our 30th anniversary we have a new best practice category--Talent Recruitment and Retention. Applications due October 31st!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
