MENU
SEARCHThe future of every salon rests on its ability to recruit, and then train, top talent. Determined to grow their own staff, the following ST200 honorees developed ways to recruit from cosmetology schools, honed their exhaustive selection systems and implemented strategic training programs.
Aura Salon and Day Spa
Scottsdale. AZ
aura-salon.com
Sarah Wisda, Christy Vowers, and Mike Ament
SQUARE FEET: 2,050
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 26
TRAINING PROGRAM: 11 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 15 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: Bumble and bumble. Goldwell
COLOR LINE: Goldwell
SALON SOFTWARE: Harms/ Millennium
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“Most of our recruiting efforts are focused on drawing future employees from cosmetology schools. We participate in Industry Day at Kohler Academy. It’s a form of ‘speed interviewing’ and we collect resumes, take notes, and rank our ‘best fits.’ We provide Aura Bags with information and product samples.”
Bei Capelli
Scarorough, ME
bercapelli.com
Melissa Vigue, Tiffany Conway and Nancy Cartenio
SQUARE FEET: 3,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
TRAINING PROGRAM: 6 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 16 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 3
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $39
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: Goldwell, KMS, Rusk
COLOR LINE: Goldwell
SALON SOFTWARE: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: NCA, YBN
“Interested candidates are invited to do a job shadow at the salon with an owner. This allows us to perform an initial evaluation of a candidate. We look for a desire and willingness to learn, a pleasant, professional attitude and the potential to fit in with out salon culture. Then the owner will answer any questions and invite qualified candidates to complete an application.”
Bernard’s Salon and Spa
Cherry Hill and Marlton, NJ
bernardssalon.com
Anthony Rossano
SQUARE FEET: 5,000/3,500 (two locations)
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 205
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12-14 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 5 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 9-15
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: L’Oréal, Pureology, Matrix
COLOR LINES: L’Oréal, Redken
SALON SOFTWARE: Harms/ Millennium
ASSOCIATION: The Day Spa Association
“Four times a year we send a team to all the schools in the area. We set up stations in the form of a horseshoe with staff doing various services on models to a background of upbeat music. Students are encouraged to walk through the room to interact with the different operators.”
Dante Lucci Salon
Rocky River, OH
dantelucci.com
Gina Lucci
SQUARE FEET: 4,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
TRAINING PROGRAM: 9-12 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 32 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 1-2
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: Oribe, Eufora, Bumble and bumble
COLOR LINE: Goldwell
SALON SOFTWARE: Spa/Salon Manager
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“New hires are assigned to artistic directors and taken through basic cuts on video. Then they’re assigned to barbers to learn clipper work and other techniques. Next, they move through color, perms, relaxers and waxing and a week at the front desk.”
The Day Spa@ Folawn’s
San Antonio, TX
folawns.com
Terry and Ken Folawn
SQUARE FEET 5,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 40
TRAINING PROGRAM: 4 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 10 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 1-2
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINE: Aveda
COLOR LINE: Aveda
SALON SOFTWARE: Milano
ASSOCIATION: YBN
“After narrowing down the applicant pool, we invite the best in for a group interview. Since we work as a team, we like to see how they interact with each other. We give them an ‘Individual Talent Survey,’ which tells us their strengths and learning abilities.”
Gordon Salons and Spas
Highland Park, IL
gordonsalon.com
Tony and Pam Gordon
SQUARE FEET: 950/3,500/1,950 (three locations)
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 43
TRAINING PROGRAM: 8 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 7 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 5-7
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $55
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINE: Aveda
COLOR LINE: Aveda
SALON SOFTWARE: Harms/Millennium
“The key to hiring success is to focus on what is going to get you to that right person, or what the book Top Grading calls “A” players. I take candidates through a set of steps that weed them out and get us to the real “A” candidates fester. This process starts with 50-100 candidates contacting me through e-mail, and we quickly narrow it to two or three.”
Maude
Herndon, VA
maudehair.com
Vanessa Rose, Catina Joy and Celeste Williams
SQUARE FEET: 2,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
TRAINING PROGRAM: 24 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 40
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 4
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINE: Bumble and bumble
COLOR LINE: Redken
SALON SOFTWARE: STX
“Maude is a teaching salon, all we do is hair. We take young aspiring hairdressers through a 3,000-hour apprenticeship ‘rookie’ program. We are guest artists at local beauty schools and are active in encouraging young people to come spend the day with us. We have a brochure titled, ‘Is the Maude Squad for You?’ which details our benefits and culture.”
Parlor
New York, NY
parlorhairsalon.com
Gwen LeMoine
SQUARE FEET: 950
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 8 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 3
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINE: Aveda
COLOR LINE: Aveda
SALON SOFTWARE: SalonBiz
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“Our education days include a demo performed by one of our instructors on a varying subject, then we have models at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., allowing two hours per service After each class, the teacher sends out an e-mail to all in the program evaluating and describing the successes and challenges of the day.”
“Our most motivated, team-oriented and well-rounded candidates are asked to complete an online personality evaluation as a third step in our interviewing process. The results are automatically generated and e-mailed to use upon completion, and the results indicate several characteristics that help us determine whether or not the individual would be a good fit for our team.”
—Mike Ament
Aura Salon and Day Spa
Peter Thomas Hair
Berkeley, CA
peterthomashair.com
Peter Bullen and Deborah Simons
SQUARE FEET: 1.400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 31
TRAINING PROGRAM: 14 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 5-6 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 5
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $81
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: Bumble and bumble, Rene Furteier
COLOR LINE: Gold-well
SALON SOFTWARE: Spa/Salon Manager
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“During an applicant’s first interview, a series of open-ended questions are asked, allowing us to gauge their work values and ethics. A detailed description of tasks and duties are reviewed. We stress the commitment, passion and hard work required to successfully complete the program, and we encourage them to interview at other salons.”
Planet Hair
Wichita, K.S
planethairusa.com
Tod Ernst and Graham Ross
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 18
TRAINING PROGRAM: 3 months
WEEKLY INSTRUCTION: 3 hours
AVERAGE # OF TRAINEES: 2-3
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL LINES: Aveda. Bumble and bumble
COLOR LINES: Aveda. Redken
SALON SOFTWARE: Elite
“We now have a 30-day ‘make it or break, it’ trial period. During these first 30 days, we’re checking out new hires’ core knowledge, assessing their skills, determining if they are trainable, and seeing if their personality and attitude fits our vision After 30 days, if the relationship is worth pursuing, we set up a series of classes based on the individuals needs to elevate their skills and polish their strengths.”
Additional Honorees
Americana, Alpine, TX
Arrojo Studio, New York, NY
Blo, Raleigh, NC
The Charles Penzone Family of Salons, Columbus, OH
Habitude Salons and Spa, Seattle, WA
La Jolie Salon, Princeton, NJ
Landis Lifestyle Salon, Salt Lake City, UT
Luxe Salon, Denver, CO
Mango Salon, Richmond, VA
Paris Parker, Hammond, LA
Red 7 Salon, Chicago and Evanston, IL
Satori: A Salon/Spa/Shopping Experience, Ithaca, NY
Schardein & Co., Oklahoma City, OK
The Hair Company, Leonardtown, MD
Valentino’s Grande Salon, Whitby, Ontario
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.
