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SEARCHEach year, our SALONS OF THE YEAR competition gives us the opportunity to assess the health of the industry by looking at who's investing in the future and how.
While a picture tells a thousand words, numbers can convey an even deeper meaning, especially to the business mind. At SALON TODAY, we can’t resist collecting the data on our 20 SALONS OF THE YEAR and then looking at the collective statistical picture.
What’s a Facelift Run These Days? Of the 20 SOTY honorees this year, five were salon renovations, and 15 were new build-out concepts. Collectively, this year’s honorees spent $13.6 million on their dream salons, with an average total investment of $656,000. That worked out to be an average of $221 per square foot versus last year’s average of $120 per square foot.
Here’s how the design costs broke down: The 20 honorees on average spent $30,300 on flooring; $28,000 on lighting; $11,300 on their front desk; $ 83,000 on salon equipment; $20,000 on spa equipment; $20,000 on professional design services; and $365,000 on construction expenses.
Before (below) and after the renovation at HC Studio in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Time and Money: From blueprint to construction, three salons took 18 months—J. Roland Salon in San Francisco; Misbehaven Spa and Salon in Walla Walla, Washington; and SOTO-Salon on the Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio—while two salons—J. Michaels Salon in Des Moines, Iowa and Poppy Salon in Waite Park, Minnesota—opened their doors within two months. The average time from start to finish was 8 months. Eleven of the salons reported delays, finishing their design after schedule, while seven begrudgingly admitted they went over budget.
Allocating the Space: When it comes to salon and spa layout, the SOTY honorees an average of 3,087 square feet. At 7,800 square feet, Misbehaven was our largest SOTY honoree, while at 1,100 square feet, Airbar in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was the smallest. On average, the SOTY salons allocated 1,149 square feet to the cutting and coloring areas and 270 square feet to retail space. Of the 20 honorees, 10 offered spa services and they reported designating an average of 637 square feet for their spa areas.
Setup Stats: Our 2014 finalists maintained an average of 16 styling stations in their spaces, and of those with spa areas, an average of three treatment rooms. Ten of the salons reported offering nail services and of those, they averaged five mani-pedi stations in their spaces.
Price Check: Our SOTY honorees report charging an average $57 for a shampoo, cut and style service; $71 for a single-process color and $83 for a 60-minute facial.
Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.
One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
A live education series explores the ideas, collaboration, creative decisions and processes behind the winning work.
According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.
Hairstylists and barbers can showcase their creative and technical vision in two global categories with cash prizes and a chance to represent in Portugal.
The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.
The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai
The Good Patch is a leading wearable wellness patch brand, offering wellness and skincare patches that support everyday needs including energy, sleep, relaxation and more.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Ulta Beauty has announced its partnership with Black Beauty Roster to launch the pilot of All Textures Certification (ATC). The new program is aimed at addressing gaps in education within the beauty industry and raising the level of skills and guest satisfaction for all.
Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Salon owner, tech founder, and educator Universe Walker will bring her signature workshop, The Art of Dry Cutting, to Brooklyn on July 20, offering stylists a chance to deepen their understanding of shape, movement, texture, and dry cutting.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing resources that help beauty professionals stay informed, we thought it was worth introducing our audience to The Chatter and the unique perspective it brings to industry conversations.
Celebrating 60 years in haircare, Dippity-Do is honoring its styling heritage with its Girls with Curls collection, a reimagined Light Hold Gelée inspired by the brand's original 1965 styling gel.
Covet & Mane has expanded its Pro Color System with the launch of Color Boost Drops, completing what the company says is the first professional color system engineered specifically for hair extensions.
