MENU
SEARCHInterior design takes a walk on the social side of life in this year’s competition as salons redefine the meaning of community.
Today’s salon and spa design goes beyond a gorgeous backdrop for a great service, and it offers clients more than a temporary respite from a busy day. Now, salons and spas are leveraging their inherent one-on-one, human interface factor to gift clients with some invaluable connectivity in an increasingly digital world.
How does that play out in the way owners are designing their spaces? They’re actually building in architectural features that engage, comfort, tease, educate, delight and inspire.
Today, bar concepts of every kind, including blowdry, make-up and color, are beckoning clients to gather and be part of the process. Built-in photo booths and iPads at stations invite guests to take pictures of their finished looks and print them as a keepsake or share them via social media. Colorful portraits at styling stations disappear with the flick of switch, surprising clients when they reveal the mirrors behind. And, versatile salons with mobile stations and sliding storefronts can convert into an indoor/outdoor experience on fair-weather days.
Explore each of our 20 SALONS OF THE YEAR by clicking on each salon’s name below:
GRAND-PRIZE WINNER:
6 Salon in Birmingham, Michigan, owned by Tomy Lulgjuraj, Johnny Nikollaj, George Nikollaj
FIRST RUNNER-UP:
Shep Studio in Provo, Utah, owned by Shep and Tracy Wolsey
SECOND RUNNER-UP:
HC Studio in Brookline, Massachusetts, owned by Susan Healy
THIRD RUNNER-UP:
Cloud 10 Blow Dry Bar & Hair Salon in Delray Beach, Florida, owned by Jodi Dery
SALONS OF DISTINCTION:
212 Salon and Day Spa, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, owned by Donna and Gaetano Lo Sauro
AirBar in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, owned by Jenny and Alexis Becker
Danny Jelaca Salon in Miami Beach, Florida, owned by Danny Jelaca
Dieci Uomo in Livingston, New Jersey, owned by Paul and Marie Gaglioti
Epic - a Michael Allen Salon in York, Pennsylvania, owned by Dawn Smith and Michael Allen Morgan
European Beauty Concepts in Williamsburg, Virginia, owned by Annette Ritzmann and Bar Palmer
Gary Manuel Studio in Seattle, Washington, owned by Gary Howse and Manuel Benevich
J Michaels Salon in Des Moines, Iowa, owned by Michelle and Jay Ryan
J Roland Salon in San Francisco, California, owned by Joseph Roland
Keter Salon in Berkeley, California, owned by Diana Gordon
Mane Attraction in Phoenix, Arizona, owned by Kendall Ong and Beate Assmuth-Ong
Misbehaven Spa & Salon in Walla Walla, Washington, owned by Jeanese LeFore
Poppy Salon in Waite Park, Minnesota, owned by Jackie Hyndman, Nicolle Kruger and Alex Hyndman
Salon Aguayo in Pasadena, California, owned by Joseph Aguayo
SOTO - Salon On The Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio, owned by Gregory Schroeder and Anastasia Kim Blair
Tricho Salon & Spa in Ann Arbor, Michigan, owned by Michael Stein and Lynn McMullin
Originally posted on Salon Today
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.
The 2026 Beauty Changes Lives Legacy Award has been awarded to Sam Villa for his trailblazing contribution, advocacy and mentorship that has profoundly transformed and elevated the professional beauty industry.
CND is relaunching its SHELLAC system with a new CND Visible Light Lamp, updated packaging, and an expanded shade offering.
Curl Cult founder Janine Jarman, a hairstylist, salon owner, educator, and product creator, is opening a community investment round that gives hairdressers and clients the opportunity to own a stake in the company they helped grow.
The night honored the artists and collections shaping the future of professional beauty during PBA NAHA 2026.
The ultra-lightweight, handle-free dryer is designed to reduce wrist strain while delivering powerful performance behind the chair.
Aura Salonware is proud to announce its 2026 scholarship recipients. This first-time scholarship in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association awarded three different scholarships to support beauty professionals at every point in their professional journey.
SalonCentric has announced its expansion into Alaska, marking the distributor’s presence across all 50 states and bringing additional access to professional beauty products, education and business support to licensed salon professionals in the region.
The 2026 Faces of Sola Visionaries encompass industry leaders driving innovation and meaningful change on their own terms.
Though their Astronaut of Hope collection of brushes and clips, ERGO Styling Tools raises $33,000 to support HairToStay, the first and only national nonprofit dedicated to making scalp cooling treatments affordable for cancer patients.
A new professional smoothing collection designed to help stylists control frizz and humidity while maintaining natural-looking results.
At the America’s Beauty Show press conference—hosted in collaboration with Cosmetologists Chicago—these standout professionals were recognized for their contributions to the industry.
A full day of education for hairstylists and salon pros focused on pricing, personal branding, client experience, social media, and long-term career growth.
