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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
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.
