Awards &amp; Contests > Salon Today 200

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.)

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Salon Culture

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.

Owners Chenica Racine and Ricka O'Bannon outside the branded front door of their salon C&R Beauty Bar.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Customer Service

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.

Educator Oscar Bond evaluates a student's haircut on a mannequin.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Employee Education

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.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Technology and Client Retention and Referral

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.

Surrounded by balloons and holding champagne, the excited team from Pure Salon Spa.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Environmental Sustainability and Retail & Merchandising

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.

The colorful team from Chicago's Bang! Salon share a laugh while posing.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Philanthropy

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.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Business Builders

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.

Pretty in pink, the team from Pinup Studio enjoy a pajama party in the salon.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200: Compensation and Benefits

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.

Awards & Contests

SALON TODAY 200 Announcements Coming Soon!

As our judges read those last essays and create their list of honorees in each category, we're planning to start announce the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 starting February 25.

Awards & Contests

2026 SALON TODAY 200 Application is Open!

Now in its 29th year, the SALON TODAY 200 is a landmark business competition that celebrates salon success, growth and best practices. The 2026 application is now open, with an extended deadline of November 15, 2025!

To give you easier access to all the SALON TODAY 200, we've assembled links to the different categories all in one place. - Salon Today

Awards & Contests

SALON TODAY 200: Beauty in Bloom

See our SALON TODAY 200 stats at a glance and access all of this year's honoree categories from one place.

Awards & Contests

2025 SALON TODAY 200: Growth, Part Two

A big cheer to our 2025 SALON TODAY 200 honorees in Growth, who master a number of best practices to propel their businesses forward, including the team from Studio Wish in Twinsburg, Ohio. (This is the second half of our honorees in this category.)

Awards & Contests

2025 SALON TODAY 200: Growth, Part One