EP313: Salon of the Year? Here's How to Make Your Space Stand Out in 2025

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Is your salon ready for the spotlight?
The 2025 SALONS OF THE YEAR competition is open—and in this episode, I’ll show you how to enter with confidence. From photo tips to submission strategies, you’ll get everything you need to showcase your stunning space and stand out.

📥 Grab the free Salon Submission Prep Guide.
🗓️ Deadline to enter: June 30, 2025.

Salon Today Salon of the Year Contest Application Entry Here

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's episode is for all the salon owners out
there who've created somethingbeautiful, a space that feels
like an experience from themoment someone walks through the
door.
So let me ask you could yourspace be named one of the most
stunning salons of 2025?
If the answer is even maybe,then you need to hear this,

(00:21):
because Salon Today just openedentries for their 42nd annual
Salons of the Year.
Competition and your businessmight be exactly what the
industry needs to see.
Welcome to All About Hair,where we talk shop, share
stories and spill the secretsbehind great hair and a great

(00:42):
career.
I'm your host, denise Keilitz,a former salon owner, educator
and a lifelong hair crusader.
Whether you're a new stylistbuilding your book or just
someone who loves learning aboutall things hair, you're in the
right place.
Each week, we dive into realtechniques, honest career advice

(01:03):
and inspiration to help yougrow behind the chair or just
fall even more in love with theworld of hair, because around
here, it's not just aboutlooking good.
It's about learning, evolvingand having a little fun along
the way.
So grab your coffee, yourshears or your dry shampoo and
let's get into it, okay.

(01:30):
So every year, salon ownersinvest thousands, sometimes
hundreds of thousands, intocreating spaces that are not
only functional but inspiring,and yet most of that effort
stays hidden behind the doors ofyour local zip code.
Too often, talented ownersthink their space isn't quite

(01:50):
good enough to enter acompetition like this, or they
don't have the photos, time orconfidence to apply.
But here's the thing If you'vecreated something with heart,
intention and beauty, it is timeto share it, because salons of
the year doesn't just celebrateperfection.

(02:11):
It honors innovation, visionand impact.
Now, if you guys don't knowwhat salon today's contests are,
they have salons of the year.
They have the top 200 salons.
This is a wonderful way to getyour salon represented
nationally in a contest and it'spretty simple to do.

(02:33):
We entered salon today 200 a fewyears when I first started my
career.
That was the biggest goal.
I used to scour through mycareer.
That was the biggest goal.
I used to scour through salontoday magazine and every year
they would have this list of thetop 200 salons and I would just
oh my gosh read it cover tocover, because I wanted all

(02:56):
those points and all those ideasand all the motivation and I
would, oh, I just dreamed aboutbeing a top 200 salon one day
and I thought it was impossible.
I thought it was only for thosebig, big salons with, you know,
big budgets that had celebrityclients.

(03:16):
You know what I'm talking about.
We all have seen salons likethat, but it's not that way.
Now the salon today 200, theyhave, like I don't know, lots
and lots of categories you canenter in growth, education,
leadership, all these things.
That's not what today's podcastis about, but I wanted to kind
of tell you about this becausethat's the contest we entered,

(03:40):
and how I learned how to do thiswas from a dear friend of mine
who's a salon owner.
First time I met her, sheintroduced herself as a top 200
salon with Salon Today and I waslike what?
I had to ask her how, and soshe said it was easy.
I mean, it really is an easyentrance to get yourself

(04:05):
involved with this.
Basically, go to salon todayofficial website, check out
their contest They've got a few,they've even got one on
marketing, I believe and readthe rules.
The top 200.
It really is essays.
They're looking, you have towrite about what you've done,
and so some people really don'tlike it.

(04:27):
They look, they frown upon itabout the whole contest
altogether.
However, it is one of thoseaccolades that you could put on
your business card, you couldput on your front door and it
just looks really good to say,and that you're in the presence
of other salons who think thesame way you do, who want

(04:49):
excellence out of our industry.
That's what I see it, as Iremember when, when we got our
award the first time, they werepresenting the reward, the
awards at in new Orleans and myhusband and I flew there and, oh
my gosh, I was so excited Icould not believe it, and there
was, like I don't know, like 20other euphora salons that had

(05:13):
gotten awarded as well.
It was such an amazing, amazingexperience to be in the same
room with and you didn't have tobe in a U4 salon, I just said
that because they were my peepsbut, um, it was just amazing to
be in the same room with allthese leaders from all these
salons that you know.

(05:33):
We all want the best for ourindustry.
We're all trying to better theindustry.
So that's why, when I saw thiscome through my email about, um,
uh, the salons of the yearcontest, I wanted to do a
podcast about it, because I wantmy fellow salon owners who
listen to this all over theworld to know that we, as salon

(05:57):
owners, it's up to us to levelup our industry.
Nobody else is going to do itfor us.
So and this is part of doingthat is, you enter contests.
The cream rises to the topright.
You get yourself recognized.
Then you can use that in yourmarketing and then other people
look at you.
You can use that in yourmarketing and then other people

(06:19):
look at you.
Clients look at you like, likeI used to look at those salons
Wow, this must be a reallyspecial place.
So that's why I'm doing this.
Okay, let's talk about the partkind of like me.
I mean, it was.
I didn't think I was capable ofdoing that, but I won like four
years in a row.
The part that stops most peoplecold is the submission process.
Now, in this contest, yes, it'sphoto based.

(06:42):
Yes, there's a form.
Yes, there's actually a fee toenter a $75 fee.
But what if I told you that thereal magic is in how you
prepare for the submission?
Let me walk you through the keystrategies that can make your
entry stand out and dramaticallyincrease your chances of being
recognized.
Okay, here's what you need toknow If you're even thinking

(07:05):
about entering this contest.
Number one use a professionalphotographer.
Salon mirrors and lighting arereally tricky.
A professional who knows how tophotograph interiors can
highlight your color bar, yourretail area, your shampoo lounge
, all without glare ordistortion.
And bonus guess what?

(07:26):
You'll be able to reuse thesephotos for your website, social
media and staff recruitment.
Okay, my second tip keep itpeople free.
Now you're allowed one photowith owners or your team, but
everything else should be allabout your space no clients, no
stylists in action, just cleanarchitectural storytelling.

(07:50):
Third tip remove all the clutter.
This drives me up the wallanyway on a daily basis in a
salon, but just remove theclutter.
Tidy up all the wall anyway ona daily basis in a salon, but
just remove the clutter.
Tidy up all your stations.
Wipe down the front desk andclear away cups, cords and chaos
.
Product is welcome in yourretail area and color bar, but
keep everything neat andintentional.

(08:12):
Take off the plastic wrap.
If you've got new chairs,resist the urge to leave on the
protective vinyl.
It's distracting and it takesaway from the luxury vibe you've
created.
After the pictures you couldpop those things back on,
because I know some of thesechairs.
You don't want color to get onthem and you just invested a
bunch of money on them.
Skip the seasonal decor LikeChristmas wreaths or Easter

(08:36):
bunnies Might be cute for theseason you're in, but they date
your photos for the judges.
So keep your design timelessand season neutral.
And then, last but not least,tell a visual story.
The judges will read yourwritten application, including
questions about your threefavorite design choices, so make

(08:56):
sure your photos highlightthose moments.
Use file names or captions tomake it clear which image aligns
with which story.
This is relatively important,just so it makes the job easier
for judging.
Let me tell you one of myfriends in Temecula, california.
She entered and she actuallywon Salon of the Year and I

(09:16):
remember congratulating on herand I got to tell you her salon
is beautiful, beautiful and herphotos of her salon stunning.
She well, well deserved awardfor that salon.
Let's talk about the keydeadlines and information you
need to enter this contest.

(09:37):
Your salon must have opened orbeen remodeled between January
1st 2023 and March 30th 2025.
You must submit up to 10high-res images and these need
to be at least 300 dpi and 9 by12 inches.

(09:58):
Your entry must be fullycompleted and submitted by the
end of June this month.
I'm recording this on the 2ndof June, so you have almost a
month.
So June 30th 2025 is thedeadline.
Entry includes a shortapplication.
Entry includes a shortapplication, which you can find
on their website, three essayquestions, a signed release and

(10:21):
the $75 processing fee.
Now winners may be asked tosubmit a video tour to be
featured in the digital issue.
That's if you win.
And this year, salon Today willrecognize excellence across six
categories Hair salon or salonday spa, day spa or medical spa,
barbershop, nail salon, salonsuites or independent workspaces

(10:46):
that's cool, huh and blow drybars.
So no matter what you're set up, and if it's beautifully
designed, it belongs here.
So why does this matter?
Let's get real.
Designed, it belongs here.
So why does this matter?
Let's get real.
Winning or even being featuredin salons of the year is a
powerful moment.
It validates your vision, itgives your team a sense of pride

(11:08):
and it puts your salon in frontof tens of thousands of
industry professionals andpotential new clients.
And, more than anything, ittells the story of what's
possible when creativity meetsleadership.
If your space has beentransformed, if you've created a
salon, spa or barbershop thatfeels like magic, this is your

(11:31):
sign to go for it.
Visit salon todaycom to grabthe application, or check the
link in the show notes todownload my free PDF.
You've already done the hardpart.
Now it's time to shine andremember when you know better,
you do better.
Thanks for tuning in to allabout hair.
If you loved this episode, hit,subscribe, leave us a review

(11:54):
and share it with a fellowstylist or hair loving friend.
You want more tips, tools andbehind the scenes goodness?
Follow me on YouTube or head tomy website at DeniseKylitzcom.
Yes, I know it's hard to spell,so don't worry, the link is in
the show notes.
Until next time, keep learning,keep creating and keep loving

(12:17):
what you do.