UNITED STATES | CANADA | UNITED KINGDOM + IRELAND | AUSTRALIA
From 8,000+ global entries to just 20 finalists, these salons showed heart, hustle, and a real need for a color bar glow-up. Only 4 will win. Meet the finalists and cast your vote. LFG!
THE TOP 5
United States & Mexico
Marc Levitan brings over two decades of salon leadership to Essentials, a vibrant space powered by 20 stylists and a culture rooted in mentorship and growth. With a hybrid pay model and strong systems in place, Marc has built a team focused on hitting six-figure goals and mastering the business of beauty.
While their color bar runs efficiently today, he’s ready to push boundaries and elevate the experience even further. Essentials isn’t just keeping up, they’re looking to lead.
Born from grit, growth, and a little fire (literally), Fringe + Ink is the brainchild of a stylist who never planned to own a salon, but now wouldn’t trade it for the world. What started as a bold leap into a salon suite has evolved into a hybrid hair-and-tattoo creative hub rooted in education, digital savvy, and fierce community ties.
After a whirlwind year, they’re ready for a fresh start, and the color bar is calling. With a tight-knit team, a Summit-trained mindset, and a co-artist who’s a social media powerhouse, Fringe + Ink is poised for a transformation that’s as bold as their brand.
Delitha traded a dream of singing for the dream of building something bigger: a salon that could support her young son and inspire her community. Now the go-to stylist for the NFL 49ers Cheerleaders, she’s built Cutie Pie Salon into a place of talent, teamwork, and tenacity. Even when she’s away working high-profile gigs, her loyal crew keeps things running strong.
A Color Bar Makeover would bring her space up to speed with the excellence she delivers behind the chair, and help this powerhouse brand level up even further.
With 30 years of industry leadership under their belt, West Coast Hair Design isn’t just riding the wave, they helped create it. As one of the first salons in the region to pioneer balayage, they’ve built a reputation for innovation, artistry, and trendsetting. Today, their team of eight expert stylists continues to push boundaries, blending experience with a strong social presence.
A Color Bar Makeover would fuel their next evolution and help them keep raising the bar, literally.
After weathering deep betrayal and financial strain, The Parlor Beauty Studio is rewriting its story, one courageous step at a time. Rebuilt with grit, purpose, and a growing team of 5 stylists and 3 assistants, the salon is fueled by a mission to uplift both clients and crew. While funding for improvements has run dry, the dream hasn’t: to become Georgia’s best salon, and eventually, a school.
A Color Bar Makeover would bring new light to a space that’s fought hard to rise, and is ready to shine.
THE TOP 5
Canada
When Eden Salon’s owner stepped into the industry with no salon background, it was a bold leap of faith and not without bumps. Taking over an established team in Surrey, BC, came with growing pains (including a near walkout after implementing new systems), but also huge potential. A Colour Bar Makeover could be the turning point this space needs to bring the team together, embrace change, and spark a fresh new chapter.
From a basement salon in a small town to a high-end space built from the ground up, Salon Bohème is a love letter to growth, grit, and great blondes. After reopening five years ago and weathering the setbacks of the pandemic, this communications grad–turned–lifelong stylist is laser-focused on leveling up.
With a deep love for her team, a hunger for data, and a vision rooted in education, a Color Bar Makeover could be the push that brings it all full circle.
With two buzzing locations and a dream that started alongside her mom, the founder of H.ART Beauty Parlour has always aimed bigger. After reopening the doors to her very first salon this past March, and now her second location, she’s come full circle. From navigating COVID to building a team-first culture of 11 talented colourists and stylists, she’s poured heart into every square foot.
Now, with a not-so-great colour bar in need of some love, this makeover would be the upgrade her team truly deserves.
You Beauty Bar is built on intention, community, and a clear drive to grow. With a strong focus on the numbers behind the chair and a desire to keep evolving, the team is ready for a smarter, more streamlined colour bar. This makeover would bring new energy to the space and support their mission to blend great hair with great business.
Since opening its doors in 2011, Hair Republic has grown into a multi-location brand known for quality and resilience. After navigating the closure of their Toronto location and launching a new partnership in 2025, they’re now gearing up to transform a fresh space into the next evolution of the Hair Republic name.
With rising colour costs and a team adapting to new systems, a Colour Bar Makeover would bring the boost they need to modernize operations and continue growing with confidence.
THE TOP 5
United Kingdom & Ireland
A salon built on passion and precision, The Space is more than a vibe, it’s a standard. For nine years, this team has delivered high-level artistry with a focus on always making things better for both stylists and clients. But with no room left to grow, the next move isn’t more space, it’s more strategy.
A Colour Bar Makeover would energize the team, spark creativity, and help unlock the profitability they’re ready for. No more hiding the backbar, it’s time to make it shine.
Celebrating 10 years in business, Donovan Hair and Beauty is ready to level up. Led by Tina, a stylist since age 15 and longtime Matrix educator, the salon is rooted in passion, precision, and a deep love for colour. With rising colour costs and growing conversations around waste, they’re actively seeking smarter systems to boost profit and efficiency.
A Colour Bar Makeover would bring the tech and transformation they’ve been waiting for and reflect the high standards they already live by.
Evolve Hair Studio is on a mission to become the most sustainable salon in their area and a training ground for the next generation of stylists. After bouncing back post-COVID and signing a 29-year lease to expand, owner Nicole has poured everything into creating a space where talent can grow from within. The only thing left untouched? The colour bar.
With a cracked pipe draining the bank and a makeshift setup in place, a Colour Bar Makeover would complete the vision, and fuel a future built on purpose, passion, and planet-first thinking.
Seven years in, A&E Hair and Makeup Studio has become one of the busiest salons in Bristol with a loyal following, prime location, and big dreams. But behind the buzz, their colour bar tells a different story. Built on a tight budget and left in limbo after a family setback, it’s become more chaos than creativity.
With goals of expanding into a second location and launching a training space, a Colour Bar Makeover would give this high-potential salon the upgrade it needs to match its ambition.
Wynyard Therapy is more than a salon, it’s a fully integrated beauty destination with big vision and even bigger structure behind it. Since taking over in 2022, the owner has transformed the space into a powerhouse of services, team culture, and forward-thinking strategy. With L’Oréal partnerships, skin tech, and a commitment to bespoke pricing and sustainable leadership, the only piece still catching up is the colour bar.
A makeover here wouldn’t just improve margins, it would help shape the flagship salon this team is destined to become.
THE TOP 5
Australia & New Zealand
With 17 years in the industry, Mayko Hair has built a reputation for strong culture, loyal clients, and a team that’s fully engaged. After consolidating from two locations into one, the salon has continued to evolve, but the colour bar hasn’t kept up. Described as “shocking,” it’s the one area that doesn’t reflect the high standards Mayko is known for.
A Colour Bar Makeover would bring this space in line with the rest of the experience and support a team that’s more than ready for the next level.
Studio Roe may be just three years young, but it’s backed by 12 years of experience and a clear vision for excellence. With a focus on consistency, digital quoting, and maintaining high standards across the board, this salon is serious about leveling up. The one thing holding them back? A colour bar that’s long overdue for a refresh.
A makeover would give Studio Roe the functional, future-ready space they’ve been chasing and finally match the quality they deliver every day.
Bleach Babes Studio was built from the ground up, literally. With a chair and mirror from Facebook Marketplace and a dream to match. Now, with a growing reputation and a bold brand identity, the challenge is leveling up the space to reflect the experience.
A Colour Bar Makeover would be the push that transforms this DIY hustle into a polished, professional vibe, giving the team the confidence and tools to take things to the next level.
With over 20 years in business and a reputation for award-winning colour, Stevie English Hair is a staple in the Australian salon scene. Now, after buying the building they’ve rented for 18 years, it’s time for a full transformation. With strong leadership, loyal staff, and a cult following around founder Steve, the team is ready to modernize operations and elevate the backbar.
A Colour Bar Makeover would be the perfect finishing touch to this next chapter.
With 28 years behind the chair and 13 as a salon owner, Exeter Hair and Beauty is built on experience, heart, and a commitment to community. Like many, they’ve felt the staffing crunch, but that hasn’t stopped them from seeking out new ideas and inspiration. After connecting through a shadowing program, they’ve kept an eye on what’s next.
A Colour Bar Makeover would bring fresh energy into their space and support the evolution they’re ready for.
