Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 297,582	$ 291,841	$ 217,246
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(68,978)	(59,571)	(48,559)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(43,535)	(87,164)	(36,463)
Net cash used by investing activities	(112,513)	(146,735)	(85,022)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt	2,101,489	428,605	334,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,921,284)	(577,911)	(461,567)
Debt issuance costs	(31,297)	(5,397)
Repurchase of common stock	(200,000)		(70)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	28,020	10,942	878
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	14,390	3,712	248
Net cash used by financing activities	(8,682)	(140,049)	(126,511)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	352	(1,070)	(666)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	176,739	3,987	5,047
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	63,481	59,494	54,447
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	240,220	63,481	59,494
Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	171,980	(10,942)	(808)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchase of common stock	(200,000)		(70)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	28,020	10,942	878
Net cash used by financing activities	(171,980)	10,942	808
Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,161	152,377	125,000
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt	2,101,475	421,300	334,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,918,339)	(568,300)	(459,000)
Debt issuance costs	(31,297)	(5,397)
Net cash used by financing activities	151,839	(152,397)	(125,000)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	155,000	(20)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		20	20
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	155,000		20
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	69,049	112,035	31,148
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(45,942)	(41,478)	(32,070)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(10,607)	(84,924)	(3,830)
Net cash used by investing activities	(56,549)	(126,402)	(35,900)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt	14	404
Repayments of long-term debt	(89)	(141)	(114)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	13,574	3,712	248
Net cash used by financing activities	13,499	3,975	134
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	25,999	(10,392)	(4,618)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	22,583	32,975	37,593
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	48,582	22,583	32,975
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	53,392	38,371	61,906
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(23,036)	(18,093)	(16,489)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(32,928)	(2,240)	(32,633)
Net cash used by investing activities	(55,964)	(20,333)	(49,122)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt		6,901
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,856)	(9,470)	(2,453)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	816
Net cash used by financing activities	(2,040)	(2,569)	(2,453)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	352	(1,070)	(666)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(4,260)	14,399	9,665
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	40,898	26,499	16,834
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 36,638	$ 40,898	$ 26,499