Business Segments and Geographic Area Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013 segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Business Segments and Geographic Area Information
Number of operating segments									2
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 906,435,000	$ 912,101,000	$ 898,239,000	$ 905,441,000	$ 882,557,000	$ 886,991,000	$ 889,281,000	$ 864,815,000	$ 3,622,216,000	$ 3,523,644,000	$ 3,269,131,000
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit									520,362,000	499,355,000	448,469,000
Share-based compensation expense									(19,201,000)	(16,852,000)	(15,560,000)
Interest expense									(107,695,000)	(138,412,000)	(112,530,000)
Earnings before provision for income taxes									412,667,000	360,943,000	335,939,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	1,950,086,000				2,065,800,000				1,950,086,000	2,065,800,000	1,728,600,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization									72,192,000	64,698,000	59,722,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									84,879,000	69,086,000	59,955,000
Other information
Net favorable impact on consolidated operating earnings											21,300,000
Credit from a litigation settlement											27,000,000
Non-recurring charges incurred											5,700,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt									220,000	38,376,000	2,765,000
United States
Net sales:
Total net sales									2,943,959,000	2,885,958,000	2,688,062,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	1,356,969,000				1,325,787,000				1,356,969,000	1,325,787,000	1,240,894,000
Foreign
Net sales:
Total net sales									678,257,000	637,686,000	581,069,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	530,190,000				498,595,000				530,190,000	498,595,000	434,095,000
Prior senior notes and term loan B
Other information
Loss on extinguishment of debt										37,800,000
Operating segments
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit									637,510,000	612,219,000	545,623,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	1,887,159,000				1,824,382,000				1,887,159,000	1,824,382,000	1,674,989,000
Corporate
Segment operating profit:
Unallocated expenses									(97,947,000)	(96,012,000)	(81,594,000)
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	62,927,000				241,418,000				62,927,000	241,418,000	53,611,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization									10,151,000	7,317,000	5,860,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									8,570,000	14,951,000	10,864,000
Other information
Net favorable impact on consolidated operating earnings											2,300,000
Sally Beauty Supply
Net sales:
Total net sales									2,230,028,000	2,198,468,000	2,012,407,000
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit									437,018,000	429,520,000	380,963,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	913,395,000				864,598,000				913,395,000	864,598,000	766,896,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization									37,077,000	31,397,000	28,763,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									60,565,000	42,158,000	34,946,000
Other information
Charge resulting from loss contingency										10,200,000
BSG
Net sales:
Total net sales									1,392,188,000	1,325,176,000	1,256,724,000
Segment operating profit:
Total segment operating profit									200,492,000	182,699,000	164,660,000
Identifiable assets:
Total assets	973,764,000				959,784,000				973,764,000	959,784,000	908,093,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization									24,964,000	25,984,000	25,099,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures									15,744,000	11,977,000	14,145,000
Other information
Net favorable impact on consolidated operating earnings											$ 19,000,000