Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Percentage of guarantor subsidiaries owned by parent	100.00%
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 47,115	$ 240,220	$ 63,481	$ 59,494
Trade, income taxes and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	101,176	125,490
Inventory	808,313	735,356
Prepaid expenses	26,727	29,376
Deferred income tax assets, net	32,486	33,465
Property and equipment, net	229,540	202,661
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	668,375	660,768
Other assets	36,354	38,464
Total assets	1,950,086	2,065,800	1,728,600
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	273,456	262,209
Accrued liabilities	184,762	200,267
Income taxes payable	6,417	13,004
Long-term debt	1,690,703	1,617,230
Other liabilities	24,286	24,232
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	73,941	63,943
Total liabilities	2,253,565	2,180,885
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(303,479)	(115,085)	(218,982)	(461,272)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	1,950,086	2,065,800
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent
Assets
Trade, income taxes and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	2,317	23,734
Prepaid expenses	1,195	1,181
Deferred income tax assets, net	(391)	(408)
Property and equipment, net	2
Investment in subsidiaries	237,696	(30,403)
Total assets	240,819	(5,896)
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	545,658	110,512
Accrued liabilities	191	141
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(1,551)	(1,464)
Total liabilities	544,298	109,189
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(303,479)	(115,085)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	240,819	(5,896)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		155,000		20
Due from affiliates		2
Prepaid expenses	380	24
Deferred income tax assets, net	(379)	(423)
Investment in subsidiaries	2,530,825	2,194,771
Other assets	29,725	32,445
Total assets	2,560,551	2,381,819
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	599,246	761,262
Accrued liabilities	36,341	38,171
Income taxes payable	3,319	4,136
Long-term debt	1,684,381	1,609,308
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(432)	(655)
Total liabilities	2,322,855	2,412,222
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	237,696	(30,403)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	2,560,551	2,381,819
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	16,337	48,582	22,583	32,975
Trade, income taxes and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	56,432	63,964
Due from affiliates	1,215,625	934,268
Inventory	605,727	551,017
Prepaid expenses	13,253	12,189
Deferred income tax assets, net	31,504	38,805
Property and equipment, net	152,982	140,238
Investment in subsidiaries	388,569	367,435
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	483,583	475,623
Other assets	1,254	1,069
Total assets	2,965,266	2,633,190
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	210,661	202,560
Due to affiliates	813	3,637
Accrued liabilities	121,426	134,387
Income taxes payable	1	4,596
Long-term debt	181	265
Other liabilities	22,043	21,060
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	79,316	71,914
Total liabilities	434,441	438,419
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	2,530,825	2,194,771
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	2,965,266	2,633,190
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	30,778	36,638	40,898	26,499
Trade, income taxes and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	42,427	37,792
Due from affiliates	813	3,637
Inventory	202,586	184,339
Prepaid expenses	11,899	15,982
Deferred income tax assets, net	1,752	(4,509)
Property and equipment, net	76,556	62,423
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	184,792	185,145
Other assets	5,375	4,950
Total assets	556,978	526,397
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	62,795	59,649
Due to affiliates	70,721	62,496
Accrued liabilities	26,804	27,568
Income taxes payable	3,097	4,272
Long-term debt	6,141	7,657
Other liabilities	2,243	3,172
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(3,392)	(5,852)
Total liabilities	168,409	158,962
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	388,569	367,435
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	556,978	526,397
Consolidating Eliminations
Assets
Due from affiliates	(1,216,438)	(937,907)
Investment in subsidiaries	(3,157,090)	(2,531,803)
Total assets	(4,373,528)	(3,469,710)
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	(1,216,438)	(937,907)
Total liabilities	(1,216,438)	(937,907)
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(3,157,090)	(2,531,803)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ (4,373,528)	$ (3,469,710)