Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Change in the carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 538,278,000	$ 532,331,000
Acquisitions	2,600,000	5,548,000
Foreign currency translation	(4,537,000)	399,000
Balance at the end of the period	536,341,000	538,278,000	532,331,000
Impairment losses in connection with the goodwill	0	0	0
Not individually material acquisitions
Change in the carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period		9,400,000
Acquisitions		2,000,000
Balance at the end of the period		2,000,000
Sally Beauty Supply
Change in the carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	92,654,000	89,855,000
Acquisitions		501,000
Foreign currency translation	(1,322,000)	2,298,000
Balance at the end of the period	91,332,000	92,654,000
Beauty Systems Group
Change in the carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	445,624,000	442,476,000
Acquisitions	2,600,000	5,047,000
Foreign currency translation	(3,215,000)	(1,899,000)
Balance at the end of the period	445,009,000	445,624,000
Beauty Systems Group | Essential Salon Products, Inc.
Change in the carrying amounts of goodwill
Acquisitions		$ 3,100,000