Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	$ 49,353,000	$ 55,433,000
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Gross carrying amount	151,711,000	146,423,000
Accumulated amortization	(86,320,000)	(71,759,000)
Net value	65,391,000	74,664,000
Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill, net	114,744,000	130,097,000
Amortization expense	14,500,000	12,800,000	13,700,000
Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization:
2015	14,021,000
2016	12,677,000
2017	10,613,000
2018	9,380,000
2019	7,961,000
Thereafter	10,739,000
Net value	65,391,000	74,664,000
Intangible assets weighted average amortization period	5 years 10 months 24 days
Essential Salon Products, Inc.
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Intangible assets subject to amortization recorded in connection with acquisitions	9,100,000
Not individually material acquisitions
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Intangible assets subject to amortization recorded in connection with acquisitions	4,000,000
Sally Beauty Supply
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	21,882,000	27,968,000
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Gross carrying amount	30,691,000	26,809,000
Accumulated amortization	(14,920,000)	(12,177,000)
Net value	15,771,000	14,632,000
Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill, net	37,653,000	42,600,000
Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization:
Net value	15,771,000	14,632,000
Beauty Systems Group
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	27,471,000	27,465,000
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Gross carrying amount	121,020,000	119,614,000
Accumulated amortization	(71,400,000)	(59,582,000)
Net value	49,620,000	60,032,000
Total intangible assets, excluding goodwill, net	77,091,000	87,497,000
Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization:
Net value	$ 49,620,000	$ 60,032,000