Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Percentage of guarantor subsidiaries owned by parent	100.00%
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 106,575	$ 47,115	$ 240,220	$ 63,481
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	98,500	96,245
Inventory	828,429	808,313
Other current assets	38,995	31,658
Deferred income tax assets, net	31,650	32,486
Property and equipment, net	238,111	229,540
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	651,085	668,375
Other assets	36,628	36,354
Total assets	2,029,973	1,950,086	2,065,800
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	259,463	273,456
Accrued liabilities	198,769	184,762
Income taxes payable	4,331	6,417
Long-term debt	1,811,641	1,690,703
Other liabilities	27,848	24,286
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	74,974	73,941
Total liabilities	2,377,026	2,253,565
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(347,053)	(303,479)	(115,085)	(218,982)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	2,029,973	1,950,086
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent
Assets
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	2	137
Other current assets	7,935	3,375
Deferred income tax assets, net	(213)	(391)
Property and equipment, net	1	2
Investment in subsidiaries	471,320	237,696
Total assets	479,045	240,819
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	826,819	545,658
Accrued liabilities	691	191
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(1,412)	(1,551)
Total liabilities	826,098	544,298
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(347,053)	(303,479)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	479,045	240,819
Reportable Legal Entities | Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	27,000		155,000
Other current assets	452	380
Deferred income tax assets, net	1	(379)
Investment in subsidiaries	2,835,722	2,530,825
Other assets	28,931	29,725
Total assets	2,892,106	2,560,551
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	571,847	599,246
Accrued liabilities	40,751	36,341
Income taxes payable	1,051	3,319
Long-term debt	1,807,447	1,684,381
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(310)	(432)
Total liabilities	2,420,786	2,322,855
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	471,320	237,696
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	2,892,106	2,560,551
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	40,042	16,337	48,582	22,583
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	63,009	56,432
Due from affiliates	1,464,752	1,215,625
Inventory	631,786	605,727
Other current assets	15,016	13,253
Deferred income tax assets, net	30,527	31,504
Property and equipment, net	158,402	152,982
Investment in subsidiaries	392,270	388,569
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	476,113	483,583
Other assets	1,625	1,254
Total assets	3,273,542	2,965,266
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	202,743	210,661
Due to affiliates	27	813
Accrued liabilities	129,791	121,426
Income taxes payable	1	1
Long-term debt	267	181
Other liabilities	25,020	22,043
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	79,971	79,316
Total liabilities	437,820	434,441
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	2,835,722	2,530,825
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	3,273,542	2,965,266
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	39,533	30,778	36,638	40,898
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	35,489	39,676
Due from affiliates	27	813
Inventory	196,643	202,586
Other current assets	15,592	14,650
Deferred income tax assets, net	1,335	1,752
Property and equipment, net	79,708	76,556
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	174,972	184,792
Other assets	6,072	5,375
Total assets	549,371	556,978
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Accounts payable	56,720	62,795
Due to affiliates	66,086	70,721
Accrued liabilities	27,536	26,804
Income taxes payable	3,279	3,097
Long-term debt	3,927	6,141
Other liabilities	2,828	2,243
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	(3,275)	(3,392)
Total liabilities	157,101	168,409
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	392,270	388,569
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	549,371	556,978
Consolidating Eliminations
Assets
Due from affiliates	(1,464,779)	(1,216,438)
Investment in subsidiaries	(3,699,312)	(3,157,090)
Total assets	(5,164,091)	(4,373,528)
Liabilities and Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity
Due to affiliates	(1,464,779)	(1,216,438)
Total liabilities	(1,464,779)	(1,216,438)
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(3,699,312)	(3,157,090)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ (5,164,091)	$ (4,373,528)