Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Net sales	$ 976,358	$ 998,161	$ 980,067	$ 998,032	$ 964,230	$ 967,890	$ 937,755	$ 964,468	$ 3,952,618	$ 3,834,343	$ 3,753,498
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses									1,988,678	1,936,492	1,893,326
Gross profit	483,441	498,976	487,474	494,049	475,311	481,319	467,452	473,769	1,963,940	1,897,851	1,860,172
Selling, general and administrative expenses									1,365,986	1,313,134	1,273,513
Depreciation and amortization									99,657	89,391	79,663
Operating earnings									498,297	495,326	506,996
Interest expense									144,237	116,842	116,317
Earnings before provision for income taxes									354,060	378,484	390,679
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									131,118	143,397	144,686
Net earnings	$ 52,621	$ 67,919	$ 60,159	$ 42,243	$ 56,180	$ 62,463	$ 61,535	$ 54,909	222,942	235,087	245,993
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(22,346)	(49,157)	(18,730)
Total comprehensive income									200,596	185,930	227,263
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Selling, general and administrative expenses									11,902	9,473	10,396
Depreciation and amortization									3	1	1
Operating earnings									(11,905)	(9,474)	(10,397)
Earnings before provision for income taxes									(11,905)	(9,474)	(10,397)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(4,638)	(3,679)	(4,037)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax									230,209	240,882	252,353
Net earnings									222,942	235,087	245,993
Total comprehensive income									222,942	235,087	245,993
Reportable Legal Entities | Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Selling, general and administrative expenses									364	475	474
Operating earnings									(364)	(475)	(474)
Interest expense									144,229	116,753	116,063
Earnings before provision for income taxes									(144,593)	(117,228)	(116,537)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(56,161)	(45,532)	(45,264)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax									318,641	312,578	323,626
Net earnings									230,209	240,882	252,353
Total comprehensive income									230,209	240,882	252,353
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Net sales									3,219,812	3,102,406	2,986,026
Related party sales									2,666	2,733	2,854
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses									1,595,187	1,545,873	1,486,048
Gross profit									1,627,291	1,559,266	1,502,832
Selling, general and administrative expenses									1,074,821	1,012,810	969,026
Depreciation and amortization									76,250	66,093	56,682
Operating earnings									476,220	480,363	477,124
Interest expense									(6)	2	13
Earnings before provision for income taxes									476,226	480,361	477,111
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									181,932	185,388	181,741
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax									24,347	17,605	28,256
Net earnings									318,641	312,578	323,626
Total comprehensive income									318,641	312,578	323,626
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Net sales									732,806	731,937	767,472
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses									396,157	393,352	410,132
Gross profit									336,649	338,585	357,340
Selling, general and administrative expenses									278,899	290,376	293,617
Depreciation and amortization									23,404	23,297	22,980
Operating earnings									34,346	24,912	40,743
Interest expense									14	87	241
Earnings before provision for income taxes									34,332	24,825	40,502
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									9,985	7,220	12,246
Net earnings									24,347	17,605	28,256
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(22,346)	(49,157)	(18,730)
Total comprehensive income									2,001	(31,552)	9,526
Consolidating Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income
Related party sales									(2,666)	(2,733)	(2,854)
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses									(2,666)	(2,733)	(2,854)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax									(573,197)	(571,065)	(604,235)
Net earnings									(573,197)	(571,065)	(604,235)
Total comprehensive income									$ (573,197)	$ (571,065)	$ (604,235)