Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 351,005	$ 300,787	$ 315,972
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(148,689)	(106,350)	(76,556)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(26,141)	(6,468)	(5,198)
Net cash used by investing activities	(174,830)	(112,818)	(81,754)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	912,000	983	356,247
Repayments of long-term debt	(938,537)	(1,814)	(234,103)
Repurchases of common stock	(207,312)	(227,559)	(333,291)
Debt issuance costs	(12,748)		(3,896)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	16,220	54,351	26,663
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	1,347	22,084	14,646
Net cash used by financing activities	(229,030)	(151,955)	(173,734)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(561)	(2,551)	(1,024)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(53,416)	33,463	59,460
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	140,038	106,575	47,115
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	86,622	140,038	106,575
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	189,761	151,126	291,982
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(16)	(2)
Net cash used by investing activities	(16)	(2)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock	(207,312)	(227,559)	(333,291)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	16,220	54,351	26,663
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	1,347	22,084	14,646
Net cash used by financing activities	(189,745)	(151,124)	(291,982)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	20,902	19,003	(93,104)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	912,000		356,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(937,785)		(232,000)
Debt issuance costs	(12,748)		(3,896)
Net cash used by financing activities	(38,533)		120,104
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(17,631)	19,003	27,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	46,003	27,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	28,372	46,003	27,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	107,289	104,239	78,699
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(117,539)	(79,541)	(50,315)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(26,141)	(5,731)	(4,765)
Net cash used by investing activities	(143,680)	(85,272)	(55,080)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		14	247
Repayments of long-term debt	(92)	(172)	(161)
Net cash used by financing activities	(92)	(158)	86
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(36,483)	18,809	23,705
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	58,851	40,042	16,337
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	22,368	58,851	40,042
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,053	26,419	38,395
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(31,134)	(26,807)	(26,241)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(737)	(433)
Net cash used by investing activities	(31,134)	(27,544)	(26,674)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		969
Repayments of long-term debt	(660)	(1,642)	(1,942)
Net cash used by financing activities	(660)	(673)	(1,942)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(561)	(2,551)	(1,024)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	698	(4,349)	8,755
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	35,184	39,533	30,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 35,882	$ 35,184	$ 39,533