Parent, Issuers, Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$ 193,463	$ 197,127
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(49,776)	(64,551)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,765)	(16,070)
Net cash used by investing activities	(54,541)	(80,621)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	310,219	222,500
Repayments of long-term debt	(178,582)	(148,424)
Debt issuance costs	(3,896)
Repurchases of common stock	(301,727)	(407,197)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	21,854	18,722
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	12,211	11,316
Net cash used by financing activities	(139,921)	(303,083)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	213	(199)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(786)	(186,776)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	47,115	240,220
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	46,329	53,444
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	267,662	388,316
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment		(1)
Net cash used by investing activities		(1)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock	(301,727)	(407,197)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	21,854	18,722
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	12,211	160
Net cash used by financing activities	(267,662)	(388,315)
Reportable Legal Entities | Sally Holdings LLC and Sally Capital Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(129,104)	(230,500)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	310,000	222,500
Repayments of long-term debt	(177,000)	(147,000)
Debt issuance costs	(3,896)
Net cash used by financing activities	129,104	75,500
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(155,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		155,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	39,465	26,776
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(30,723)	(40,455)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,765)	(15,400)
Net cash used by investing activities	(35,488)	(55,855)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	219
Repayments of long-term debt	(118)	(62)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation		9,669
Net cash used by financing activities	101	9,607
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	4,078	(19,472)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	16,337	48,582
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	20,415	29,110
Reportable Legal Entities | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	15,440	12,535
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(19,053)	(24,095)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(670)
Net cash used by investing activities	(19,053)	(24,765)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,464)	(1,362)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation		1,487
Net cash used by financing activities	(1,464)	125
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	213	(199)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(4,864)	(12,304)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	30,778	36,638
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 25,914	$ 24,334