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		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 996,283	$ 998,043	$ 2,966,568	$ 2,964,122
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses	502,913	495,404	1,500,247	1,481,669
Gross profit	493,370	502,639	1,466,321	1,482,453
Selling, general and administrative expenses	378,598	367,247	1,118,345	1,101,355
Restructuring charges	12,544	5,054	24,513	14,265
Operating earnings	102,228	130,338	323,463	366,833
Interest expense (income)	24,501	26,969	73,779	80,616
Earnings before provision for income taxes	77,727	103,369	249,684	286,217
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	19,501	36,830	46,823	106,860
Net earnings	58,226	66,539	202,861	179,357
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(21,860)	17,686	(10,171)	7,044
Total comprehensive income	36,366	84,225	192,690	186,401
Parent
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	2,777	2,726	8,242	8,098
Operating earnings	(2,777)	(2,726)	(8,242)	(8,098)
Earnings before provision for income taxes	(2,777)	(2,726)	(8,242)	(8,098)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(804)	(1,058)	(1,883)	(3,145)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	60,199	68,207	209,220	184,310
Net earnings	58,226	66,539	202,861	179,357
Total comprehensive income	58,226	66,539	202,861	179,357
Sally Holdings And Sally Capital
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expenses	367	81	1,148	412
Operating earnings	(367)	(81)	(1,148)	(412)
Interest expense (income)	24,510	26,952	73,817	80,560
Earnings before provision for income taxes	(24,877)	(27,033)	(74,965)	(80,972)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(7,206)	(10,500)	(21,630)	(31,451)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	77,870	84,740	262,555	233,831
Net earnings	60,199	68,207	209,220	184,310
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	308		1,815
Total comprehensive income	60,507	68,207	211,035	184,310
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	798,185	814,423	2,381,460	2,429,104
Related party sales	639	648	1,716	1,991
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses	399,482	398,707	1,194,183	1,201,427
Gross profit	399,342	416,364	1,188,993	1,229,668
Selling, general and administrative expenses	292,178	285,433	856,080	859,791
Restructuring charges	12,544	5,054	24,513	14,265
Operating earnings	94,620	125,877	308,400	355,612
Interest expense (income)	2	(1)	(1)	(1)
Earnings before provision for income taxes	94,618	125,878	308,401	355,613
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	23,823	44,929	46,666	132,727
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	7,075	3,791	820	10,945
Net earnings	77,870	84,740	262,555	233,831
Total comprehensive income	77,870	84,740	262,555	233,831
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	198,098	183,620	585,108	535,018
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses	104,070	97,345	307,780	282,233
Gross profit	94,028	86,275	277,328	252,785
Selling, general and administrative expenses	83,276	79,007	252,875	233,054
Operating earnings	10,752	7,268	24,453	19,731
Interest expense (income)	(11)	18	(37)	57
Earnings before provision for income taxes	10,763	7,250	24,490	19,674
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	3,688	3,459	23,670	8,729
Net earnings	7,075	3,791	820	10,945
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(22,168)	17,686	(11,986)	7,044
Total comprehensive income	(15,093)	21,477	(11,166)	17,989
Consolidating Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Related party sales	(639)	(648)	(1,716)	(1,991)
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses	(639)	(648)	(1,716)	(1,991)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(145,144)	(156,738)	(472,595)	(429,086)
Net earnings	(145,144)	(156,738)	(472,595)	(429,086)
Total comprehensive income	$ (145,144)	$ (156,738)	$ (472,595)	$ (429,086)