Columbia Missouri’s Top 10 Beauty Salons

The Profile

Hair Therapy Salon & Day Spa was founded by Kim Olson in 2010 and grew into a salon that now incorporates dedicated spa services after the owner purchased the current building in 2018. That combination of years in business and an on-site spa gives clients continuity between salon and spa care.

The team emphasizes a welcoming culture built around their E.P.I.C.C. core values and the salon positions itself as both professional and approachable. Stylists handle everything from balayage and rainbow colour to pixie cuts and the site highlights a team that prioritizes clear, compassionate communication alongside ongoing skills development.

Clients can reach the salon at (573) 474-4555 and visit the studio. Their published opening hours cover weekdays and Saturdays with varying times and the business runs a stylist-match quiz based on DISC personality types and the five Love Languages to pair guests with compatible stylists.

Why It Made the List and Why It’s Our Top Pick

Hair Therapy stands out because it combines an owner-led history and an expanded spa footprint with an intentional client-matching approach; the stylist quiz, consistent core values and an in-house spa create a unified experience that supports both long-term hair goals and short-term relaxation in one visit.

Good to Know

Before booking, consider taking the salon’s stylist-match quiz to be paired with a compatible stylist and note the salon’s published hours differ by day; calls to (573) 474-4555 are accepted for directions and appointment questions.

The Profile

Studio 306 West Hair Salon presents a polished, personable appointment experience focused on considered consultation and careful finishing work; the team emphasises professional service that leaves hair looking natural, refreshed and well maintained. The salon lists a full services menu and offers gift certificates as well as scheduled online booking through Vagaro to simplify planning visits.

Studio 306 West provides clear parking instructions on its location page: a public parking garage sits immediately adjacent to the salon, with entrances accessible from E Broadway and E Walnut beside the Broadway Hotel. That proximity reduces the need to hunt for street parking and helps clients plan arrival times for morning and evening appointments.

Why It Made the List

Studio 306 West’s defining advantage is practical downtown convenience combined with a steady, professional appointment approach; customers reach a nearby public parking garage from E Broadway or E Walnut, which makes arrival predictable, and the salon’s emphasis on careful consultation and finishing work supports consistent, polished results that suit everyday styling needs.

Good to Know

If you drive, use the public parking garage directly beside the salon; it is accessible from either E Broadway or E Walnut next to the Broadway Hotel. The salon’s booking system uses Vagaro and gift certificates are available through the same platform, which can help when scheduling or purchasing services as a gift.

The Profile

mk LUSH identifies as an official L’Oréal Professionnel hair salon serving Columbia with a full menu of salon and spa services. The salon lists traditional women’s and men’s haircuts, colour services, balayage and speciality colouring alongside waxing and lash-extension options that expand its offering beyond a single focus.

The business highlights facials, peels and keratin smoothing options in addition to hair services, and it operates with a tiered pricing system plus gift-card and membership options. The salon phone number is published as 573-777-1030 and guests are encouraged to call while the team transitions online booking systems.

Why It Made the List

mk LUSH’s strength is the breadth of professional offerings combined with manufacturer-backed product partnerships and technical treatments; from keratin smoothing treatments that aim to reduce frizz for months to facials, the salon supports both cosmetic colour work and longer-term hair health routines.

Good to Know

The salon asks guests to during its booking-system change; if you need keratin or complex colour services, phone reservations help confirm timing and any specific preparation or service notes.

The Profile

The Strand Salon and Spa is presented as a polished, professional full-service salon where appointments are handled with close attention and care. The business positions itself to deliver results that feel considered and natural, maintaining a relaxed environment without losing its professional edge or focus on suitability.

Across typical visits the Strand emphasises consistency and attention to detail so that clients leave feeling refreshed and well looked after. The legacy messaging stresses a service style that balances warmth and professional standards, with care put into consultation and finish to ensure results work in everyday life.

Why It Made the List

The Strand’s defining quality is its steady, considered approach to appointments: a calm, professional atmosphere where consultation and detail work take priority, producing finishes that aim to be flattering and easy to maintain for clients after they leave the salon.

Good to Know

Appointments at The Strand commonly prioritise in-depth consultations to match style and lifestyle; allowing time for that conversation helps the team tailor colour and cut decisions to your hair’s long-term needs.

The Profile

Broadway Hair Company was founded by Morgan Boyles in July 2020 and operates in Columbia. The salon lists an array of services including hair, nails, body sculpting, full-body waxing and microneedling and it emphasises a welcoming, drama-free atmosphere for both guests and team members.

The salon highlights hospitality touches such as complimentary drinks and relaxing shampoo bowls, encourages continuing education for its stylists and offers wedding services with trial runs. The owner remains active behind the chair which supports continuity for clients booking bridal and special-event styling.

Why It Made the List

Broadway Hair Co. is notable for its wedding and bridal services combined with active owner involvement; trial runs and careful planning are part of the offering and the salon’s front-of-house hospitality and continuing-education focus help clients arrive confident about their event day styling.

Good to Know

Broadway Hair Co. requires a 48-hour cancellation notice and notes that early appointments between 8am and 10am are available by appointment only; check availability when you book to reserve those specific time slots.

The Profile

Foxy Boss bills itself as a salon-and-social concept located at 28 N 9th Street, offering precision haircuts, colour, styling and a full complement of nail services. The founders Adam and Bethany Voight frame the business as a modern, posh environment designed to be both stylish and welcoming for guests.

The salon’s décor leans midcentury with luxury shampoo bowls and a front living room where visitors can enjoy craft beer, cider, coffee or other beverages. Foxy Boss also cites product retail such as the Kevin Murphy line and lists specific spa extras like CBD treatments and structured gel manicure services.

Why It Made the List

Foxy Boss’s distinctive feature is its social salon experience that pairs professional salon services with on-site beverages and a boutique atmosphere; the combination of a casual front lounge, curated retail and salon treatment areas creates a memorable, hospitality-forward visit.

Good to Know

The salon is closed Sundays and Mondays and posts weekday and Saturday hours; they stock Kevin Murphy retail and note that certain spa amenities like CBD treatments and specialty manicures are available, so mention desired extras when booking.

The Profile

The Uplifted Suite positions itself as Columbia’s luxury salon destination with a strong focus on customised dimensional colour and bridal styling. The site describes a client experience that begins with a warm beverage and a thorough consultation, and it highlights stylists who specialise in lived-in colour techniques and luxury bridal finishes.

Their process includes a pre-visit text the day before appointments, a consultation that covers lifestyle and hair health, and colour experiences that include either a cut or a customised post-colour treatment; Olaplex and other restorative treatments are incorporated into the salon’s approach to preserve hair health during chemical services.

Why It Made the List

Uplifted’s emphasis on personalised pre-visit communication, integrated post-colour treatments and a clear bridal-specialist offering makes it ideal for clients seeking both technical colour work and the extra care that helps those results remain healthy and wearable over time.

Good to Know

Booking uses Square appointments and new guests choose from three tailored entry experiences; every colour booking includes either a haircut or a customised post-colour treatment, so allow extra time when scheduling a colour appointment.

The Profile

Salon Nefisa publishes extended weekday hours and a schedule that keeps it open late on Wednesdays until 9pm while remaining closed Sundays. The site lists a full weekly schedule with typical opening times from early morning through evening and a Saturday presence, which is convenient for clients with varied work schedules.

The salon’s gallery imagery and specials highlight creative, colourful work and periodic promotions such as a Refresher Reset special; product lines and offerings appear in the site content alongside booking links and policy pages that outline salon processes.

Why It Made the List

Salon Nefisa differentiates itself through late-week access and a visible focus on creative colour work; the combination of extended Wednesday hours and a gallery showing vivid results makes it an appealing choice for clients needing evening appointments for specialised colour transformations.

Good to Know

Salon hours are posted online with a 9pm Wednesday closing and a full Saturday schedule; visit the salon’s booking link and policies page to reserve evening slots, which may fill faster than daytime appointments.

The Profile

The Look is a long-established salon and day spa whose owners have operated the business for over 28 years, projecting a legacy of continuity and deep local experience. The salon offers a broad menu that includes cuts, colour, nails, waxing and dedicated bridal services that reflect their decades-long presence in Columbia.

The team lists multiple specialties including Hotheads extensions, tape-in and hand-tied methods, as well as keratin-smoothing systems and Pivot Point cutting certification among the stylists’ qualifications. The Look also references continuing education as a routine part of their approach to maintain up-to-date techniques.

Why It Made the List

The Look’s main merit lies in its sustained local presence and technical breadth: decades of practice combined with specialist services such as Hotheads extensions and bridal styling mean clients can access both long-term experience and a wide range of treatment options under one roof.

Good to Know

If you’re booking extensions or bridal work, request a specialist familiar with Hotheads, tape-in or hand-tied methods and allow extra consultation time so the team can plan extensions and appointment timing accurately.

The Profile

Brittany Nalian Hair is a single-stylist studio suite run by Brittany, who states over seven years of professional experience and a specialty in custom colour transformations. The studio model is presented as a personalised environment where clients can expect focused one-on-one attention and continuity with the same stylist at each visit.

Brittany notes she travels annually for continuing education and promotes a suite experience designed to leave clients relaxed and renewed; the site also references retail availability such as R+Co products and encourages bookings through her site to secure custom blonding and other colour services.

Why It Made the List

Brittany’s characteristic advantage is the independent, studio-based format that pairs regular, personalised access to a single stylist with specialist colour training; clients seeking consistent custom colour work and direct continuity with their stylist will find the solo-suite approach particularly useful.

Good to Know

Appointments often fill quickly; Brittany posts occasional vacation closures and a decided price change policy with advance notice, so check the studio booking page before reserving to confirm availability and current service terms.