Regis is based in Edina, Minnesota and was founded in 1922 by Paul and Florence Kunin as Kunin Beauty Salon, and renamed Regis in 1958 by their son Myron who acquired the chain.

On January 10, 2006 Regis Corporation announced it would acquire the Sally Beauty Company business of Alberto-Culver. Sally has 2,419 Sally Beauty Supply stores and 822 Beauty Systems Group stores. On April 5, 2006, Alberto-Culver terminated the merger agreement.

Regis's biggest successful mergers are Sassoon and HCUK, bringing 2 exciting names to Regis, Sassoon ( Vidal Sassoon ) an upper class, very famous chain throughout Europe, and HCUK, formerly part of the Hair Cuttery chain, providing 25 Funky salons for young trendy people wanting to spend time in a modern funky salon.