Of Salon and Saloon

SALON and SALOON are poles apart, yet there are those who keep mixing the two.

A 'salon' is a commercial establishment for beauty (there are a few other meanings as well, but for the purpose of this particular discussion, this one suffices), so it's a beauty salon, not beauty saloon.

A 'saloon', on the other hand, is a pub/bar/tavern (of course there are other meanings to saloon too, but we are not going there).

If you go to a salon, chances are you'll come out stone-cold sober and with your beautiful coiffure; but you are likely to leave a saloon drunk as a lord and with your hair dishevelled.