

<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 1997
                                                       Registration No. ________
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549
                                  -----------------
                                       FORM S-3
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   ----------------
                                  REGIS CORPORATION
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
    Minnesota                                             41-0749934
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)
                                        
                                 7201 Metro Boulevard
                                   Edina, MN 55439
                                    (612) 947-7777
     (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                     registrant's principal executive offices)
                                  -----------------
                                 Bert M. Gross, Esq.
                      Senior Vice President and General Counsel
                                 7201 Metro Boulevard
                                Minneapolis, MN 55439
                                    (612) 947-7350
  (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                            of agent for service)
                                           
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
         practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                                  -----------------
    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans,please check the following
box.     / /  

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.     /X/   

    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.     / /

    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.     / /

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.     / /
                                  -----------------
    The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of Each  Amount to be   Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum    Amount of 
  Class of      Registered     Offering Price   Aggregate Offering  Registration
 Securities                     Per Share (1)        Price (1)           Fee
   to be 
 Registered    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, 650,000 shares       $21.688         $14,097,200        $4,271.88
$.05 par value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee under
    Rule 457(c) based on the average of the high ($21.875) and the low ($21.50)
    prices for such shares on the NASDAQ National Market System on May 29,
    1997.

    Pursuant to Rule 429, the Prospectus contained herein also relates to
250,000 shares of Common Stock registered on Form S-3, Registration No. 
33-80337, in respect of which a registration fee of $1,343.39 was previously
paid with such earlier registration.


<PAGE>


                                900,000 Shares

                              REGIS CORPORATION

                                 Common Stock

                          --------------------------


    The 900,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby (the "Shares"), are being
offered by Regis Corporation (the "Company").  See "Use of Proceeds."

    The Company intends that sales of the Shares may be made from time to time
in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at
fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices.  The Shares may be offered as separate series in amounts, at prices, and
on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus.  The
Company may effect such transactions by selling the Shares to or through broker-
dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the Company or the purchasers of the
Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they may sell as
principal, or both (which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in
excess of customary commissions).  See "Plan of Distribution."

    No period of time has been fixed within which the Shares may be offered 
or sold.  The Company will pay all expenses with respect to this offering.

    The Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System under the
symbol "RGIS."  On May 29, 1997, the last sale price of the Common Stock as
reported by NASDAQ was $21.50 per share.  The Common Stock is being offered on a
delayed or continuous basis.

    This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of the Shares unless
accompanied by the Prospectus Supplement applicable to the Shares being sold.


THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.





                  The date of this Prospectus is June 4, 1997

<PAGE>

                                     THE COMPANY

    The Company is incorporated in the State of Minnesota and has its principal
executive office at 7201 Metro Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439.  The
Company telephone number is (612) 947-7777.

                                AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities  and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facility maintained by the Commission at  Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the regional offices of the Commission at 7
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and the CitiCorp
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 at
prescribed rates.  The Commission maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that
contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding registrants such as the Company that file electronically.  The Common
Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System and reports, proxy
statements and other information regarding the Company can also be inspected at
the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

    This Prospectus constitutes a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3
 filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act.  This
Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain items of which are contained in schedules and exhibits to the
Registration Statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission.  Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the
exhibits thereto for further information with respect to the Company.  Any
statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any contract, agreement
or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference
is made to the copy of such contract, agreement or other document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. 
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.  The
Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, may be inspected without
charge at the Commission's principal office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part thereof may
be obtained from such office at prescribed rates.

                  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

    The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

1.  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
    June 30, 1996 (as updated by the information included in the Registrant's 
    Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 1997 and Form 8-K/A's filed 
    on May 15 and May 19, 1997);

2.  The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods
    ended September 30, 1996 (as updated by the information included in the 
    Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 1997), 
    December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1997;

3.  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
    July 19, 1996;

4.  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
    November 7, 1996;

5.  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on 
    May 14, 1997;


                                       2

<PAGE>



6.  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
    May 15, 1997;

7.  The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
    May 19, 1997; and

8.  The description of the Registrant's capital stock contained in Amendment
    No. 2 to Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-70142 filed with the
    Commission on November 19, 1993.

    All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of this
offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. 
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

    The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus has been delivered, on the written or oral request of such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been
or may be incorporated into this Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to
such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to: Regis
Corporation, 7201 Metro Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439 (telephone:
(612) 947-7777).

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

    Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, 
the Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general 
working capital purposes and to finance possible acquisitions of other 
businesses in the hairstyling and hair care products industry.

                                 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    The Company  may sell the Shares from time to time in transactions in the 
over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at 
fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of 
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated 
prices.

    In connection with this offering, an underwriter and its affiliates may
engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market
price of the Common Stock.  Such transactions may include stabilization
transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M under the
Exchange Act pursuant to which such persons may bid for or purchase Common Stock
for the purpose of stabilizing its market price.  The underwriter also may
create a short position for the account of the underwriter by selling more
Common Stock in connection with the offering than it is committed to purchase
from the Company, and in such case may purchase Common Stock in the open market
following completion of the offering to cover such short position.  Any of the
transactions described in this paragraph may result in the maintenance of the
price for the Common Stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail
in the open market.  None of the transactions described in this paragraph is
required, and, if they are undertaken, they may be discontinued at any time.


                                       3

<PAGE>

    Under agreements that may be entered into by the Company, underwriters, 
dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the Shares may be 
entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities, 
including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with 
respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required 
to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters, dealers or agents may engage 
in transactions with or perform services for the Company in the ordinary 
course of business.

    Sales may be made pursuant to this Prospectus to or through broker-dealers
who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the Company or the purchasers of Common Stock for whom such
broker-dealer may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal, or both
(which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of
customary commissions).  Any broker-dealers or other persons acting on the
Company's behalf in connection with the sale of Shares may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on the resale of the Shares as
principals may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities
Act.  No period of time has been fixed within which the Shares may be offered or
sold.

                                    LEGAL OPINIONS

    The validity of the Common Stock being offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Company by Bert M. Gross, General Counsel of the Company.

                                       EXPERTS

    The consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 1995 and 1996 and the 
consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and 
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1996, 
included in the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 
1997, as amended by the Registrant's Form 8-K/A's filed on May 15 and 19, 
1997,  and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been 
incorporated herein in reliance on the reports of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 
independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in 
accounting and auditing.

    With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the 
periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, December 31, 1996 and 1995, and 
March 31, 1997 and 1996, included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 
10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, 1996 (as updated by the information 
included in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 14, 1997) 
December 31, 1996 and March 31, 1997, respectively, and incorporated by 
reference in this Prospectus, the independent accountants have reported that 
they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional 
standards for a review of such information.  However, their separate report 
for the quarter ended September 30, 1996 included in the Form 8-K filed on 
May 14, 1997, and their separate reports included in the Company's Quarterly 
Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 1996, and March 31, 
1997, and incorporated by reference herein, state that they did not audit and 
they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. 
Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information 
should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures 
applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of 
Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their reports on the unaudited 
interim financial information because those reports are not "reports" or a 
"part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants 
within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

                                       4

<PAGE>

                                       PART II
                        INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

    The following is an itemized statement of all expenses in connection with
the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

    Item                                                   Amount

    Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee         $ 4,271.88
    Blue Sky Fees and Expenses                                  $ 1,000.00*
    Legal Fees and Expenses                                     $ 1,000.00*
    Accounting Fees and Expenses                                $ 9,000.00*
    Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses                            $   500.00*
    Miscellaneous Expenses                                      $   500.00*
         Total                                                  $16,271.88

- ----------------------------

*Estimated Amounts.


Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

    Section 302A.521, Minnesota Statutes, provides that a corporation shall
indemnify any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to
any proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity of such
person against judgments, penalties and fines including, without limitation,
excise taxes assessed against each person with respect to any employee benefit
plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees and
disbursements, incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if,
with respect to the acts or omissions of such person complained of in the
proceeding, such person has not been indemnified by another organization or
employee benefit plan for the same penalties, fines, taxes and expenses with
respect to the same acts or omissions; acted in good faith; received no improper
personal benefit and Section 302A.255 (regarding conflict of interest), if
applicable, has been satisfied; in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and in the case of acts or
omissions by persons who were or are serving other organizations at the request
of the corporation or whose duties involve or involved service for other
organizations, reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation.

    The Company also maintains a directors and officers insurance policy, which
insures the Company, its officers and directors against damages and costs
incurred by reason of certain acts committed by such persons in their capacities
as officers and directors.


                                       II-1

<PAGE>

Item 16.  Exhibits


                                                         REGISTRATION
                                                         S-K EXHIBIT
                                                            TABLE
ITEM                                                      REFERENCE  
- ----                                                      ----------

Purchase Agreement                                              1

Agreement and Plan of Merger (incorporated by                   2
reference to Exhibit 2 as part of the amended
Registration Statement filed on Form S-4 on
September 23, 1996)

Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 4.1 as part of Registration
Statement No. 33-70142 on Form S-1 filed
November 19, 1993)                                              4.1

Opinion of Bert M. Gross                                        5.1

Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information              15

Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                             23.1

Consent of Bert M. Gross  (included in Exhibit 5.1)             23.3


Item 17.  Undertakings

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

    (1) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form
of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this
registration statement as of the time it was declared effective, and

    (2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    The undersigned Registrant further hereby undertakes:

    (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

         (i)  to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
              Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
              the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
              recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, 


                                       II-2

<PAGE>

              individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
              in the information set forth in the registration statement. 
              Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume
              of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities
              offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
              deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
              offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
              with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
              the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20
              percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
              in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
              registration statement; and 

    (iii)     to include any material information with respect to the plan of
              distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
              statement or any material change to such information in the
              registration statement.

    Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and  (a)(1)(ii) do not apply
if the registration statement is on Form S-3, and the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commissioner by the registrant
pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

    (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

    (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                       II-3

<PAGE>

                                      SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on the 29th day of
May, 1997.

                   REGIS CORPORATION


                   By: /s/ Paul D. Finkelstein
                      --------------------------------
                      Paul D. Finkelstein, President
                      and Chief Executive Officer




    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


    Signature               Title                               Date
    ---------               -----                               ----


 /s/ Myron Kunin             Chairman of the Board of
- -------------------------    Directors                          May 29    , 1997
Myron Kunin                                                    ----------- 


 /s/ Paul D. Finkelstein     President, Chief Executive
- -------------------------    Officer and Director
Paul D. Finkelstein          (Principal Executive Officer)      May 29    , 1997
                                                               ----------- 


 /s/ Frank E. Evangelist     Senior Vice President, Finance,
- -------------------------    Chief Financial Officer and
Frank E. Evangelist          Director (Principal Financial
                             and Accounting Officer)            May 29    , 1997
                                                               ----------- 


- -------------------------    Director                                     , 1997
Rolf E. Bjelland                                               ----------- 


 /s/ Christopher A. Fox      Director                           May 29    , 1997
- -------------------------                                      ----------- 
Christopher A. Fox


 /s/ Marvin Goldstein        Director                           May 29    , 1997
- -------------------------                                      ----------- 
Marvin Goldstein


                                       II-4

<PAGE>


- -------------------------    Director                                     , 1997
Thomas Gregory                                                 ----------- 


- -------------------------    Director                                     , 1997
Van Zandt Hawn                                                 ----------- 


- -------------------------    Director                                     , 1997
Susan Hoyt                                                     -----------


 /s/ David B. Kunin        Director                             May 29    , 1997
- -------------------------                                      -----------
David B. Kunin


                                      II-5

<PAGE>
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   _______________

                                       EXHIBITS
                                          to
                                       FORM S-3


                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                              THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   _______________

                                  Regis Corporation


                                     II-6

<PAGE>


                                  INDEX TO EXHIBITS


REGISTRATION
S-K EXHIBIT
   TABLE
 REFERENCE                           
- ------------                                                             


   1     Purchase Agreement                                                 

   2     Agreement and Plan of Merger (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 2 as part of the amended Registration Statement filed on
         Form S-4 on September 23, 1996)

 4.1     Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
         4.1 as part of Registration Statement No. 33-70142 on Form S-1
         filed November 19, 1993) 

 5.1     Opinion of Bert M. Gross                                           

15       Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information                 

 23.1    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.                                

 23.3    Consent of Bert M. Gross (included in Exhibit 5.1)


                                     II-7

