I can't comment on your specific situation at the salon, but I can tell you what I learned from spending the money on an Employment Lawyer...
I hired the lawyer to review one of my Non-Compete Contracts (prior to signing) and look for loopholes, etc., I learned that a company can legally put a wide variety of restrictions on you -- and enforce them. Unfortunately, if you don't like the terms, don't take the job. In fact, I was asked to sign 6 months after I joined the company...but the lawyer determined that I either had to sign or quit. I had no legal grounds to fight having to sign it, even through I was originally hired without it. My Non-Compete had very specific terms about not being able to accept a position with a direct competitor for one year.
However...one thing my Non-Compete outlined was what would happen if the company laid me off. Clearly, if they laid me off, but I could not go to a competitor, I would struggle to find a new job. Hence, my Non-Compete outlined that the company would pay me X months of salary in a "termination without cause" situation.
Read your non-compete and ASK about the terms of the contract if you are terminated without cause (layoffs, etc.) You need to protect yourself.