You’ve purchased top-of-the-line styling products, investedin the best blow-dryers, brushes and irons, yet somehow your home blowouts fallflat. If so, a blow dry bar may be the solution to your hairy situation.
In recent years, blow dry bars have been popping up acrossthe country. These establishments provide customers with salon quality blowoutswithout the cut or color.
Jmore recently sent beauty expert Ariel Lewis to the newly opened Blo Blow Dry Bar in Foundry Row, where she experienced the full blowout experience. Here’s what she told us:
Rolling Out the Pink Carpet
From the moment Ariel walked into Blo, she received the startreatment. It started with a glass of prosecco. From there, Ariel’s hair stylisttook her time getting to know Ariel’s hair texture. Then, she perused Blo’s illustratedbook depicting its seven signature styles. With styles like “Pillow Talk,”“Executive Sweet,” “High Society,” and “Red Carpet,” there’s something foreveryone and every occasion.
“When picking a style, you have to pick one that speaks toyou,” says Ariel. “Ultimately, you want to pick something that makes you feellike yourself.”
The entire blowout process took about 45 minutes, with Ariel’sstylist loosely blow-drying her hair before using a round brush and curlingiron to achieve the volume Ariel wanted.
“As a client, being walked through the steps helps you feel at ease because you feel you are in the hands of someone who will really get to know you,” Ariel says. “My stylist was detail-oriented and really knew her stuff.”
Different Textured Hair, Different Kind of Care
“The telltale sign of a good blowout is how long it lasts,which should be three to four days, depending on texture,” says Ariel, whoseBlo blowout lasted four days.
That being said, blowout length depends on hair texture and thereare different ways to care for different types of hair.
Normal to Dry Hair: Someone with dry hair should startconditioner at the scalp to provide hydration, shine and a smooth finish. You’llknow if you have normal-to-dry hair if your blowout lasts for at least threedays, with small touchups from dry shampoo.
Oily Hair: Someone with oily hair should start conditioner aninch below the roots and avoid leave in detangling spray. You’ll know you haveoily hair if your hair is greasy after day one of a blowout.
The Right Stuff
A perfect blowout calls for the perfect products. Blo usesproducts by Unite and Color Wow.
“Unite is a well-known, top-of-the-line, professional-gradevegan product that gives you the results you need without the chemicals,” saysAriel.
You can also cut blow-dry time in half by using Color WowSpeed Dry spray and avoid frizz in the summer heat by using Color Wow DreamCoat, which Blo applies to the hair pre-blowout.
“Both of these products work like RainX and allow themoisture to slip out of the hair. Using the right products primes the hair,which is why professional blowouts last longer than at home ones,” says Ariel.
Finally, a silk pillowcase increases a blowout’s longevitybecause the material doesn’t absorb product.
“This is a long time beauty secret,” says Ariel. “I use oneand promise it’s not a hack.”
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