Recently, blow-dry bars—salons specializing exclusively in blowouts and hair styling—are popping up everywhere in the area. For about 45 minutes and 40 bucks, you can leave the salon with a professional look that lasts for days. So why is the trend so popular?
“There’s something really fantastic about stylists [who] specialize in blow dries,” says Kate Taylor, co-owner of Owings Mills’s Hot Air Dry Bar.
Jenny McGee, a regular at Haute Blow Dry Bar in Towson, explains why she uses both a salon and a blow-dry bar. “At my normal [salon], I depend more on highlights and a cut, but at Haute, they specialize in blowouts. When you specialize in something, I think you’ll get a better end product,” she says.
Abi Frederick, the owner of Haute Blow Dry Bar, says the relaxed atmosphere is a plus. “You can have a glass of wine, watch a movie, talk to your friends,” she notes.
Of course, you can do all of that at a regular salon/spa, too. “Most salon prices do not differ greatly from blow-dry bars. However, the allure is the convenience,” says Judy Sulisufaj-Kelly, co-owner of Locust Point’s Studio 921 Salon & Day Spa.
Is the trend here to stay? “I definitely don’t think it’s a fad,” Taylor says. “It’ll become a routine maintenance thing to make our lives easier and to make us look great.”
