It’s perfectly fitting that Alli Webb is behind the popular West Coast blow dry chain Drybar, which recently opened its doors in NYC.
“I used to beg my mom to blow my hair out when I was little. I had really curly hair and never liked it,” says the Los Angeles residence, who originally started offering blowouts out of her home. Once her living room started feeling more like Vidal Sassoon, Webb knew she was on to something.
Now there are 12 Drybar locations across the country and one more opening up in Midtown in January.
And although they don’t do cuts or colors, Drybar’s appeal is simple: a good blowout without the BS.
“I wanted to make it different from everything I hated about the current marketplace,” explains Webb. “I’d walk into salons and [although] it was $45 on the door they would be like, ‘for you it’s $65 and for your friend it’s only $55.’”
To avoid the bait and switch, Drybar offers the service at a fixed $40 — regardless of hair length, thickness, or if a stylist uses a flat iron or takes two hours on the look.
We know, we know: Your hole-in-the-wall spot is only $25. But Drybar is also about the experience.
In the stylish salon customers enjoy chick flicks, sip on fruit-infused water and charge their iPhones in convenient docks, all while getting coiffed. The best perk: Appointments start at 7 a.m., a working girl’s dream.
Top picks
Webb’s favorite products:
TIGI Catwalk Session Series transforming dry shampoo, $20, available exclusively in salons; visit tigihaircare.com for a salon locator.
“This is for that woman, who, like me, is going on the fifth day of her blowout and her hair is starting to look oily. But if you just got the oil out [of the roots] it would still look great.”
Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, $31, www.moroc-canoil.com
“It’s kind of my go-to. I put it on almost everybody. Most people have dry ends, and this isn’t heavy and it doesn’t weigh your hair down.”
