If your first thought when you hear the words “dry bar” are, “What’s the point of a bar if they don’t serve drinks?!” we get it. The language can be confusing. But this kind of dry bar is not a traditional bar at all.
Instead of a martini or a bottle of beer, at a dry bar you’re more likely to be served a bouncy blow dry or a chic updo. It’s the kind of bar you might visit before a special occasion, instead of for one! Let’s take a deep dive into the dry bar experience to find out more.
In this article:
- What is a dry bar?
- What is a blowout?
- Why would I go to a dry bar over a hair salon?
- How much is a blowout at a dry bar?
- What’s the dry bar experience like?
- Top tips
- FAQs
What Is a Dry Bar?
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, a dry bar or blow dry bar is a special kind of hair salon, or menu of services within a salon. What makes it different is that a dry bar cuts out the haircuts and hair coloring altogether, offering only blowouts and other styling services that can leave your hair looking picture-perfect.
Basically, you know how your hair never seems to look as fantastic as it does the day you get it cut? Well, you can skip the cut at a dry bar, meaning you jump straight to sleek and straight, beachy waves or bouncy curls, and more.
What Is a Blowout?
A blowout is another term for blow dry styling. During a blowout, your stylist can expertly tease, tousle and tame your hair into a beautiful style of your choosing.
They might use a hairdryer, rounded brushes, rollers, a flat iron, hair sectioning tools and luxurious hair products to work their magic and leave you with red carpet-worthy locks.
Here are some of the most popular types of blow dry styles you could ask your stylist for:
Brazilian blowout
This blow dry style uses a keratin hair treatment to give you long-lasting results. The Brazilian blowout is meant to smooth frizz and soften hair texture for a great style you’ll want to run your fingers through for weeks to come.
Natural blowout
Go au naturel with a simple blow dry that makes the most of your hair’s natural style. This is the perfect choice if you want low-maintenance hair — it’s your very own ‘do, just with a bit of extra oomph.
Wavy blow dry
Also known as beachy waves or mermaid hair, a wavy blow dry gives you that effortless surfer chick look. Ask for a wavy blow dry to get tousled tresses perfect for laid back summer evenings.
Bouncy blowout
Made famous thanks to Kate Middleton’s enviably voluminous locks, the bouncy blowout is one of the most popular blow dry styles. Your hairstylist will section your hair and use a wide round styling brush to achieve voluptuous hair fit for a princess.
‘90s blowout
Nineties hair is back in a big way — we’re talkin’ a gravity-defying fluffy blowout. Voluminous, low maintenance and low-key sexy, your stylist will add volume at the roots by blow drying away from the head and then applying rollers to set the style as your hair cools.
Wanna try one of these styles out? Check out our deals on hair salons near you.
Why Would I Go to a Dry Bar Over a Hair Salon?
There are tons of reasons a dry bar makes perfect sense for freshening up your look, but here are our top four:
1. It’s usually cheaper than a haircut.
Want gorgeous hair without paying the hefty price tag? At a high-end salon, cuts can run from $50–70, but a blowout can be as little as $20–40, or even less if you have a deal. That’s because . . .
2. You’ll be in and out in no time.
The most time-consuming part of a trip to the salon is the cut and color. Subtract those and it cuts your visit in half. Stylists will ditch the preamble and get straight to work making your hair look fabulous.
3. There’s no big commitment.
Maybe you want to change your look for a party, event or even just a regular date night, but you don’t want to go overboard with a dramatic new ‘do. Perhaps you want to experiment a bit but you’re not ready to take the plunge with a permanent new color or pixie cut. A blowout is the perfect way to try something new without the danger of waking up to something you regret!
4. Braids are HARD.
I know every YouTuber and Instagrammer is out there trying to convince you it’s easy to fishtail braid or crown braid your own hair, but does it ever really come out right? And can you lift your arms for days after trying? The answer to both is “no.”
How Much Is a Blowout at a Dry Bar?
Prices vary from salon to salon, but you can expect to pay $20-$50 for a blowout at a dry bar, with updos costing $75-$100. Lots of dry bars also offer add-ons, so you can customize your trip with a luxurious hair mask, invigorating scalp scrub or stylish braids for as little as $15 — even less if you have a deal.
What’s the Dry Bar Experience Like?
Still got questions? We have answers!
Do blowout bars do updos or other styles?
Yes! Most blowout bars offer simple updos and braids, though you should be prepared for this to cost a little bit more than a standard blowout at some places. Also, unlike getting a custom updo, you’ll most likely be choosing from a set menu of styles (think fishtail braid, waterfall braid or chignon).
Do they wash your hair at a dry bar?
This will depend on what you ask for, and how much is included. A standard blowout includes washing your hair as well as blow drying and styling. But some salons offer dry styling, where you come in with clean, dry hair and the stylist adds waves, curls or braids.
Does a dry bar cut hair?
Hair cutting isn’t one of the services offered at a dedicated dry bar salon. However, many dry bars are part of a bigger salon, so you might be able to get a haircut at the same location — it will, however, cost you more and take longer.
Dry Bar Hairstyles
Now that you know what it’s all about, are you ready to try it for yourself? If so, here’s a little inspiration!
The Classic Blowout
Brush and Blow in Pleasanton, Calif., has perfected this look with pretty, gentle waves, and they’re emblematic of the traditional blowout. Basically, just you but on your absolute best hair day.
The Fishtail Braid
At Drybar in Milwaukee, beachy waves get a hip twist with the addition of a mini fishtail braid in the back.
The Braid-to-Bun
When you’re ready to get a little fancy, get a wide, elegant side braid leading straight into a bun (like the one stylists at Blo La Mesa put together) for an updo that’s elegant enough for a wedding.
Top Tips
- Do your research – Do this before your appointment so you know what style to ask for.
- Bring a tip for your hairstylist – The general rule of thumb is 20% if you’re happy with the service.
- Ask them to show you the technique – This way you can perfect the style at home, and make every day a good hair day!
FAQs
How long does a dry bar blowout last?
This will depend on the condition of your hair and the blowout style you choose. Some people’s styles last until the next time they wash their hair, while others can drop out overnight.
How long do dry bar appointments take?
Depending on the style you choose, your appointment could last as little as 30 minutes for a dry style, and up to 75 minutes for an updo.
Interested in getting a blowout? Explore deals on salons near you!
