Miami Living Magazine

Harry Connick Jr

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When it comes to a much-needed pick-me-up before getting back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a trip to the hair salon for a beautiful blowout can be a great stress reliever and confidence booster. But even the salon can turn into a frustrating experience if there are tons of ladies ahead of you and limited ways to keep occupied while waiting your turn in the chair. At Drybar, "you can expect a relaxed and fun environment with music, chick flicks, drinks, a comfy- chic bar, marble countertops, and our famous buttercup chandelier," says founder and South Florida native Alli Webb when asked about the salon's vibe. Named one of the top "100 Brilliant Ideas of 2010" by Entrepreneur Magazine and New York Magazine's Boom Brands of 2013, Drybar is based on the concept of doing one thing extremely well: blowouts. With 70+ locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Drybar continues to expand in popularity. They even offer The Bar Fly Membership, which includes 2 blowouts a month + free birthday blowout, 10% off all products and tools (in-store only), and more. Miami Living recently caught up with Alli –the recipient of the 2014 CEW Achiever Award, Fortune's "40 Under 40", Marie Claire's "16 Most Fascinating Women" -- on the concept behind Drybar, her favorite blowout style, and more. How did you come up with the idea behind Drybar? Alli Webb: "As a kid, I always struggled with my naturally frizzy hair, and longed for a place that would happily blowout my hair at a price I could afford. Fast forward a few years later, I was a longtime stylist, and began a mobile blow dry business, Straight at Home. It occurred to me then that I was not alone --there was a big hole in the market for a place to get a great blowout, in a fun beautiful environment at an affordable price. I realized I needed to do this. So, I went to my brother, Michael Landau and my husband, Cameron Webb to help make Drybar a reality. I never dreamed it would turn into what it has. In my gut, I really felt that there were enough women out there like me that would love the experience of Drybar. Many people thought it would be hard to make a blowout-only concept work, but I knew if we could create a certain environment, experience, and proper price point, this business would work." What is the process behind adding talent to your team? AW: "The roots of Drybar grew with my family, so in our expansion, we knew that looking for people we could trust and could count on was key. We view our employees at Drybar as a part of the family and it's become part of our core values. I am a strong believer that in order for a business to prosper, employees must love what they do in the space that they are doing it. We hire people who are passionate, kind, friendly and not afraid to have some fun." What's your favorite blowout style and why? AW: "So hard to decide! I love them all, but if I had to pick one blowout style, I would have to say that I'm a Mai Tai girl at heart. I love that it looks very effortless. It's the perfect messy, beachy hairstyle that lasts for days." How is Drybar different from the other blowout salons popping up? AW: "Drybar is based on a simple philosophy: Focus on one thing and be the best at it. For us, that's blowouts. We wanted to create a place to get a great blowout in a fun, beautiful environment, at an affordable price. There is something special about the experience that you get with Drybar. It is much more than an ordinary salon where you walk in, get your hair blown out, and then leave. Our customers always feel at home when they make it to the salon and they leave feeling confident as ever. Upon arrival, you get a complimentary drink. There are also no mirrors in front of our customers, instead our clients are faced towards TVs playing chick flicks like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." How are you constantly adapting to the changing styles? AW: "Trends are constantly changing, but a good blowout will never go out of style. We listen to our customers' needs and create new products to help them achieve a new look. We just released Tiny Tress Press after hearing from so many customers that it's impossible to straighten those tiny baby hairs. Problem solved!" How do you determine which areas you will open Drybars? AW: "We like to pick locations where we know there are stylish, working women on-the-go that would appreciate a quick pampering before jetting off to their next meeting or appointment." Where do you hope to one day open a salon? AW: "Well, the dream is to have a Drybar on every corner! For now, we are opening up tons of new shops each year, with more planned for Miami." ML Drybar opened its first location in South Florida on Miami Beach at 1600 Collins Avenue #2 in February. Book your appointment at www.thedrybar.com, through the Drybar app. or by calling 877-379-2279.

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