Blown Away

Posted On 22 Sep 2015

Comment: Off

They function like your usual hair salon, except that they only offer blow- drying services. Despite its rarity, the hype over blow-dry bars is catching on. Lifestyle Writers Ariel Pang and Claudia Chong check out two such places to find out what makes this niche business tick.

By Ariel Pang and Claudia Chong

PHOTOS: HILLARY TAN

Ready to spice up my usual boring look, I opted for the Perfect Blow Out with Curlers ($55) at The Big Blow, Singapore’s latest blow-dry bar, to add some drama to my hair.

The Big Blow’s co-founder, Ms Ellie Sakrzewski, started drying and rolling my hair, section by section, leaving me with a head full of rollers within a quick half an hour. Impressed with her speed, I was excited to see the final result.

“I wanted a place where ladies could just come in and get ready for their day out,” she shared while curling my hair.

Ms Sakrzewski, who is Australian, brought the concept of blow-dry bars from the United States to our shores in April 2014. The convenience of the service – wash, blow, dry – is something that keeps customers coming back. She says that weekends bring in the biggest crowds, with people wanting to look good for their events.

The whole treatment ended in just 40 minutes, but the results left me astounded. My usually-razored hair was replaced by voluminous locks à la Marilyn Monroe.What blew me away was how the entire process took under an hour; a perm at a hair salon would have taken a few hours.

The best part: my curls, produced from scratch under Ms Sakrzewski’s magical fingers, lasted for at least eight hours.

It is, however, a hefty price tag for such a specialised service. Maybe I’ll have to make do with blow-drying my own hair for now.

– Ariel Pang

The Big Blow

501 Bukit Timah Road
#02-21 Cluny Court
S259760

Opening Hours:
8am – 7pm daily

PHOTOS: HILLARY TAN

I had my tresses doused in Evian water during my blow-dry session at Prep.

It was an odd sensation to have my hair washed with something I usually drink, but my hairstylist, Mr Thomas Lee, explained that Evian water was the signature element in the Evian Blowout ($60) that I chose.

Prep is the first blow dry-bar to be introduced in Singapore. They are dedicated to washing and blow-drying their customers’ hair to the style that they desire.

“Evian water has a purifying effect,” he said, while rinsing my hair thoroughly with the mineral water.

It helps to remove product residue, such as dregs of shampoo, he added.

A hot towel was wrapped around my head to soften my hair, before it was blown-dry.

Meanwhile, I was offered a refreshing Evian facial spray that served not only as a cool relief from the heat of the towels, but also as a great perk-me-up.

Using a hot iron, Mr Lee then expertly curled my hair. The curls — with its looser rings — created a windswept look, and were perfectly suited for my round face.

I noticed that the act of blow-drying plays a minor role in the blowout sessions that Prep offers. They focus on incorporating unique ingredients that are beneficial for healthy hair. For instance, the salon’s most popular blowout, the Geisha Blowout ($70), makes use of only premium Shu Uemura hair products.

While the treatments at the salon are a little steep, I think it is worth the occasional pamper session.

– Claudia Chong