Dry Bar, Blow Outs for the People & Taking Off

By Laura Medina

Manhattan Beach opening of Dry Bar.

Amongst the hustle and bustle of the opening of Dry Bar in Manhattan Beach, California-south of Los Angeles International Airport-Dry Bar's founder and president, Alli Webb took time out to explain how Dry Bar came about, her latest Manhattan Beach salon, and what's next, on a Winter rainy day.

Dry Bar's founder & President...& mom of 2, Alli Webb.

Having used Dry Bar's expertise in updos for formal occasions, it was a rare treat to personally meet the woman behind the brand.

On this rainy, gray day, two curly-haired women (her and this scribe) discuss the importance of looking glossed and instilling confidence-no matter the weather-through quick but quality service at a straight-forward price.

Alli Webb on fulfilling a yearning market void, "I’m a curly-haired girl and I wanted…I was always looking for a place to go and there never existed one. I’m a long-time hair stylist for fifteen years. I can do my own hair but I prefer to have someone else do this. So, this is how it came to be."

As a veteran hair stylist and mom, she was dismayed by the huge gap of high-end salons trying to sweet-talk a customer into a hair cut she does not want; and the low-end discount chains where experience, quality and service is sacrifice for a very low price, only to leave disappointed.

"I felt like there were two bad choices out there. The high-end salon where you’re paying $60 or $70, god knows how much for a blow-out, at variable pricing. Then, there’s the discount chains where you don’t know what you’re getting or what you’re paying; and the experience is off."

She sensed a yearning gap, "I felt like there wasn’t anything in the market-missing niche, a void-like there’s a big hole in the market. I wanted to create a place that is fun to go to, beautiful, all about the experience, treating people right and making them feel wonderful, and getting a really great blowout at a really great price."

This thought, that was always in the back of her mind, formed the foundation for Dry Bar.

It is when she became a mom, the idea took shape...

A "blow out bar" with sweet and healthy snacks and refreshments while being serviced.

"Several years ago, I started a mobile blow dry business before Dry Bar. I have two little kids and I started…I just wanted a reason to get out of the house and talk to other adults. So, I started this mobile blow dry business, blowing out all my mommy friends; and before I knew it, demand went through the roof. I thought “I knew I needed to start a place where these women can come to me. That’s where in Brentwood first opened which meant to be my first…and only location. That’s my baby."

From a simple transition of an idea, kids, wanting to get of the house, and quit driving all over the place, Dry Bar was born.

The styling "Dry Bar" for blow outs & updos. The simple wash & rinse bar in the back.

Through out her years fixing people's hair, Ms. Webb witness dramatic transformations first-hand by simply smoothing, curling, and pinning...without chopping off their manes. Improving on what they already have but making it better with slight tweaks. She and her growing team make the everyday women look and feel like supermodels or celebrities or both.

Alli calls it the "Pantene Moment,"..."Hair is so important. I always felt like that. Hair is the first thing people see. The way your hair looks instills a lot of confidence in you. We see that in our clients all the time. They walk in a certain way then they walk out in a Pantene moment. They’re staring at themselves and they’re bouncing to the front. It’s a really great moment.

So, we’re doing a lot for women’s confidence and happiness as well."

This is when she and her team know they did their job. The job satisfaction is overwhelming.

Basically, Dry Bar gives the everyday woman the Hollywood celebrity treatment at a reasonable price with nothing weird or sneaky practices.

"There’s that pressure that comes along. That’s one thing our clients love. We are not trying to talk you into a haircut or a color. You’re coming in, getting your hair blown out, you feel great then you leave and that’s it. There’s no pressure from a stylist saying, “You need a haircut today.”

Upfront and fair, Alli Webb does say Dry Bar does charges slightly more for complicate, fancy updos for formal events, "We do charge more for updos because they do take quite a big longer. That’s the only thing we charge more for. Any type of blow out, whether we use a flat iron or a blow dryer or a curling iron or anything is $35 dollars. We do charge more for updos which we call “Uptinis.”

"There is a considerable more time invested into that ("Uptinis") but everything else thing is $35. It’s a flat $35. No matter what. We never charge you more on hair type or texture or anything like that."

For those who are all thumbs, Dry Bar fixing your updo is a great stress-reliever.

A rainy day do,' glossy & smooth on top then bouncy & wavy on the bottom, "Kate Middleton."

On opening in Manhattan Beach, California and expanding, Alli Webb is one sharp and insightful cookie.

"We have a lot demand from this area. You know, this center is so great, the co-tenants, Whole Foods, our customer is here and we know that. We’ve been getting a lot of requests to come down to this area."

With the influence of "Mad Men" and "Pan Am," women wanting to be more glossy stepping on board, and stepping off the plane then getting ready for that event within an hour,..

"It’s so close to the airport. I cannot tell you how many women are telling me, “I’m off to the airport now.” Yeah-that’s the great part of it. It’s so centrally located. There are such great shops here. They do their grocery shopping. They get their hair blown out. They can shop. They can go have lunch. So, it’s just the perfect location. I’m really happy to be here. "

The next step for Dry Bar,...

"We already have two shops open up already in NY. We’re opening more. We’re opening in the Upper West Side, Upper East, Tribeca…we have a lot of plans to be in NY. We’re expanding more and opening more here in the LA area. Another 10 to 12 in 2012."

Despite the sudden growth spurt and surging popularity, just knowing she can give the everyday woman a "Pantene Moment" is enough but Ms. Webb isn't above giving credit to her expanding team to help her accomplish all this...

"I have a lot of help. I can’t take all of the credit."

What was a simple fix to fill in an growing salon industry gap, just knowing Dry Bar can make women look and feel like Hollywood celebrities and supermodels by simply fixing their hair, at a fair price in an upbeat setting with a friendly, straightforward mentality, really makes Alli Webb's day.

Whether it was her first salon in Brentwood or growing as it is now, this is truly professional accomplishment and personal satisfaction.

Mission Accomplish.