You know that feeling. You walk out of the salon after getting your hair cut…and know it’s never going to look that good again because it seems impossible to recreate that style yourself. The Blowout Bar is giving ladies that just styled look anytime – and without the scissors – from its two Central Ohio locations at 1378 Grandview Ave. and 6792 Perimeter Loop Rd. in Dublin.
Sisters Kristin DeJohn and Kailen Echeverry first discovered the concept of blowout salons on a mother-daughter trip to NYC. Hair dryers hanging in a storefront window piqued their interest. They walked in, asked a few questions, and 40 minutes later walked out with styled ‘dos that would last for days.
It was love at first experience. The sisters started searching for a similar experience in Columbus. Finding no shops dedicated just to styling, they scheduled appointments at various salons, but the styles came up short, and were more expensive.
The sisters decided to wait it out, hoping a blow dry service would come to Columbus.
“Finally on a trip to Nashville we saw one there,” DeJohn says. Seeing Nashville as a comparable city to Columbus, they thought, “If they can have one, we can have one too.”
DeJohn and Echeverry peppered the owner with questions about the business and its reception. After hearing positivity all around plus a fast takeoff, by the time the sisters came back from their trip, they were starting a business under The Blowout Bar moniker.
The sisters had been looking for an opportunity to do something together. A blow dry salon not only filled a void they were searching for, but brought a totally new concept to Columbus.
“We knew it was going to be a big educational thing for Columbus,” DeJohn says. “We knew that our biggest challenge was going to be to educate the women.”
The Blowout Bar was active on social media from day one, speaking with women who had and hadn’t visited a blowout salon. For those familiar with the concept, the sisters pried about women’s experiences in other cities. The new business owners also asked questions of many other entrepreneurs, mentors and organizations to develop their business.
The Blowout Bar opened its Grandview location in October of 2013 followed by Dublin in December of 2015. The salons’ bread and butter are blowouts – a wash, dry and choice of five styles that clocks in at $40. Unlike many salons that price based on hair type, “No matter show short, how long, how thick, how curly, it’s $40,” DeJohn says.
Customers can opt for a $25 option that skips the wash and goes straight for the style. Half up-dos and up-dos are also on the services menu, as well as makeup. After hearing women say they were halfway ready now that their hair was done, the sisters decided to add makeup services to make it a one-stop-shop for getting ready.
There as the business has grown has been Experience Columbus. About two years ago, The Blowout Bar turned to the resources and reach of the organization to build more awareness around their brand. The Experience Columbus website and print materials give The Blowout Bar a platform to get their name out there. For example, the salon was listed as a to-do for groups like bachelorette parties or girls’ night out in the organization’s latest pamphlet.
However, it was the educational events and resources free for members that really sparked the sisters’ interests.
“We never stop learning,” DeJohn says.
There’s always something for them to learn or someone for them to meet. The sisters have been attending about one event a month to connect with fellow business owners. Experience Columbus has also connected The Blowout Bar with other members for specific business needs. DeJohn likes the idea of keeping things as local.
For any business thinking about joining Experience Columbus, DeJohn says the organization’s responsiveness is a big draw. The Experience Columbus team thinks outside the box, always coming up with ideas, or suggesting connections with other local businesses.
For more information, visit theblowoutbar.com.
— Experience Columbus’ vision is to be the leading force in creating and revealing the best of the Columbus experience to the world. Experience Columbus’ mission is to sell, market and promote the Destination Columbus experience to visitors. —
