One of my biggest concerns about leaving home was about my hair. As much as I miss my home and family, I miss my hairdresser just as much. Being “hair-challenged” and dependent on a stylist left me to find one here in the D.C. area quickly.
Located on a quiet street in Bethesda is a not-so quiet salon called the DryBar. The DryBar was created in 2010 by Alli Webb. A professional hairstylist searched for blowout salons in her area but realized that there weren’t many, so Webb took the initiative and started a salon herself. Her first location was in her home and quickly grew. And from there, the DryBar concept took off. Today, there are salons in LA, Chicago, NYC, Dallas, Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Georgetown and Bethesda.
It’s a chic salon with a flat rate of $40 for services. Their philosophy is simple, “No cuts. No color. Just Blowouts.”
When you arrive for your appointment, you are greeted by your stylist, and you are given seven styling choices to choose from: Straight Up, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan, Mai Tai, Cosmo-Tai, Southern Comfort, or Hot Toddy. After selecting your hairstyle, they wash your hair and the blow drying begins! For the most part, it’s a relaxing and pampering experience, but for me, the one downfall to the salon is the constant sound of the blow dryers and the loud music.
Their business has 10 core values and beliefs, which include, “the single most important part of the Drybar experience is the way we make people feel. We are committed to making our clients feel like a million bucks.” Appointments can be made online or through their app. The closest DryBar to AU is the Bethesda location which is two stops from the Tenleytown Metro on the Red line. The second location can be found in Georgetown. So, for a trip on the metro and $40 bucks, you can look like a million dollars and temporarily escape the realities of college life. And while you’re there, enjoy a treat from the small Georgetown Cupcake shop right next door. Trust me, you’re worth it!