Drybar: Sunny Space for Sexy Princess Blowouts

Pretty Alli Webb, founder of the Drybar empire. Note the hair and the black leather pants.

As a blogger, I get a fair amount of media invitations, and the busier I get with my writing assignments [and finishing Anthony's life story], the more frequently I have to pass them up. But the timing of media/grand opening day at the new Drybar location today in Garden State Plaza was perfect--especially because my beloved Vamp Hair Salon, site of my weekly blowouts, is downsizing by the end of January. What?!

California-based Drybar has 52 locations, 10 in NYC. The first location opened in 2010. This is the maiden ship in New Jersey, and note the hours: Monday to Wednesday, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. [Closed Sunday; Bergen County has blue laws.] Those early and late hours are appealing, for job interviews or meetings, parties, weddings, etc. The cost of a blowout is $45.

Everything coming up sunny + yellow.

This membership appeals to me; 2 blowouts a month for $75, instead of the regular $45 each.
And free birthday blowout! My bday is next month.  It depends on how
many months I have to commit to.

My hair after Elizabeth worked her magic with blow drier and curling wand, both yellow.

Even the mimosa matched the color theme.

I think Punchy would love the Shirley Temple.

Check out the napkin, below.

Cocktail-size napkin placed by cookies.

"Snowstorm" button-sized cupcakes, 
Baked by Melissa.

It's nearly 11:30, H. is out writing 60-Second Novels until midnight at a holiday party in the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue, and we have to be at school with Punch early for a teachers' conference. So I am doing sunny bullets:

• The scent of the products is intoxicating. I love the smell of the Triple Sec 3-in-1 spray that Elizabeth spritzed on my loose curls.
• There was a DJ with gorgeous hair. Great music. Beautiful women. And women of all shapes and sizes and skin colors and hair textures. Wanting beautiful hair is a universal desire.
• Alli Webb has two sons. She reminds me of Tory Burch and Aerin Lauder, who are also glamorous businesswomen and mothers of young sons. Alli is 40 and looks like she is in her 20s.
• I purchased a terrycloth-lined yellow [of course] shower cap for $16. The product line is really appealing. I want to buy the yellow hair clips, to keep part of your hair up while you are drying the rest, as they do at salons.
• Alli grew up in Boca Raton, just like my goddaughter, Florida Orange, Figgy's roommate, who loves Drybar. I had curly, frizzy hair, and always asked my mom to blow it out, says Alli. Women want their hair to look a certain way. We're not selling blowouts, we're selling happiness. She said some clients are attempting to write off their blowouts as a valid, even psychological expense, because they feel better when they leave Drybar than when they leave therapy! Health insurers, take note!
• In beauty school in South Florida, Alli met a lot of older clients who talked about weekly wash and sets. We've modernized that behavior for today, notes Alli. Some women don't even wash their own hair. They come to Drybar twice a week.
• After all that blow-drying when Alli was a girl, she hasn't forgotten her mom, Rozi. She lives near Alli and her family in L.A.
• Why yellow? It's sunny and happy and makes everyone feel good, says Alli. Even the blow drier has a name: Buttercup, and you can buy one.
• Speed set. Book online at thedrybar.com or download the app on your smartphone to book on the fly in seconds. 

Good night to you. Last night, Punchy was in our bed half the night and I need to snooze!

TCOY

1. Nabbed 15,176 steps on my fitbit today. That's because when H. took the car for work, Sug and I had to walk to CCD [weekly religion class] to get Punch and walk back with her--25 minutes each way.
2. Walked Sug another time, too.
3. The blowout!
4. Lots of ice water.
5. Punchy and I did bake Melissa Clark's brownies tonight and as I had planned, I packed three tins and popped into freezer to mail or deliver.
6. Bath with salts.