I have to admit, I’m a big sucker for a good blow out. My hair, like many of my Jewish sisters, is curly and sometimes unruly, and after having a baby, Mother Nature has also left it a bit thinner. So, needless to say, when I have the opportunity to have it professionally blown out and styled, I am quick to jump into a swivel chair and let the round brush do its magic… by someone else.
Blow dry salons are popping up all over, and I’m a fan of this trend. Sometimes you just want to go in for a quickie, and you don’t want the stress of contemplating a cut and color as well. There’s something special and luxurious about going to the salon just for a blow out; you feel like you’re a celeb and there should be paparazzi outside the on the sidewalk, waiting to snap your picture as you, of course, head over to Kitson to go shopping with Katie and Suri. But that’s not the case. You’re just a nice Jewish girl who wants good hair. These blow dry salons make you feel magical, though, that’s for sure.
So when I was invited to Blow Angels in Los Angeles, I was all too excited to feel celeb-ish and get pretty hair for the upcoming weekend.
I didn’t let the sparse parking stress me out, since I knew that pampering was minutes away. Walking in and admiring the super chic turquoise aesthetics of the salon, I knew I was in for a good experience. I waited a little bit for my stylist due to a scheduling mishap, but I knew good things were in store thanks to classy touches like a canister of water with submerged mint leaves (very hospitable) and photo books of styles and ideas with angelic themes like Heaven and Halo.
When it was my turn to sit my tushie in the stylist’s chair, we discussed my current hair status (limp curls that lacked volume) and what I wanted to see on my head when she was done with me (fullness and curled ends to mask the fact that I actually needed a haircut). After our consult, I was escorted to the shampoo area in the back and the stylist did a great job cleaning and massaging my scalp. The awkward parts about the shampoo anywhere I go: It’s sooooo relaxing, but do I close my eyes? That’s so creepy. Also, stylists converse but I can’t hear anything because there is water sloshing around my ears. These are awkward moments between a client and a hair stylist. I think we should start a no-talking rule during shampoos, not because I’m unfriendly (I’m not), but because how many times can I say “I’m sorry, what” without wanting to drown myself in the hair washing sink? It would save me a lot of anxiety about social graces. Who’s with me?
That said, the shampoo was good. And it was onto the blow out.
My stylist did a fine job of controlling my hair. She wasn’t too hard on my scalp (though, as a curly haired gal, I can take heavy-handed styling and pulling), but I still felt like she was doing a thorough job. The products made my hair smell good and she didn’t try to sell me on them. It’s not that they’re not good products, but I already have enough trialed-and-sometimes-errored serums and gels and mousses and sprays and spritzes taking up precious cabinet space in my bathroom at home. I don’t appreciate when stylists sell while I’m in the chair, and I’m thankful this was not the case while I was at Blow Angels.
At the end, my stylist handed me a mirror so she could blueprint her steps and final masterpiece, and I was pretty pleased with how my hair turned out. The style was a little more fluffy than I imagined, but I knew it would deflate to a more reasonable height and width as the day went on.
The friendly staff sent me on my way and I was back on the road (though in traffic — thanks, 405!) and onto my evening’s plans.
I think visiting Blow Angels, and blow out salons in general, is a reasonably priced and convenient luxury for special occasions. At $29 per blow out, it’s something you could do every week if your budget allows for it. Otherwise, it’s extremely reasonable for special occasions like showers and bachelorette parties. I know many brides set up events for their bridal party on the day of the wedding, and as long as you make reservations in advance and time it properly, Blow Angels will accommodate you and your girls at the salon to give you a personal experience with great service. They can also give you some extra pampering with deep conditioning treatments ($15) or scalp massages ($9) for a few extra bucks.
There are makeup services that I didn’t patronize, but with prices at $30 per application, this could be an easy and low-cost fix to a face that needs a little sprucing. It’s more or less what you might pay at the mall makeup counter when you purchase product, so in theory, you could walk out of Blow Angels with hair and makeup complete at under $100.
I would recommend Blow Angels for Angelenos who are looking for a non-chain blow dry salon experience. I’ve been to other salons that are just for blow outs, and I think Blow Angels is pretty comparable. Perhaps Blow Angels lacks a little sophistication and chic-chic style when compared to its competition salons, and that’s only because Blow Angels also hosts a boutique and items for sale at the counter which clutter the salon’s ambiance some, but this is not a factor that makes the blow out experience anything less than enjoyable. The overall decor and touches themselves, though, are very pleasing.
For bridal or day-to-day stylist, check out Blow Angels. It’ll feel heavenly to have perfectly styled hair.
Blow Angels is at 11659 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, California and is also on Facebook.
