My Wow blowout

The delays had me nervous, but Wow Bar, which finally opened today at 50th & France, was worth the wait. While in-demand hairstylist and Wow’s creative director Jason Deavalon trained the staff, CEO Parrel Caplan, a noted Twin Cities business attorney, tended to every detail of the salon and experience from the perspective of a time-crunched, stressed-out customer…namely, herself. Each station has an iPhone charger. Champagne is served. A warm towel is placed around each client’s neck during the shampoo for a little dose of pampering that doesn’t take extra time.

The space itself, once home to the James Loren salon, has been totally redone inside and out. It’s bright white with chic black and white stripes. The mirrors at each station are oval not just because it looks nice, but because the shape makes you look nice—Caplan did the research. Blow driers are suspended from the ceiling to keep the stations clean. A curtain of white beads separates the shampoo room.

The biggest wow is the stylists’ expertise. Deavalon took the staff through an eight week training program. Not all blowouts are the same—a vigorous shampoo will help the hair look clean longer. Round brushing dripping wet hair  (as opposed to towel drying or blowing it before styling) adds to the shine. My stylist today has more than a decade experience and a full-time styling job at another salon—that’s the strategy to attract skilled stylists and avoid burnout. It’s similar to the philosophy at Blowdry, which also benefits from an ownership team that includes an experienced stylist and a business expert. Blowdry’s experience is 60 minutes, and includes that amazing scalp massage; Wow Bar averages 45 minutes. It really comes down to geography between the two. Wow Bar has a parking lot in back.

Wow Bar blowouts are $35—the going rate at blow dry bars. Makeup is also available. Get the whole package—blowout, makeup and lashes from $65. Wow uses Kerastase, and hair treatment shots are a $10 add on (another $15 with a booster).

Check out our Blow Dry Guide for more great blow dry bars around the Twin Cities.

5037 France Ave., Mpls., 612-334-3333