I’m still trying to figure out how it happened but I think it was a weird CrossFit and yoga connection that landed me at a photo shoot this morning for a new blow dry bar that’s opening in Charlotte soon. Let me start this post by saying I can’t believe the blow dry bar trend that’s taking off. We’ve had several open in Charlotte in the last few months and apparently there are more on the way. I LOVE the concept. You go in and have your hair washed and styled and you’re ready for a big business meeting, a night on the town, parties, etc. There’s no hair cutting or coloring involved…just styling. Given that I cannot do anything other than flat iron my hair or let it be naturally wavy, I would definitely visit one of these blow dry bars for special occasions. Seriously, I am incapable of styling and curling my hair. Someone help me. Tips please.
WARNING: there are more pictures of myself in this post than I think I’ve ever posted before. And my guy readers…you may want to skip this one after the workout part. 😛
Given that I had a photo shoot at 10 a.m. in which I would have my hair and make up done, I got my myself out of bed early and to the gym for a cardio/strength workout. I started with about 25 minutes on the treadmill with some sprint intervals thrown in and then moved into the following strength circuit:
20 back squats
10 pull ups
10 bosu push ups
10 weighted step ups (love, love, love)
25 bosu crunches
Three rounds got the job done. I’ve been much more into doing my own strength workouts lately than CrossFitting. I ebb and flow so much with CrossFit.
After my workout it was off to the salon where I rolled in, grabbed a coffee and started chatting with everyone there. I realized that the other girls there were from talent agencies and I was the sole un-model. When I was asked if I model full-time I laughed and said that it was a big deal that I was wearing jeans and not sweaty gym clothes on a Monday. I proceeded to spend a long time sitting in this chair having no fewer than 10 brushes and rollers piled onto my head in a mission for volume.
This was the first look they shot, which I loved and is very similar to something that I would wear in my day to day life. Basically, they gave me some volume at my roots and a little curl at the ends.
And this was the second look…lots more curl. I watched in awe as my stylist went to town with the curling iron. My left handed self just cannot figure out the art of perfect curling iron curls but I happily sported this look for the rest of the day. My evening CrossFit classes were like, “ummm there’s something different about your hair.” That would be that it was actually styled! 🙂
A huge thank you to Sarah Nelson Garcia who photographed the shoot and is opening the blow dry bar. She’s a Charlotte-based portrait photographer. Sarah is super friendly and makes you feel totally comfortable in front of the camera (portraits like this can be SO awkward!).
So there you have it…a post with lots of my hair. Stay tuned for more details about Sarah’s new business. Has the blow dry bar trend hit your city yet? Is it something you think you would treat yourself to on special occasions? I don’t know why I wouldn’t…it’s basically the same price as something like having your nails done and cheaper than a massage or facial.
I’ve got some amazing recipes coming at you later this week so stay tuned!
You hair looks amazing! I have no heard of these blow dry bars.. it’s an interesting idea
I love the curls! I always wish I had more time/energy to do my hair and make-up, but I don’t. I’m trying to get more into the habit of it for work though.
Love your hair! I’m as clueless about how to do my hair as I am about fashion. I’m dying to try out a blow dry bar. Sounds like so much fun!
i’ll keep an eye out for opportunities for us to get pretty! 😉
A very interesting concept indeed! I’m like you and am style handicapped, so I would definitely take advantage of something like this for a very special occasion 🙂
The curls are gorgeous! I already think you are naturally beautiful but those curls frame your face so well. If I had the money to go to a dry bar on special occasions I think I would, but at this time I’ll just have to keep styling for myself, haha!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your hair! Whenever I try to curl mine it never looks anything close to that! You look GREAT!
Pretty!! Love the curls. I need to find an excuse to get this done! I don’t own a curling iron because I have no idea how to use them…
I love both looks on you but esp the first one! It just looks really natural and soft. Personally, I gave up curling my own hair years ago – it always ends up looking like a big puffy nest!
If you want to learn how to curl your hair go to YouTube! Seriously, I bought a curling rod to get wavy curls and watched a video and got exactly the look I was wanting. After a couple times practicing it is so simple and looks great! 🙂
Looove this post! From the workout to the hair, it’s all awesome 🙂
The blow dry bar trend is popping up in New Orleans. I have gone one time, before an engagement party. I LOVED it! I have super thick and wavy hair, and it’s so much easier and fun when someone else deals with it 🙂 I plan to use it for special occasions, for sure! I have an appt. to go before my work holiday party.
You and your hair look beautiful! I have never heard of a “blow dry bar.” I like the concept. It would be nice to have one close to me for special occasions…..I will look into that!
Wow! What a fun opportunity! You look great in both photos (I especially like the style of the first one – so everyday-I-didn’t-try-but-look-amazing kind of style)! 😉 Great workout and thanks for sharing!
I went to my first blow dry bar this past weekend because I had a wedding to attend – they did such an amazing job! I LOVE this new trend and that they can get my hair to hold gorgeous curls 🙂
Your hair looks gorgeous! I love both looks that they gave you. I love the blow dry bar trend! I had one here in Charlotte this past weekend for my Birthday! It was at Blo Out on Selwyn. Loved it! Looking forward to hearing more about the new ones opening here! I am clueless on curling and styling as well. I need all the help I can get!!
what a super fun opportunity – and I totally would love that because I am like you and can’t do anything except a ponytail in my hair most days!! 🙂
no blow dry bars yet in OH where i am but i’m sure its coming. for me it would depend on the costs / time and what i was going to. i wonder what my hairstylist would charge for just a style ? for an updo she charges like $60. also the key is…will the style last !!! its sort of like the different types of manicures. you can go to a salon here and get a mani for 45 mins andthey chat you up etc for like $40-50. or you can go to a dash in dash out place and for $25 get the quickest manicure of your life. for me…neither one last long so i go with the cheaper. maybe a blow dry bar is just faster to get in and out and less costly ?
I love your hair, it looks amazing. I have really curly hair and never know how to style it. Mostly because it can really only do one thing or its super frizzy. I also have zero fashion taste but working on that. The concept sounds great and fun, I wonder how it would work with someone with super curly hair.
Your hair looks AMAZING Jen!! There’s a blow dry bar near where I work…and now I’m so tempted to go given how awesome your hair looks in those photos! Plus I’m totally the same as far as styling goes…I can’t nicely style my hair to save my life! 😛
Oh la la! Like you I have no idea how to style my hair, hence why it is either up in a ponytail or I let it do the beach wave deal. I have learned to use the straightener, but curling…NEVER. I would love to try one of these bars, because they’re all over Houston too. GORGEOUS!
Dry bars were on every freakin corner when we lived in Dallas…seriously, I do not exaggerate. I never went to one in the 7 months we lived there. And they don’t exist in Asheville and probably never will, lol. I will second the poster that mentioned YouTube instructional videos…I learned how to curl my hair much like your curly shot from buying a 1.5 inch barrel curling iron and watching a couple of videos. The blow-out, though, that’s a whole ‘nother story and I will never be able to do it on my own.
You look adorable. I have yet to master the curling iron. I always get a weird kink in it. The blow out bar isn’t really a denver thing yet. We are pretty crunchy here but I’d love to give it a try before a big date night.
I’m also incapable of styling my hair beyond a straightener and tease brush. I’ve even watched the YouTube videos. Maybe it’s my hair? I dont think we have any salons like that here in south central pa. We are pretty much always late to the game.
Why didn’t I stop reading when suggested?
Your hair looks so cute! I have naturally curly hair, and I am kind of lazy on the hair front. If I need to look fancy I ussually just have enough patiance for straight hair. I would totally go to one of these blow dry bars! 🙂
I’m the same way with hair (and clothes for that matter – yoga clothes or bust!) and always try to plan my hair appointments around events so that I can actually look decent . Otherwise its straight hair with awkward kinks in it or a messy bun. Your hair looks fantastic!