I got tag-teamed at Blo. I’d requested the “Holly Would” style from a menu of seven sketches. Two bloers, Ananda and Sara, each armed with dryer and round brush, tamed and smoothed my just-washed thick, wavy hair into a swingy, shiny, not-too-done ’do.
Not that blowouts are usually two-bloer affairs — it was a couple of days before opening and the atmosphere in the new-to-Toronto blowdry bar was giddy. Cute-chic in pink, white and grey, the space was loud with music, blasting dryers, animated chatter, and back-and-forth staff (bloers mostly). Ananda had started the job and seemed to take entirely in stride Sara’s casual decision to help out.
Both experienced stylists — Ananda from New York and Sara from another busy salon in Toronto — had prepped with the 30-hour training course in the Blo technique. It’s about every client getting the same consistency no matter who does it, said El Presidente Judy Brooks (above right) later when she shared some of Blo’s philosophies. “You can’t request a bloer,” she explained. Besides changing the dynamic between the staff, bookings interfere with the zippy in-and-out-in-about-30-minutes objective. No reservations means no waiting around for a late-arrival customer finish her appointment. And, said Brooks, it fosters a friendly environment in which regulars get to know everyone, and vice versa.
This is Blo’s fourth location in Canada. The first and, according to their press, still the only wash-blow-go bar (no cuts, no colour, don’t call it a salon) in North America, opened in Vancouver in 2007, as did two others soon after. And a smaller “Pop-Up” bar is scheduled to open in Yorkville’s Four Seasons hotel soon.
My Blo ’do reminded me how much I like my hair straight. I don’t have the luxury of lots of visits for about $32 including tax each, but I like the idea of being a regular at a friendly spot with a cheerful staff of blow-out experts. The concept seems a civilized way to take a bothersome task off my plate. I’d look forward to sleek hair every couple of weeks or whenever I need it instead of dreading it fiercely.
Not that I can’t do a good blowout job on my own. I have the tools and the technique. It’s just the 70 sweaty minutes my thick, unruly hair would put me through (I’d have to turn off the A/C — old building circuits). Blo that.
Blo is at 2594 Yonge St., a few blocks north of Eglinton. Visit blomedry.com for more info, including how-to vids.
If you’re much further downtown, near the King and Bathurst area, you might like to know about Ritual 2.
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Ooooh, I’m so excited to hear about this. A good blow-out makes a HUGE difference on my fine hair too, and I’d like to be able to treat myself before strategic occasions (a big meeting, date night, running into an ex – oh, wait, that one’s hard to plan. But wouldn’t it be awesome to know you’re looking your best?)
I read that they had this card where if you did like 7 blowouts you got the 8th free. That’s pretty great too!
You talk about blow outs a lot and it’s really making me want one!
Please to be telling me average costs so that I can be kind of prepared??? :D
I just drove by the Yonge St location today & thought what a cute place! And of course you’ve written a post about, thank you because I was curious to know about BLO. As usual you look fantastic, loving the BLO-Out!
Yes, that’s true! Get a Blo tab of 8 blowouts; the 8th is free! Deets here (as well as deets on Blo’s line of extensions): http://blomedry.com/services/hidden-assets-extensions
Oh, and costs for this place ?? (I’m sure it’s somewhere on the website, but I’m a little dense and can’t find it)
I am the world’s biggest dope!! I read this entry at 7am this morning, and didn’t comment until the evening – about 12 hours later … somewhere in there I obviously forgot that your entry already answered my question.
I am such an a-hole!
Susan, you make me laugh.
Average price for a blow-out in Toronto is $35 or so.
It IS a cute place — I loved a lot of the hair I saw. I pointed at one bloer’s side ponytail and coveted out loud (apparently I can have the look with extensions, which Blo has). The style options include a quick updo as well, I think. And of course I want to try it.
Thanks for the blo-out compliments :-)