“Rule the World”: One Blowdry at a Time- Guest Blog by Suzie Gaffney

“That feels amazing.”

“I wish I could do this to myself but it’s just not the same.”

“Can we do this everyday?”

“That is the perfect amount of pressure.”

Much like an episode from Three’s Company or Friends, listening to things said out of context can be really confusing. The quotes I posted above? All things I’ve heard and I’ve said while getting my hair shampooed at one of the Currie Hair, Skin and Nails Salon locations. Truly, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love that part of having their head massaged, especially right behind the ears. It’s heavenly. And yet most of us only get to experience this feeling every 6-8 weeks when we are due for a cut or color, sometimes waiting even longer.

The concept of getting your hair washed and blown dry actually goes back to the days when women frequently the salons weekly to have their hair set. And just like everything old is new again, a couple years ago we started to see pop-ups of Blow Dry “bars” where you could pop in for a shampoo, dry and styling. While these places are great they often operate under a club like membership in that your first appointment is discounted in order to get you to join a monthly or yearly membership type program. Again, if you are lucky enough to find a stylist you love then that’s great, but usually it’s kind of a blind date thing that already feels a little like cheating since you probably have an existing relationship with a stylist at a salon.

Somehow in the midst of this resurgence we forgot that our favorite stylists are also happy to do a blowout and style. In fact, it’s a great way to stay updated with you stylist and maybe even help to plan out your next full appointment with cut and color. Think about how great you feel after your cut and/or color. It’s that I don’t want to go home because my hair looks so good I need to show it off feeling. Why are we waiting just for a trim or color to experience that good hair day high?

Another great perk of this kind of appointment is that it allows you to go on a date without a commitment. So maybe your neighbor raves about the Wayne location of Currie but you’re not sure if you will like it, because, let’s be honest, each and every salon has a vibe that we either dig or we don’t, even if we can’t pinpoint why. The right salon should be a place that you enjoy walking into, it should make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Schedule a blowout is a great way to see inside the space and get a feel for what it is about to see if you like it, all without the commitment or investment of a cut or color. It’s also a great way to take a peek and what other services they offer and see those spaces. The light, bright open space where they have manicures at the
Currie Glen Mills location is enough to make me make an appointment just because the space itself is so beautiful. On the other hand, I also love the privacy and quiet of the pedicure chair at the Currie Kennett Square location. It’s tucked away just a bit so you feel like you in your own private Idaho.

A blowout is also a great way to meet a stylist. If I am sending one of clients to Currie for an appointment, I make it a point to email or talk with the staff to make sure I a recommend the right stylist for that client. This recommendation is based not just on their technique or experience, but also on their personality. Some people like to be chatty and some people like to zone out. Some people want a stylist that is consistent and some want a stylist that comes to them with new ideas. It’s a relationship and has to work out on both sides.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned with booking this type of service? You don’t need to wait for a special occasion. I used to think it was something to schedule when I had a wedding or an event to attend, but then I realized that sometimes I just needed that pick-me-up. When we don’t feel good about ourselves we sometimes look for a quick fix such as shopping therapy, a dessert, or a martini after a long day of work. Imagine how much better you would feel physically after this soothing service, and then emotionally when you look in the mirror and you like what you see. When your hair looks good you are more likely to take the time to do your makeup and put on a nice outfit. It can act as the trigger for feeling positive about our appearance. And yes, of course we all
know that personality is what really makes someone beautiful, but I know that I am a nice person when I am happy with the way I look. When I feel pulled together I tend to act more pulled together. Just like if I wake up with messy hair I tend to put on sweats and have a rather unproductive day. It’s just human nature that we look the part we tend to act the part.
Which reminds me as I write this that it is time to get out from under my blanket on my couch with my dog, style my hair, do my makeup and put on something that makes me feel like I can rule the world.