The following post was submitted by one of our loyal Vancouver readers.
If you have a Vancouver service experience that you’d like to share with our readers, just click here!
Smack dab in the middle of the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, next to YEW restaurant + bar, is, and I’m not making this name up (clever)…blo BLOW DRY BAR
My “bloer” (I swear this is what they call them) was so interested in my business, etc and was a sweetheart but she just wasn’t skilled…at all.
Here’s my story:
Background: I’ve heard about Blo since it opened it’s first location last year and thought it was a great concept:
- 30 minutes
- 30 bux
- you have a great blow out style
Awesome.
I decided to finally check it out with a friend. The first step is to choose a style from their Blo Menu. Something along the lines of “loose and beachy” was what I was looking for; a style that looks easy but makes you feel like a million bucks. Unfortunately, I left feeling less than that…a lot less.
On the plus side, the bloer/stylist was very friendly and chatty and gave me the impression she was really interested in me. A good start but then as things unfolded I became a bit confused, then worried, then disappointed.
Here’s why…
- As part of the Blo Out service I was paying for, I assumed that it would start with getting my hair washed. Wrong.
- The stylist said it “looked OK” as it was. More than anything this made me do an internal “huh?” Don’t all blow-outs start with wet hair? (yes). And isn’t that part of the service that I’m paying for? (yes).
- I gave her the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe she would work some magic as she started in with a round brush on my dry hair. Wrong again.
- I didn’t see any magic happening and just felt like I was getting a serious case of the frizzies. (If you have curly hair you know where I’m coming from on that one).
- As we chatted, she told me she wasn’t actually an accredited hair stylist.
- Just from viewing her handling of a curling iron, it didn’t appear that she had been given enough training. Enter the “worried” stage.
- She wrapped things up more or less in the 30 minutes and I put on a brave face for my friend who was next up.
- I thought maybe she’d have better luck as she did have her washed…No dice!
- We both left disappointed and feeling like we had been at a slumber party and not a “chic” blow bar. Let’s just say the music could use some refinement too.
In the end, the style didn’t matter though. My “beachy waves” had fallen out in a couple of hours.
Just blo me.
Again? Probably not.
Oh, too bad! I was thinking of checking it out with my future little-sister-in-law! But I think I”ll take your advice and stick with my hair stylist at Axis. Thanks!
I actually loved Blo. I went to Blo as part of a stagette of 12 girls. So listen to this, once upon a time I went to Suki’s (Blo wasn’t in existence yet). I asked the stylist for curly-ish hair. She told me she was an expert and i was in good hands. I trusted her, and hello, it looked presentable. Greeaaatt. I got to my prom, looked around, and could spot every girl at my prom who went to suki’s and got their hair done by my girl. She was a one trick pony.
Blo on the other hand, had 5 stylists, and all 12 of us left, looking unique and runway ready.
Needless to say, I think Blo is the reason, I met a boy that night, and have been dating him ever since.
Blo – you blew my mind. To you other fine ladies, Just blo me. (That’s their slogan – also clever).
I always wondered about the hair wash, because the times I’ve gone, my hair has never been washed. I remember when I was young and my grandma got blowouts, it was the full deal. Nonetheless, I have had good experiences at blo. The challenge is getting the right stylist. Some are obviously better than others. They aren’t accredited hair stylists because they don’t actually have to cut hair. My first blo out was amazing. My second one was alright, I was also nervous in the chair when my stylist said to the other stylist “I don’t know how to do those curls”. I just wish she hadn’t said that in front of me. She did need some assistance from the other stylist in doing the waves I wanted. And in the end, the blo out was just ok. Keep in mind, it is $30, a very fair price. I’ve asked about blo outs at other salons and they generally run higher.
Thank you to ALL the Hair Cadets that have posted comments here on Blo Blow Dry Bar.
We always aim to do our best – and more! – but we are always willing to learn. So please, to any of the women that have posted comments above, feel free to ask for me personally at one of our Vancouver locations. Blo would love to be given a second chance to show you why, with 4 bars across Canada (and another on the way!), we’re considered Canada’s blo out experts!
Call 604.909.9495 and ask for Val Litwin, the Blo GM.
Thanks, Val! Our readers will most definitely appreciate the offer.
Aimee, Laura, Nicole, Morgan…let us know how things go!
Thanks for the treat Val! Kathryn and I were blown away
From start to finish, we were treated to exceptional service. I LOVED my hair! Thank you again. I will be back!