Be happy that Alli Webb was looking for something to do in her spare time when her children were babies.

A hairstylist by trade, Webb started offering housecall blowouts to clients on the west side of Los Angeles, advertising by word of mouth and online message boards for parents like Peachhead.

Think about it.  The stylist comes to your house and gives you a fabulous blowout for half the price it would cost in a salon.  It’s a no-brainer.

Alas, Webb was soon so busy that she decided to partner up with her brother and open a business that offered simple, professional blowouts at a reasonable cost.  No more housecalls, but something far more wonderful was born:

Drybar.

Two years, 14 locations, and several copycat competitors later, Drybar has defined a new style of beauty business – the one-service salon-type location where you can pop in, get a streamlined beauty treatment, and be on your way in less than an hour, and at reasonable prices.  Drybar has locations in LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas, and New York, and every one of them offers the same service with the same level of professionalism.  “You can be in a Drybar and not know what city you’re in,” says Webb, proud of the way the brand has developed a high standard for training its stylists, who must first go through a two-week Drybar boot camp of sorts to ensure that their skills are in line with the Drybar name.

Location number 15 in Westlake Village near Total Woman Gym and Spa (in the plaza on Westlake Village Blvd. at Townsgate) opens this Friday, June 22.  Webb herself, who lives with her husband and two little boys in Orange County, is on site this week making sure everything in the store is just right – from the window graphics  to the big-screen TV’s (that play chick-flicks, naturally) to the placement of the mirrors, behind the client chairs.  “When I was doing hair in people’s homes, they didn’t have big salon mirrors in their kitchen or living room where we were working,” recalls Webb.  “That made it easier for me to work, and it was a great moment when the client would go into her bathroom to see her blowout and I would hear this great cry of joy when she finally saw how pretty her hair looked.  I wanted to recreate that feeling here at Drybar.”

Drybar’s decor and philosophy mimic those of a traditional bar – the client chairs are lined up along a bar-type counter, product for sale is stacked behind the bar, snacks are put out for people to purchase, “shots” of conditioning treatment are offered for an additional charge, and even the administrative staff are called “bartenders.”  Because they only do blowouts – no cuts, color, or other chemical-based treatments – Drybar doesn’t smell or feel like a full salon.  Even meeting Webb, you feel like you are meeting a girlfriend for a cocktail and a catch-up gabfest instead of coming to a stylist for a hair service.  The atmosphere is light and fun, and you leave looking like a million bucks, even though the blowouts only cost $35.

AHM gets a fantastic complimentary blowout from Drybar genius Alli Webb herself

When I visited Drybar yesterday, even though it wasn’t open yet, curious people were poking in to see what the deal was.  While they do take walk-ins, they get pretty busy Thursday through Saturday, so it’s best to make an appointment.  Although it’s brand new, this location is sure to get a lot of business sooner than later.