Salon owner Deborah McGrath says the blow-dry business is recession proof (Photo by Karon Liu)
When a client leaves the salon, the inevitable countdown from having an impeccable do to having a flat, windblown bird’s nest begins. So consider the freshly opened Do My Hair blow-dry bar (the inclusion of the word “dry” is imperative) a pit stop between cuts.
For $32 ($22 for men), women will have their tresses washed and styled in about half and hour—ideal for a post-gym, pre-dinner touch-up or before a stressful job interview.
Unlike at typical hair salons, part of the store’s policy is to encourage walk-ins, rather than keep appointment books, says owner Deborah McGrath, who comes from a corporate consulting background. “A hair appointment is supposed to make life easier, but I find that my entire day has to revolve around that one appointment, which defeats the purpose.”
Do My Hair is the third blow-dry salon to open in the city in the past year, along with two other midtown spots, Blowdry Lounge (1343 Yonge St.) and Blo (2594 Yonge St.). In a time when people are cutting back on extra expenses, McGrath believes the blow-dry business is recession proof. “For many women, a visit to the salon costs $60 to $80,” she says. “A lot of people are cutting back on big-ticket items, but they still want to spend a bit of it elsewhere.”
Other quick, lunch hour–friendly treatments (customers scarf down the contents of Tupperware containers in the salon chairs) include six-minute hair masks ($5) and hand massages ($6).
Do My Hair, 583 Mount Pleasant Rd. (at Manor Rd. E.), 416-544-0505, domyhair.ca.
I like the idea of blow-dry bars – but I hardly think they are recession proof, especially since I’ve seen 3 open in the last few months in North Toronto. We’ll see who lasts. I have longer hair, so when I walk in for an advertised $30-something blowdry – they look at me with jaws dropped and tell me that ‘It will cost extra, since you have long hair’ – this is a drag. I’m not Crystal Gayle folks – my hair falls a few inches below my shoulders.
July 22, 2009 at 2:37 pm | by Cleo Weston RogersFor $30 – I can buy a hairdryer – so for a one-time hair blow-dry – I’m hoping to see the prices start at $20 for short hair, and stop at $20 for long….in these times of a recession, of course.
Recession proof – seriously? Isn’t a 30 dollar blow dry the first thing to go if you need to save some cash? Personally I don’t know anyone who could spend on this service regularly, recession or not.
July 22, 2009 at 5:28 pm | by AmyNo, the first thing to go during a recession is my assistant who squeezes the toothpaste on to my toothbrush. The SECOND thing to go would be professional blow-outs.
July 22, 2009 at 8:12 pm | by AnaCleo, you are hilarious–I love your stuff and your point is dead-on. As for the Conair suggestion: DO NOT buy Conair–I once picked one up to get me through the period when my straightening iron was being repaired and there was SO MUCH hair breakage and the steam from the unit gave my hair the texture and volume of Gene Simmons’ ‘do! And I normally have very silky, shiny, and voluminous hair, so imagine my lack of delight at that one! NEVER AGAIN, GO AWAY CONAIR.
September 1, 2009 at 2:01 am | by DooWopThis is the 2nd hair-related story I’ve read on TOlife.com today and I am THIS close to letting you all in on a HUGE secret that could save you thousands of dollars a year (depending on who cuts your hair, of course) on your hair…
‘voluminous’ as in lots of it, tho maybe I was using the word wrong…
September 1, 2009 at 2:02 am | by DooWop