A girls’ morning out at Parlor

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Blow dry bars have been slowly creeping into more and more cities and I have been dying to give one a shot.

Parlor Blow Dry Bar opened up recently in Raleigh (specifically near Cameron Village) and invited my friend and I to come in for a complimentary blow out. Naturally I jumped at the opportunity and am happy to share my experience with you!

Given my experience working in a salon, I have high expectations when I walk into one. I remember the state board regulations on cleanliness and alway look meticulously around places to see how clean or dirty they are.

Parlor is a shining beacon of a clean, fresh blow dry bar. Sure, it may be a little bit easier to keep clean given that they don’t do haircuts or color, but there is still hair flying everywhere from being blown dry and they are able to keep it very clean!

Personally, I love the design aesthetic too. Anything crisp, white, modern and clean is right up my alley. The entire front of the salon is windows, so there is plenty of natural light too!

Anyway, let’s get into the good stuff.

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I asked my friend Iana (pronounced ‘yen-ah’) to join me for the blow out. She has a son a few months younger than David, so we left the boys with our husbands while we shot over to Parlor, with Starbucks in hand.

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Iana often vents to me about how her hair won’t hold curl and I was hoping she’d go for something a little curly at Parlor. After talking through the looks, she and Kelly decided on the Big and Full.

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Meanwhile I was talking Ashley’s ear off about all the Bumble products, and what she was using on me, as she gave me the Signature blow out.

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camera strap is from Fotostrap (love it an unhealthy amount.) 

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Iana’s hair looked so beautiful when Kelly finished! And the curls looked soft but like they would hold all day too. I was thrilled with my blow out as well! My hair was bouncy and smooth, and it was a nice change up from my typical soft curls.

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As you can see behind us, Parlor was busy! It didn’t feel crowded in there one bit, but I was not surprised to see the salon bustling at 9:00am on a Saturday.

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So would I recommend Parlor? Absolutely. My advice, to make the most of your blow out, is to have a thorough consultation with your stylist. If you want it to last a few days, perhaps go light on the styling products used. If you simply need your hair done for an event or evening out, let the stylists do their thing!

Parlor was kind enough to offer 10% off any service if you are a first-timer at the salon during weekdays only if you mention this post/that you heard about it from my blog! (offer good from today-Feb 29th. Mon-Fri only, first time guests only.)

Huge thanks for Parlor for the blow outs, and a lovely experience!

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Krystyna says · 01.15.15

I love Bumble products! Would you mind sharing which products were used on you??

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Kate says · 01.15.15

I remember she used the surf shampoo and conditioner and then used Dry Spun Finish at my roots after it was dry!

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Sara WUTZKE says · 01.15.15

I love both surf and dry spun for texture, and I have had great luck with the hairdresser oil line including the spray on my fine yet thick hair. Love love love bumble products!

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Tina Olsen says · 01.15.15

I wished I lived closer! This place looks amazing. My favorite part about going to get my hair cut is always the wash and the style!

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Dana says · 01.15.15

sounds like a wonderful day of pampering! I am confused though…what’s the difference between a blow out and a regular blow dry when you get a hair cut? I realize where you were there is no cut involved. Is it just a styling thing?

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Kate says · 01.15.15

Yep, you just get your hair washed and styled. No cut or color!

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Melissa G says · 01.15.15

Very cool. Would have loved to see you do something more different than what you normally do! How long of a process is it?

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Kate says · 01.15.15

This was! I usually do curls 🙂

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Christen says · 01.15.15

We have a blow dry bar here in my town and I’ve always wanted to try it! This sounds like a great service to just get your hair done for an event!

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Breanna Pye says · 01.15.15

Kate – when using your DSLR camera, is the effect you get where the background is “blurred” the way you have the camera set up or is that an effect you get using photoshop? I just recently got a DSLR and have been playing around with it and looking for tips!
Thanks!

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Jennifer says · 01.15.15

It’s called bokah. It’s has to do with your aperture setting. The lower you appear tire the more blurry it will be. Google it! You can get that effect easily with practice.

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Jennifer says · 01.15.15

*Apperature. Auto correct on my phone. Grrr

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Kate says · 01.15.15

What Jennifer said 🙂

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Maddie says · 01.15.15

I’ll hop in and answer this 🙂 That is called having a shallow depth of field, and it is achieved in camera when you are shooting “wide open” and have your aperture set low…like at 1.4/1.8/2 etc. Think of it like your eye ball. When your pupils are wide open, like when you get them dilated at the eye doctor, everything looks blurred, right? Same thing here. Your subject is in focus, and the background is blurred.

The best way to get this look is shooting in manual and adjust all your setting so the aperture can be low, but you could also play with aperture priority (AP on your DSLR) or potentially portrait mode. Happy to answer any other questions and hope it’s OK that I jumped in!

Love the hair, Kate!

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Maddie says · 01.15.15

Someone beat me to it! Gotta love this community 🙂 🙂

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Breanna Pye says · 01.15.15

Thanks everyone, can’t wait to try it!

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Alma says · 01.15.15

This looks amazing. I love the styling of your hair and I had no idea that they did various stylings at blow dry bars. I’ll try one by my house once my hair properly grows out.

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Lauren says · 01.15.15

I’m looking to see if I can find a day to sneak over there soon!

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Catherine R. says · 01.15.15

I want that dryer so badly but I just can’t bite the bullet and spend the $250.

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Kate says · 01.15.15

Rusk Speed Freak is my fav, that’s a bit cheaper

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Pia says · 01.15.15

How heavy is the Rusk Speed Freak? I have super-thick hair and it takes quite a while to blow-dry so I need something lighter. Thanks!

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Lisa Hays says · 01.15.15

I have a Rusk Speed Freak based on Kate’s recommendation. I also have thick, medium length hair. I don’t find it heavy. It is a wind throwing tool and while I’m not sure I’d say it has drastically cut dry time, I am impressed with the performance.

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Jacklyn says · 01.15.15

Boy thats a little expensive.

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V says · 01.15.15

I loved this post, it’s a bit of a change from the usual. I’ve always wondered about these blow-dry bars as well. There is one that opened near me, I think it’s called DryBar. Anywho, it hasn’t had the best reviews and the one time I went in there it was slammed! I couldn’t get a chair for over an hour!

I’m probably going to wait for a special occasion. I hate it when I have my hair blown out after a haircut I have no where to go!

V
http://www.lifeplus1.me

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Kristine D says · 01.15.15

What shampoo&conditioner and products did they use on you both and how did you like them? I’ve tried a bunch of Bumble&Bumble products and never liked any of them…

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Catie J Buck says · 01.15.15

I think I may need to try this! Thanks for sharing!

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Catie J Buck says · 01.15.15 Reply
Stacy says · 01.15.15

Wow! The prices are awesome! I’ve only seen blow out bars for close to $100 at the lowest price. Would be awesome to try! Sadly though, too far away.

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Vanessa Roberts says · 01.15.15

Your hair looks great straight or curly! I have been wanting to try a dry bar, but the closet one to me is about an hour away. Maybe for a bigger event or special day I will be able to give it try!

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Kelly Pallesen says · 01.15.15

Interesting. I thought a blow out was simply getting your hair straightened and it lasting for a long time. Is that a Brazilian blow out? And does that ruin curly hair? Just curious

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Kate says · 01.15.15

Yes thats a brazillian blow out 🙂 and I don’t know if it ruins it necessarily but a lot of chemicals are required to straighten

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Jamie says · 01.15.15

This looks like the ultimate girls day out! I see in a previous comment they used Dryspun Finish at your roots? My favorite product…LOVE!

Hello There, Lady!

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Angela says · 01.15.15

Nice to see you enjoying a bit of pampering. I have not been to one of these types of blow out parlors before, sounds lovely though. That “princess leia” roller they used in your hair is really neat! The end result looks fantastic.
http://palsywalsyblog.blogspot.ca/

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Emylee says · 01.15.15

So glad to see you went here, I’m a new follower and I live in Raleigh as well! I’ve been eyeing Parlor for a girls day and it definitely seems worth it.

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jami says · 01.15.15

How fun! I went to a Drybar salon in Arizona and it was such a cool, fun experience. Wish we had something like that where I live. I would go every day!

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Emily says · 01.15.15

This sounds wonderful. There is nothing better than getting your hair done
Emily
http://adorableandaffordable.weebly.com

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Clever Girl Reviews says · 01.15.15

I have always wanted to go to a place like this but more the braiding and the updo’s. Unfortunately we don’t have any place like it in my immediate area!

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Glenda says · 01.15.15

Kate, is there a particular model of the Rusk Speed Freak dryer that you like, and is this dryer your all time favorite.

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Kate says · 01.16.15

as far as I know there is only this model : http://rstyle.me/n/jp8pm8f6

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Margareta says · 01.15.15

Had never heard of a blow out bar. Will have to try one soon. You all look great! I have to put in a baby guess and say your belly looks like a girl! Love your blog!!!

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Amy says · 01.15.15

Looks like so much fun! I’ve not seen one here in my city but I’ve never looked either. Glad you enjoyed your girls afternoon!

Ps: love the Jamberry accent nail on the gal holding the style card! I’m a Jam girl myself!

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Kaylie says · 01.16.15

I love that your friend is wearing a Jamberry nail wrap! I noticed it immediately! I would love to try a Blow Out Bar, but don’t believe there are any around me 🙁 I love a good relaxing day at the salon!

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meagan says · 01.16.15

I’ve been wanting to get a blow out for a while now. I totally need to try one of the salons in my area!
-Meg
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com

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Laura says · 01.16.15

Hi Kate! Just wanted to point out that this year is not a leap year so there is no Feb. 29. Your hair looks great, as usual! 🙂

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Kate says · 01.16.15

ah, thanks!

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Christy says · 01.16.15

I wish we had a dry bar close to where I live. By the way, your hair color looks so pretty.

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Lauren says · 02.03.15

This is way cool! I’ve heard of the concept but didn’t quite understand how it worked. I’ll be saving this idea for a possibility next time I’m in Raleigh. 🙂

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wedding photographer newcastle says · 02.19.15

My daughter stumbled across this site and even though she is only 8 she takes a lot of special interest and attention with her hair and makeup. God help me when she is 16. She thoroughly loved the post and has since been experimenting with her hair. Keep up the good work.

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Melissa says · 03.17.15

What salon would you recommend for a cut and color???

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