If asked to name the best bar in town, University students may strike up a heated debate. Baton Rouge is filled with noisy clubs, quiet dive bars and, of course, good old Tigerland.
Many University students pride themselves on being experts on every bar in town, so it may surprise students that dry bars are the newest trend sweeping the nation.
Not dry as in alcohol-free, but dry as in blow-drying hair. Making its way from Manhattan and Los Angeles, the dry bar phenomenon has finally reached the true bar enthusiasts of America in Louisiana.
After successfully opening the first Louisiana blow-dry bar in Mandeville in 2012, owners Mike and Gayle Reuling are opening their second location in Baton Rouge. Air Blow Dry Bar and Salon will open its doors in October in the Acadian Village Shopping Center on Perkins Road next to Trader Joe’s, also opening this fall.
“It’s like going to get your car washed,” Gayle Reuling said. “You can either spend two hours and do it yourself, and it never looks as good. Or you can go have it done in a half hour and it looks incredible, and it’s detailed and it lasts longer.”
But Gayle Reuling said unlike most other blow-dry bars, Air combines a dry bar along with a traditional salon that offers color, cuts, threading, makeup, eyelashes and more. It’s a one-stop shop that is quick and caters to clients’ needs, she said.
Dry bars offer menus that come complete with pictures to help clients decide which blowout look they’re trying to achieve. Air’s menu offers different “airstyles” with glamorous Gayle Winds being the most popular followed by Sea Breeze, a more beachy look.
The goal at Air is to cater to its clientele, Gayle Reuling said. It’s essentially a girly-girl’s paradise, complete with complimentary drinks, iPads at each station and chick flicks continuously playing on the television behind the bar.
Private parties at dry bars are also becoming popular as more and more women get ready at blow-dry bars before heading out to an actual bar or event. Bridal parties, girls’ nights out and birthday parties are popular events that bring customers to Air, Gayle Reuling said.
“It’s just like a conveyer belt of people wanting to get their hair blown out,” Mike Reuling said.
The Baton Rouge location will exclusively offer a color bar express and makeup bar. The color bar express will offer highlights, root coloring or full hair coloring and is designed to take less than an hour for women on the go. The makeup bar will allow women to freshen up their makeup before heading out or get their makeup professionally applied.
Clients of the Mandeville Air dry bar have taken to Facebook to sing its praises, calling the salon beautiful and the staff friendly. The Reulings hope to find the same positive response at their Baton Rouge salon by keeping the styling techniques and services the same at both locations.
“It’s all about consistency and service,” Gayle Reuling said. “It’s a place where you want to hang out. It’s clean, inviting and it’s just happening.”
If asked to name the best bar in town, University students may strike up a heated debate. Baton Rouge is filled with noisy clubs, quiet dive bars and of course, good old Tigerland.
Most University students pride themselves on being experts on every bar in town, so it may come as a shock to students that dry bars are the newest trend sweeping the nation.
No, not dry as in alcohol-free, but dry as in blow-drying hair. Making its way from Manhattan and Los Angeles, the dry bar phenomenon has finally reached the true bar enthusiasts of America in Louisiana.
After successfully opening the first blow-dry bar in Louisiana in Mandeville in 2012, owners Mike and Gayle Reuling are opening their second location in Baton Rouge. Air Blow Dry Bar and Salon will open its doors in October in the Acadian Village Shopping Center on Perkins Road next to Trader Joe’s, also opening this fall.
“It’s like going to get your car washed,” owner Gayle Reuling said. “You can either spend two hours and do it yourself, and it never looks as good, or you can go have it done in a half hour and it looks incredible, and its detailed and it lasts longer.”
But unlike most other blow-dry bars, Gayle said, Air combines a dry bar along with a traditional salon that offers color, cuts, threading, makeup, eyelashes and more. It’s a one-stop shop that is quick and caters to clients’ needs, she said.
Dry bars offer menus that come complete with pictures to help clients decide what blowout look they’re trying to achieve. Air’s menu offers different “airstyles” with glamorous Gayle Winds being the most popular followed by Sea Breeze, a more beachy look.
The goal at Air is to cater to their clientele, Gayle Reuling said. It’s essentially a girly-girl’s paradise, complete with complimentary drinks, iPads at each station and chick flicks continuously playing on the television behind the bar.
Private parties at dry bars are also becoming popular as more and more women get ready at blow-dry bars before heading out to an actual bar or event. Bridal parties, girls’ night out and birthday parties are popular events that bring customers to Air, Gayle Reuling said.
“It’s just like a conveyer belt of people wanting to get their hair blown-out,” owner Mike Reuling said.
The Baton Rouge location will exclusively offer a Color Bar Express and Makeup Bar. The Color Bar Express will offer highlights, root coloring or full hair coloring and is designed to take less than an hour for women on the go. The Makeup Bar will allow women to freshen up their makeup before heading out or get their makeup professionally applied.
Clients of the Mandeville Air dry bar have taken to Facebook to sing its praises, calling the salon beautiful and the staff friendly. The Reulings hope to find the same positive response at their Baton Rouge salon by keeping the styling techniques and services the same at both locations.
“It’s all about consistency and service,” Gayle Reuling said. “It’s a place where you want to hang out. It’s clean, inviting and it’s just happening.”