Hair, Family, and Community: Meet the Sisters Behind The Blowout Bar
In a world where innovation often means complex technology or groundbreaking products, sometimes the most successful business ideas come from simplifying and perfecting one specific service. That's precisely what sisters Kristin and Kailen did when they founded The Blowout Bar, a salon concept that focuses exclusively on hair styling and blowouts – no cuts, no color.
The concept began during a family trip to New York City about 15 years ago. Kristin, Kailenn, and their mother stumbled upon an independent blowout bar and decided to try it. That single experience transformed their perspective on hair care. As Kristin explains, "It was one of those experiences that I just couldn't go back to doing it the old way." The trio immediately recognized there was nothing similar in Columbus, Ohio, where they were living at the time. They saw an opportunity to bring this specialized service to their community.
What makes The Blowout Bar unique in the salon industry is its laser focus on one area of expertise. While traditional salons offer blowouts alongside cutting and coloring services, The Blowout Bar exclusively provides styling and blowout services. This specialization allows them to offer exceptional convenience with greater appointment availability, consistent quality, and staff specifically trained in perfecting blowouts. They've created a niche that traditional salons weren't fully serving.
The business model has clearly resonated with Columbus customers. Starting with their first location in Grandview 13 years ago, they quickly expanded to Dublin just a year later, and then added an Easton location about seven years ago. Their client base ranges from working professionals with standing weekly appointments to brides and wedding parties preparing for special events.
What's particularly interesting is how their business serves different client needs throughout the week. Weekday clients tend to be working professionals or stay-at-home moms with standing appointments – the modern equivalent of the weekly "set" their grandmothers might have had. Weekend appointments typically cater more to special events like weddings, bachelorette parties, and family photo sessions. Being open seven days a week allows them to accommodate both regular clients and those seeking services for special occasions.
Neither sister had a cosmetology background when starting the business, which might seem counterintuitive for salon owners. However, this unique perspective allowed them to focus on the business and customer experience aspects while building a team of specialists. Their business approach has advantages over the traditional salon owner path, where stylists often struggle to transition from behind the chair to focusing on business operations.
Looking ahead, The Blowout Bar has plans to continue expanding. They're currently eyeing one more Columbus location to cover all areas of the city, with future growth potentially targeting Cleveland and Cincinnati while remaining within Ohio to maintain hands-on quality control. Their growth strategy emphasizes geographic accessibility since blowouts are largely a convenience-based service, with most clients unwilling to travel more than five miles for an appointment.
The Blowout Bar represents entrepreneurship at its finest – identifying a gap in the market, focusing on a specific service, and executing it exceptionally well. By narrowing their focus rather than trying to compete with full-service salons, they've created a thriving business that continues to grow. Their journey from a chance New York City experience to owning three successful salon locations demonstrates how sometimes the most straightforward business concepts can yield the most impressive results.
