Haircut + Blowdry vs. Dry Haircut: Which to Book
By Bella Garcia · · 5 min read
Our menu has two main ways to get a haircut, plus a small one for bangs. They aren't better or worse versions of each other. They're different approaches, and the right pick depends on your texture, the shape you're after, and how much time you have that day. Here's how to choose.
The three cutting options at a glance
- Haircut + blowdry ($90, about 1 hr 30 mins): wash, custom cut, and blowdry. Hollywood waves and updo styling are extra.
- Haircut, dry, no wash ($45, about 30 mins): a dry haircut with no wash or blowdry included.
- Bang trim ($20, about 15 mins): a dry, face-framing trim with no blowout.
How a wet cut and a dry cut actually differ
With haircut + blowdry, your hair is washed first, cut while damp, then blown out. Wet hair lies flat and combs straight, which makes it easy to cut clean, even lines. The blowdry at the end lets your stylist see the shape as it falls and refine anything that needs it.
A dry cut skips the water. Your stylist cuts your hair in its natural, everyday state, so every snip responds to how the hair actually sits: where curls spring up, where a cowlick pushes a piece out, how your part falls. Nothing shrinks or shifts afterward, because what you see in the chair is what you'll see at home.
Who haircut + blowdry suits
This is the full appointment, and it works well when:
- You want a precise, polished shape. Blunt bobs, crisp one-length cuts, and structured layers benefit from cutting on wet, combed-out hair, then checking the line once it's dried smooth.
- You usually wear your hair blown out. If smooth is your everyday look, cutting it and then styling it that way shows the final result before you leave.
- You're making a bigger change. Going from long to shoulder length, or adding layers for the first time, is easier to judge once the hair is styled.
- You want to walk out done. Heading to dinner or a photo afterward? You leave with a finished style, not just a fresh cut.
Any style is on the table for the blowdry portion. Just know that sculpted Hollywood waves and updos are priced separately.
Who a dry haircut suits
The dry cut is shorter and lower in price, but it isn't only the budget option. It's often the better technique for:
- Curly, coily, and wavy hair. Curls shrink as they dry, and every curl pattern behaves a little differently. Cutting dry lets your stylist shape each curl where it actually lives, so you don't end up with surprise short spots.
- Textured hair you wear natural. If you never blow your hair out, a cut designed around your hair's real shape makes more sense than one designed around a blowout.
- Maintenance cuts. Already love your shape and just want it tidied? A dry cut keeps it on track without the extra time.
- Tight schedules. At about 30 mins, it fits into a lunch break more easily than the full service.
- People who style their own hair. If you'd rather wash and finish at home with your own routine, there's no reason to pay for a blowdry you'll undo tonight.
Where the bang trim fits
Bangs grow into your eyes long before the rest of your cut needs attention. The bang trim is a quick, dry, face-framing touch-up for exactly that gap. It's not a substitute for a full haircut, and it doesn't include a blowout, but it keeps fringe and face-framing pieces sitting right between bigger appointments. Our post on styling bangs and keeping them in shape covers the at-home side.
How to come prepared for a dry cut
Because a dry cut works with your hair as it naturally sits, how you arrive matters a lot more than it does for a wet cut.
- Come with clean hair. Wash it the day of or the day before, so there's no heavy buildup or oil changing how it falls.
- Make sure it's completely dry. Damp hair hides the true length and curl pattern.
- Style it the way you usually wear it. If you diffuse your curls, diffuse them. If you air-dry with a leave-in, do that. Your stylist needs to see your normal, not your best day or your worst.
- Skip ponytails and clips beforehand. Elastic dents and clip marks can throw off the shape.
- Go light on product. Use your normal amount, but avoid anything new or unusually heavy that day.
- Wear your usual part. If you want to change it, say so at the start.
Time, budget, and how often
If you're weighing cost, the dry cut is lower in price and shorter. Haircut + blowdry costs more because it bundles the wash and finished style into the visit. Some guests alternate: a full haircut + blowdry when they want a reshape, then dry cuts to maintain it. For a rough idea of how often each length needs attention, see our guide on timing trims for short, medium, and long hair.
Prefer Sundays? The Seventy Dollar Sunday Haircut includes a haircut, wash, and blowdry and is offered on Sundays only. Everything else, including kid haircuts for children 10 and under, is on our haircut and styling price list.
A quick way to decide
- Curly or textured hair worn natural: dry haircut.
- Sharp lines or a major change: haircut + blowdry.
- Happy with your shape, just want it tidied: dry haircut.
- Want to leave styled for the day: haircut + blowdry.
- Only the fringe needs help: bang trim.
FAQ
Can I get a dry haircut if my hair is straight?
Yes. Straight hair can be cut dry too, and many people like seeing exactly how the shape falls. For very precise one-length shapes, though, haircut + blowdry is often the easier route.
Should I wash my hair before a dry haircut?
Yes. Come in with clean, fully dry hair styled the way you normally wear it. No wash is included in the dry haircut.
Does the bang trim include styling the rest of my hair?
No. It's a dry, face-framing trim only, with no blowout. If you want your whole head styled, book haircut + blowdry or add a separate styling service.
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