Quickdry vs. Blowout: Which Should You Book?
By Bella Garcia · · 4 min read
Two services on our menu get mixed up more than any others: the quickdry and the wash + blowdry. Both end with you walking out with styled hair. The big difference is what happens before the dryer turns on. One includes a wash. The other doesn't. That one detail changes how you prep, how long you're in the chair, and which service makes sense for your day.
What Is a Quickdry?
A quickdry ($45) is a blowdry or styling service with no wash, and it takes about 40 mins. You can come in with wet hair or dry hair. If you washed at home that morning and just don't want to spend 45 minutes with a round brush, come in damp. If your hair is already dry but flat, bent from sleeping on it, or frizzy, come in dry and we'll restyle it.
Hollywood waves, updo styling, and extensions are an added charge on a quickdry, so mention those when you book.
A quickdry tends to suit:
- People who prefer washing with their own shampoo at home
- Thick or long hair that takes forever to dry yourself
- Second- or third-day hair that needs reshaping before work or dinner
- Anyone who wants to skip DIY heat styling for the week
One tip: if you come in wet, rinse out heavy masks or oils before you arrive. A lot of product left in the hair makes it slower to dry and harder to smooth.
What Is a Blowout?
Our wash + blowdry is $65 without extensions, about 1 hr, or $85 with extensions, about 1 hr 30 mins. It starts with our signature wash at the bowl, then your hair is dried in sections for smoothness, shine, and shape. You don't need to prep anything. Just show up. Hollywood waves and updo styling cost extra here too.
A blowout is usually the better call for:
- Dinners, parties, interviews, and anything with photos
- Hair with product buildup, sweat, or sunscreen that really needs a salon wash
- Clients who want the whole experience, start to finish
- Stretching your style as long as possible before the next wash
Quickdry vs. Blowout: Side by Side
- Wash: Quickdry has no wash, so you come wet or dry. A wash + blowdry includes the wash.
- Price: Quickdry is $45. Wash + blowdry is $65, or $85 with extensions.
- Time: Quickdry is about 40 mins. Wash + blowdry is about 1 hr.
- Longevity: Starting from a fresh salon wash usually means a cleaner scalp and a style that holds a bit longer. A quickdry on second-day hair will be more of a short reset.
- Extras: On a quickdry, Hollywood waves, updos, and extensions each add a charge. On a wash + blowdry, Hollywood waves and updos add a charge, and extensions have their own price.
How to Decide
- Is your scalp clean? If you washed in the last few hours, a quickdry makes sense. If it's been days, book the wash.
- Do you have an event? For photos or a long night, the wash + blowdry gives you the freshest starting point.
- Are you squeezing it into a lunch break? The quickdry's shorter time is the whole point.
- Is it a Friday? Our Friday blowdry special ($45) is a wash and blowdry in any style, Fridays only. It excludes Hollywood waves and updos, and extensions are an added charge.
Plenty of clients use both: quickdries on regular weeks, a full wash + blowdry when it counts.
What About a Silk Press?
If you have curly or coily hair and want a very sleek, straight finish, neither of these is quite the right service. A silk press ($110, about 1 hr 45 mins) goes further, finishing with a hot comb for that sleek result. We break down when a press beats a regular blowdry in a separate post.
Make Either One Last
- Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, or twist hair into a loose bun on top of your head.
- Use dry shampoo at the roots on night one, before they look oily, not after.
- Wear a shower cap and keep the bathroom door open to cut steam.
- Keep your hands out of your hair. Touching it all day adds oil and kills volume.
- Keep oils and creams on the ends only.
More habits, including how to refresh on day three, are in our day-by-day blowout aftercare tips.
If You Book Often, Look at Memberships
If you're coming in every week or two, a membership may work out better than booking each visit:
- TIER 1 ($104/month): two blowdries every month in whatever style you like; if you miss one, it carries into the next month. $144 with extensions.
- TIER 2 ($208/month): four a month, any look you want, a scalp treatment add-on, and one blowout that can roll into next month if you skip it. $288 with extensions.
Either tier charges extra for Hollywood waves or an updo. A scalp treatment ($35) can also be added to any visit on its own.
Booking at Our El Monte Salon
Both services can be booked online with the BOOK button. You can see every styling option together on our styling and treatment menu.
Still not sure which one your hair needs? Ask us before you book and we'll point you to the right one.
FAQ
Does a quickdry include a wash?
No. A quickdry is a blowdry or styling with no wash. You can arrive with wet hair you washed at home, or with dry hair that just needs restyling.
Can I get Hollywood waves with a quickdry?
Yes, but Hollywood waves are an additional charge, as are updo styling and extensions. Mention it when you book so enough time is set aside.
Which is better for thick hair that takes forever to dry?
If you're happy washing at home, a quickdry saves you the longest part of the job. If your scalp also needs a proper clean, the wash + blowdry covers both.
Book with Beya Studios in El Monte →