BIG CITY STYLE COMES TO COLUMBIA
By Liz Gunn || I want to be upfront when I tell you that this post is more for the ladies. And not just females, but the true girlie girls of the world. If you aren’t a lady, but have a lady like this in your life, you may want to keep reading…just in case. Something very exciting is opening in Columbia very soon.
I was recently approached by a friend from college about being a hair model. Okay, not so much a model – but a “hair practice dummy.” She is opening Glowout Salon in the Vista in the coming weeks, and her staff needed people to work on during training. I was happy to oblige.
Like any girl I know, I jumped at the chance to have someone play with hair and get me all dolled up on a random Tuesday afternoon. Prior to this, I’ve only had my hair blown out twice. My stylist blows it dry when I get my hair cut, but I’m talking about a genuine “blowout”.
For those unfamiliar with the term (as it relates to HAIR…ahem), a blowout is an indulgent process by which a stylist carefully blows your hair dry, after washing, and then styles it to your liking. Sounds like what a lot of women do themselves at home each morning, but it’s not. We’re talking about Victoria’s Secret hair, that women like myself could never achieve at home.
And let’s be honest – someone else is doing it for you. You’d be surprised at how laborious drying your hair can be, especially if you have long, thick hair. A professional blowout will take about thirty minutes from start to finish.
In addition to the benefit of having someone else take the reins, a good blowout can also last several days depending on how much you exert yourself and how humid your climate is. For example, a kickboxing instructor in Columbia, S.C. in August is not going to have a blowout that last several days. But your average nine to five woman who isn’t doing any heavy lifting will definitely be able to make it go the distance. High quality dry shampoo can help extend the life of your blowout as well.
The original Glowout Salon in Chicago capitalized on the concept of a one-stop shop for express beauty services in a chic, vibrant setting. Complimentary cocktails are served, and socializing is encouraged. Their motto is “get pretty, get social.”
The Columbia salon will offer the same services of blowouts, spray tans and express manicures and pedicures. If any of the guys are still reading – here is the part I want you to get. I have two words for you that could score you major points during Christmas, on her birthday or really anytime you need to redeem yourself. GIFT. CERTIFICATE.
Women like to be pampered, but it’s something we can’t always justify doing for ourselves. I’m an admitted spa junkie, and it makes it very easy for my husband when a holiday rolls around. Some people find gift certificates to be impersonal, but I think a carefully selected gift certificate actually shows how well you know someone!
The best part is, you can treat yourself to a blowout without feeling like you’re cheating on your hairdresser. Glowout is not a full service hair salon. They don’t offer cuts or color, just express services to get you looking perfect for a big event or just a night out.
Glowout also offers private parties, which are sure to be a huge hit. It’s the perfect place for a bridal party or just a group of girlfriends to get together and be pampered. I know guys don’t always understand women’s need for things like this and that’s okay. But accepting this fact and acting on it when necessary will go a long way. Am I right, ladies?
I am thrilled that Columbia is finally getting a real “finishing salon” that will rival those in major cities. Glowout plans to open late November. at 1202 Park Street in the Vista, just off Gervais. You can follow their progress by following them on Instagram @glowoutsalons. I just hope my husband is reading this, and that one of those gift certificates will land in my stocking this Christmas. (hint hint).
Liz Gunn is a wife, mom, travel enthusiast, food snob, daydreamer and lifelong Gamecock fan. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.
82 comments
Don’t go Liz, I love long straight hair, as you have. Never cut it !
I’ve had short(er) hair once in my adult life…and I cringe every time I see a picture from that short lived era. No worries on me cutting my hair any time soon. I do like a nice blowout once in a while though!
“I do like a nice blowout once in a while though!”
Who doesn’t? Amiright here?!?
aren’t you clever. didn’t see that one coming AT ALL.
When you you hang a high fastball like that right across a dude’s chest…he has to swing at it. It’s a frog-and-scorpion thing… ;-)
oh I know -I actually had a bet going on who would be the first to play that joke. I won!
Long hair makes a woman sexy to look at. For me, it’s like a ” bold statement ” lets say, ” I got it and you don’t ” to others. IT’S HOT !!!
To a point, then when it’s waist length and you’re 60 years old you just look like an old hippy.
why ruin it ? you should of never opened your mouth. we know that is true.
What? Are you on the dope?
Liz…you made a mistake in the first paragraph….you said that this article was more for the girly-girls or the guys with girly-girls in their lives. This article is totally perfect for the cigar-smokin’, football watchin, potty mouth UN-ladies such as myself! I don’t know how to do my hair….in fact it gives me anxiety. THIS is the exact type of place un-ladies like me need for nice events! I never know what to do and don’t necessarily want the (awesome) girl who cuts my hair to have to do just a styling. Thanks for the heads up Liz!!
As you’ll get older, you’ll do what every woman in SC does… pull it up to a bun on top of your head.
Go back to bed Jean.
Why is this so exciting? There is already a blo salon in the Vista.
There are tons of salons around town, and yes all of them offer the service. This is a finishing salon offering only blowouts, spraytans and express nail services. There is a difference.
There is a “dry bar” in the Vista that ONLY does blowouts, make up and nails. Is the difference the fact that this place will also paint you up to look like an oomph loompa?
No.
What’s the other difference then?
The Blo 2 Vista salon you speak of is not very friendly towards white skinned customers….
Pics or it didn’t happen.
They only do nappy hairs???
So… you go there to have them comb your hair and not cut it?
They wash it, blow it dry and style it. (Did you read the whole article?)
No… why would I start now?
So do you wash, dry and style your hair before going there or do you go there with bed head?
read it. or don’t. but I’m not answering questions that are in the article.
Okay I labored my way through this exiting news… it still doesn’t tell me if women will style their hair before they go get their hair did.
Nor does she distinguish this salon in a manner that makes it sounds remotely different from other dry bars already operating in Columbia.
you sure have wasted a lot of time on this today…
what the person who wrote this doesn’t know or doesnt wanna comment on here is that this new salon sounds like it’s more for white girls…whereas Blo 2 caters more to african americans. i’m a stylist at another salon across town, and yes we offer blowouts too. but there is a difference in a full service salon and a dry bar. and most salons n dry bars cater to one or another…even if they will see both. it’s not racist – but their hair is very different and so is the process of styling. I have black clients, but 90% of my clientele is white. another stylist in our salon sees 90% black women. it is what it is and people shouldn’t get offended about it.
I got that impression also. I think what Liz is trying to say is, finally there is a dry bar that caters to whitey.
is it really not clear? They wash, dry and style. I’m not sure why I’m wasting my time with the guys here today – you’re likely not in the market to go there. “blowout is an indulgent process by which a stylist carefully blows your hair dry, after washing, and then styles it to your liking.”
No I’m talking about your trip to the salon, do you do your hair before you go to the salon to have them wash your hair? You know, from your house to the salon. Or do you just go there looking like you’ve slept on your hair.
You can show up however you like- i think it would be a waste of time to do you hair before going…since that’s what you are going for. If it were me…I would go with unwashed hair…perhaps in a pony tail.
So would you shower that day or go all BO?
Will dey shave mah armpits? Mawmaw need some groom’n.
Fits is turning into cosmo….
where are these mature asian dating for men ads coming from? sheesh. I did tell my wife once that I was going to adopt an asian child once, an 18 yo phillipine girl… she didn’t think it was funny.
Cosmo has 3 million subscribers…that WOULD be nice.
well, a redneck sackalaky version…not sure I’d want that.
I wonder what they charge to trim a mullet?
Get a “Flowbee” and take care of it yourself… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3G1cwqYkO4
Bravo……Colonel….bravo…
+50 points and a “Liz Glowout” media badge….
They don’t,
luckily no one asked you what you wanted!
If they asked me what I wanted, it would be to not read articles about a hair dresser coming to cola on a political blog… there, take that, ha!
I’m just trying to be funny, not very successful at it admittedly.
Well in my defense, I ALWAYS make sure the headline indicates what the article will be about, and in the very first sentence I said this one is for the ladies. I can’t for the life of me understand why people keep reading and then complain about the content when they knew good & well what it was about.
Drivel. Should not be on Fits. Fits has lost the vision or has been corrupted. Stick to political. Won’t read any more of the Liz stuff.
Liz, your readers can fawn over the fluff. You can ignore me, I’ll ignore you.
This is a part of the new, expanding service economy we should all embrace … Much Better than making ammo for some overseas conflict, fur sure. … And whether Cosmo or GQ, well, bring it on. (After the age of 55, it’s all good.)
I am not getting my lady anything that encourages her to skip a shower for 3 days.
Huhh, if she wants it, I can give it.
Having your hair styled doesn’t mean your lady won’t bathe for 3 days. There’s a product called a “shower cap” which women(and men) can use to keep their hair style dry while they bathe. Or better yet, there is a something else called a bathtub; you can even soak with her, and her hair will stay dry. :)
If you have a dick and you find yourself wearing a shower cap, you are NOT a man.
I am so excited this is opening in Columbia and cannot wait to try it out!
Super awesome, MMMKAY!!!!!
I am excited about this! I am one of those “hair illiterate” people so I can use all the help I can get and why not get the help with my friends and adult beverages. Its a no brainer for a girls’ night out or happy hour!
Yay!!! $60 haircuts for everybody!!!
No cut, they wash and blow dry your hair for $60!!!
It’s actually around $40…but hey, facts are no fun, right? If you think it’s too high – don’t go.
You can’t wash your own hair?
yes, and I do every day. I can also cook my own food – it doesn’t keep me from eating in a restaurant once in a while.
Don’t be so bitter..you have got to expect this reaction to these type of articles on here.
Maybe I shouldn’t have given you such a hard time about Eggs Up Grill.
You’re right…that’s what did it. That’s what sent me over the edge. (I don’t remember what you said – no offense, but don’t give yourself that much credit.)
You failed to put that “fact” in your article, leaving us to guess how much of a ripoff the service is. Now we know, mmmmkay thanks!
whatever – you are CLEARLY familiar (and likely associate in some way considering the time you’ve wasted on this) with the other salon you spoke of that charges $40. Glowout doesn’t have set pricing yet which is why I didn’t include and why I said “around $40”. So I didn’t fail anything, mmmkay thanks.
I thought the point of a forum was to comment on posts, are you suggesting that commenting on your posts are a waste of time?
It’s hypersensitivity week at FITS. Promotion ends Sunday…
Maybe what you don’t realize is that these comments don’t hurt my feelings or make me angry…they’re just irritating, because it’s like fundraising…90% come from the same 10%. I’m just doing my job…guess I should stop responding.
I get it…that was kinda my point. There are a few people on whom I can count to pop off with some kind of inanity even if I only predicted the sun would come up the next day (see frog-and-scorpion post below). I used to feel a weird compulsion to respond and smack down every one of their silly assertions, logical fallacies, etc. I got over that after finally realizing that none of us are going to change anyone’s mind here and I was wasting valuable minutes debating with morons. There are a few commenters here with whom one can have a meaningful discussion, but only a few. TBG is one of them, and he often cites TBG Rule #3 (with apologies to Mark Twain and King Solomon) “Never argue with a fool…onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” I still slip once in a while…
It’s true…it’s in the Bible too. “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
As the author though, I sometimes feel like I have to defend myself. Then I remember I don’t know these weirdos and shouldn’t care!
I just realized King Soloman is the Bible reference. Durrr. (I’ve made your point, haven’t I?)
No worries…my reference was actually a little later in Proverbs than yours (“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.”). I wasn’t planning to beat you up over it and you caught it yourself before the peanut gallery did so it’s all good! By the way, the actual TontoBubbaGoldstein version of the Twain/King Solomon adage is “Never argue with stupid people, they’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” I limit myself to 10 minutes per day on FITS to keep my sanity and preclude getting whipped on by morons, so I have to pick my “battles” very carefully these days.
Good luck, but keep the brown liquor handy. You’ll be swimming laps in it if you get too deep in the weeds with some of the clowns on here.
We’ve got no fear, no doubt, all in balls out
We’re screaming like demons, swinging from the ceiling
I got a fist full of fifties, tequila just hit me
Oh
We got no class, no taste, no shirt, and shit faced
We got it lined up, shot down, firing back straight crown
We’re going off tonight
To kick out every light
Take anything we want
Drink everything in sight
We’re going till the world stops turning
While we burn it to the ground tonight
Strap in… hold on… don’t wimp out.
Me responding to you has been a waste of time…so I will stop now. My bad.
I pay a lot more than that for a haircut…I don’t expect a guy to understand.
Once I got past my immature giggles from the term “blowout”, it sounds like a great place. Adding a cocktail while getting my hair done is a pretty nice bonus.
Who is the girl in the pic?
the headline photo is of a client of Glowout Chicago.
WTF is a SURFBOART?
Apparently, Beyonce can’t spell.
I would like to see her tattoos.
I know she has at least one..somewhere.
And that she smokes.
LOL….ROFL…………..”Tongue wagging “Glowout” laughter”……….
Liz………you rock, your not going to take no for an answer…..!! We luv it..!! You go girl…!!
I have no idea if YOU contacted Wil or if Wil took time to find you……. but you may just be on to something…!!! Now ….with only 32 comments and an assorted number of unique views; we all know that getting 3 Million subscribers may take you some time. Your no dummy…….just look at all the magazine in a Barnes and Noble rack for women compared to those for men. How many of those writers dish it right back to Grand Tango or Same ol’ same Ol’…?
Ya know Liz………if I were a wagering kind a guy; I bet a nice marketing intern for Proctor and Gamble is salivating over your efforts. Your not a fleeting celebrity……….you have “personal” moxy..!!
Liz………what you need to do is get your mug photoshopped with a “Glowout” and have a “vote” taken. A winner from Fits needs a “glowout” for PR …..don’t ya think..? Beats a Post and Courier pick’em….
{Boomerang 101…..}
Dear Nikki Haley……….
Considering that every woman needs all the help she can get, we wonder if you would like to have all of the FITSNEWS supporters to provide you with your Nikki “GLOWOUT” options to benefit your website photos..? Photoshopping your glowout hair is not that hard. Think of the PR and voter “interaction” possibilities…! We all know your a great sport…..heck any money raised in the voting or advertising revenue could go to needy girls partaking in a “Glowout”..?
We wonder how many woman at BOEING will get “GLOWOUTS” to impress those sheiks coming into Charleston to buy their jets..!?
Come on Nikki…….you know full well how Jackie O would benefit from a “glow”…?
Can’t wait to come in with a boner.