Blo - Bloor West Village - Toronto

I went to Blo on opening day with the ChickAdvisor staff. I had heard of the concept of strictly blow-dry and style salons, but had never been to one before, and I was really looking forward to it.

Blo is indeed a brand of its own. Stylists are called 'blo-ers' and the only flavour of vitamin water they serve is the red kind. The music plays really loudly in the blo area of the salon. This didn't bother me but I know some people who would not be fans. I was surprised that the chairs were plastic - a slight deviation from the cushioned chairs I expect to sit on at a hair salon. I soon realized that they're small and plastic so they can be easily moved and allow several people to sit at one bar at once. I felt a bit crowded by this concept at first, but it didn't bother me much.

I didn't get to look at the menu, but I already knew what I wanted done, and my blo-er agreed with me. The blo was surprisingly fast - it may have something to do with the fact that at one point, two blo-ers were working on my hair at once!

By the end, was hair was incredibly voluminous and glamourous. It wasn't quite what I had in mind, but after a few hours, my curls loosened and my hair became exactly what I had in mind. I was so happy with it I left in for several days later! (in fact I probably overdid it because when it came to washing it, I couldn't remember the last time my hair was that knotted).

The quality of the styling and the prices at Blo are both great. I missed the opportunity to relax and really enjoy my pampering as I would at an ordinary salon, and I did feel a bit rushed, but I would return to Blo if the occasion called for it.

I came with with some ChickAdvisor Staff for their Bloor West Village Opening. Like Ali said, the concept of this Salon is pretty cool. It's bascially $30 in 30 Minutes Hair Style. The Salon is strictly wash, blow dry, style. You get to choose from a menu with 7 different hair styles. I chose a voluminous curls. I don't quite remember what it's called, but you'll see the name with a illustration of the style on the menu.

The sink was a little uncomfortable and the paper towels for drying was a bit strange (Apparently it's biodegradable) I especially enjoyed the conditioner as it gave my scalp a tingly, cooling effect. The stylist was really nice and tried to teach me tips and tricks on how to do my own on along the way. I came out with the most voluminous and full hair i've ever seen on myself. It was refreshing. I have to admin that my hair was a little over the top and curly at first, but after a while, it just fell into nicely. Even then, i've never had hair with such body so it felt different. But I did get compliments on my hair by a stranger.

What I love the most about this place is the ambiance and decor. Since they don't do cuts and color, the place was clean without hair all over the floor. Overall, i think this is a great option for when you need a blow out or just getting ready for a night out.

I came here with a couple of girls from our team for their Bloor West Village opening. I just love the concept of this chain. Get a quick and easy blow dry, choose the style you'd like from their menu and in 30 minutes you're perfectly polished for your night out. A typical blow dry is $31 or you can choose one of several updos for $55 or even extension installation.

You can either have your hair styled dry or you can also get a wash. Personally, I found the sinks uncomfortable because they didn't dip down at the neck so it was hard for the stylist to wash the back of my scalp and it was uncomfortable for me. They also use biodegradable paper towels to dry your hair instead of regular towels and they aren't big enough to cover long hair, so I'd recommend asking for extra paper towel to cover your back so you don't end up with a wet back. I did, and was fine, but one of our team members ended up with a wet back.

In the end we all chose curls and beachy waves, which turned out beautifully. The price is the same as what my salon charges for a blow dry, but since these little pink bars keep popping up all over the city, it's more convenient to go there than book an appointment at my salon every time I need a pick me up for my hair.