Pictured: Blow La La owner Kim O'Connor with Nick Arrojo. Photo by Heidi Stone.

Blow La La’s battalion of blow dryers sat out at Monday’s preview party, but they’ll be fired up soon enough when Sarasota’s first-ever blow dry bar begins taking clients on June 27th. In the absence of dryers, guests munched on tasty bites, such as sushi and gourmet brownies, and sipped blue-tinted champagne while receiving complimentary curling services. Mingling with partygoers was special guest Nick Arrojo, former hairdressing host of TLC’s What Not to Wear and founder of an eponymous international hair care brand. Blow La La is one of the newest additions to Arrojo’s network of Ambassador Salons, a group of 350 top hair care destinations across the country.

Blow La La’s inaugural location will offer blow-outs, up-dos and makeup services, both in the salon and on-location. Owner Kimberly O’Connor seeks to offer “everyday, affordable, luxury hairstyles” for women (and men with long tresses) and hopes to tap into the local event and wedding markets.

When O’Connor, a ninth-generation Floridian, decided to return to her home state after stints in Atlanta and Boston, Sarasota was at the top of her list. Her motivation to open Blow La La was rooted both in a desire for easy, elegant, no-fuss hair care options and what she saw as a lack in the area. “I was traveling and saw blow dry bars in New York City and Boston and I was like, ‘Wow, this is pure nirvana,’” she says. In her research, O’Connor found that few local salons stocked Arrojo products, instead opting for more common, often conglomerate-owned brands.

Why choose a blow dry bar rather than a full-service salon? For one: convenience. “You can go to normal salon, but many times they’re not available for last minute or walk-ins,” says O’Connor. “I wanted [to create] a place that people could come to get a great blow out every day of the week.”

Pictured: Blow La La owner Kim O'Connor with Nick Arrojo. Photo by Heidi Stone.

Blow La La, 1275 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-388-7183.