Popping up in major American cities like New York and San Francisco, blow dry bars are the perfect solution for those who struggle in styling their hair or consider it a chore. Jet Set owner and founder Julia Spotswood decided to expand upon a brilliant idea. Stylists skip the hair cut and instead focus their expertise on a relaxing and chic shampoo and blow dry. It may have taken a relocation from California to Tokyo for me to finally experience this trendy new phenomenon, but it was worth the distance and wait.
Catering to both expats and Japanese alike, Jet Set has carefully crafted nuances that make a world of impact. From the website, which is primarily in English, I was able to book a same-day appointment for a 60-minute spa shampoo and blow dry. I was seated promptly upon arrival and noticed a cute place card welcoming me. I was then asked to chose an essential oil for the aromatherapy scalp massage that would accompany the spa portion of my shampoo. Although my stylist didn't speak a lot of English, there was always someone around who did.
The wonderful, 20-minute scalp massage and shampoo set the tone for indulgence. Standard hair salons don't always provide a scalp massage, so Jet Set seems to have wisely focused on this oft-overlooked perk. Wishing it would never end, I was re-seated and greeted with a short list of beverages at no additional cost (including a glass of champagne or a mimosa). After selecting champagne, I was handed my "bar" menu of six different blow-dry styles. There were two styles available per hair length (short, medium, and long), all named after big cities. I chose "New York" based on my medium hair length, but the longer styles were also available to me. My stylist used a common round brush blow drying technique to straighten and add curl to my hair, and I loved the result. I was also really pleased that I wasn't charged extra when it took longer than 60-minutes to complete.
Shorter and longer blow dry sessions are also available, in addition to more relaxation/massage options. The salon also offers up do's, makeup, and other a la cart options that include a ¥1,080 bang trim and organic shampoo treatments. Recently, a range of unlimited monthly shampoo/blow dry packages have been added. The options and competitive pricing have attracted many additional customers.
With a little help from dry shampoo, I was able to extend my lush blow dry for a record-breaking five days. Needless to say, I won't hesitate to "fly" to the Jet Set specialists for a future style makeover or bit of indulgence. It's easy, reasonably priced, and the perfect pick-me-up.
