Kara’s Blow Dry Bar

Being dreadful at styling my own hair and attending a ‘go glam’ New Year’s Eve bash I didn’t even bother trying to style my own hair. As usual I left it until the last minute and was amazed that Kara’s Blow Dry Bar still had appointments on the night.
Handily on John Dalton Street close to it’s junction with Deansgate I tripped down to see what they could do. The space is fairly sparse with some large mirrors with chairs on one side and a couple of sinks on the other. I had to wait a while at the desk to be seen, the receptionist appeared to have gone for her lunch and there was no rushing her as she came in, took her lunch to the back and then slowly walked back to greet me checking her phone.
Once seen I was taken for my hair to be washed and asked how I would like it styling. Luckily for me I had seen the ‘menu’ online so went for the Californian blow wave. I wasn’t offered this list whilst in the salon which, is a shame, I was glad I had looked it up online!
I wasn’t expecting the stylist to manage my dry curly hair the way other people’s was being styled but you know what? She did it. It was effortless and my hair had that bounce and curl you see in the movies. I was really impressed and, for £18, I don’t think you can grumble at the price.
The service needs sharpening for me, I was up for having lashes applied and had seen an offer on the menu including them but unfortunately this wasn’t offered. I also saw everyone else in the salon had a glass of fizz in front of them, none for me. It’s, once again, an optional extra that I wasn’t offered.
This service could be amazing and with a little brushing up (pun intended) it will hit 5 stars.

I visited Kara’s before our Christmas do at All Star Lanes — it being a 50’s theme, we were prepared to properly go ‘all out’ and get glammed up for the occasion. Not being the best at styling our own hair, myself and two colleagues booked into Kara’s a few hours before the party to get victory-​curled within an inch of our lives.
Inside, it feels clean and inviting. Large mirrors line one side of the room and sinks for washing hair the other. I believe there is a tanning booth hidden away towards the rear of the room, though that is something for another day!
We had our hair washed and taken to the styling chairs, which is where it all got a bit uncomfortable for me. I had the newest girl in the shop — it was quite literally her first time doing an up do — and she was rather taken aback by my hairstyle. Despite having photos of 50’s styles, as requested, that were based on shorter hair, she kept repeating that she didn’t know quite what to do because «your hair is so short.» (For the record, it’s short on one side, and fairly thick, and I’ve had it styled before!)
I understand that, perhaps, she was just explaining her process to me, but it made me feel really embarrassed and almost like I shouldn’t have bothered getting it done. My quiff stayed up all night, but it was nothing special compared to my colleagues’ styles.
Sorry Kara, but if you’re only going to be offering your services to those with easy, long hair, I’m going to go elsewhere.