The blow-dry bar craze on the coasts is finally hitting the Twin Cities this spring. The blow-dry bar concept is simple: Generally priced between $30 and $35, services include a wash, blowout and styling.

  • Boutique salon Haus, which opened last year, has just introduced an in-house blow-dry bar to its south Minneapolis location (4240 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-827-4287).
  • The new Blast Blow Dry Bar is opening two locations later this spring: at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park and Aloft hotel in downtown Minneapolis,
  • A still-unnamed blow-dry bar is reportedly coming to the 50th & France shopping district and will boast an all-star team that includes one of the Twin Cities' best known stylists, Jason Deavalon, and beauty industry guru Rick Goldberg, who co-developed Cost Cutters, developed lines for Target and CVS, and has consulted with Aveda.

In other beauty bar news, Smart and Chic Beauty Lounge has come under new ownership and relaunched as Beauty Lounge Minneapolis (20 University Av. NE., 612-227-9363), offering hair and makeup styling, private parties and special-occasion services.