Drybar – Burlingame

Very disappointed with my recent experience at Drybar.
Here’s the scoop. I came in at 12:15 pm for my 12:15 pm appointment. Every waiting area seat is taken by mehhhh-​looking-​hair ladies who are waiting… Not a good sign. I approach the front desk — no one is there and the girl who usually sits at the front desk is blow drying a client’s hair… I take this as another bad sign. Fairly quickly, someone comes up to the front desk and I politely say that I have a 12:15 pm appointment and I’m in a hurry. This woman with jet black hair tells me they are running behind, there’s 5 people ahead of me and I need to sit down and the wait will be approximately 15 minutes since stylists are «finishing up» — I look around, there’s 4 stylists and none appear to be «finishing up.»
What the heck?!
Almost every time that I’ve been to this Drybar, I get taken in at least 10 — 15 minutes late. I think this Drybar has a serious problem with either overbooking or not enough stylists on call or both.
With the rudeness, no apologetic tone, just the «sit down and wait your turn» attitude, it was very simple to walk out, book an appointment with a salon 2 blocks away and get taken in right away.
Drybar, get it together.

If you have a special event coming up (holiday party, anniversary, birthday) Drybar is such a fun place to get your hair done beforehand! I had a wonderful experience at this Drybar location and loved my hair for New Years Eve! My stylist did my hair exactly how I asked her to and even did a cute little waterfall braid on one side of my part. My sister also got hers done and it looked just as beautiful! She has naturally curly hair and they were able to wash, dry, and style it in the same amount of time as me! Literally amazing.
Thank you so much for the wonderful service and boost of confidence on my locks! I’ll be back.

I booked my appointment today for 2:30. I showed up at 2:25 and they told me to have a seat my stylist will be with me shortly. They didn’t even ask if I wanted to drink something as the old management with Rob used to. I’m a regular customer here and also a barfly member. I would follow rob to the union square location but it’s far from my house. At 2:50 a lady sitting next to me with a 2:45 appt complained how she was short on time and needed to get on with her day. The receptionist apologized and said she will take her to get her hair shampooed. I think they realized I was here longer and told me my stylist will be with me shortly. Still no drink offered. At 3:00 I complained how I’ve been waiting for more than 30 minutes and they again said they’ll be with me shortly. I wasn’t seated in the hair wash station until 3:06. My tt list hear me complain to the front desk and I told her how management got worse after Rob’s departure. She tried to make up for it but it wasn’t her fault. At that point I just and to get it over with and get on with my day. I didn’t even care that I didn’t get the style I wanted although I asked she use a large brush and very loose waves/​curls. Unfortunately this is not the first time I’m this unsatisfactory since the new management. A couple weeks ago I booked a blowout and floater. I never got the floater. So I had to tell them to deduct it from my pay at the end since I never got the service. They didn’t even ask why I didn’t get the service. I wonder if it’s even worth being a barfly member anymore.

Definitely nice and a luxury. However, never do you appointment the actual time you want it. I would suggest doing it 30 min before you want to be seen. There will be no apologies for them late and the receptionist is not a people person. This is from a one time experience this has legit happened to me 4 times.

Nice to be pampered on a Friday. Reasonable price. Friendly stylist. Would recommend.

I was disappointed.
My appointment was at 2pm, and I was seated by 3pm. I had to be out by 3pm, because I had my make up appointment at 3:30, and the wedding to go to at 5. Unfortunately, I was late and very unhappy.
I was hoping for at least good hairstyle; and I wasn’t satisfied. I showed my girl specific hairstyle I want: big natural curls with volume on top. I got complete opposite.

I had a work after party to attend so I decided to get my hair done. I wanted to look good, and great hair always helps!
My appointment ran 15 minutes late. The receptionist had to wash my hair. She didn’t keep an eye on the water temperature. I had told her it was hot and she cooked it down and it became super hot again. A really uncomfortable hair wash.
I asked my stylist for a straight up. I wanted some volume but my hair to be straight. I got curls, yup, CURLS! It was more of a Cosmo.
I was already running super late so I paid and left. I ended up rehashing my hair and I had a load of product in it and straightening it at home. A complete waste of money!

Absolutely awesomeness!!! Jenny did my hair this morning and was the best!!! She took her time and really did exactly what I asked. She was friendly and happy and I can always tell how much the girls (and guys) love their jobs!!!

I booked my appointment online, 3 days before the date. Appointment was at 11:45, wasn’t seen until 12:25. This, in and of itself is really bad and unprofessional. I understand 10 – 15 min late, but 40 min late? Everyone was friendly, but I expect some sense of commitment to appointments and punctuality.
I ordered a Bay Breeze treatment and a straight up. My stylist was polite and friendly, but the end result was really bad. I asked for very little product in my hair because it’s oily, but my hair ended up feeling stiff from whatever she used, and the blow dry was bad. My hair is thick and very straight, soft and easy to manage. But I don’t know what happened. My style was so flat at the top of my head, no body at all, and still damp and some of my roots! I do a much better job on my own, which I regret not doing. Because the appointment started so late I didn’t have time to ask her to fix it, though I’m sure she would have tried.
I will never ever return to drybar. This was my first (and last!) experience and I am thoroughly disappointed.

I can only chalk this up to being an honest mistake on the part of the assistant store manager, but I left insulted and with wet hair. At worst, I have a dry scalp and that is probably what she was seeing, but despite her acknowledgement that she is not a doctor and not able to diagnose lice, she adamantly stated multiple times that she had picked live lice off of my scalp and then identified nits. The store manager also checked my hair and found nothing, but the other woman was insistent in her belief, and I had to leave.
After having my scalp thoroughly inspected by my boyfriend at home, I found her insinuation not only false, but outrageous. She had honestly frightened me into believing I might have lice when there was absolutely no sign of it on my scalp. She expressed that she had a recent outbreak of lice in her family, and in my opinion, she is experiencing residual paranoia after that episode. Regardless, a customer shouldn’t be the victim of one woman’s neuroses. Needless to say, I will not be visiting Drybar again.

We had a very bad experience here. My mom made an appointment with a hair dresser who failed to show up for her appointment. Already upset, she made another appointment a couple weeks later and again the lady didn’t show up.
They told us the person didn’t show up because she didn’t work there anymore? Wouldn’t they have known this before? Very irresponsible to notify us 10 minutes before the appointment. Such bad customer service I wish I could give this place no stars at all.

My daughter got the Shirley temple. Not sure if it came with a hair wash, but she didn’t get it. It literally took like 5 mins. For $ 13 more i could have gotten a hair wash and gotten my hair done.
It looks good, but not really worth it

My appointment was at 5pm on Saturday.
I have 2 small children and a busy work life so escaping is a treat. I told my husband I would be back by 6.15; we had dinner plans as a family.
I arrived at 4.50 and checked in. There were a number of people waiting. I was offered a drink which never materialized. For the next 30 minutes, more people arrived, some of whom went straight into their appointments. At 5.20 I asked the receptionist for an update — she said 3 people had called in sick, they were running behind and most of the people already ahead of me had been waiting since 4 o’clock. But I was up next.
The lady next to me and I started talking. She had asked why others had gone ahead and she was told «that person’s stylist was out back with no other clients, so they were ready and waiting to take her…».
She told me she was a frequent customer, this happened quite often and yet, if she was late for her appointment, the rules were clear — it could be given away. We wondered why nobody could a) call us in advance to let us know and b) why we werent told when we arrived that there was going to be such a delay. Both of us are busy working women, I wouldnt have minded the half an hour to run a few errands or even shop for myself. Reading a magazine in the reception wasnt painful but I am not sure it was the best use of my time.
The stylist I had was great. She was missing her stepson’s birthday party as she had offered to stay past her shift and help out (she told me she was par tof a team and wouldnt let them down). Commendable. Thats an employee you should work to retain. She kept encouraging the receptionist (who was bearing the brunt of a numebr of unhappy clients) to smile and take a breath.
She also explained that nobody could call me as there was no phone. All inbound calls go to your HQ office so there is no ability for someone to call me and let me know everything was running late and to suggest I come in at 5.30 instead. Or rebook for another time…
Part of the business model is to cater to the busy woman — you book online, get there on time and get out looking great in 45 minutes. The infrastructure is not there to support that model so I think it will be a hit and miss experience until that is sorted out.
(Also, pet peeve but when you log in to make an appointment, you need to start from scratch ie which state, which city… if you already have an account — wouldnt it be nice to have the site remember your settings …)

This Drybar used to be great, but it has gone downhill. Their corporate office should yank their franchise license. This store booked two appointments for the same time, without having two stylists available to honor those appointments — and they tried to lie about it, and were completely unapologetic when they got caught lying.
My friend and I made appointments for 2 blowouts for yesterday evening.
When I checked in at the front desk, there were 3 stylists on the floor — 2 working on clients, and 1 that took me to the back room and started washing my hair. As soon as the stylist and I got back to the main styling area, I see my friend has arrived, and is being told they can’t do her hair today because she was late.
BUT, it turns out this was a complete lie. When I asked how many stylists were working, the receptionist told me that three were working — the one doing my hair, and the other 2 who were already working on other clients when I arrived (on time). So where is the 4^th stylists that was scheduled to do my friend’s hair at the same time as mine? M.I.A.
When I confronted the receptionist about it, she said the other two stylists were running late, so they couldn’t take 2 people anymore. BUT, if that was true, then my friend being late for her appointment would have worked perfectly, because her stylist wouldn’t have been ready for her yet. Get it?
So now, I’m standing there with wet hair, and am being told that they NEVER even had a stylist available to take both of our appointments. AND, I called 10 minutes before our appointments to let them know one of us was running 10 minutes late, which would have been a PERFECT time for them to tell us that they screwed up and could only take 1 of us. But instead, they lied and said they could.
The receptionist never apologized. She never accepted responsibility that they booked 2 appointments without having 2 stylists available to honor those appointments. She was so unprofessional about it. She tried to make some excuse that it was because my friend was late — but she never had a 4^th stylist on hand in order to take the appointment. And she didn’t bother telling me that when I checked in. She just let me go back to have my hair washed without being professional enough to let me know that I would be the only one who they could see that day.
After all that, I ended up leaving with wet hair. Why would I have them do my hair after they lied about having stylists available to honor both our appointments?
That receptionist should be fired.
I won’t be back.

I really love this place and they do great blow outs! I love the concept of this whole business.
A Plus… They do UP-do’s and I didn’t know. My sister called and made me an appointment for me and I was so happy. The front desk girl was so sweet and helped me figure out what style I should go for to compliment my dress. She was very nice.
Alyssa was the stylist and she was so nice and says she loves to do updo’s!
I showed her a pic of what I wanted and she went from there. When she was done, At first, i wasn’t comfortable, because it was a little sleek. But I mentioned it to her and she made the side bun fuller and i was happier. She was so kind to understood how I felt and helped me feel more comfortable.
I would love to book her again and would love to see how her blow outs are.
I dropped one star for my checkout experience with a different front desk girl. She had bad energy and was a little rude.
Thank you Aylssa!

Yesterday, my sister, who is visiting from Florida, and I went to this Drybar for each of our first ever blowout. She had always wanted to get a blowout at a Drybar, so I took her here. After seeing the pictures on Unilocal,we were really excited for the champagne and cupcakes. When we walked in, however, all we saw were some cute little cookies. When I asked the girl at the front, she told me that the champagne and cupcakes were only from the grand opening.
Still, we were excited to get our blowouts. We met our stylists. Jennifer did my sister’s hair and Danielle did mine. My sister selected the Cosmopolitan, as did I. After Danielle looked at my hair, she recommended a Mai Tai for my hair type because I have slippery, fine hair that won’t hold a full curl very well. I trusted her judgment.
As our respective stylists took us to wash our hair, my sister and I talked. While Jennifer didn’t say a word to my sister the entire time, Danielle never stopped talking. I am a very social person, so ordinarily, this would not have bothered me. In this case, it did. The entire time that Danielle was doing my hair, I don’t think she said one positive thing. She started out by complaining about how she hates Christmas. Then she went on about how college was not for her and how she suffers from debilitating anxiety that mimics epilepsy.
I can totally empathize with her, but I came to Drybar for a pleasant, pampering experience. I did not come to listen to my stylist gripe about life.
On top of everything, my blowout and my sister’s did not turn out well. My sister’s hair looked decent in the salon, but, even after asking Jennifer for extra hairspray, her curls fell out after about an hour. When Danielle finished with my hair, I looked like Dakota Fanning in ‘The Runaways’ which was certainly not the look I was going for. I told her I didn’t like it and wanted smaller pieces in my curls. She tried to fix it, but my hair just got more messy. She offered to let me talk to the manager, but I was afraid that she would have a seizure if I did. I said that she could leave it and that was that.
I really wanted to like my hair and my experience at Drybar, but I really feel that for the money I spent on my and my sister’s hair ($ 80 + tip) was a total waste.

My girlfriend and I had a night out and so we made appointments here to get our hair done. Despite our appointments, they started my friend just after our appointment time, but I had to wait another 10 – 15 minutes. It was just us and another woman there, so they must have been under staffed or something slowed them down earlier in the day.
Overall my blow out was good, and I even bought their dry shampoo (which I love). I just thought their suggested tip (there is a sign in front) was too high — I forgot the exact number as it was a few weeks ago, but it was probably a suggested $ 10 for a $ 40 blow out. I think 25% is a bit steep, and although it is just a suggestion, when they put a sign out like that it makes me FEEL BAD for not tipping that amount even though.

Best blow out I had in my life! I’m a visitor from Amsterdam, staying in California for 2 weeks and I was in desperate need of a good blow out. Found dry bar on Google and was very happy I found it. The place looks really nice and the girl that did my hair was very professional, quick and friendly. Unfortunately I can’t remember her name because I would love to get her on my next appointment when I visit again!!!
Dry bar I hope you open one up in Amsterdam one day! I will be a frequent client if you do :)))

5 stars for Chrissy! Just had an updo done for my wedding today and it looks exactly like the photo I showed her! Highly recommend Chrissy for updos!

So I’m not really sure what rating to exactly give but I think a 1.5 is what I think is appropriate.
I recently cut my hair short and I didn’t know how to style it so that it would look effortlessly done. I thought I would go to dry bar and get my hair done. I woke up super early and got off work early. I wanted to look pretty and relax. I should have just gone home and taken a bubble bath.
Well, when I walked in the girl in front gets me all checked in and asks me what I want to drink. She has me waiting in front for ten mins while she sits there in front of her computer.
My stylist comes up and gets me all washed up which was nice. When I sit down another girl asks me what I would like to drink. I get my drink ten mins after that. Does it really take two girls to get water?
Another thing that really bothered me was that my stylist sat me in the end chair where there was no mirror directly in front of me. I wish I could have seen her work on my hair.
If I was able to see her I would have been able to stop her from makin me into a big ball of curls. (There’s a picture). I asked for the Mai tai. She concurred that it would be the best for my hair length and type.
I sat there happily texting and watching mean girls. However when she turned me around I wasn’t too happy. Yes my hair was pretty but it looked like I got a combo of Cosmo and what I would call a Shirley temple. I told her I hated the really done curly look and so she sprayed more of the Mai tai in my hair to loosen up and told me that the curls loosen up as the day goes on. Uh, sure it will I thought to myself sarcastically. I know my hair holds curls for days. She sprayed so much of the product throughout the one hour I was there that I had a headache when I left.
I got some products because I wanted to try them at home. The girl in front charged my cc which is fine, but I felt really pressed to tip $ 10 because she asked me what she should charge tip on the card. I think I would have wrote $ 5 if she have me a copy. I didn’t even get a receipt for all the stuff I bought.
In the end I spent 50 dollars on a curling job which 1) I could have done at home and 2) I would have much rather have bought a steak with and 3) would have had extra money to go watch a movie. I came home and put my hair up because I was already pressed for time because I had a dinner date. Waste of time and money. My stylist was nice at least which is why I put the 1.5 star.
Update: it’s morning time and I still have curly hair. I’m going to wash it out now because my hair won’t start to suddenly look like messy waves like the stylist said it would with the spray.