"Don't worry, you're not cheating on your hairdresser," says founder
Entrepreneur Katie Nixon has hit a location lottery jackpot with her new flagship champagne blow dry salon, The Blowout.
Now open, it’s based within Allied London’s No.1 Spinningfields building; directly next door to arguably the most ‘blowout worthy’ restaurant, 20 Stories, and in close proximity to all the Living Ventures bars where big, bouncy blow drys are par for the course.
For a first venture – one that is entirely self-funded - 27-year-old Katie has leaped into the big leagues.
All my styles are inspired by champagne cocktails
“I initially thought Spinningfields would be way out of my price range,” says Katie, a self-proclaimed blow dry addict.
“I fell in love with the space right away. I didn’t think I was going get it but I think Allied believed in me and my passion for the project. Everything had to be perfect as I’m next to 20 Stories and The Ivy.”
It certainly looks the part.
The champagne-slash-blow out bar benefits from big glass-fronted windows, ‘Gen-Z yellow’ accents and millennial marble table-tops. The salon is an Instagram photo waiting to happen. More interestingly, customers don’t sit in front of the usual misty salon mirrors. Instead, the champagne bar is the focal point and front of house staff serve drinks whilst your hair is styled. You’re spun around for a big reveal at the end.
“I love champagne and I love blow drys – so it made sense to put the two together,” says Katie, a former fashion director who has worked for the likes of Portobello Market.
“In London we have blow dry salons all over, but I wanted to offer something a little different. When I first began travelling up to Manchester for meetings, there was no go-to place for a woman to go, feel good about herself and then head to a meeting.”
The Blowout by Kate London is billed as the 'UK's first champagne blow dry bar'; it certainly is a first for Spinningfields and a welcome addition during its continued expansion.
Katie moved to Manchester from London more than a year ago, after spending a year researching in New York, ‘the birthplace of the blowout’. She says she left with a developed brand idea and “the best hair ever”.
So what can the blowout Gods in the Big Apple do for the tresses in Manchester?
“All my styles are inspired by champagne cocktails, I literally sat through a champagne book to get my ideas."
Spanning your classic ‘tucked under’ blow out (The Classic), the big and bouncy (Death in the afternoon), poker straight (Black velvet), beach waves (French 75), up-dos, braids and more, the salon aims to become a one-stop-shop for quick, well-groomed hairstyles.
“I want to stress - you’re not cheating on your hairdresser when you come here,” she laughs.
Branded as 'affordable luxury', prices range from £30 - £33, and customers can even buy a 'bar tab' up to £100.
Launching with celebrity kudos and an unprecedented warm reception, an ambitious Katie has high hopes for the future of her brand. Her second salon is set to open in Liverpool in January 2019.
“In the next two years, I aim to have a Kate London salon in every North West city. I want to be the biggest and the best at what I’m doing.”
