Alli Webb noticed something that seems obvious in hindsight: women were paying huge money for full salon visits when a lot of the time they really just wanted a great blowout. So she built a whole company around that one idea.
She co-founded Drybar with her brother Michael Landau in 2010. The concept was simple. No cuts, no color, just blowouts. Walk in, get your hair done, walk out looking great. The first location opened in LA in 2011 and it took off fast. Drybar expanded to over 150 locations across the country and became one of those brands that people are genuinely loyal to.
Before Drybar, Webb was a hairstylist who went to Florida State and worked in the industry for years. That hands-on experience is a big part of why Drybar worked. She wasn't some outside investor guessing at what women wanted from a salon. She was in the chair doing the work and she understood the customer because she basically was the customer.
As a guest shark on Shark Tank, Alli brings a consumer brand and retail perspective that's really practical. She's built something from scratch in a physical, brick-and-mortar space, which is a totally different challenge than launching an app. She knows about real estate, staffing, brand experience, and all the unsexy stuff that makes or breaks a retail business.
A few highlights:
- Co-founded Drybar in 2010, growing it to over 150 locations
- Pioneered the blowout-only salon concept
- Went from working hairstylist to building a nationally recognized brand