Drybar
Drybar operates a U.S. franchise chain of 160+ blowout-only salons and sells branded hair care products through Amazon and retail, serving individual consumers seeking professional styling services under WellBiz Brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Drybar does
Drybar is a U.S. blowout-only salon franchise founded by Alli Webb in 2010 as a mobile hairstyling business and expanded into over 160 brick-and-mortar locations. The brand pioneered the single-service salon concept, offering professional hair washing and blowout styling without cutting or coloring, marketed under a signature yellow visual identity. In 2019, Drybar was acquired by Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) for $255 million; by 2025, the brand was transferred to WellBiz Brands, a Denver-based franchise operator whose portfolio of 755+ beauty and wellness locations generates over $600 million in systemwide sales.
Drybar operates two revenue streams: in-salon franchise services (blowout styling under WellBiz's franchise structure) and consumer products sold through Amazon and physical retail, including the Detox Dry Shampoo ($30 per bottle) and the Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush ($155 MSRP). Distribution spans franchise salons, Amazon marketplace (with active Prime Day and Summer Beauty Event promotional cadence), and general retail. Brand collaborations with partners such as Stakt (July 2026) and Chloe Wine Collection (November 2025) extend the brand into adjacent lifestyle categories. There is no disclosed proprietary technology platform or AI capability; the offering is fundamentally a physical-service and consumer-goods business.
Helen of Troy recorded a $154.5 million goodwill impairment charge for Drybar in fiscal 2026 as part of $706.5 million in total impairments, reflecting five consecutive quarters of underperformance and a sustained decline in the acquirer's stock price. The current operating model under WellBiz Brands emphasizes franchise expansion, channel diversification through Amazon DTC, and lifestyle-brand partnerships as the principal levers for stabilization and growth.
Drybar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drybar
- Legal name
- Drybar
- Website
- https://drybarshops.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Drybar operates a U.S. franchise chain of 160+ blowout-only salons and sells branded hair care products through Amazon and retail, serving individual consumers seeking professional styling services under WellBiz Brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drybar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Beauty Salon Services
- NAICS
- Beauty Salons (812112), Hair, Nail, and Skin Care Services (81211), Personal Care Services (8121)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blowout Bars (HSALAAAI)
Keywords
Where Drybar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Drybar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Salon franchise services: Drybar operates blowout-only salon locations as a franchise, offering professional hair styling services. The brand was sold to Helen of Troy for $255 million in 2019.
- Hair care products and tools: Sale of proprietary hair care products including the Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush, dry shampoo, and other styling tools. Products sold through retail and e-commerce channels including Amazon.
- Franchise fees: WellBiz Brands operates Drybar as part of its franchise portfolio. The franchise model generates revenue through franchise fees and ongoing royalties.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drybar Dry Shampoo - full-size retail product |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drybar Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stakt x Drybar Collaboration Bundle |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Drybar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drybar operates a chain of blowout-only salons in the United States, providing professional blowout styling services to individual consumers. In addition to in-salon services, the company sells a proprietary line of branded haircare products and styling tools through its salons and online channels.
Product overview
Drybar is a blowout-only salon franchise chain operated under WellBiz Brands. The company offers hair styling services through franchise locations and sells complementary hair care products including the Detox Dry Shampoo and beauty tools such as the Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush. Founded by Alli Webb in 2010 as a mobile hairstyling business, Drybar grew to over 160 U.S. locations before being acquired by Helen of Troy in 2019 for $255 million. The brand is known for its signature yellow branding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blowout Salon Services
- Detox Dry Shampoo
- Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush
- Drybar Franchise
Companies that use Drybar
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Drybar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Drybar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- StaktminorLimited-edition collaboration bundle featuring the Stakt Mat in an exclusive butter yellow color paired with Drybar's full-size Detox Dry Shampoo, priced at $94. The collaboration leverages Drybar's signature yellow branding and represents a new color option for Stakt's mat line.
- Chloe Wine CollectionminorHoliday Bow Bar partnership offering a combination of wine, designer bows, and gift wrapping at participating Drybar shops during the holiday season. The experience includes a Chloe Pinot Grigio pour, a designer Lele Sadoughi bow upgrade, and holiday gift wrapping in select cities.
- WellBiz BrandscoreWellBiz Brands operates Drybar as part of its beauty and wellness franchise portfolio. The company has grown from $200 million to over $600 million in systemwide sales and expanded from 300 to more than 755 locations. WellBiz Brands is a franchise company that includes Drybar, Elements Massage, Fitness Together, Amazing Lash Studio, and Radiant Waxing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Drybar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Glamsquad: Glamsquad offers on-demand mobile blowout and beauty services, overlapping with Drybar's original mobile hairstyling roots and core blowout service offering.
- Blo Blow Dry Bar: Blo Blow Dry Bar is the most direct competitor to Drybar, operating a franchise network of blowout-only salons across North America with a similar service model and target customer.
Broad incumbents
- Ulta Beauty: Ulta Beauty is a large beauty retailer that sells Drybar products and competes with its branded product line. It is comparable as both a sales channel and a competitor for retail hair care product dollars.
- European Wax Center: European Wax Center is a public, scaled single-service beauty franchise (waxing). It is comparable to Drybar as a similarly structured beauty services franchise with retail product extensions, though focused on a different service category.
- Sephora: Sephora is a global beauty retailer that competes with Drybar's branded hair care and styling tools in the prestige beauty category and represents a potential distribution channel.
- Shark Beauty (SharkNinja): Shark Beauty's hot air styling tools (e.g., FlexStyle, SmoothStyle) are direct substitutes for Drybar's at-home blow-dryer brushes, competing for the same consumer occasion and wallet share.
Emerging players
- Amazing Lash Studio: Amazing Lash Studio is a beauty services franchise within the same WellBiz Brands portfolio as Drybar, operating a similar single-service franchise model in a complementary beauty category (lash extensions).
- Elements Massage: Elements Massage is another WellBiz Brands franchise focused on therapeutic massage. It is comparable to Drybar as a sister single-service franchise brand within the same operating system, though in a different service vertical.
- Radiant Waxing: Radiant Waxing is a WellBiz Brands franchise offering waxing services. It is comparable to Drybar as a sibling single-service franchise brand within the same franchise parent's portfolio.
- Squeeze (by Alli Webb): Squeeze is a massage and wellness franchise founded by Drybar's original founder Alli Webb. It is comparable to Drybar through its shared DNA as a single-service boutique beauty/wellness franchise with a premium branding approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Drybar social profiles
Digital presenceDrybar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drybar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Drybar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drybar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Drybar
What does Drybar do?
Drybar operates a chain of blowout-only salons in the United States, providing professional blowout styling services to individual consumers. In addition to in-salon services, the company sells a proprietary line of branded haircare products and styling tools through its salons and online channels.
Is Drybar a public or private company?
Drybar is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Drybar founded?
Drybar was founded in 2010. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Drybar based?
Drybar is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Drybar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Salon franchise services are the primary driver. The others are hair care products and tools and franchise fees.
Who are Drybar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Glamsquad and Blo Blow Dry Bar. Broad incumbents are Ulta Beauty, European Wax Center, Sephora and Shark Beauty (SharkNinja). Emerging players are Amazing Lash Studio, Elements Massage, Radiant Waxing and Squeeze (by Alli Webb).
Does Drybar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drybar.
What industry is Drybar in?
Drybar's product category is Beauty Salon Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSALAAAI, Blowout Bars. Its NAICS code is 812112 and its SIC code is 2844.