The Drybar of Beauty Salons Brings Convenient (and Cheaper) Makeovers to NYC

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When Stephi Maron, then only 21 years old, was asked where to send out-of-town visitors in Los Angeles for great blowouts and manicures, she realized there was nowhere to go for professional makeup applications—well, nowhere that didn't spend the entire appointment pushing customers to leave with an armful of products. So Blushington, a salon for convenient and affordable makeovers, was born. And four years later, it's coming to New York City.

On Wednesday, Maron and her team will debut the first Blushington on the East Coast, handily located beneath the Le Parker Meridien hotel in a shared complex with Drybar and nail salon Tenoverten. The proximity to the popular blowout bar is no coincidence—in fact, every Blushington location (there are three in California and Dallas) happens to be right next to a Drybar, which mirrors the makeup salon's plan to model Drybar's rapid expansion pattern by opening ten New York salons within the next two years. Plus, as Maron explained during last week's preview, it provides a destination where clients can have both their hair and makeup done (albeit at separate salons) for under $100.

Bathed almost entirely in the brand's signature peach pink, Blushington is what you probably assumed celebrity dressing rooms looked like as a kid. Every accent is ultra-girly, from the French-style vanities to the shimmering baroque wallpaper, and, of course, the fact that guests are handed a glass of Champagne as soon as they sit down. It's a place you'll think to bring your mom, which isn't an insult—Maron designed it that way.

Much like they would at Drybar, clients choose their services based on lookbook images from Blushington's menu, where they'll find fully formed ideas like the no-makeup makeup Pure + Natural, the bronzed and beachy Simply Glowing, and the "Taylor Swift during her I'm-a-Kennedy phase" Lucky Stars. All of the looks are customizable for daytime, the office—yes, the salon specializes in everyday office makeup—evening, or "date night." And with each at $45, it's slightly cheaper than similar salons in the city, like Rouge or Pucker.

Other services include looks for kids ($15) and teens ($35), eyelash ($175) and eyebrow extensions, wedding day beauty ($100), makeup classes ($100), and parties and events. Skeptical of the whole beauty bar boom in general? You can try out Blushington's services for free on opening day, but fair warning: you might become a convert.