In 2005, when Stuart Sklar opened BLOW, the very first blow dry bar, he never dreamed that his New York based  idea would become the biggest, hottest trend in the salon world. “Blow dry bars are popping up all over the United States. This is a specialty in its infancy,” he said, comparing blow dry salons to nail specialty salons. Sklar is quite humble when it’s pointed out to him that BLOW started it all! Thousands of clients each month stop into the flagship salon on 14^th street for the signature blow-out.

Not surprisingly, stylists from around the world have been trying to tap in to the magic and learn the secret to the BLOW success. Sklar set up a team to help educate professional stylists in the techniques used to get maximum volume, lift, shine and movement. His educators have been traveling across the United States holding workshops and in salon demonstrations.

But now the blowpro Academy (BA), based in the heart of NYC’s Meatpacking district, is opening its doors as THE go-to destination for stylists looking to build revenue and learn the famed blow-out tricks from the pros themselves.

“We now have a home and a hub,” says Sklar as he offers a tour of the seven station education facility across the street from the Gansevoort Hotel and around the corner from the flagship BLOW salon. “We are leveraging our authority as the leaders in making the blow dry a specialty service,” he says. “We already have a waiting list for some of our classes.”

I stopped by the blowpro Academy to learn more from Gregory Patterson, BLOW’s lead educator.  “There’s a lot that goes in to creating a blowout that features lots of body and volume,” he says.  “The goal with our most requested blow-out is to get mega root lift and a bouncy 'full of life' finish. While there are signature looks, trends and techniques, each look is customized after a comprehensive consultation.”

Learning about the comprehensive consultation is just a small part of the education offered at BA that also includes presentations about body positioning, tension, sectioning, brush manipulation, product ingredients and more. “We breakdown everything,” says Patterson. “Clients come to us to get the best blow out they’ve ever received…and we want to share that information with other professionals.”

The BA curriculum includes everything from the blowpro principles in the core classes such as blowpro essentials “Straight with Movement” and the “Advanced Styling Technique”, as well as blowpro Style Sessions including “Volume and Body,” “Waves and Texture” and “Glam Hair”. Classes range from $250 – 450 (for more info and details, contact Jaimiet@blowny.com). Check out this video to get a snippet of the education offered by Gregory Patterson.