# Drybar: Alli Webb (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-07-23
- Length: 33m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017

## Summary

Alli Webb, founder of Drybar, explains how she transitioned from a stay-at-home mom to building a national chain of 67+ blow-dry-only salons by identifying a gap in the beauty market for a dedicated blowout experience. She details the company's origins, starting with a mobile service validated by a local mommy group, and the subsequent launch of the first brick-and-mortar location in Brentwood, funded by her brother Michael and husband Cameron. Webb discusses the operational challenges of scaling from a one-person operation to a 3,000-employee organization, including hiring strategies, franchise decisions, and managing family dynamics in business.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=0) Introduction: Alli Webb and the Drybar Origin Story
- [2:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=141) Alli Webb's Early Life and Beauty School Training
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=363) Moving to LA and Starting the Mobile Blow-Dry Business
- [11:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=714) Pivoting to Brick-and-Mortar and Designing the First Store
- [19:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=1198) The Grand Opening and Immediate Success of Drybar
- [21:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=1308) Scaling Operations, Hiring, and Franchising Decisions
- [26:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=1606) Leadership Lessons and Managing Family in Business
- [30:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017#t=1839) Postscript: Chris Healy and The Longhairs Hair Ties

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Drybar (product)
- The Longhairs (product)
- Daily Candy (other)
- Peach Head (other)
- John Sahog (other)
- Rogers and Cowan (company)
- Yahoo (company)
- Josh Heitler (other)
- Chris Healy (other)
- Lindsay (other)

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- [019: Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-20-019-organic-haircare-products-with-susana-stewart-caroline-maina-of-fro-butter) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Maxi Heidenblut of Häppy Candy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-04-founder-feature-maxi-heidenblut-of-happy-candy) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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- [Founders Feature: Lucy Dana of One Trick Pony](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-21-founders-feature-lucy-dana-of-one-trick-pony) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-23-drybar-alli-webb-2017. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.