Junior Andie Bradley had spent the last hour soaking, spraying heat protectant and blowing out three of her friends’ hair.
Although her room started to smell like a mix of fruity hair sprays and heated plastic, Andie had gladly taken on the role of designated “hairstylist” in her friend group.
The sweat from the heat of her blow-dryer and the backaches from being on her feet for hours at a time while curating the perfect curls are worth it to help her friends and family get ready for special events like birthdays and school dances.
After months of using her own products and hair-dryer tools on others for fun, in late October, Andie decided to start her own hair styling business — AB Blowouts.
“My friends were like, ‘You should start to charge people for doing their hair, since a lot of people ask,’ and I was like, ‘That's actually not a bad idea, I might as well make some money,’” Andie said. “At one point, I just made my Instagram and was like, ‘Might as well just start.’”
Her collection of dozens of hair sprays, mousses and gels has grown since the beginning of her freshman year, when she started giving herself blowouts almost every day.
For as long as she can remember, Andie has been experimenting with various hair products and looks, styling her naturally voluminous dark hair using a plethora of hairdryers, including the Revlon and Dry Bar tools.
“She has always been really into hair and makeup ever since she was a little girl,” Andie’s mom, Francie Bradley, said. “And also, she has always had very thick, tough hair, and I don’t know how to do hair, so she's taken it upon herself to learn how to do it.”
Andie’s “AB Blowout” — large, bouncy curls — has become the go-to look for her friends when they schedule appointments, usually made through text or on the Google form linked on her Instagram account.
With the help of overnight curlers and silk bonnets, Andie constantly sports her signature blowout, which, according to junior Ava Slocum, is a look she rarely sees Andie without.
“She does this blowout on herself every single day, and [our friends] were all like ‘Could you give us the AB special?’” Ava said.
Ranging from loose curls to the famous Victoria's Secret “bombshell” blowout, Andie uses her $600 Dyson Airwrap hairdryer to complete whatever look clients want, right in her bedroom.
Even with her packed schedule filled with SM East Theatre rehearsals and Stage Right — Kansas City's youth theatre — performances, doing hair has become a form of therapy for Andie.
“There’s something so satisfying about a fresh blowout,” Andie said. “I think girls need that these days, that confidence boost [they] get when [their] hair is blown out.”
Andie has embraced this new form of pastime, enjoying listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend” album while blowing out a client's hair or simply engaging in small talk with them — even if she only spends 30 minutes doing someone's hair.
So far, the majority of Andie's business has been before parties, holidays and dances, which bring in clients from all over the SM East community, charging only $15 for a basic blowout and $20 for hair product add-ons.
“I just saw her on Instagram and I texted her I was wanting [my hair] done for Halloween,” junior Campbell Griffin said. “She was super accommodating to my schedule, and when I went, it was really fun. She plays music, and it only took about 25 minutes, and my hair felt super healthy after.”
Andie already has appointments for the upcoming Chill Ball dance on Dec. 13 and hopes to share more holiday looks on Instagram.
She plans to continue “AB Blowouts” throughout high school and carry her styling abilities to college.
“I’d like to start doing mobile [services] and going to people's houses,” Andie said. “I want to do musical theater in college, but this would be a really awesome side gig.”
Although making extra money from her business is a bonus, Andie has developed a passion for perfecting her friend's hair and giving girls the confidence that comes with a fresh blowout.
“I get a bit nervous because I’m a perfectionist and I want to make sure that [people] are happy with what they get, I always have this overwhelming ‘Oh my gosh, what if they don't like it’ [feeling],” Andie said. “But I need to put that aside because I’m just starting, so I’m getting in there, getting used to it and getting those jitters away.”
Shout-outs from clients on Instagram and a smiling “It looks so good” once Andie has finished their blowout make her business worth the hundreds of dollars and hours spent.
“It’s such a magical feeling watching a girl be so happy about their hair,” Andie said. “It’s like when you give someone a present and watch them open it, and they get really excited.”
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