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You can blow dry your own hair, and it will probably look okay; it just won't be that bouncy, glossy mane that you get at the salon. As Drybar founder Alli Webb explains to Racked, "It's really hard to do your own hair...When you watch blowouts being done, we're standing above your head, working with very small sections and perfecting each section before we move onto the next. You physically can't do that when you're doing your own hair."

As far as everyday routines go, blowouts may not be economical, but they're absolutely worth the time and stress you'll save on perfect hair when you have a big event or important meeting. Not sure where to get started with a blowout in San Francisco? Here are nine salons —mapped roughly north to south— where you can get primped and ready for whatever comes your way. If there's a particular look or style you want, remember to bring photos and communicate with your stylist. A blowout may be magic, but a stylist is merely human.