Freestyle Systems was built on the shared vision of Blair Hopper, inventor and founder, and Robert Cromeans, a pioneering platform artist and salon owner.

When Blair and his newly formed team first approached Robert with the idea of a weightless, ceiling-mounted blow dryer system, Robert immediately recognized its potential. He saw how it could eliminate cord tangles, reduce physical strain, and create a cleaner, more professional salon environment.

Robert became the first to integrate the technology into a flagship salon he was building in San Diego. The salon opened in February 2004, marking the first time professional stylists used the Freestylist system in daily operation. While the initial learning curve created some uncertainty, within weeks the entire team embraced the new way of working.

Blair Hopper and Robert Cromeans.
Following the success of the San Diego location, Robert introduced the system in another major project at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. These early installations brought national attention to suspended blow-drying systems and were later featured on MTV and the Travel Channel.
First day of use.

In August 2004, Felicio Franco, a longtime platform artist for Rusk, became the third major adopter. Together, these early salons served as real-world testing grounds for what would become one of the most advanced ergonomic styling systems in the industry.

After extensive refinement and field testing, the Freestylist was officially released to the public in June 2005.

Today, the Freestylist is regarded by many professionals as an essential tool. Stylists frequently tell us, “I can’t go back to using a regular dryer.” The system makes blowouts easier, healthier, and more consistent — day after day.

Felicio Franco

Innovation Beyond the Salon

In addition to developing professional salon technology, Blair continues to pursue independent research into fundamental questions about space, time, and structure through his ongoing project:

STB Theory – Founder’s Research
👉 https://freestylesystems.com/stb-theory/

This work reflects the same curiosity, engineering mindset, and commitment to understanding systems at their deepest level — qualities that have guided Freestyle Systems from the beginning.

Explore Our Work

If you’re planning to remodel or upgrade your salon, we invite you to explore our installation galleries. Seeing what other salons have accomplished is often the best way to spark new ideas.