VAIN Blog

Raise your hand if you get your hair done at VAIN:
at The Crocodile, 1999.

The recent closing of Seattle music landmark The Crocodile got me thinking about my time there (I worked at the club in 1999 and for a second in 2000) and how it coincided with my first visit to VAIN. Posies frontman Ken Stringfellow was sporting hair in ocean tones as colored by VAIN owner Victoria Thomas Gentry at the time, and he suggested I go see her if I ever wanted a new look. The possibility immediately impressed me as I was a drugstore DIY colorist stuck in a hairstyle rut. I wanted some VAIN cool, too.

I remember walking down the street from The Crocodile to my first appointment at VAIN a few weeks later feeling hopeful and a little intimidated. Would they laugh at my ponytail and obvious home dye-job? Was there a tattoo quota to get in? Would I come out looking like Ken? The answers were no, thankfully, and so started my now nine-year relationship with VAIN from client to employee and client still.

Since that first appointment in 1999 VAIN has seen me through a lot of looks: big blonde panels over dark hair (inspired by a cover of Elle and executed perfectly by Victoria), pixie short, a 9-to-5 bob, a 9-to-5 bob with a little after-hours layering kicked in for good measure, a modern Marie Antoinette white wig for a live art installation, my 4 year neurotic quest for the perfect burnt-espresso-brown-but-not-black! color, a memorable galactic geisha updo for Bumbershoot 2005 courtesy of Shaun Surething, and this year’s “back to my roots” corrective color adventure, a group effort by Carinn, Alexis, and a one-night out-of-retirement stand by Victoria that took me from that near-black to my current blonde-ish shade.

During all this change VAIN has seen even more- it moved from 2nd Ave to 1st, tripled in size, opened a gallery space downtown and a second location in Ballard, got a whole new visual identity (hello, vain.com!), has seen staff and clients come and go, and in many cases come back again. The Crocodile, meanwhile, seemed to pretty much stay the same, at least in looks- postered walls and windows, those hanging dusty bee hives, the red of the back bar, the sight of slow Tuesday nights and all the busier weekend ones, and the light in the place that never seemed to change. Am I the only one who, condo cynicism aside, thought it would probably always be that way? It just had a constant quality about it.

I don’t want to wax too nostalgic; change happens, whether it’s on your head or in your city’s music scene. The shows will go on someplace else and I think Chop Suey has stuff hanging from the ceilings, too. That said, let’s keep the changes coming to our hairstyles and life strides in 2008, and enjoy those good constants while they’re still around.

-Rebecca P.

Our “good-looking, head-turning, how-did-they-do-that and how-do-I-get-mine-to-look-like-that hairstyles” feature returns for round three.

Stylist: Rachel (VAIN Ballard)
Client: Nicole B.
Look: Constant change

Stylist Rachel (now full time at VAIN Ballard) has been working with Nicole B. for almost three years now! Nicole is always spot-on in terms of fashion and sense of humor. When transitioning from a bright white all-over blonde to a dramatic black, she wanted to keep a bit of that hard-to-obtain lighter shade.

Voila! Keeping the best of the old while progressing into something new. A perfect metaphor for new styles in the new year. Thank you, Nicole and Rachel!

xo,

Sarah Jo

Last chance to win a free New Year’s Eve updo at VAIN downtown! Our random drawing happens this Saturday.

For your chance to win the best hair at whichever New Year’s Eve party you’re going to, send an e-mail to vain (at) vain (dot) com, subject line NYE Hair, with your name + phone number. Appointments are for style/updos only, at 5:00pm on Monday Dec 31st at VAIN downtown, and can’t be moved to another day or time. One e-mail per person only, please.

Stylists Kelly and Jake know a thing or two about good party hair.

We asked Santa for victory this holiday season and we got it: VAIN has been named the audience and editorial winner for Best Beauty Store in Seattle on Citysearch.com! With hair products + tools for every hair type + budget and top-shelf Nouba makeup from Italy (not to mention the most talented resident makeup artist in town) we’re not entirely surprised, but when you consider some of the big names we were up against, we’re even more excited about it.

VAIN also placed in the top three for Best Belltown Shop, Best Jewelry, Best Gifts and Stationery (VAIN stationery buyer Mel knows what’s up), and Best Offbeat Store in Citysearch’s annual Best of Seattle contest.

Big thanks to our clients for putting us at the top of these lists with your votes. We promise to keep delivering, and we’re working on some giveaways for ‘08 to show you our appreciation. Stay tuned.

It’s here: VAIN’s annual picks for our top $30 and under hot holiday gifts. Some of our favorites pictured below:

Assorted party bling, from $13
Jewelled headband, $8
False lashes (glamour metallic), $7.95
Platinum wig from VAIN Wig Shoppe, $24.95
Accessories this good looking for under $30, priceless.

(Nouba makeup available at VAIN downtown)
Eye shadow, $18
Rainbow eyeliner (limited edition), $15
Lipstick, $19
Lip gloss, $17

Voluspa candles, $6 and $9
Pop Ink soap, $5.95
Mini notepads, $1.99
Nooworks stationary box, $16
Printed bi-fold wallet, $17.99
Theorem VAIN earrings, $16
Love from VAIN to you this holiday season, free.

That’s right! VAIN is giving away two free New Year’s Eve updos with VAIN superstylists Erika and Scarlet. Get your party hair on!

Send an e-mail to vain (at) vain (dot) com, subject line NYE Hair, with your name + phone number to win. Appointments are for style/updos only, at 5:00pm on Dec 31st at VAIN downtown, and can’t be moved to another day or time. One e-mail per person only, please; we’ll choose two winners at random next week!

Here’s to a great New Year and great hair to ring it in.

Oh my gosh! 2008 is almost here, and I’ve no idea exactly where ‘07 went. So much has happened in these past 12 months, and I can’t express enough just how grateful I am for my extended family, which includes my co-workers at VAIN, as well as our clientele which helps to make us who we are.

This weekend, I began to plant the seeds with my little boy of what truly can make the holidays great. We participated in a Toy Drive, and I shared with Christian what it means to “give” rather than always to “receive”. We here at Vain receive all kinds of compliments and accolades with the work we do. But, it couldn’t be possible without all of YOU. We live and breathe doing hair. It’s amazing to be passionate about something, and to be supported by our peers as well as the community for what we do. So, with all this being said, let me do what I believe we at VAIN all agree upon, and give thanks to all of you as customers, clients, and friends of VAIN.

We are seriously appreciative of all of your support and belief in us as stylists and as people. We shall keep working hard for you all, not only in 2008, but hopefully for years to come! Happy and Safe Holidays, however you may celebrate them!

–Jake

Congrats to Julia Garrels, aka Metalwing, for her lovely and vibrant opening celebrations at VAIN Ballard last Saturday. She created an impressive number of pieces for this show, and the flood of color and fascinating shapes made for a great night. Here’s just a few examples of our gorgeous models wearing Julia’s art:

I was lucky enough to wear one of her pieces most of the night, a larger necklace that suggested a bird in shape and color. Deep red ochre tones [though actually made of enamel] and turqouise bursts made up for the lack of color I was wearing - that piece transformed a simple black dress into an outfit. The components lay perfectly across my neck, and the weight is just enough to be a presence without being cumbersome. It feels regal to be wearing a necklace like that, and I felt myself standing just a little bit taller throughout the evening. Holly, one of our models for the evening, described the feeling as “powerful.”

A huge thanks to all of our models - Alli, Holly, Jenn, and Paige - who showed off how much the jewelry truly is wearable art. Stylists Jen C. and Melissa created brilliant updos and styles to show off the neck pieces and earrings! And our makeup artist Christine brought those wonderful glittering eyeliners she used at the Strangercrombie shoot to give the models perfect holiday looks.

The full set of photographs can be found on VAIN’s flickr page. The jewelry will be featured at VAIN Ballard thru December 29th, and we invite you to come see it all in person.

xo,

Sarah Jo

Our second-ever Hot Hair! installment features a new mom with new dreads. Look how full, how fun, how shiny and clean!

Name: Anne L.
Stylist: TT (VAIN downtown)
Why dreads? “A new style for my new phase in life!”

Darlin you give dreads / a good name

To learn how TT has been debunking myths about the easy maintenance and surprising versatility of dreads one satisfied client at a time, visit her profile page on vain.com.

Congratulations on your new baby and your hot new hairstyle, Anne!

The Stranger’s annual holiday charity auction always looks good for good causes, and for the second year in a row VAIN is in on the action.

VAIN’s resident makeup artist Christine Cherbonnier did makeup for the issue, with VAIN stylists Carinn and Jake on hair duty. In the VAIN spirit of DIY, Carinn and Christine have shared some tips on how you can re-create the Strangercrombie cover looks at home. Leg warmers and hooked fish not included.

“The cover model is wearing seasonal silver glitter eyeliner by Nouba with my favorite lipgloss- #14- for a shimmery nude look, along with false lashes and our blackest black mascara. I used tinted moisturizer on her skin and loose magic powder (it’s called magic for a reason) for extra glow. I can’t stress enough how fabulous the seasonal glittter liner is- it stays put all day, is easy to wash off, and takes your makeup to a whole new level. Perfect for holiday parties. If you come by VAIN downtown you’ll catch me rockin it till we run out (it’s limited edition). I’m hooked!!”
-Christine

“For the cover model’s hair, I used Textureline Straight Spray on each curl before using a medium barrel curling iron. Then I smoothed any fuzzys with Pureology’s Nanoworks Shineluxe, and finished off the whole do with Workit hairspray by Tigi. I used Tigi’s Bed Head Stick on the male model to piece out and texture his wavy hair. Tip: be sure to use a cleansing shampoo after using wax products to help remove buildup.”
-Carinn

Visit vain.com for more info on Carinn and VAIN’s makeup services by Christine Cherbonnier, and be sure to check out Strangercrombie for more hair + makeup by the VAIN crew and one of The Stranger’s best auction item lineups ever.

Happy bidding, happy styling, and happy holidays!

VAIN Ballard is busy this week getting ready for Julia Garrels’ wearable art exhibit opening this Saturday. Our models are ready to be outfitted in some of her newest works, and our shelves are waiting for a few specially made holiday pieces! We’re hoping you join us for her opening during the Ballard ArtWalk this Saturday between 6 pm to 9 pm, and visit the Ballard Chamber of Commerce to see what our neighbors are doing as well!

Our brief snowfall last week lasted just long enough to be pretty, without being a hassle to everyone with appointments. To match the icy days, we just received a special edition component to the Redken color line: Metallic Glam. Redken stylists, as a part of Prada and Marc Jacobs’ styling teams at Fashion Week, were inspired by the “surprising shock of heavy metal hues.” The result is unique titanium shades, the perfect metallic glamour to accent wintery weather. Ask your stylist to see samples and swatches if it sounds like the tone for you.

From gold Bueno Style necklaces to silvery shiny hair, and bright enamel to soft cashmere, Ballard is all set to get you what you need… or maybe just want. Give us a call at 206.706.2707 to schedule an appointment, or drop by and say hello at 5401 Ballard Ave NW!

xo,

Sarah Jo

Snow falling outside VAIN downtown yesterday, as snapped by our ever-stylish front desk superstar My.