VAIN Blog

Last night Alexis and I attended a benefit for a mutual friend. Behold, Izzfest:

Anyone who has ever met him can attest that Izzy is one of the sweetest dudes in the whole world. He was recently injured on the job [trying to protect a customer from getting hurt, at that] and has been unable to work since the accident. To raise money, his friends put together an evening at Linda’s and a raffle of donated items. Alexis stepped right up and donated a $150 gift certificate for cut + color.

Here’s my tickets, hoping I’d win the free year of shows at Neumo’s:

And Alexis, sad that she didn’t win the VIP passes to the Capitol Hill Block Party:

Whether we went home with prizes or not, we certainly went home with our hearts warmed. So many people participated to help a friend in need, and had a good time to boot. Shout out to Alexis for her generosity and to everyone who made such incredible donations. We can’t wait to meet the winner!

xo,

Sarah Jo

Check out pictures of VAIN in action at last weekend’s Bend-It Extravaganza, starring stylists Bash, Aubrie, and Aiko, soon-to-be stylist Sam, the notorious ELI Blu, VAIN owner Victoria Thomas Gentry, and others making hot hair and makeup happen at Cal Anderson Park on a summer Friday night.

Photos by Lindamy “My” Vu.

For the 5th year running, VAIN is sponsoring The Bend-It Extraveganza, a free, three-day long arts festival this weekend for and by queer young people and their friends. Bend-It features a full lineup of live music, fashion shows, workshops, vegan meals, spoken word performances, drag events, and movies, and is always a good time. Did we mention that it’s all free?

As part of Bend-It, VAIN will be doing free quickie hairdos tonight from 7 to 9pm at Cal Anderson Park (on Capitol Hill between Broadway & 10th Ave). Come by and see us, get your hair did, and check out one of the most fun, creative, and progressive youth-and-queer-friendly festivals around.

The Bend-It Extravaganza runs Friday, June 27th through Saturday, June 29th at various locations on Capitol Hill. Check out http://benditbandits.org/ for a full schedule of events and venue details.

Photos by Sarah Joann Murphy. Check out the whole bake sale set on VAIN’s Flickr page.

Saturday’s “Hungry for Change” bake sale at VAIN dowtown was a huge success- we had baked goods donated by staff, stylists, friends, clients, and strangers, “mocktails” prepared fresh on 1st Ave all day long (pink pantydroppers are the new cosmo!), and raised a staggering $941.72 to support MoveOn.org and help elect progressive candidates this November.

With over 700 “Hungry for Change” MoveOn.org bake sales held across the country at the same time, this was by far the largest grassroots event VAIN has ever participated in and we couldn’t be me more proud to have been a part of it. From the $10 donation for a single cupcake to kids pitching in to share an entire rainbow cake (”My mom is electing Brackomama!”) and a few cases of a passerby donating their only dollar, it was truly an amazing display of generosity and community… and of Barack-alicious brownies. Thanks to our volunteers, bakers, buyers, and everyone involved.

Bake sale at VAIN downtown this Saturday 6/21: the audacity of deliciousness.

In addition to our art party festivities this Saturday, VAIN will be hosting a “Hungry for Change” bake sale from noon to six to support MoveOn.org and help elect progressive political candidates this November. Possible baked goods include democracy donuts, votes ahoys, VAIN krispies, ore-oh-yes-he-cans and oatmeal-raisin-the-roofs.

Check out more bake sale details online- bakers and buyers both welcome. See you Saturday!

“Hungry for Change” bake sale at VAIN downtown runs from noon to 6pm this Saturday 6/21; art boutique open house from 4 to 9.

Saturday night was fantastic! Many new friends were made, and equal numbers of our nearest and dearest dropped by to join in the fun. Not one cupcake survived the evening.

Our models, Racheal and Beth, greeted guests out on Ballard Avenue and invited them to join us for floral updo’s and discounted boutique treats. Makeup for both ladies was done by VAIN artist Christine Cherbonnier; Racheal’s full on faux hawk by Megyn and Beth’s romantic twist by Aran.

As Victoria mentioned in the comments on our last post, our most enthusiastic fans devised a cheer to be “a PART of the ART!” It was performed with style in the park across the street. To our young fans, thank you for bringing so much joy to the evening!

The full set of photos can be found on our flickr page here. All guerilla hair gorgeously created by Valentine, Melissa, and Megyn - with a few bonus rounds courtesy of Jenny and owner Victoria Gentry!Thank you to everyone who came by, peeked in the windows, scored goodie bags, and (as the cheer shouted) took part in the art.

xo,

VAIN Ballard

It hasn’t snowed anytime recently, and we feel safe in saying that Spring truly has arrived. Given that we’re knee deep in the month of May, let’s just say… it’s about time. To celebrate, we’ll be doing Spring up-do’s [and more!] this Saturday, May 10th, at our Ballard location.

Festivities should begin around 6 pm and last until at least 9 pm. Items in our boutique will be 15% off throughout the celebrations, and we’ll have free goodies to give out as well. Best of all, one lucky visitor will receive the ‘gold ticket’ worth $100 in hair services at VAIN Ballard! Stylists will be on hand for “Guerilla Hair” up-do’s - a quick 5 minute style transformation. We’ll be exploring the neighborhood, too, for Ballard’s Artwalk - be sure to stop by OKOK, 20twenty, or Miro Tea, just to name a few!

Bring your Spring-fevered self out of the house for a night of hair + art - and free treats + discounts!

xo,

VAIN Ballard

One of our nearest and dearest clients, Paige, recently left Seattle for some fancy job in New York. After years of seeing Carly and Jenny Slay, she was worried about finding another salon that felt like home sweet home.

Luckily former VAIN stylist Shaun Surething has created Seagull, our unofficial ’sister’ salon. Paige recently went for her first cut with Shaun to update her look to something a little less formal. Though we’re still waiting on ‘after’ photos, I love this shot mid-cut:

Please note the shoes: Hot Pink Nikes! Snakeskin Marc Jacobs! If this isn’t New York, it’s heaven.

Photo courtesy of yet another VAIN client, Andrea “Shiftercars” Chapman.

Melissa Witherwax: one of 400,000 and one in a million.

If you’ve been to VAIN then you’ve been in the presence of Melissa Witherwax, or Mel, as she’s known to our staff, stylists, and clients. Her compassion, her kindness, her sense of community and social awareness, her style and her great brightness of spirit are just a few of the things - not to mention her amazing laugh - that make her someone who you just want to be around. Mel is a true one-and-only.

So the news seemed that much harder to hear at VAIN when Mel let us know a few months ago that she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. But she immediately took positive control of her situation by educating herself on the disease, getting proactive with her treatment, and even making us all feel a little better by asking if anyone wanted to join her for yoga or tai chi sessions in the park. Typical and wonderfully endearing.

Mel is one of 400,000 people in the United States affected by MS, and this weekend she’s walking to raise awareness and make a difference. This Sunday, April 13, Team Witherwax will hit the streets (ok, the Burke Gilman Trail) for Walk MS, and we hope you’ll be a part of it. Visit the Team Witherwax page to make a donation in any amount big or small, or to sign up online to walk. Last-minute walkers are welcome, too- day-of registration starts on Sunday at 8:30 a.m at Husky Stadium.

Whether you donate, walk, or just tell a friend about Walk MS this weekend, VAIN thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for taking action and making a positive impact. You’ll be helping thousands of people, among them someone who we couldn’t hold any more dear.

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and this Sunday’s Walk MS event, visit the National MS Society Walk MS Web site.

We at VAIN believe that every young person should have the opportunity to not just live from day to day, but have support and resources available to realize their dreams.

According to the Seattle Human Services Department, an estimated 620 youth under the age of 18 and another 1,380 young adults age 18-21 are homeless in Seattle and King County. VAIN supports organizations that work in both advocacy and providing services to help support the homeless youth in our community. The University Street Ministry (USM) provides meals and outreach case management in the University District. They also help youth find housing and jobs through Service Links for Youth. In contrast to city agencies, USM’s programs are being conducted in a more flexible, youth-centered environment that is less intimidating than walking into a government office asking for help in accessing services. We regularly donate gift certificates for hair services to youth in their programs who  have a job interview, are looking for an apartment or can benefit from that fresh haircut feeling. Our community mission is to build ongoing supportive relationships with community heros, and USM provides us with the opportunity to keep on track to that goal. USM can provide the first steps in connecting these youth with programs to support their transition from just staying alive to building a life. 

There are lots of ways you can get involved with USM. Visit: http://teenfeed.org/getinvolved.htm

-Victoria Thomas Gentry

Actually, nothing to report on ‘ugly’ or ‘bad’ - Ballard is quite good and lovely. But as for the good, we’ve got heaps of it. Good friends, good hair, good deeds. VAIN Ballard made a raffle donation to Dancing on the Valentine. The co-hosts, Three Imaginary Girls, are VAIN clients and loved ones - and friendship aside, the Leukemia and Lymphoma society is a cause we’re happy to be able to support. Some lucky attendee can come share in all the goodness - just be sure to buy a raffle ticket while you’re there!

xo,

Sarah

Photo by Sarah Joann Murphy

If you’ve walked or driven past VAIN downtown lately, you’ve probably seen the ad that’s currently on our outside graffiti wall. As part of our continued community support of local arts + artists, VAIN will donate 100% of the ad placement revenue to local musician Eric Howk, who suffered a paralyzing spinal injury last year. Eric’s injury has inspired an impressive show of community action since it happened, but ongoing contributions are still needed for his medical bills and related costs.

For more information on Eric, his music, and how you can contribute to his recovery fund, visit www.myspace.com/cranesforhowk.