VAIN Blog

Before VAIN, I did some less than ideal things to my hair. The color debacle deserves it’s own post, but it wasn’t just the damage I inflicted with repeated home bleaching. I didn’t know much about product, either. I can picture dragging a comb through wet hair, freshly shampooed with whatever was on sale.

Now, if this sounds like your daily routine, and you’re happy with it, then ignore my tale of transformation. If your hair is healthy, glowing, and strong, there’s no need to make changes. But if you’re baffled by breakage, buildup, and dullness, you might be making the same mistakes I was.

I can’t remember the first time I heard that you didn’t need to wash your hair daily. The idea kind of blew my mind. Wouldn’t my hair just look worse? Didn’t I need to get the ‘dirt’ out to leave my hair shiny and free? I didn’t understand the benefit of the oils our scalp produces naturally; instead, I was stripping everything from my hair on a daily basis.

My first upgrade was to Pureology Hydrate shampoo and conditioner. I needed to try to protect the investment of my gorgeous new color, now that I’d left the world of drugstore boxes behind me. I found that my hair felt much softer and smoother after just a shampoo, and I didn’t need piles of conditioner like I previously had. I obviously paid more than I was accustomed to at $18.95, but after a while I realized that bottle lasted me an entire year. With my fine hair and intermittent shampooing, I realize average usage might be a little more than mine - but I was actually saving money buying fancy-pants products.

As Rebecca has mentioned, we’re a little Kevin-Murphy-happy ’round here. Let me add my own praises! Cheapskate that I am, I ponied up for the full “Kevin Murphy Experience” after hearing Rachel mention it at least 200 times in one week. I got Maxi Wash, Angel Wash, Angel Rinse, and Born Again. I use all four products now, but just once a week. My poor little hairs, after years of flat irons, deserved such pampering.

I’ve never loved my hair so much! With my activity level [read: sedentary] I’m able to wash my and style my hair just once a week. Who knew low maintenance could look so good?

xo,

Sarah Jo

The VAIN downtown hair product wall: so embarrassing when you run into your exes.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m currently in a deep, committed relationship with the Kevin Murphy line of natural hair products, but the truth is that there have been others… many others. Some of my favorite formers, in no particular order:

Tigi Bed Head After-Party
The name says it all: if you’re walking home in last night’s shoes, at least your hair can look good. The hot pink After-Party container/pump looks like a mic and the product itself smoothes flyaways and tames hair-of-shame like a champ. By far the best-smelling hair product I’ve ever used.

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
Great for color treated hair. This is the one in the light purple bottle and my hair always drinks it up. It just feels luxurious to use Pureology products in general, and VAIN has just about all of them.

Redken Outshine
This anti-frizz polishing milk doesn’t have the scent or pizzazz packaging of Bed Head After-Party (yep, I said pizzazz!), but it’s a light n’ lovely product for soothing your hair. Truly one of my favorites. Use After-Party casually; take Outshine home to your parents.

Murray’s Pomade
What can I say? I like a nice tin.

VAIN’s Dirty Boy, Dirty Girl
I told myself I wouldn’t cry! Like listening to PJ Harvey (a LOT) and making completely avoidable life choices, this amazing, magical purple goo was an essential part of the dawn of my 20s. I don’t even know what it did, exactly, but my hair always looked better and smelled really good when I used it. AND THERE WAS A TEENY PLASTIC PIG AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH CONTAINER. So random, so great.

So there you have it. As Kevin Murphy and I explore new ground in our relationship together (I just met his Fresh.Hair dry shampoo and Body.Guard smoother and I think they liked me!!), I can’t help but take an occasional visit down hair product memory lane. Your firsts and favorites are always the hardest to forget, I guess.

-Rebecca P.

Photo: Drugstore.com. Curious: Rebecca P.

All-in-one. Microwavable. No rinse. Amazing?

Kevin Murphy’s Leave-In.Luxury: I thought that dreams belonged to other hair.

Almost paradise
We’re knocking on heaven’s door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise

I’m back and I’m in love. I told you a few months ago how VAIN hairstylists had fallen hard for the awesome new line of Kevin Murphy hair products, and now it’s happened to me. If his natural ingredient-rich Angel Wash shampoo and Angel Rinse conditioner were the dinner and a movie of our budding relationship, then Kevin Murphy’s Leave-In.Luxury leave-in conditioner was our first weekend together. And it was fantastic.

It’s got silk proteins, mango butter, and extracts of Peruvian bark (really?) to moisturize and protect colored hair and reduce frizz (please and thank you). It smells like a fancy organic spa and a nickel sized amount left my bleach-weary hair soft, smoothed, and soothed. I always worry that leave-in conditioners are going to weigh my hair down, but not this time. Not Kevin Murphy’s Leave-In.Luxury. I’ve found my silky, no-sulphate, paraben-free forever.

-Rebecca P.

Get your hands on my man! Kevin Murphy hair products are available at both VAIN downtown and VAIN Ballard.

Kevin Murphy hair products: even the containers are cool.

It’s love! VAIN hairstylists have fallen hard for the new Kevin Murphy line of Australian hair products. We’ve got a lot of great hair products at VAIN, but it’s been a while since a line has impressed like this one.

Kevin Murphy was one half of the popular Kusco-Murphy haircare line so he knows his stuff. His products are sulphate-free, paraben-free, biodegradable, and contain essential oils and moisturizers from sustainable sources. Who doesn’t like a little mango, shea butter, or orange blossom infused into their hair product? Plus every product is color-safe (YES!) and smells fancy and amazing (seriously. I’ve got my nose up a bottle of Angel.Wash shampoo right now).

Whether your hair is thick, fine, curly, needs definition or just a little volume, there’s a Kevin Murphy shampoo, conditioner, or styling product for you. The next time you come in to VAIN to get your hair done, ask your hairstylist to try one out. You’ll be glad you did. As for me, I’ll be busy smelling the Hair.Resort hair cream and Luxury.Rinse conditioner and getting ready to meet Kevin Murphy in the shower.

-Rebecca P.