The first step to recovery was realizing that the ringlet routine that I had for the past seven years just wasn’t working anymore. After mixing and matching and trying all the usual trial and error of product concoctions available to me in my new home @ VAIN Beauty World, the idea finally came to me like a bat out of hell! It was so obvious that you could’ve knocked me over with a feather, people. SCIENCE. Hello!

I hail from the “windy” city, the land of weather to the extreme, Chicago, and I realized that I was spending a lot time blowing hot air defending my old hair habits. I should’ve known that despite Seattle’s rainy reputation, the level of moisture in the air is actually rather lacking compared to my days residing in the Midwest. It was like every lightbulb in my brain lit up at the same time- what do curls want most? Moisture!!! I felt like I uncovered the most coveted secret in the whole planet earth and I had to share it with you. The most obvious is sometimes the last thing you think of due to preconceived notions about a certain city- lesson learned.

Curly hair + the appropriate amount of moisture = happy hairs. As an apprentice stylist and connoisseur of leave-in options available, I recommend a few depending on what your locks are craving.

Kevin Murphy's Leave-In Luxury is a one-size-fits-all! Weightless, paraben-free help for hair.

AG's Fast Food is rescue 9-1-1 for long term split end repair and a serious shine intervention.

Deva Curl's B'Leave-In is perfect for the seriously parched. A real wake up call that is chock full of vitamins.

Pick up any of these lil’ helpers @ VAIN downtown or @ VAIN Ballard.  Viva la hair health!

VAIN 4-eva,

Emily

double up on this magic!

Who? Those with Fine to Medium curl or wave looking to enhance that business.

Why? To create soft curl or wave with hold.

Secret Tip from the Stars: Apply to super wet hair to minimize frizz and maximize awesome!

At $18.95 a pop it’s a steal- a little goes a long way with this one.  Look for it @ VAIN downtown and VAIN in Ballard.  You can look for Vai at both salons as well!

VAIN stylist Carinn is the brain behind all this Staff Pick business and is a huge fan of Redken Full Frame 07 Mousse.

Sportin' Sexy!

Why? If you want body, hold and shine- this is the stuff. It’s extremely versatile. It’s not the mousse of the 80’s, people.

Who? It’s great for both curly and straight haired folks. Amazing!

Styling tip from the Stars: Adding heat to the product (i.e. blow-drying or diffusing) intensifies the product’s styling ability and adds softness. If it does get a tad crunchy on you get scrunch-y on it! Loosening your locks by making a fist and squeezing sections of your hair will instantly soften it.

Pick up some Full Frame Mousse for yourself at our downtown or Ballard salon for a smooth $16.95. To make an appointment to see the vixen with all the moves, Carinn, call 206.441.3441

Way to be hot and talented!

Sam was gracious enough to grant this VAIN Blogger an exclusive interview and paparazzi (aka me) captured some coveted intel on creating curly beauty.

VAIN: Sam, you fell in love with curls pretty hard and you’re so good at making them behave. How did the love affair start since you’re a straight-haired gal yourself?

SM: I like texture. I like shaping. I like helping people control their hair and make it as easy as possible- it can make a huge difference in someone’s life and self esteem.

VAIN: Ok. What about twisting and scrunching- when and why is each method appropriate?

Before: twisting to create the finished look!

SM: Twisting helps you get more consistency to a curl pattern as well as helping straighter areas in your hair get a little help up. If you have thick, unruly hair it can sometimes help add definition to your curls. You also get a lot more lift and definition out of the top part of your hair.

As for scrunching, I think it’s most important when you use product to really get it all saturated evenly. Hair is like a sponge, so it’s almost like putting a drop of soap on a sponge; if you squeeze it the soap gets everywhere.

VAIN: What’s a good tip for someone possessing some wicked natural wave that’s looking for it to hold more curl?

SM: Product and moisture. [Ed. note- Deva Curl's Set it Free is AMAZING for that!] Choosing the correct product combination to get the look you want to achieve is essential. You have to try and find the right amount of hold and moisture to cut down on frizz and achieve consistency in curl pattern. Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners are also essential to promote softness and seal the cuticle layer of the hair, making curls springy and shiny.

VAIN: What’s your number one rule for keeping frizz to a minimum?

SM: Moisturize and proper washing patterns. You have to see what’s right for your lifestyle, but altering your hair care patterns to wash less and wash properly every time is crucial. Give your hair what it needs. If it feels dry, use a treatment on your ends. If it feels like there is product buildup and it’s waxy, use a clarifying shampoo and a good moisture treatment.

VAIN: What’s your advice to new curly-haired clients getting started?

SM: Every great head of curls begins with a little chitchat with your stylist during your first appointment or consultation [Ed. note- style consultations are FREE at VAIN!] It’s key for making sure you’re on the same page. I want to know what you want your hair to look like, how much maintenance you’re willing to put in, what products you use, etc. It helps me give you curls that work best for your hair and lifestyle.

VAIN: What’s the best reason to embrace curl instead of fighting it?

SM: It’s way, way easier for a lot of people, and curls are epic!!

After: VAIN curly-haired clients rule.

So there you have it, folks! And from one curly headed person to another, I think Sam is pretty right on. She’s a true gem in the land of texture so if you haven’t seen her yet, get in line. Dibs!

VAIN 4-Eva,
Emily
The newest VAIN blogger + hotshot apprentice

Sam is exclusively at our Downtown salon at 2018 1st Avenue. To book an appointment with her or any of our other fabulous curly girls, or to find out more about the curly hair products that VAIN carries, call 206.441.3441!

And, no, I don’t mean the Hasselhoff variety. I’m talking about Kevin Murphy’s newest styling product- an oil-free, matte texture paste with a strong hold that’s great for short and choppy styles. Here’s what VAIN Downtown stylist William has to say about it:

“The first thing you must remember about Night Rider is that the product starts setting within 60-90 seconds so you have to work it into your hair quickly. You have up to five minutes before the product completely sets all together.  Once its set, its not going to loose its hold, but its pliable so you can bump it, move it around, and kinda reshape it as the day (or night) goes on. Its PERFECT for pompadours and really sleek shorter looks“.

From radical, rockabilly hair to chic, sleek ‘dos, its looking like Night Rider has got us covered… whether we’re fighting crime in a Pontiac Trans Am or not.

Night Rider is available at both VAIN locations, come on in and try it out! Downtown – 2018 1st Ave. Ballard – 5401 Ballard Ave NW

As you plan your wedding hairstyle, here are a few things to think about before the big day as shared by VAIN senior stylist Jenny Slay, who has delivered some of the finest bridal hairdos to ever walk down the aisle (if we do say so ourselves).

To book a consultation for bridal/wedding hair with Jenny Slay or any of our other talented stylists who specialize in special event hair, call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707.

Here’s a bit of what Vic and I talked about in the wild world of protecting your hair:

“If you learned how to wash your hair from watching a shampoo commercial, you are doing it wrong. The surfactants in shampoo are designed to emulsify oil that are then carried away when you rinse. I have always recommended less frequent hair washing to my clients, and to focus the shampoo to the scalp area + first couple inches of hair. For most people you would have to go a week with out washing for your natural oils to build up beyond the first couple inches. On longer hair, as the lather rinses down the hair shaft that’s sufficient to wash away smoke, dust and pollution and refresh the hair. If you are lathering up the ends of your hair the surfactants with no oil to react with are busy drying out and breaking down your hair. Only if you use exccesive amounts of product or are a super athlete would you need to shampoo more than three times a week. If you have naturally dry hair you could go longer.”

So, less breakage + less wasted product with proper technique? I love it! What other benefits could there be?

“The benefit of less frequent washings is the natural conditioning effects of your own home grown hair oil. Textured hair also gets benefits from an undisturbed curl pattern; with less frequent washings of curly hair there is less frizz and less need for product to control it.”

We’ve compiled some additional info here for those of you who might be literally washing dollars down the drain – while simultaneously doing more harm than good! A step by step shampoo party, with a little styling bonus:

- using a natural bristle bush gently brush your hair and scalp
- if you part on a consistent side, brush you hair back over your part
- this exfolliates your scalp, breaks up product + distributes natural oils
- it also feels great!
- wet your hair
- if you use an oil-based pomade try working the shampoo in before wetting
- put a small amount of shampoo in the palm of one hand
- emulsify the shampoo using your fingertips
- apply small amounts to the root area and scalp first
- then the sides + front, then the crown
- then reach under your hair and apply to the nape of the neck
- lather and massage the scalp
- rinse using cool-warm water
- apply conditioner starting at the ends of your hair
- for dryer hair and scalp work the conditioner up to the scalp
- for oiler hair keep conditioner away from the scalp
- dry hair by blotting and squeezing, not rubbing
- for textured or shorter hair, finger comb out the snarls.
- for longer hair, use a wide tooth comb starting at the ends
- sink teeth in a couple inches at a time working your way towards the head
- to avoid breakage never start at the head and pull down.
- gently queeze extra moisture out and proceed with styling

Voila! An in-depth look at how to treat your ends right.

Not to say I’m not a shampoo lover. There are, no joke, 9 different kinds of shampoo in my shower right now. NINE! Kevin Murphy, you are largely to blame, you little dear. I can’t help it, I love them all. But I also spare my poor color battered ends the cleansing they don’t need, and just keep my bangs + crown from looking shiny.

If there are more shampoo questions out there, bring ‘em on. We welcome the chance to talk clean!

You can also ask questions with your own appointment at VAIN. We’ll be happy to educate you on all matters of beauty – 206.441.3441 for Downtown, and 206.706.2707 for Ballard.

xo,

Sarah Jo, VAIN’s compulsive shampoo purchaser

I hope you all remember me; I know it’s been a minute. You haven’t seen me at VAIN in a bit, but the beauty world is on my mind all the time. Right up there next to my own hair, how to care for it, and how to make it look lovely.

Flipping through a magazine the other day, I saw an advertisement from a big brand shampoo company. It had a ‘helpful’ Q+A regarding beauty myths – except that it didn’t answer questions for me, only raised them. One of the statements they contradicted was something I had told clients every day – don’t wash your hair before a color service. The advertisement stated you should wash your hair, so that your colorist could properly identify the existing color. Confused [and thinking about my roots] I emailed VAIN owner, founder, and styledriver Victoria Gentry. Here’s what Vic had to say on the matter:

“Unless you ran a marathon your hair could not possibly have enough oil built up to effect how the color appears to your stylist on the 2nd day after shampooing.”

Aha! I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any marathons in my future. Though, it would be awesome if we did! So, we know that second day hair won’t mystify colorists. So what are the reasons why we would be sure to skip the shampoo the day of our services?

“The main point of not washing your hair is to have some oil in your skin to protect you from the effects of the peroxide and/or ammonia. It also helps to buffer staining from the pigment and would give added protection if someone had a mild allergy to the pigment and still insists on getting hair color. When you shampoo, you also rough up your scalp. Vigorous washings or brushing could create tiny abrasions on your scalp adding to the irritating effect of hair color.”

The moral of the story?

Keep your home grown protection and don’t wash or brush your scalp the day of your hair color appointment.

And, for your next color touchup, visit us Downtown [206.441.3441] or Ballard [206.706.2707] – we know the real answers to your Q+A.

More sudsy news, soon.

xo,

Sarah Jo, VAIN’s far-flung shampoo-skipping beauty correspondent

What is that, you ask? That, dear VAIN friends, is the blow dryer in my 5 star hotel. It functioned on a level even below what the aesthetics suggest. For the $10 spent on an adapter at the airport, it was worth that + more to use my own trust dryer – purchased at VAIN Ballard, of course.

It is worth mentioning that by the end of the trip, in Granada, I abandoned all appliances in favor of Kevin Murphy’s Fresh Hair every other day, and letting my hair air dry after mid-day swims in the creek. But that’s at the opposite end of the spectrum – if I did want or need to look polished while we were in the larger cities, I would’ve been lost.

My best advice after 10 days lugging an 80 pound bag? Choose one pair of shoes, ditch the train case in favor of just mascara + lip gloss, remember you’ll probably only wear one pair of jeans and one dress anyhow; but don’t scrimp on the blow dryer + adapter.

xo,

Sarah Jo, VAIN’s on-the-go beauty correspondent

VAIN downtown + Ballard hairstylist Carinn does some of the most amazing, vibrant hair color around (she did the color pictured above), and now she’s sharing her expert tips for keeping your hair color looking bright and fresh for as long as possible. Here they are from the color queen herself:

1. Wait 48 hours to wash your hair after a color service.
2. Use color-safe shampoo and conditioner. This really helps your color last longer and retain its vibrancy. I love Pureology. With their anti-fade color technology and their garuntee to help color last longer I can really see the results with my clients. I also like the Redken’s Color Extend. It is dedicated to the semipermanent color line we use at VAIN to help keep the color vibrant.
3. When rinsing your hair after shampooing and conditioning use cool water. This helps keep your hair cuticle closed and your color in your hair and not down the drain.
4. Use a color depositing shampoo or conditioner once a week. This will help keep your color looking brand new. This is only recommended for hair color that is all in the same color family. Example: Your hair is red with copper highlights. Use a copper colored shampoo or conditioner. Not reccomended if you have multi colored hair in different colors i.e. red hair with copper and blonde highlights. The color in the shampoo or conditioner will color over your blonde hair.

Carinn says: “Each of the steps alone are helpful and when used all together they will markedly improve the overall longevity of your color and its vibrancy!”

To make an appointment with Carinn, call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707. Oh and don’t be afraid to bring in some random deep red leaf or cool colored plum that you want your hair to look like- Carinn will make it happen.

Hair + photo by Carinn.

These Jersey towels are handmade by VAIN stylist Aran. They’re perfect to use when plopping curls, and much more aesthetically pleasing than keeping an old t-shirt in your bathroom.

For those already using the plopping technique, you know it is great for long curly hair. If you haven’t tried it/heard of it, you’re probably wondering what on earth we’re talking about. Here’s a quick rundown on how-to:

- After washing + conditioning, apply your favorite product to wet hair
- Put a jersey towel down on a chair or the bathroom vanity
- Lean over the towel with your head hanging down, bent over from your waist
- Position the wet hair onto towel so the curls are all concentrated on top of the head
- Pull the towel taut against the top and sides of the head
- Grab the 2 sides and twist them into long rolls near each ear
- Pull the towel extensions to the nape of the neck + tie together to secure
- Leave on hair for 15-20 mins
- Take the towel off and gently shake down the curls, then diffuse or air-dry
- For extra control, scrunch in a bit more gel after removing the towel

Not only are the Jersey towels a lot prettier to look at, the material helps prevent the frizz that terrycloth towels can cause. Aran’s towels are currently available at both locations. Appointments with the creator herself are available at VAIN Ballard – call 206.706.2707 to schedule!

To my dismay, my roots lay flat against my scalp. Despite all my attention and all the best products at my disposal, it was greasy and lifeless and lost. I try to shampoo my hair as infrequently as possible, and this time I’d missed the mark. There was no time left to wash it and start from scratch, and no Fresh Hair by our darling Kevin Murphy to save me. Talcum powder can do in a pinch, but of course I had none of that either. In desperation, I looked to my train case full of makeup. Mineral powder foundation? In a move either insane or inspired, I sprinkled it in my bangs and shook it through with my fingers. Low and behold… it worked!

Keep in mind that my partial foil and my skin tone are similar enough to pull this off – I certainly wouldn’t have done it if I had jet black or bright white hair. But it’s my new favorite in-a-pinch trick, and I couldn’t wait to share.

What do you say, stylists, to my earlier statement – inspired, or insane?

xo,

Sarah Jo