VAIN Blog

The current “Best of the City 2009” issue of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine has named VAIN’s very own hairstylist Sharon as Seattle’s Best British Stylist. VAIN blogger Rebecca P. sat down with the lady herself over a spot of tea [RP: KIDDING! We totally split a bag of crisps] to talk about it.

Congratulations on your win. What did you do to claim victory over the competition?
I’m not sure how stiff the competition actually was, but I try to do my best every time I do hair, so maybe it’s my attitude and work ethic that helped me clinch it. I think that goes a long way.

What would you say is distinctly British about your approach to doing hair?
I’d have to say my accent.

Best royal family hair of all time?
Definitely Prince Charles. Best and worst! I would love to do his hair.

Yorkshire pudding: what’s up with that?
It’s the best…. you wanna come over? I’ll make it special for ya.

Have you heard of the American hair sensation known as “crimping,” or are you more into “crumpeting”?
Crumpeting for sure tastes better and never goes out of fashion!

Seriously though, congratulations. You deserve the recognition! Any final thoughts you’d like to share with VAIN clients + Blog readers?
Thank-you, it really was a nice surprise. I do love working with hair and I especially love the relationships that you build with people, it’s a team effort. Trust is an important part of the relationship and I work really hard to gain that. Once it’s there it can be a really fun journey.

Find out what all the fuss is about: call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 to book your appointment with Sharon, or learn more about her on vain.com.

Style in Still Life. Photo by Genevieve Pierson for Seattle Sound magazine.

Check out the September issue of Seattle Sound magazine for an awesome Fall fashion spread featuring hair by VAIN downtown + Ballard senior stylist Jenny Slay and makeup by VAIN’s resident makeup artist Christine Cherbonnier.

The photo shoot took place at some of VAIN’s favorite independent art spaces (including, you guessed it, VAIN’s gallery adjacent to our downtown salon), and the result is a series of striking images + sculpted style sure to inspire your next hair or makeup appointment, appearance at an art gallery event, or city night out this Fall. So take a look and witness VAIN’s hair.makeup.art power in print!

Seattle Sound’s “Style in Still Life” Fall Fashion spread is in the magazine’s September issue, currently on newstands around Seattle.

VAIN note: due to a completely avoidable typo/brain lapse on our part, Jenny Slay’s VAIN start date was incorrectly listed in the issue by, oh, ABOUT NINE YEARS. Jenny Slay has been with VAIN since 1998. An actual decade. That, along with her amazing hair skills, is why she’s our senior stylist. Duh.

NWsource’s People’s Picks. Four years in a row. Thank you and VAIN love to all our clients who voted!

Citysearch.com has announced its winners for Best Street Cents (Seattle living on a budget) and VAIN is #1 on the audience vote list for Best Affordable Haircut! Thanks to all of our clients who voted.

And when you’re right, you’re right: VAIN offers the best haircut deal in Seattle with $15 haircut specials on select days, as well as a wide range of pricing on all of our hair services to keep things affordable. So thanks again, Seattle, and we’ll see you at the salon.

xo,
VAIN

Whether you’re a new or returning client, you can always switch things up at VAIN to meet your style + budget needs. Call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707 to find out more.

VAIN Ballard has been named a Best New Boutique Salon in Seattle Magazine’s 2008 Beauty Issue! Our rising star stylist Roxana got a full-page feature as a Best Up & Coming Affordable Hair Stylist (pretty picture, Roxana!), and VAIN’s Wig Shoppe collection of party wigs got a sweet shout-out too.

Get all the details in Seattle Magazine, on stands now, or come check VAIN Ballard and Roxana’s super-super skills out for yourself if you haven’t yet.

VAIN Ballard: 5401 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle | 206.706.2707

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.

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!