VAIN Blog

Let’s take a minute to sit down with Scarlet, our fabulous stylist at VAIN downtown, to learn a little bit about the process of glazing hair.

What is glazing, you ask? We asked, too, and Scarlet has answers. Technically, glazing is the application of a demi-permanent (i.e. long lasting semi-permanent color, which should last 6-8 weeks with a proper product and care regimen), sheer color with a hint of tone. It’s gentle and, because the glaze is translucent, the results are very natural. Variation in your hair color shows through the glaze (even with dark coloring), and the new growth looks much more subtle since there is no solid line where your color application ends. The benefits don’t stop there. Glazing is rich in silk protein and helps improves texture and manageability by smoothing the cuticles of the hair strands.

When is it used? Scarlet loves to use glazing in all kinds of applications because it is so versatile and foolproof. She gradually blends in gray hair, and with all the sunny weather we’ve been having she’s been treating faded highlights by refreshing their color. She also glazes to correct the yellow that can occur after bleaching by subtly bringing in more natural tone or warmth. Or if clients want more kick in their color, glazing can pump it up! “Glazing is a good way to introduce color to clients who would normally be apprehensive to color or are commitment phobic,” Says Scarlet.

For those who want shine and manageability without the addition of color, there is even clear glaze. Fine hair, which tends to become greasy under the weight of most smoothing products, is an excellent candidate for this process. And the benefits are lasting.

Thanks for chatting with us, Scarlet! Glazing sounds awesome and the cost is the same as a normal coloring job with a quicker process time. So if you’ve been waiting for the right excuse to try some color with more natural and gentle results, glazing is perfect for you!

Scarlet and other color specialists offer glazing at VAIN. Call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707 to book your appointment.

VAIN downtown now has Nintendo DS available for your gaming needs while you get your style on! Remember ask the lovely peeps at the front desk the next time you come in!

Nice hair: Deuce 7 art on VAIN’s back door.

Graffiti artist + train spotter Deuce 7 was in town last week for the opening of his show at BLVD Gallery in Belltown and did an amazing mural on the back wall of VAIN. Check out the full set of photos on BLVD’s Flickr site and a recent Village Voice article on how Deuce 7’s graffiti has taken NYC by storm for more.

Deuce 7’s “Pneumonia, Isolation, and Disorder” show runs at BLVD through Aug 2- 2316 2nd Ave, Seattle. Big pieces going fast, small pieces still available. Mural up at VAIN dowtown until it it’s gone- 2018 1st Ave, out back.

VAIN stylist Jake (with son Christian) shows that you’re never too young to get your foils + personal hair style on.

“It’s like the hair never even happened.”

Waxing services for brows, bikini, and the rest of it now available at VAIN downtown- call 206.441.3441 for more info.

VAIN downtown stylists Bijou and Kelly with Poison frontman, Rock of Love star, and goldie-locked rocker Brett Michaels. Yes, that Brett Michaels. Speaking of extensions, Kelly does some of the best around, whether you want them completely subtle-looking or backstage big. Call VAIN at 206.441.3441 to find out more or to schedule a free consultation with Kelly.

Editor’s note: Kelly could not confirm that Brett had extensions… they were just that good.

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.

Jenny Slay: puttin’ the senior in senior stylist, 10 years at a time.

This past week marked VAIN senior stylist Jenny Slay’s 10th anniversary with VAIN. Jenny’s unparalleled cut, color, updo, and Great Lengths extensions skills are legendary, and she has the loyal clients to prove it. She’s been the stylist behind more perfect highlights and haircuts, more bold color transformations, wedding day perfections, instant long lengths, and every hair service in between than any other VAIN stylist, and she’s helped make VAIN what it is today with her signature style and talent.

When asked to comment on her milestone, Jenny said, “I feel really satisfied to have been here for so long, to watch VAIN grow and help make it what it is. It’s been really really good to me.” Asked how she and VAIN have changed since 1998, she offered this: “We both have significantly less facial piercings now.”

VAIN owner + styledriver Victoria Thomas Gentry had this to say about Jenny:

Jenny is the queen of hair that’s been colored into a corner. She is fearless in her ability to take even a seemingly helpless corrective color problem and make it gorgeous! I’ve seen her stare down a fierce head of ashy mud-toned highlights and turn them into spun gold. She is the alchemist of hair!

Jenny also makes the fun happen at VAIN. She lifts our spirits by bringing her powers of sharp and witty observation to bear on our daily lives and activities. When you have your life experiences reflected back at you with such quick and funny commentary your day is always bound to get better. I love Jenny so much!

For 10 years of hard work, great humor and amazing hair, VAIN salutes Jenny Slay. We love you!

Jenny Slay works her hair magic at both VAIN locations. Call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707 to book a free consultation or schedule an appointment. You’ll be glad you did.

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.

Good news for those summertime bikini lines: Belinda “Master Waxer” Leybold has joined VAIN as our resident esthetician! That means you can now get your brows, lip, legs, bikini area, and the rest of it waxed in the comfort of VAIN’s private waxing studio above our downtown salon. Hairy backs and chests also welcome!

Belinda is known for her speed (and if you’ve been waxed you know that’s a must), attention to detail (stray hairs = no!), and easy, comfortable demeanor (again, makin’ it quick), so we’re sure she’s going to be a hit. She’s already done some amazing brows since she started last week. Plus she’s good good VAIN style to boot.

We’re offering our VAIN Blog readers $5 off their first service with Belinda- just mention this post when you book your appointment. Happy waxing!

Belinda Leybold offers waxing services at VAIN dowtown- 2018 1st Ave. Call 206.441.3441 to book your appointment.

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.

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