VAIN Blog

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels: walk softly and carry a VAIN comb. Photo by Sarah Joann Murphy.

This just in from the “OMG VAIN wins another award” department, VAIN has been named a winner of the Mayor’s Small Business Award for 2008. At an awards ceremony last week to honor this year’s recipients (the appetizers were delicious!), VAIN was able to share our support for small business, working class heroes, activists, artists, and the Seattle music community in particular. We were also thrilled to share the stage our with our deserving co-winners. They are:

• 8 Limbs Yoga Centers & Boutique
• Animal Critical Care & Emergency Services
• Arab Film Distribution / Typecast Films
• BabyLegs
• Compendium, Inc.
• glassybaby
• GP Institute of Cosmetology
• KOBO
• Macrina Bakery & Café

Each of these businesses is a great example of hard work, taking an idea and running with it, and the awesome power of being an active community member. Oh and being nice. Check them out if you haven’t; we know we will.

VAIN thanks YOU, our clients, for helping us run with our hair.shop.art.community idea since 1996. We’re winners thanks to you.

Riders, don’t forget your helmets - your heads will thank you!

This season has given us plenty of beautiful days that would inspire anyone get outside and take a ride on a bike. We’ve also seen astronomical gas prices this summer which are none too fun. I see it as a great opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise and save our hard earned cash for things that we really need - i.e., anything but gas. So I decided at the beginning of Summer, at least a few times a week, to put on my helmet, get on my bike, and huff it out for work or play. Let’s be honest, helmets of any kind don’t necessarily leave you with the most immaculately executed coif after a fun day of riding. (I won’t give a treatise about why you should be wearing your helmet, but if you are planning on being on the road, please be smart and put one on). I’d nearly given up styling my hair on days I was biking knowing that it would end up in a mush no matter what I did beforehand - that is, before I turned to the help of the stylists at VAIN to seek advice on how to master the art of riding with great hair. They assured me that there is hope for us bicyclists, scooterists, and motorcyclists out there.

Jen C, who, along with fellow stylist Sharon, will be riding her bike from Seattle to San Francisco for the American Lung Association this month (see below for more info!), recommends Wool Shake from the Redken Urban Experiment line for helmet wearers. Spray it on before you ride and it bestows your hair with serious volume and texture - apparently this works on all kinds of hair; straight to curly. Literally shake your hair out after you take your helmet off, and you are left with a sexy, nicely tousled look.

If you’ve got short hair and normally use pomade, clay, or wax to bring out the definition and texture in your style, you might find that your edge is all but gone after a session under the helmet. Valentine, a VAIN stylist with serious short hair skills, suggests spraying some water on your hair to reactivate the product and doing a quick restyle with your fingers.

Liza Jo suggests getting a chin length cut with layers that will allow you to play up texture to avoid have hair that sits flat on your head. She also warns against putting your helmet on a wet head of hair; if your hair dries while you bike you will be left with the imprint of your helmet on the surface of your hair for the rest of the day!

The next time you decide to ride, know that you can still rock a hot style and keep your noggin safe.

Ride on!
-Sylvia

You can still donate to Jennifer Cassady and Sharon Blyth-Moss before they leave this week for the Big Ride Pacific Coast to support the American Lung Association! Please visit Clean Air Adventures and click on “Sponsor a Big Rider.”

For several years now, VAIN owner/founder/styledriver Victoria Gentry has volunteered for the YMCA as a part of the Patsy Collins Adventure in Leadership program.

What is the mission of the program?

To empower girls during their middle school years to feel confident in themselves, take an active role in shaping their community, and work towards a positive future for themselves and the world.

I asked Victoria about her experiences there, and the benefits she’s seen firsthand:

“PCAL provides a unique experience for young women to develop leadership skills in a supportive environment free of peer pressure, competition and ridicule. It is quite remarkable to watch how quickly their confidence grows when they truly, finally are able to find their own voice and really put themselves out there without fear. Once someone has had that experience and realizes what is possible even when they go back to ‘real’ life they have a new perspective on just how valuable their ideas are and feel empowered to put them out there and into action!”

“I have met some of the young women years later and they have said that this camp with all the hard fun and challenges really was a profound and life changing experience.”

We’re proud of Victoria for being a part of this program! If you’d also like to show your support, donations can be made to the YMCA. As Victoria said, “GO PCAL!”

The VAIN graffiti wall downtown is so money. Photo by Angela Dawn.

Today from 8am to 8pm at VAIN downtown, the famed DVS crew of graffiti artists will be painting four new pieces on VAIN’s outside wall. We’ve told you about the history of the wall before, and this latest chapter should be just as good. So if you find yourself on 1st Ave today, stop by and check out some amazing graffiti art in action. It’s going to be a scene out there.

The VAIN graffiti wall is on the north side of VAIN, facing the parking lot- 2018 1st Ave between Virginia and Lenora.

Pretty lady: the ever-evolving Bijou, who already looks way different than this. Photo by My Vu.

Today marks VAIN downtown stylist Bijou’s last day at the salon- she’s leaving Seattle for world travels before landing in a new US city- and we’re already missing her skills and style (ok and her smile. Well it’s true!). Bijou not only consistently evolved her own look, from punk rock bride to Miss Nikki Sixx, from modern pinup to black-haired bladerunner, but also consistently delivered some pretty incredible hair transformations to her clients with her awesome hair skills. We showed you an example in a Hot Hair post earlier this year, but if we tried to show you every cool cut, pretty bob, big blowout and perfect trim she’s given we’d be blogging all day long. And we’ve got hair to do! So: Bijou, you have been a true example of expressing inner style and not being afraid to switch it up, and VAIN thanks you for it. All the best from us to you!

If you’re a client of Bijou’s, fear not! Our front desk staff can set you up with another stylist who’s right for your hair, your style, and your budget. They just might not be wearing a Motley Crue shirt. Call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 to make it happen.

On Monday our stylists were treated to a rare treat - 6 hours of hands on training with Pureology educator Phillip Wilson.

Why was this event so important? Wilson is respected internationally as a premier stylist and educator. He prides himself on innovation and creating cuts that inspire the next generation. Recently, he was voted one of the most influential hairdressers of the past 100 years by Modern Salon Magazine.

“With more than 25 years of exploring all facets of beauty Phillip Wilson has become an industry icon. Launching his career in the trendy west end of London and training with grand masters from all over Europe, Wilson was able to interact with fashion elite, and royalty.”

Needless to say, everyone was spellbound during the workshop. Phillip was charismatic, charming, and above all else, talented. Currently he only offers 6 of these events a year worldwide. It was an honor to have him join us at VAIN, and incredibly informative as well.

The stylists in attendance will be holding a follow up session next week to review the wealth of knowledge they acquired. The techniques he presented were groundbreaking, and a glow of inspiration follows in the wake of his visit.

All of us hope to see Phillip again somehow, even if we have to follow him around the globe to do so! Thank you to everyone who attended and put in a long, challenging day of learning.

Hot hair in the summertime. Photo by Sarah Joann Murphy.

Happy August from VAIN! Summer took its sweet time getting here, but now that it’s officially, no really, wait-you-mean-I-don’t-need-a-sweater-anymore? arrived, VAIN has a few tips to keep your hair stylish for the season.

VAIN dowtown + Ballard stylist Jake says:
After an afternoon at the beach filled with sun, sand, and saltwater I absolutely love the feel of my hair. Kevin Murphy’s Gritty Business and Hair Resort are my number one and number two hair product choices when combined (in moderation) to help create a true day at the beach feel (without the sand in my shorts).

VAIN resident makeup artist Christine Cherbonnier offers this for summer do’s:
I like to air dry my hair during the summer since it’s too hot to blow dry (I would usually avoid this at all cost since I have a not-so-flattering eighties perm when I let it dry naturally). Once it’s totally dry I scrunch TIGI Mousse Wax throughout, reforming my curl to look like a slept-in, effortless summer wave.

VAIN front desk manager Mel has this tip for summer swimmers:
A lot of VAIN customers have been asking how to protect their hair color from chlorine. I tell people to get their hair wet with non-chlorinated water before jumping in the pool so their hair won’t absorb so much chlorine. They can also put a little conditioner in their hair before getting in the pool.

Color expert stylist Scarlet concurs and adds:
Using products with natural sunscreens in them, like all Pureology products, will help keep your hair color looking vibrant when you’re spending more time in the sun.

Finally, a word from VAIN owner, styledriver, and perenially hot-coiffed Victoria Thomas Gentry:
Summer is a great time for iron-shaped hair. On fine hair like mine, there’s usually no point in curling my hair when we have rainy or misty weather. But during the summer an iron set can last for days. Even if you just curl the mid shaft of ramdom sections you can have volume like the curly kids!

So there you have it- summer hair tips straight from VAIN to you. To get more info on any of the products mentioned or to schedule a summer spruce-up, call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 or VAIN Ballard at 206.706.2707.

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.