We at VAIN don’t mind admitting when we’re obsessed (Kevin Murphy hair products, anyone?), and Lady Gaga + Beyonce’s new “Telephone” video has got us there. Bright yellow curls! Pop-can rollers! Cigarette shades against a platinum updo! Beyonce’s bangs! A TELEPHONE MADE OUT OF HAIR! In the words of one of our stylists, it’s like a “visual hair orgasm.” Agreed. We’re speechless.

Check it out:

Book ‘em while you can! On Monday, March 22 between 12 - 8pm, VAIN Ballard will be participating in Planned Parenthood NW’s Chic for Choice fundraiser, which raises much-needed funds for reproductive healthcare.

15 of our awesome hairstylists will be offering haircuts as part of Chic for Choice. Haircuts are $45, by appointment only, and must be pre-purchased through Planned Parenthood’s site online (appointments can’t be made over the phone- sorry!). All proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood.

To book your Chic for Choice haircut at VAIN Ballard, visit the VAIN page on the Chic for Choice site. Appointments sold out fast last year (not bragging, just saying!), so get yours while you can and thanks in advance for supporting a most worthy cause!

Book your appointment now!

Want to get involved and contribute without the haircut? Visit Planned Parenthood online at www.plannedparenthood.org/ppgnw.

Doesn’t this put a smile on your face? Hint: The correct answer is “Yes”.

Yours Truly,
Julie K

With spring just around the corner, now is the time for a whole new look! To book an appointment with one of our wonderful VAIN stylists, give our front desk a call, Ballard 206-706-2707 or Downtown at 206-441-3441.

Thanks to everyone who came by to purchase + admire the jewelry, you make our parties fun!

Local goodies like Theo chocolates, select Pretty Parlor wares, of course our featured jewelers, and much much more are deliciously available at VAIN Ballard. I make no guarantees that there are more chocolate covered pretzels though - sorry for my part in devouring them!

xo,

Sarah Jo

Just a friendly reminder to all you art lovers out there that VAIN is hosting an art show opening reception this Saturday from 2-7pm at VAIN downtown as part of our Love Heroes Valentine’s weekend action. The show started to go up yesterday and already looks great- curator + artist Michael Lane has assembled a diverse collection of love + pain-themed art in a variety of mediums. Participating artists include:

And as if all that art weren’t enough, we’ll have snacks + beverages on hand. So come on down and get your art appreciation on!

Love Heroes opening reception Saturday, Feb. 13 from 2-7pm at VAIN downtown- 2018 1st Ave. VAIN is also participating in Ballard’s art walk from 6-9pm that night with our featured jeweler of the month.

Check out the current issue of The Stranger- the awesome, massive, sky-high hair on the cover was done by none other than VAIN stylist + updo ninja William. We’ve gushed about William’s updo + party hair skills before, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to see his work get props in print. Way to make the cover, sir!

Want to get this cover look or something like it for your next night out? Call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441 to schedule your appointment with William or any of our other stylists who specialize in updos. Stranger cover photo by Annie Laurie Malarkey.

Domitrovich has been working in metal and making jewelry since 1988 when he was a student at University of Washington.

As Domitrovich says, his “patterned metal jewelry is meant to evoke the work of the Weiner Werkstatte (Vienna Workshops). This group was a contemporary of the Arts and Crafts movement and it sought to make art that was simple, practical, and accessible.”

Join us this Saturday from 6-9pm for art, drinks, food, and make your own valentine station – 5401 Ballard Ave NW.

Stop by VAIN downtown and/or VAIN Ballard anytime this weekend to get your Valentine’s fix, VAIN style. Here’s what’s going on:

VAIN Downtown:
• DIY/make-your-own Valentines station- We’ll have construction paper, markers, sparkly puff paint, etc for you to make your own cards + re-live the fourth grade all over again. free + open to the public all weekend long. Who needs Hallmark?
• “Love Heroes” visual art show featuring the love + pain-themed artwork of over a dozen talented artists. Sweet snacks + fizzy drinks to be served! Opening reception Saturday, Feb. 13, 2 - 7pm
• OMGit’saSALE! Get 15% off just about anything red or pink- scarves, hats, costume jewelry, nail polish, DIY hair dye, hair products that come red or pink bottles, etc!*

VAIN Ballard:
• DIY/make-your-own Valentines station- same arts + crafts fun, free + open to the public during our business hours all weekend long.
• Ballard art walk action featuring our jeweler of the month, Chuck Domitrovich of “Down to the Wire Designs”. Saturday, Feb. 13, 6 - 9pm
• SaleSaleSale-15% discount on nearly anything red or pink in the entire salon*

There you have it- more Valentine’s action than you can tease your hair at. Hope to see you at VAIN this weekend!

xo,
VAIN

We heart you + your hair, too: VAIN downtown- 2018 1st Ave, and VAIN Ballard- 5401 Ballard Ave NW.
*15% discount good Feb 13 + 14 only. Does not apply to art, featured jeweler pieces, or hair services. Other than that, have at it!

The next time you get your hair done at VAIN downtown + want to capture the oh-I-look-GOOD moment, VAIN’s got you covered. The VAIN Mirror, located near the front of the salon, is our version of a digital photo booth (behind a perfectly VAIN gold frame, of course) that lets you take your own picture + check it out on the spot on a touchscreen monitor. Don’t like your picture? Delete it + take a re-do if want to. You can also view other people’s pics + vote for your favorites. Images are then uploaded to the VAIN Mirror Flickr page where you can download them for your own use for free. Can you say Facebook profile?

If you’re camera shy + not feeling ready for your close-up, that’s ok: the VAIN Mirror pictures are worth checking out just to see the diverse personal styles + hairdos of our clients + staff on an average day. Case in point:

Who knows? You might just see a picture that gets you inspired for your next cut + color. At the very least, we know you’ll enjoy the bird’s eye VAIN view.

The VAIN Mirror is located at VAIN’s downtown salon- 2018 1st Ave. Don’t have an appointment to get your hair done with us? Stop in + take your picture anyway. It’s free + open to the public! Check out the VAN Mirror Flickr page online at www.flickr.com/photos/vainmirror/.

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

Not sure what to wear to your next holiday party? Try dressing your hair up. VAIN downtown stylist William specializes in party hair, whether you want a twist on the classic updo, a stylized fingerwave (pictured above), or a more fashion-forward, conceptual look (example below- we told you it’s his specialty!). Added bonus? William’s updos start at only $30. So don’t bother dropping half your paycheck on a new outfit for New Year’s Eve- perfect party hair is the new little black dress.

To schedule your appointment with William or any of our other visionary stylists who do special event/party hair, call VAIN downtown at 206.441.3441. Photos by Kaylin Rodriquez- check her out at www.kaylinrodriquez.com