VAIN

This place rocks. As someone who previously went to a cheap barbershop once or twice a year and had never colored my hair, I decided to spoil myself with a nice haircut and balayage. I was nervous about the color, but there was no need to be as I was in great hands. Vai gave me the best haircut of my life and a beautiful balayage that looks natural! It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. I feel like a million bucks with my awesome new hair!

Just got my hair done by Cassie today and I was so blown away by how awesome it looks! I have struggled to find the perfect blonde FOREVER (not streaky, not brassy, etc) and she seriously nailed it my first time in the salon. It’s expensive but you get what you pay for. I’ll 100% be back again.

This review is for Scott… the hair mathematician! Seriously, he approaches haircutting like a geometry problem, with fantastic results. I have weird wavy hair. .flat on top, poof on the sides. Think cocker spaniel ears. I’m also a new mom and have ZERO time to style. I needed something that would be easy, fun, and stylish enough for work. Scott delivered. This is the closest to wash and wear cute hair ever. I barely do anything and it has that «messy on purpose, but with style «feel. Cut is a little pricey… and well worth every penny.

I should have written this sooner, but I had the most amazing wedding hair done by Vain in April earlier this year! Vai was really great, she perfected a glamorous finger wave for my ’20’s wedding, without the long set up time. Scott created additional beautiful waves on my bridesmaids who have difficult textured hair. In addition, everyone was really friendly and they opened the shop early for us so we could be on time for pictures. I would definitely recommend them, these peeps know what they’re doing!

Sorry, Vain, but I really hate you in retrospect. I liked my haircut (in 2008) well enough, but I hate your snotty attitude. Every single person who works here thinks they’re better than me. Maybe it’s because they’re charging OUTRAGEOUS prices for haircuts done by people with very little experience? I guess I’d be smug too if I made that much money for such little effort.
I went back to Vain awhile back and got a few cuts by Scott when I was trying to figure out a new hair stylist. He’s about as aloof as they come. That could be awesome – I’m an introvert, I don’t like making small talk – but he just doesn’t seem to really care what you want, he’s just going to do whatever he wants. It just never felt like he wanted to be cutting my hair and he rushed through my last cut, which really frustrated me since it was like $ 75 plus tip. I don’t know if he gives this attitude to everyone, but if I’m not cool enough for you, then I’m super happy to take my money somewhere else. Which I did, right on over to Windy’s Barber Shop. I suggest you all do the same.

I have really difficult curly hair and got my hair cut by Heike. It is amazing. She gave me the hair cut I wanted. Also worked with me on the process of getting bangs. Great experience.

I loved the haircuts I got at Vain Ballard. I stopped going because they never pick up the phone and I don’t need to fight that hard for a haircut.

Heike!!! I LOVE YOU! Heike is an amazing stylist. She’s super easy to work with and knows what it means when I «Just want maintenance» she never cuts more than she needs to, and always gives me what I want. I get so many compliments on my hair for a couple weeks after I get it done. This time she gave me the nerve to put in some pop color and I LOVE IT! I had three people on the same day say they thought I was a new girl at work, and I’ve worked there for over a year now. Great place to get yo herr done, by a great gal.

Tiffany is my girl! It can be a little tricky to get an appointment, in my opinion but I have absolutely loved my hair cuts with Tiffany. I often don’t have a strong opinion about my hair (it’s long, brown and fine) and she’s always helpful in doing what’s best for my hair! I also love the necklaces and accessories they sell in the shop, and I’ve never been pushed to buy a product, although I always love what they use.

I’ve had long, straight hair for the past 12 or so years, and over the last several months, I noticed that, thanks to a medication that I had taken, it had grown very thin, and the texture had changed. Not so happy with my once-​healthy locks, I decided that a change was in order.
I booked an appointment with Kaili at Vain in Ballard, and although I was a little nervous with my plan for the Big Chop, she put me right at ease with her pleasant demeanor and smile. During the consultation, she looked at the pictures I’d brought as an example of what I was hoping for and she asked if i had a straightener at home. Why? Because what I wanted (short, straight, shoulder-​length sassy) could only because achieved if I used one. Why? «You have pretty curly hair.» I did?
Yes. As soon as she cut off the 10″ (Locks of Love, expect a package in a few days), surprise! Curls!
Kaili did a great job with not only the cut, but also gave me great tips on products and techniques that would work with my thinner-​than-​usual-​and-​now-​curly-​hair, and also guided me on the best ways to dry and style my hair, depending on if i wanted it naturally curly that day, or if I wanted it straight and sleek. I *really* appreciated all of that information because the most extensive «styling» I’d done over the last ten years was to fix it all back in a ponytail at the crown of my head and call it «good». I now have the tools and instructions to make my way back into the World of Actual Hairstyles.
She was all-​around fabulous and I’m so happy with my new ‘do. Vain’s website currently lists her as a «rising star apprentice stylist», and in my book, she is already a star and she made sure to leave me feeling like I was shining, too.

I am in the process of growing my hair out and needed a little trim.
My hair is extremely thick /​frizzy /​curly /​wild and I do not have time for stylish cuts. I was very specific with Scott that I do not like layers around my face and preferred only slight layers in the back to add dimension. Because my hair is thicker at the crown on the back of my head, the hair is heavier and lays flat, hence the slight layers BACK THERE.
After he repeated what I asked for and assessed my texture and style, we went over my work and the fact that I need to have my hair up in specific fashions every single day. He tricked me into thinking he understood, then turned my chair to towards the window, and started cutting layers at the front of my face. I stopped him to double check that he understood what I had asked for and he assured me he did. I felt like a jerk for questioning his technique.
He cut approx 6 inches off the top forward portion of my hair that frames my face. I am now rocking a chopped, fluffy mullet without a single layer in the back.
The damage was done. Normally I would burst out into tears, but I held it together and expressed my disappointment. He had done exactly the opposite of what I asked for. He apologized and said he could now cut it the way I wanted, you know to ‘fix it’… I declined. I’m trying to grow my hair out. The ‘trim’ I wanted looked as though it would require cutting all my hair off to the length it was two years ago to correct.
I tried my very best not to cry because he had styled it so fabulously. Imagine a Farrah Fawcett cut, very ‘feathered’ and hot wanded back. Even though it wasn’t what I asked for, it may have been a nice cut… I told him I would go home and play with to see what I thought. I know my hair and I knew deep down it would require all the styling tools /​time to look good… But maybe I was wrong… Hopefully I was wrong.
It is three months later… I can finally pull it back out of my eyes into ONE ponytail without having to divide it into TWO hair ties just to get it out of my face. For my texture (thick /​frizzy /​curly), it is one of the worst haircuts I have seen in a really long time.
I have visited other stylists to see IF there is a miracle cut that might save what I have left of the length so it doesn’t look like I have been growing out ‘heavy bangs’… Three different salons said the layers are so heavy and choppy that I have to sacrifice the back part of my mullet to fix it.
I would not recommend Scott, nor the salon. Scott clearly has become too comfortable there and is likely cutting people’s hair however he feels rather than how they asked. I also feel that he does not have a concept of different styling techniques and the ‘hair cut and effect’ for various textures.
As for the salon itself, the policy was disappointing when I watched all the stylists scamper into the back room with him as soon as my appointment finished. The receptionist gladly accepted cash for the service and sent me on my way as she walked into the back room to join the rest of them… Bummer, total bummer.

I’ve just recovered from cancer. Having about 1 ½″ of hair, that is coming in curly, when I am used to long, straight hair… I wasn’t sure WHAT to do with it! I went to Vain and saw Vai. She is amazing! She cut my hair, gave me tips on how it will be growing in, what product to us (without pushing a product on me to purchase, she gave me a sample to use to be sure I like it first) and how to handle it now that it’s coming in so different than I am used to. She made me so comfortable and chatted with me like an old friend. This made the chemo/​hair fallout/​hair coming back in all crazy, something I can tolerate. Cancer I can handle, bad hair… I can’t! ha! ;)
I will definitely come back to see Vai for my cuts as my hair comes back in. She’s wonderful!

VAIN Ballard is the best! If you are not sure which stylist to pick, give them a call and describe your hair. They can recommend! Tiffany knows exactly how to cut, color, and care for my fine, curly hair. All of the staff here are top notch and friendly, and I always have a nice experience here. It’s nice to sit in the chair and people watch through the big windows. The only downside is parking in Ballard, but that is the price of city living.

I have had MANY a traumatic hair cut, to the point where I fly from Seattle to California to visit my old hair dresser. After a long 1 year search, I finally found my people in Vain Ballard. Thank God for Lucie’s coloring work and Scott’s major talent with cuts. I completely trust them and can finally rest easy knowing I won’t leave looking like a pyramid head in a puddle of tears.
The shop is beautiful in an idyllic corner in Ballard, and (most importantly) you can walk in knowing you’re in good hands.

Oh my god, finally someone who can cut my big, poofy, curly, wavy, frizzy mop! I have forgotten how nice it is to get an great hair cut since I usually walk out feeling disappointed and confused at why I am giving someone lots of money to do the exact opposite of what I asked. Or use techniques that don’t work on curly /​wavy hair…
Also, they have a really top notch and streamlined selection of products. Very friendly reception.
Sorry — I don’t know how to spell your name. Tiffany? But thanks for the amazing cut. I’ll be back.

I started going to Vain in Belltown, but moved to Ballard when I left my job downtown and Kathleen abandoned us to go adventure. I ended up in Tiffany’s chair in Ballard and am SO glad I did. I am pretty low maintenance (and minimal opinion) on my hair, so I appreciate her ability to make suggestions or just clean it up when we find something that works.
I adore her so much that I’ve even gotten my mom to start going to Tiffany — and I think my mom enjoys her work more than I do!
(Plus, a complementary four-​week touch-​up trim? Such a bonus!)

I had a good experience with the salon itself: the people I interacted with were friendly and welcoming, and the woman who helped me book my appointment over the phone was terrific and accommodating.
The stylist I saw, Scott, seemed to want to do his own thing (i.e., not engage with me), so we had a small chat at the beginning about what I was looking for and then I let him get to business. When the cut was done, it wasn’t anything like I’d thought we’d discussed. I’m normally not one to make a fuss, but I did say a small something since it was so completely off the mark. Rather than empathizing and perhaps offering to shape it into something more my style (either right then or in a few weeks), Scott chose to snidely mock the photos I showed him of what I’d had in mind. I appreciate that he was probably frustrated by my disappointment; that could have been avoided, though, by him checking in with me maybe once or twice.
Scott is surely talented and knows his stuff, but that does no good if he isn’t willing to listen to what a person is asking for. When he was so standoffish upon first meeting me and during our initial consult, my instinct was to leave right then. I didn’t see a way out that wasn’t horrendously rude, so I stayed and tried to make the best of it. My hair grew back, but I spent a few weeks stuck with a style that wasn’t me at all. This experience was absolutely not worth the asking price of $ 75 + tip.

Let’s say I’m a bit of a hair snob. I have been to fabulous places and can also do my own cut and color pretty darn well. After my regular guy vanished, I’ve been doing my own hair for a year. However, it’s time for me to find a new place. I recently had a consultation for color with Vai in Ballard. She took a ½ hour to listen to me, look at pics and come up with a plan. I have vibrant red hair, which is not my bosses favorite, so to avoid flack I’m changing it to a more subdued sultry brown/​purple. I made an appointment for next week and although I’m a bit nervous, I am excited to see what Vai can do. She made me feel so comfortable and I feel like she really «gets» what I’m going for. Her profile is mostly for short cuts, which is not my style, but her confidence and ahhhh-​mazing color consult have convinced me she’s the gal for the job.
Update to come!!!

Well, Alexis got so good that she went ahead and opened up her own salon — kudos to her. But also, kudos to Vain! Because unlike most salons that won’t tell you where your hairstylist has gone or even that she left, Vain called to let me know Alexis had opened her own place, told me the name of the place and how to find it, while also, of course, hoping that I’d consider giving a different stylist at Vain a try.
I haven’t yet decided where I’ll end up, but this is the definition of a class act. Thank you, Vain!

I have been growing my hair out again and couldn’t take it anymore, I wanted to chop it off again! It’s just what I do. The guy I used to go to was way out on the Bothell Everett Highway, way to far as I live in Ballard! He was good but he was in Italy for a month, I couldn’t wait.
A friend of mine suggested Vain, so I did some research and looked at the stylist’s bio’s as I needed someone who was comfortable with chopping my hair and understood the style I wanted. That’s where I found Vai! Love her! Granted, my appointment took about 4 hours but we had a lot to do! I had a consultation with her first to go over style, cut and color; she got it!
She was very meticulous and took her time. I got a veggie dye and I love the color! I will definitely be returning to Vai, she’s great!
BTW, my pic is me holding my long hair!