Look hot for PAX! Seattle Hairsalons for the Ladies! (and gents!)

nianiania · May 2011

So I know this'll seem out of place, but for me, getting my hair done well is a big deal. Especially for my favorite week / weekend of the year. With all the partie before and after pax, I wanna look my best, and I've already booked my stylist for two appointments during pax-week (wed, and sat).

Soooo, I thought, why don't the seattle locals share our favorite hair salons and stylists, so that out of towners can have a heads up.

Here's mine: VAIN - vain.com - Awesome punk rock salon in downtown on 1st ave. My stylist Sam is out of town on her honeymoon during PAX, or I'd reccomend her. I'm seeing someone named Corrine during pax instead (I've heard she's good with curly hair.), but I can't vouch for her from personal experience, yet. Services offered are cuts, styling, color, and I think makeup too, check the site.

GUYS! Post your favorite places for fashionable male grooming too! (Or you can post where your girlfriends get their hair done

)

- The list, sorted by distance from the Washington State Convention Center -

Seven - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Seven - !!!WALKING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 0.2 miles - Walk time 5 minutes
Capelli's - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Capelli's - !!!WALKING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 0.3 miles - Walk time 5 minutes
Emerson Salon - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Emerson Salon - !!!WALKING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 0.6 miles - Walk time 15 minutes
VAIN - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to VAIN - !!!WALKING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 0.7 miles - Walk time 13 minutes
SOUL the salon - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to SOUL the salon - !!!WALKING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 0.9 miles - Walk time 17 minutes
Scream - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Scream - !!!TRANSIT (BUS) DISTANCE!!! - Distance 1.3 miles - Transit (bus) time 14 minutes
Salon Zaffa - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Salon Zaffa - !!!TRANSIT (BUS) DISTANCE!!! - Distance 3.3 miles - Transit (bus) time 28 minutes
Helle - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Helle - !!!DRIVING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 5.1 miles - Drive time 9 minutes (20 minutes in traffic)
Westside Barbershop - WEBSITE - Google Map from PAX to Westside Barbershop - !!!DRIVING DISTANCE!!! - Distance 6.5 miles - Drive time 14 minutes (26 minutes in traffic)

GeekyPrincess · May 2011

I see Chivahn at Helle in Georgetown, I've been seeing her for a few years and she's awesome! Very good with color (natural and unnatural kind) and has tamed my overly thick and moody hair.

neuroslice · May 2011

Last time I was up there I got a pretty awesome haircut at Westside Barber Shop in West Seattle. Kind of a punk rock barber shop. Got basically a salon cut for fifteen bucks.

Clix · May 2011

I'll be happy just if people shower, nevermind getting their hair styled.

Wormdundee · May 2011

Imsorad wrote: »

I'll be happy just if people shower, nevermind getting their hair styled.

I'll be happy if people stop bringing up this 'shower' thing. I have never met anyone at PAX who smelled, and if you have met someone like that, posting in a thread on the forum probably isn't going to help. I just feel like it's sort of insulting to the PAX population.

Moe Fwacky · May 2011

Imsorad wrote: »

I'll be happy just if people shower, nevermind getting their hair styled.

That joke wasn't funny ever. It's still not funny now.

Djiem · May 2011

Imsorad wrote: »

I'll be happy just if people shower, nevermind getting their hair styled.

This is not more of a problem at PAX than any other gathering, I found.

neuroslice · May 2011

Lets not derail the thread, please.

Sarahstrasza · May 2011

Would be nice to find a salon that doesn't suck with haircoloring. While I know, unnatural colors do not last long, I've yet to find someone equivalent to my mom when it comes to even dying and good blending. Sadly... she's allergic to everything known to man and has super bad artheritis in her hands (Apparently.. that happens with age? Pffffffft) I am assumin this place has awesome hair color aside from the norm?

Risia · May 2011

I see Nikki at Scream Barbershop in Capitol Hill (though I've been slacking and haven't seen her in months).

Sarah- Nikki is a color specialist and works wonders with unnatural colors. The shop uses Special Effects dye, which can last quite a while depending on your haircare routine. Might be worth checking out.

MetaverseNomad · May 2011

There's also the Seven Salon in Pacific Place, that's about 2 minutes away from the convention center. It's pretty expensive, but awesome.

Beware, their website isn't the greatest

Sarahstrasza · May 2011

The hardest part is finding a salon with all of the colors I need. Most of them generally have like two or three.. and I dont know of any that will let me bring in unopened dyes. (even if its a brand they use) Meh!

GeekyPrincess · May 2011

Sarahstrasza wrote: »

Would be nice to find a salon that doesn't suck with haircoloring. While I know, unnatural colors do not last long, I've yet to find someone equivalent to my mom when it comes to even dying and good blending. Sadly... she's allergic to everything known to man and has super bad artheritis in her hands (Apparently.. that happens with age? Pffffffft) I am assumin this place has awesome hair color aside from the norm?

My hair is currently brown and hot pink, I figure anyone who has more color in their hair than a rainbown unicorn is pretty good with the whole color thing. I've had reds, purples, hot pink, and blues. I look like I'm murdering the kool-aid man when I wash my hair for the first few weeks, but the colors last and are still vibrant, even a month or two later.

Gameshark · May 2011

This thread has me far too excited than it should be. I was planning on prettying myself up a few weeks before PAX Prime so my hair had enough time to settle, but I am tempted to try out one of these places on either Wednesday or Thursday.
I try to keep it low key with just a quick trim and then some highlights. Last time however, my hairdresser put waaaaay too many highlights in... I was rather blonde at PAX East. I dig what I've got right now though, there's still blonde in my hair but it meshes well with my brown roots.

nianiania · May 2011

Wow, pleasantly surprised that people took a genuine interest in this topic.

Thanks for all the great feedback and suggestions everyone!!! I've made a list in the first post of everyone's salon suggestions, with directions and such. I hope this helps anyone from out of town out. (or even the locals, like me)

SIDENOTE:
I'm going to go beta test my replacement hairstylist soon, just to know if I should use her for PAX or not. I'll report my experience with her in a few weeks. (I have an irrational fear of going to anyone who isn't my regular stylist. ANYONE.)

Enigmas · May 2011

I see Jade at Scream on Capitol Hill and she is a genius for both cut and colors. I had my hair dyed in January two colors that have faded to about 5 different still awesome colors. And I'm going back in a few weeks to get another effect added.
I'm with Risia in loving the Special Effects dyes.

inkedcats · May 2011

http://emersonsalon.com/

Emerson Salon is decent (by my experience anyway), affordable, and straight up Pike.

Hypatia · May 2011

I went to Seven for highlights and a haircut because PAX was a month before my wedding and they did an amazing job. The thing that impressed me the most both times I've been to Seven (the first time I was grabbed off the street and it was free because it was a trainee) was that when they cut my hair they've cut it in such a way that it still looks good 6 months later.

I'm terrible about getting haircuts so if I can go in and spend more money on a haircut and then not have to worry about it again for at least 6-8 months, that's way worth it for me!

Hemisphere · May 2011

I can suggest Emily from Vain as well. She does amazing work with curly hair... although I think she's at the Ballard location on the weekends.

I'm thinking of trying out the 'blow dry bar' at American Cutting Company on Saturday morning prior to the convention. I originally tried booking with Swink but they're booked up with a wedding party.

Melcene · May 2011

I don't 'get my hair done.'

However, I thought I would chime in here, at least for the guys. I know a fair amount of guys that go to Capelli's in the City Centre building for their barber needs.

nianiania · June 2011

Thanks inkedcats and Melcene, added Emerson Salon and Capelli's to the main post!

Sarahstrasza · June 2011

My hair is currently brown and hot pink, I figure anyone who has more color in their hair than a rainbown unicorn is pretty good with the whole color thing. I've had reds, purples, hot pink, and blues. I look like I'm murdering the kool-aid man when I wash my hair for the first few weeks, but the colors last and are still vibrant, even a month or two later.

HAH.. That's funny because I'm lookin to get at least one thick chunk of every color thrown into my hair. Well.. substitute the red for pink because, I dont do much red.

I'm thinkin it might be worth it more though to get a wig, that way it wont fade super fast. I think I am around water and shower too much, to keep it fresh.

Liger · June 2011

I go to an awesome little place in Wallingford/Fremont called SALON ZAFFA. My stylist is a former Enforcer and she's a miracle worker. I had neon pink bangs until my brother's wedding approached. I wanted to keep the bangs, my mom didn't want me to 'ruin' the family photos. Such is life! Not only did my fab stylist completely remove the fresh, superbright color, she faded the bleach into my natural blonde so it looked completely intentional. She also does amazing cuts. Zaffa's also a preferred hair place for at least one of the news anchors in the city.

They're right by Gas Works park and there are 3 nice cafes within walking distance, if you feel like a latte and a sit before/after.

irikah · June 2011

Soul the Salon!

It's the only salon in Seattle that has stylists that have been able to work on my hair (super curly/african american hair) without defaulting to 'let's straighten it'. They work with other hair-types too, but it's nice if you like to wear you're hair natural and need a trim.

edit: they're probably a 15 minute walk from the convention centre, or a 5 minute bus ride down fifth.

nianiania · June 2011

Liger and irikah's suggestions added to the list!

...22 days after they suggested them... *slaps self*

thegh0sts · June 2011

i don't need a style: i just need a couple of snips to keep my hair in order

Melcene · July 2011

irikah wrote:

Soul the Salon!

It's the only salon in Seattle that has stylists that have been able to work on my hair (super curly/african american hair) without defaulting to 'let's straighten it'. They work with other hair-types too, but it's nice if you like to wear you're hair natural and need a trim.

edit: they're probably a 15 minute walk from the convention centre, or a 5 minute bus ride down fifth.

Good to know! I have really curly hair that Gene Juarez has totally effed up on two separate occasions over 15 years apart. Hence why I don't get my hair done - But I'll check this place out!

neuroslice · July 2011

Me and three other forumers are getting our hairdid at Vain on Friday. Wewt!

padmeamanda · July 2011

I got some great haircuts at Sense Salon on the bottom floor of the Convention Center where PAX is. However they were closed for remodeling when I called two weeks ago. There's a Gene Juarez within walking distance; they are pretty consistent if you just want a haircut that isn't too unusual.

Cuddly Aardvark · July 2011

Made my appointment with Sarah B at Vain on Wednesday the 24th. Gonna be a long day, I'm getting my dreadlocks started again. I'll be there for about 5 or 6 hours. It's going to be awesome.

Has anyone here had any experience with her? Vain is a Knotty Boy affiliate, so I would assume she's pretty good. They don't just back anybody.

bluberry faerie · August 2011

Thank you so much to those of you who have visited us here @ VAIN and/or told your friends to come in!

You are all more than welcome to come in for a visit, get your picture taken @ our photobooth, your PAX hair do's , makeup, Wigs, DIY haircolor supplies, and accessories all year round!

Check our blog for special deals and further info! ($15 HC's whaaaaat!!?!?!!?)

XOXOXO

Penny Arcade

Quick Links

Look hot for PAX! Seattle Hairsalons for the Ladies! (and gents!)

Posts