I went to Vain just because of all the great reviews on Yelp, and I was not disappointed. I wanted one of the more popular stylists, but trying to schedule a Saturday on the Friday before was not a good idea. In the end I had Penny and she was great! Very helpful, listened to my concerns, was a bit quiet but hey... I got a great hair cut! read more

I've been going to Penny Gonzales for nearly 5 years now, and I wouldn't let anyone else touch my hair. She has seen me through two different shades of red, and no one can do red like Penny. I have it touched up every four weeks, and it hardly fades between visits which is so rare for red. My hair is really fine and frizzy, but she somehow manages to tame it. I have sent several of my friends to Penny, and have never heard anything but rave reviews. We're all addicted. In fact, my best friend who lives in Florida periodically flies back to Austin for her haircuts. read more

Jacqueline at Vain is amazing. My skin was in need of some major TLC. Very dry with some areas of breakouts. I booked the 90 minute facial and let me tell you, every minute was amazing. First of all, Jacqueline is a sweetheart and made me feel right at home. She was very relaxing and very gentle. She used amazing products and recommended a few that will help my dry skin. My skin feels better already and I've only been to see her once. I booked my second appointment before I even left the salon. I can't wait to see how my skin improves (and my stress level) after regular monthly visits. Definitely recommend her to family and friends. read more

Loved Buffy. Saw her for color and will be going back for cut soon.

I just wanted to say that I had one of the best experiences at your salon yesterday. I recently moved from Corpus Christi and I've been needing a haircut for sometime but I've been postponing it since I've had some horrible experiences with my hair in the past. I went into the salon feeling so nervous and scared, however, Crystal made me feel right at home. She listen to me, eased my fears and was so patient with me; mind you I have extremely long thick Mexican hair. Words cannot express the way I felt when I saw myself in the mirror, I was just so happy that I couldn't help but hug Crystal. Thanks you Vain Salon for hiring some amazing, talented staff :-) read more

I highly recommend Jessie. I have short hair and it's really hard to find a stylist in Austin who can give you that super cute, soft feminine Jean Seberg/Michelle Williams pixie cut but Jessie did! Really impressed. I paid more than twice this much for the same haircut at Bumble and Bumble in NYC. read more

Teddy Baker is my girl! I've been going to her, and only her, for nearly 5 years and leave with a gorgeous haircut every time! My hair is long, super fine / thin and she hooks me up with a cut that makes it look like i have a ton of hair! I absolutely love her - she knows exactly how to cut / style my type of hair. Fine-haired girls, Teddy's got you covered. read more

I adore this place! Crystal does my hair & she is great with blonde! Always walk out feeling & looking amazing! No orange or "Westside blonde" for me thanks to Crystal! read more

I've been going to Sara for about 2 years now and she always does an incredible job with my hair. I've been to several different salons and stylists over the years who didn't seem to quite understand my thick, curly hair which unfortunately resulted in some pretty bad haircuts. From my first visit with Sara at Vain, she knew what to do and gave me some great suggestions that really worked! From now on, I will not trust anyone else but Sara with my hair. read more

I have been getting my haircut with Victoria at Vain for almost 5 years now and she is absolutely fabulous. She is great with mens hair and also cuts my wife's hair and she does a tremendous job for the both of us. Vain has a very welcoming atmosphere and everyone there is very friendly and cordial. They also carry some really good hair product which was recommended to me by Victoria and it works great with the hair texture that I have. Awesome place! read more

Crystal Renteria ROCKS out some great cuts and some super fabulous color! It took me 4 years, several bad cuts, a horrible bleach job (and I'm hispanic-it was awful) and an oath that I would never let a woman cut my hair again before I found Crystal. I gave her this long-winded speech (which wasn't very nice) but when she was done - she delivered the exact cut I had asked for. I've been going to her ever since and now I take both of my kids to her and they love her. She's amazing! read more

Jacqueline is amazing. I moved to NYC a year ago and when I came back to Austin for a visit I got off the airplane and went to straight to Vain. Her expert brow shaping tops even the super pricey places in Manhattan. She is a perfectionist and irreplaceable. read more

I'm new to Austin, and therefore looked to yelp to find a hair salon. I am so incredibly happy I listened to all the positive reviews on here, because this place is awesome. I highly recommend Victoria; she's got a great vision for what will look good on you, and you can tell she's very passionate about her job. She's also super down to Earth and easy to talk to. I left feeling like I had just caught up with an old friend after she did my hair. I already can't wait to go back! Do your hair a favor and go to this salon! read more

Kate Cates is the best! She's been doing my hair for years, and always makes sure my cut and color are perfect!!! Not only does my hair look great, but it's gotten healthier since I started going to her! The products she uses are also wonderful. I love having my hair done at Vain by Kate! read more

I've been getting my hair cut by Victoria for about two years and I would highly recommend a cut and color from her. I'm an anxious person when it comes to getting my hair cut and Victoria has been seriously great! I'd avoided finding a new hairdresser for 2 years, instead I'd time my haircuts to when I'd travel back to Chicago, but I finally needed someone local and was lucky enough to find Victoria. When trying something new, she made sure to have a long discussion with me at the start of the appointment to make sure she really understood what I wanted. Along the way, she'd stop and see if I wanted to go shorter or stay where we were, so that I was always comfortable with what she was doing. She always makes sure I walk out with exactly the haircut I wanted and feeling great about my hair! She's helped me step out of the box with my hair as well. Victoria has done a great job taking my dark brown hair and lifting it to a platinum blonde while keeping it healthy and really giving me the icy blonde I wanted. I get compliments on it all the time! She always makes sure my haircut is a style that I can handle (I'm admittedly very lazy with my hair) and gives great tips on how to style it and keep it healthy. Plus, she's really fun to talk to during your appointment! Vain itself is a really nice salon, the decor in the little house is really cute and everyone who works at the front desk is really welcoming. Additionally, it's really easy to call in and change appointments and the online appointment system is easy to use. read more

I checked Yelp the second I hit Austin from San Fran as I am a huge Yelp fan in SF. I was in desperate need of a cut and Vain was rated one of the highest on Yelp. I gave it a shot and made an apt with Joey. (I told the girl on the phone I had a bob that needed a trim and whoever she thought was best, I was cool with.) I made an apt with Joey and got in the next day. It was the middle of the day so that probably made it easier. Joey rocks! She is super cool and has been cutting/styling hair for a long time. She said she loved working on bobs and trimmed mine up and styled it great! Everyone who hasn't seen me in a while has complimented my new do and I like it so I'm happy! I will be back for my trim in a couple of months! read more

As a recent transplant from LA and a skeptic that nothing or no salon can be as good as some place from LA or NY ( Which i resided in both) I was severally wrong!! I highly recommend going to Vain if you want an amazing haircut and color. The house is cheeky, bright and the women in there are excellent. Right off the back I was offered "would you like a glass of red or white?" which won big points for me! But seriously- this was the first time in a whole year that I have had some place in Austin cut my hair and I wish I would of gone there sooner. I had my hair done by the goddess Joey (also the salon owner) She was super! Her motto is all about listening to the client and sort of listening to your hair as well. I have super thick and curly hair and she worked wonders. I didn't even feel bad when I left with my bill being higher than expected because in the end it was worth every cent. This group of women make you feel comfortable, they are friendly and again amazingly talented. They now have a client for life and will spread the word to anybody who will listen. If your looking for an new style and a new attitude definitely go to Vain! I love it. read more

Teddy is the best! I got extremely lucky finding her when she worked down on South Congress and even luckier when she moved to Vain on the east side. I have very light and fine hair and it seemed impossible to find someone that could give me a cut that didn't make me look like a ken doll head or a corporate raider from the 80's. I have bounced around Austin and probably tried 6-7 different places before I found Teddy. The thing that I really like about her is that she has a great memory and is able to keep track of the changes we make from cut to cut. Plus, she has a great sense of style and what looks good on each customer so she's able to make recommendations that I trust every time. My wife is the ultimate judge and she says Teddy is a keeper. read more

Penny Prunty is an amazing. I've been her client for eight years and she has transformed my hair from pretty much any cut and color imaginable. She is truly gifted to be able to work such wonders with my massive mane! Her knowledge of style and products make her perfect for trendy cuts as well as traditional ones and I have sent more than a few happy referrals her way. She is professional, prompt and pleasant. From a bang trim to a consultation, she takes the time to create a style that is above the expectations of her clients while making them feel welcome and comfortable. I am so thankful to have found the perfect stylist! read more

I had a great haircut with Crystal! She was recommended to me by a friend, who said Crystal was great at chopping off long hair and turning into awesome pixie cuts, and she didn't disappoint! She seemed a bit wary of cutting my hair at first (I'd be cutting about 10in), but once I told her I'd had a pixie cut before, she was totally on board, and did a fantastic job. Crystal was easy to chat with, and she gave me good advice based on the pictures I brought in for reference. She knew which ideas were realistic for my hair, and even suggested some changes that I hadn't thought of, which made my haircut look better in the end! The salon itself was very nice and clean, and has a cozy, unique style. And I got to have a beer while I was waiting for my hair to dry in the heat drying machine! Always a plus! The haircut was a little bit on the expensive side, but I was prepared for that, since I was getting a 'transformation' haircut. I was totally prepared to drop a lot of money, since I was chopping a lot of hair, and good pixie cuts aren't easy. read more

Just received an AMAZING hair cut and balayage hi-light from Ashley V. I tend to be weary and skeptical when it comes to hair cuts and colorists but Ashley definitely has a true passion and talent. Highly recommend and definitely going back! read more

Booked an appointment with Rebecca and was soooooo pleased with my lighter, brighter hair! Salon has a great, relaxed vibe and uses quality products! Need your brows done, too? A facial? Vain has you covered! Sabrina will make you look like you but more fabulous! read more

Firstly, I'm a guy. Secondly, I have limp and thin hair with odd cowlicks and lumps on my head. All of these things have led me to walking out of a haircut with a 1950's nice guy haircut whether I was leaving a barber shop or the edgiest salon in town. It's just hard to cut. THEN I found out about Joey & Vain through a female friend and have never looked back. Joey has NEVER given me a haircut that I wasn't stoked with... importantly, the people around me are constantly complimenting my haircut. Most importantly, Joey has listened to what I want, evolved it with her insights and talent, and always has a kind word and a story that reminded her of me. I go to see Joey before I leave for a trip because I don't want anyone other than her cutting it. What else can I say? read more

I regularly go to Penny Boone, and actually followed her to Vain from another salon. She listens to what I want, but has a great eye and understanding of my hair texture and will always offer an honest suggestion if she thinks I'm a little off center. I've always been happy with the cut and color she does. read more

After many a year of DIY haircuts and the occasional desperate supercuts run, I decided to drop a little extra cash and go to a professional salon based on recommendations of friends. So I scheduled an appointment with Kate Cates at Vain and gave it a go. I have confused, curly, goofy hair, that although might seem fine in the middle of a wet supercut, ends up looking like an animal died on top of my head 30 minutes later. So anyways back to the review. Vain has a really chill atmosphere, knowledgeable stylists, and great service. So here I come, Kate studies my hair for a second... hrmmmm.. 15 minutes later my hair is looking real good, she trimmed off the excess almost in a mind reading fashion, thinned my thicker roughs to keep my awkward poofs from flying out, and gave me some great recommendations for products (currently using Kevin Murphy's Easy Rider) to keep my hair chill. All in all, worth the 30 bucks. I'd recommend any dudes apprehensive of going to a salon to go check it out. read more

Sara is my stylist at Vain and she is amazing with curly hair! I have very fine, dry, curly hair that can easily frizz. Imagine Hermione Granger at 40 years old and that was me - my hair was out of control! The first time I visited the salon, she did something that no other stylist has ever done and that was to cut my hair, put me under a dryer and then shape it some more after it was dry. She's been cutting and highlighting my hair for over a year now and takes considerable time and effort to make sure that it looks great each and every time. read more

Crystal Renteria at Vain Salon is a genius! I know finding the right hair stylist can be a struggle and can sometimes cause a sense of anxiety for some people. For years I searched Austin for a stylist who could handle naturally curly hair and also create playful and fun hairstyles. Randomly, I found Crystal eight years ago when she worked at a salon on South Congress and have faithfully turned to her for all my hair styling needs/desires ever since. Over these last eight years I have recommended Crystal to at least a dozen people, each of whom have different tastes/needs in hair styling. I recommend Crystal to ANYONE bogged down in a search for a stylist or anyone who is simply in need/want of a change. Here's why Crystal is terrific: 1. Crystal LISTENS to what her clients want and she delivers! 2. Crystal is an artist (by this I do not mean that she is a diva or a free-spirit); she creates a style with your needs in mind that works with your lifestyle while highlighting your best facial features. 3. Crystal has experience with naturally curly hair! (Not that this means in any way that she lacks expertise with naturally straight hair at all--she's versatile). 4. Crystal is not afraid to do bold styles or colors if her client is adventurous. 5. Crystal has experience in general and has been actively involved in styling for the last decade here in Austin. I have never been disappointed in any haircut or color I've received from Crystal and I absolutely, without an ounce of hesitation, recommend her to you! read more

After nearly 10 years of flushing my hard earned money down the toilet on mediocre hair do's and don'ts, the hair gods have led me Teddy Baker at Vain. A few weeks back she gave me a REAL hair cut. One that was corrective and complimentary to my texture, style, taste and face. Teddy cut my thick/fine bag lady hippy hair into a light, flowing, lady with natural lovely locks babe-like do. So, DO yourself a favor and make time to go see Teddy Baker. She knows what she's doing. read more

This is the first review I've written. Ever. And I'm almost 40. My stylist, Crystal, deserves this. In addition to being a lovely and down to earth gal, Crystal is by far the MOST TALENTED stylist I've ever met. I was a successful working actress for 8 years in New York, then 5 years in LA. I worked with great stylists, and went to some of the best known salons. Crystal tops them all. When I moved to Austin, a good friend recommended Crystal who she had gone to for years. When I first met her I had very little (curly and fine) hair due to an illness. She worked with what I had, and made me look so good I cried. I have been going to her now for a year and a half. I am DELIGHTED every time I leave the salon. Thankfully my hair is back, and I continually look awesome thanks to Crystal. read more

A Yelper recommended Joey who owns the salon. I took the advice and have been a happy Vain patron for 4 years. Joey listens to her clients and makes great recommendations. Vain is continuously refreshed and keeps fantastic products in stock. All types come in, which makes for that great, eclectic Austin experience missing from other spots. I'm looking forward to another year of looking fabulous, thanks to Joey! read more

Love Kate at Vain Salon. Just got my hair cut by Kate for the first time and looove it! She is super talented at what she does and is a very sweet, friendly girl. Loved getting to spend and hour of my day with her and would recommend anyone to go see her. It is well worth the price. I came from a small town where I was used to only paying 15 dollars for a hair cut from some super cuts type place. Once you get your hair cut here you will never go back. It is well worth the money. read more

For anyone looking for a fun, trendy and very talented hair stylist, check out Victoria at Vain. I've been going to see her for over a year now, and have always been happy with her work. I even followed her from another salon to Vain (a first for me) - she's that good. She's slowly encouraged me to try new things with my hair without being pushy and while still listening to my ideas. She taught me about hair color in a way that made it understandable and way less scary. I went from medium length (naturally) blonde hair to a beautiful, long dark brown layered look, and I'm completely in love with it. Victoria definitely knows her stuff when it comes to hair, but she also understands people, which I think are equally important. She's also fun to talk to, which is a plus. Bottom line, Victoria is great. I wouldn't want anyone else to do my hair. As for Vain as a salon, I've had a good experience so far. The staff is friendly and helpful. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. If you're willing to invest some $, you'll be happy with the results. read more

I have been going to Joey for years and she is the best! She is talented at blending color and I always love my cut. She is very detail oriented and listens to what you want. The salon is funky and has an inviting atmosphere. I highly recommend Vain Salon and Joey to anyone! read more

I got a haircut and a balayage from Victoria Ebli at Vain, and it was by far the best experience I've ever had for a cut and color--and I'm crazy picky about my hair. My sister has been getting her hair done by Victoria for the past couple years and followed her to Vain and suggested that when I go back to Austin (I live in China and refuse to get my hair cut here because of language barriers) I book an appointment with her to fix my unruly head of hair. Victoria listened to my concerns and my regular hair routine, and made sure I was okay with everything she was doing along the way. She gave me hair tips for surviving in a climate of 90-95% humidity, and made sure my hair was a good balance between thick and thin so as not to puff up the second I step off the plane. She is also insanely easy to talk to and overall just a really cool and chill person, so sitting in her chair is absolutely delightful and time just flies. And Vain itself is a really nice salon with a relaxing atmosphere and great people. I've been back in China for two weeks now and my haircut and color both look and feel peeerfect! I've never been as happy with a hair appointment as I am now--looking forward to my next cut and color with Victoria in a year! read more

I used to go see Ashley V at a different salon and was so glad to have found her again at Vain! I was finally getting my hair cut the shortest it's been in years and Ashely did such a great job. She always did magical layer things when my hair was much longer, and now the short little layered bob I got is equally fantastic. It's easy to schedule online, and the front desk is super nice and helpful as well. It's really a great space. Ashley also does awesome things with color, can't wait to get some highlights done! read more

Victoria at Vain Salon worked some magic on my hair! I have naturally thick, dark brown hair and wanted to change it up by going a bit lighter. My worst fear, being of Mexican decent and having dark skin, is wondering: 1) if I can even go that light, 2) keeping it healthy, AND 3) not wanting it to turn orange. I also wanted to not do an ombre cuz that is a bit dated and didn't want highlights, so Victoria did a Balayage coloring. She hit the nail on the head with where she painted the color and the actual color of the end product - a nice brown to light blonde fade. Victoria was really easy to work with and it came out just as I envisioned. She also gave me helpful tips to keep my mane healthy and I feel comfortable reaching out if I have any questions. Vain Salon has a lot of character and isn't "too hip", if you know what I mean. It's just hip enough ;) I can't stand a pretentious vibe; everyone there is very nice and accommodating. It's also not outlandishly expensive, it's not cheap by any means, but you get what you pay for. I have a great color and cut and will recommend to all my lady friends looking for a fun, trusting place to go. Ask for Victoria and tell her I said HI! read more

Just came from the salon. Near tears from complete disappointment. I have been coming here for around 3 years..and seeing Penny only for my hair dyes. I came in a month ago with photos of a ombre style hair and we both decided we would need more time scheduled to tackle it with such dark hair. I came in today with enough time (or so I thought) scheduled and showed her another picture of a more stark ombre look. I asked if a more "harsh" look was possible. (more blonde!) She said yes, but that would possibly need more visits. But she assured me I would look great and my hair would be ready for a photoshoot later this evening. We got started and I was at the salon from 3pm to 6:15pm... I kept my eyes closed for most of the process out of excitement. When she was done straightening my hair she asked if i liked it and I honestly told her, no. It looked unfinished. She immediately took offense. I told her I understood it was a process but I didn't understand why my hair looked so ..unfinished. She asked for me to explain and I told her the color looked brassy, not brown. I looked disheveled. The look didn't seem like I had just come from a salon. It looked as though I had been avoiding a salon, for several several months! I couldn't do a photoshoot with this hair. No. Way. I thought being honest with her, she would be able to assure me that we would get the look I wanted in a later appointment, that the brassy brown would fade. Or something. Instead... she argued with me! "Do you think I would let you leave here with bad hair?" The conversation became very tense as she was very upset and she at one point threw her hands in the air and huffed out of the room. After that, she told me that the owner could help me with payment at the front and stood in stone cold silence waiting for me to leave. I paid in silence. The owner said nothing to me except what I owed. She was aware I was dissatisfied. If she didn't know, she would have seen it on my face...and my horrible hair! I'm sure she assumed that I didn't know she was the owner. I left feeling totally abused. read more

I have been seeing Sabrina, the aesthetician, for quite some time now and she always does amazing work on my skin. The products she uses are vegan and all natural and absolutely delicious! But this is more a review for a specific technique that we've been doing lately called microcurrent. I've never heard of it before so she answered the 10 million questions I had about it. Basically it's an alternative to Botox or Juvéderm or any weird invasive filler used to get rid of wrinkles. I have some deep set lines in my face that I am not quite ready to roll with yet so it sounded like a fantastic alternative. Seriously guys, the lines all over my face softened after just one service. I was a little skeptical that it would happen so quickly but good Lord was I wrong. She might be a magician. My goal is to look like a toddler by the time she's done with me, haha. Seriously though, Sabrina is great with everything that involves skin but I had to rave about this microcurrent stuff for anyone else like me who wants to soften up the wrinkles but doesn't want to be a science project and have weird chemicals injected into their face. read more

I've been going to Vain pretty much since it opened. I used to always see Crystal Renteria-Herrera who is consistently moody and RARELY on time. I've had several negative experiences with the scheduling of appointments, and overall attitude of the staff. The latest was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. After screwing up another appointment, the receptionist coupled her incompetence with enough attitude to make me look for another salon. Vain, in attempt to be the chic, east Austin salon it wants to be, misses it's goal by lumping too much attitude with too little service. This may play better in LA or Dallas, but in Austin it translates as "wanna be" shallowness. The haircuts aren't good enough for the attitude, and I would suggest going somewhere else. In the end, Vain is a dime a dozen hair salon that doesn't appreciate its customers. read more

i wouldnt set my mane into any other salon! I think lovely thoughts when i drive by this adorable little house on the east side. the place was built with love for both the art of styling and the joy on the faces of freshly coiffed customers when the apron is removed. A little bounce in my step occurs walking to my car because i know I look fantastic. Buffy is an amazing colorist,and i've always been squeezed in for an appointment when necessary. Each stylist has perfected his or her craft, and I've always beens steered in the proper direction when i'm clueless, which is most of the time. The stylists seem to have a special communication with one another, and its obvious that everyone who works here wants to be here...This place was recently opened by two stylists who recruited their most talented friends and colleagues to a place they could all really shine and call home. This is a great place to listen to Austin gossip, especially the music and fashion scenes, both of which Vain is dedicated in supporting. (Local bands and DJs play their parties, and fashion shows are in the works i hear.) You'll probably see the guy in the chair next to you on stage at Emo's later.In fact you may see your stylist there too. Be sure to buy her a Lone Star. read more