I've been getting my hair cut and colored by Carly at Vain for several years. She's always done a phenomenal job with my hair (straight, chin length). Her prices have crept up -- at one point, I got several cuts elsewhere (Rudy's, Spins), because I could hardly bear the thought of spending over $40 for a cut. I noticed a huge difference in the quality of the cuts I got elsewhere, and soon was back at Vain. For what it's worth, Carly's cuts grow out so well that I can typically go up to 8 weeks between haircuts.
Color has been hit-or-miss, not so much because of the product or Carly's skills as it is because of miscommunication, I think. I usually have really good luck if I bring in photos showing the color I'd like.
The "scene" at Vain can be off-putting, if you're not a 20-something hipster, but I've seen all ages/types of people getting their hair cut there, and Carly and the people at the receptionist desk have been polite to me.
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