I could have headlined this blog entry with any number of terrible double entendres. I could have said "Ballard is getting Vain" or "Ballard receives a Vain effort" and slept well tonight, because I would be speaking the literal truth. Vain has opened a new branch on Ballard Avenue, and there is an awful lot of vanity on display in Ballard's bars and restaurants these days. (You know who you are, sweetness.)

I went with "relax in Vain" but even now I'm questioning how well it works, because while the new Vain space -- a high-ceilinged, triangular room with exposed brick and hardwood floors -- is indeed relaxing, there are no vain efforts made here.

The original Vain, located in a graffiti-covered building in Belltown, has been your People's Picks choice for best hair salon for three years running. While not as large as its Belltown parent, Vain Ballard strives for the same high standard. Every one of its stations is comfortable and bathed in natural light. The salon carries a large selection of hair-care products -- including PureOlogy, Bed Head, Sebastian, d:Fi, Davines and more -- as well as a fair assortment of accessories and merchandise, from stylish hats to letterpress greeting cards. You'll want to browse through these goods after your cut or color, and maybe grab a tea from Miro next door while you're doing it.

The stylists of Vain are expert at making hair look awesome, and Ballard is fortunate to have their talents so close at hand. The patrons of the aforementioned bars and restaurants are about to get a fresh infusion of confidence.

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