The Best Beauty Services in Seattle
Before you spend another moment plucking, painting or primping, read up on our favorite salons for this season’s essential beauty treatments
By Andrew Hoge and Chelsea Lin April 12, 2019
This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the April 2019 issue, as part of the Local Beauty Secrets cover story. Click here to subscribe.
For the coolest hair color
Bang
Multiple locations
While most beauty trends that take off in the Pacific Northwest play up the natural look, the hottest trend in hair color right now is decidedly unnatural. Pastel and vibrant hair coloring (from $86) makes up some 40 percent of Bang’s services now, according to owner Casey Nickole, who employs a roster of talented stylists who specialize in rainbow-hued locks. (They work wonders with balayage, too.) This punk-chic look isn’t for everyone, or for every hair type; schedule a consultation to set appropriate expectations.
For the fullest brows
Eyebrowbaby
Ballard, 5308 Ballard Ave. NW, Suite C; 206.307.4568
A lifetime of plucking, tweezing and waxing can leave your brows thin and patchy—not exactly the thick, full, perfectly arched brow preferred today. To remedy the problem, head to this petite Ballard spot that specializes in microblading (from $595), a technique in which individual lines are tattooed to fill in your brows, matching the look of real hairs. It’s a pricey procedure, but the results can be dramatic (and look great even without makeup).
EYE CATCHING: Get the sculpted, full eyebrow look with a microblading procedure from Eyebrowbaby. Photo courtesy of Eyebrowbaby
For the longest-lasting lashes
Tin & Lash
Fremont, 4333 Fremont Ave. N; 206.408.2113
Does anyone use those little eyelash curlers anymore? There’s no need with eyelash extensions, particularly with the custom application you get at this modern Fremont salon. These lashes have no resemblance to those bulky false lashes you probably haven’t worn since your wedding. The extensions (from $225, or $179/month for membership with unlimited refills) are applied to individual lashes to create a natural look that lasts a few weeks before touch-ups are needed.
For the sleekest blowouts
Drybar
Bellevue, 800 Bellevue Way NE, Suite 150; 425.230.5543
There aren’t many easy ways to feel like a celebrity—most of us don’t have access to a personal trainer, chef or chauffeur. But the key to that perfect celebrity hair is a good blowout, something you can have in less than an hour at the Bellevue location of this national chain (from $49). A menu of styles offers everything from “messy” beach waves to sexy straight hair, along with the requisite up-dos.
NAILING IT: Urban Nail Box specializes in modern designs
For the most stylish nails
Urban Nail Box
Ballard, 1417 NW 54th St., Suite 300; 206.866.4642
Nail art is in, but not in a kitschy, juvenile way. The contemporary, geometric gel designs (from $40) you can find at this diminutive Ballard studio (set to expand to a larger Ballard shop this spring) strike the perfect balance of playful and artistic. Nail services include a hydrating hand and/or foot massage and an optional warm paraffin wrap; add on long-lasting gel nail designs (painted by hand), in your choice of colors.
A Cut Above
Finding the right hair stylist is like finding the right life partner—only there’s no Tinder to help you make a match. We consulted the experts on what you should look for, in both stylist and style, to make your lovely locks shine
Curly hair
“Just because a stylist has curly hair does not mean they know how to cut it. I would ask a lot of questions about dry cutting [and] product use.” – Renée Lavigne, owner of Olive Beauty Lounge (Phinney Ridge, 701 NW 70th St.; 206.257.0070)
Thick hair
“Thick hair needs to be ‘thinned,’ which is a really scary word for some guests. We like to call it ‘lightened up.’ It can still be long without layers, but have bulk removed.” – Inez Gray, owner of Habitude (Ballard and Fremont)
Ultra-straight hair
“When cutting straight hair, blending is everything. It’s very easy to see mistakes on straight hair. Look for a stylist that does Asian hair well. If they can do that, you’re good to go.” – Miguel Vigil, owner of Foxycut Salon (Central District, 808 Rainier Ave. S; 206.381.3699)
Fine hair
“Fine hair is usually the hair type [with which stylists] make the most mistakes. The more hair left on [the client’s] head, the better. Blunt cuts are a great option for people with fine hair. Cutting with a very targeted razor technique works amazing as well.” – Stan Parente, owner of Stan Parente Salons (multiple locations)
Follow Us
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Shop local and give her something she’ll love.
Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10, and the right gift really depends on the mom. Maybe she wants flowers. Maybe she wants lunch by the water. Maybe she wants something useful, pretty, or delicious. Whatever the day looks like, a little thought goes a long way. It can also be a complicated…
Here’s Your Earth Month To-Do List
Local cleanups, trail work, and ways to get outside this April.
In the Pacific Northwest, a region deeply connected to water, forests, and ecosystems, the climate conversation has never been theoretical. It shows up as shrinking snowpack, severe flooding, and warming streams. If the planet’s future—and that of our own backyard—can feel overwhelming, this year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” puts the action back…
A Clear Vision for Growth
Local optometry clinic Eye Eye celebrates a decade in business and prepares to debut its first line of frames.
In Leschi Park, overlooking Lake Washington, towers one of Seattle’s many historic trees, a giant sequoia planted sometime in the early 20th century. Just down the street on Lakeside Avenue is the second location of eye clinic and shop Eye Eye, where Dr. Will Pentecost seems to be borrowing some of the leafy specimen’s energy….
Floating with Friends
The benefits of sauna go beyond the physical, and Seattle’s newest wellness experience—which glides around the waters of Lake Union—equally taps into the non-tangible positives.
It only took a few minutes to settle in before I knew—these are my people. I met Emma Griffith, one of the founders of Wild Haus Floating Saunas, on a crisp, clear, late-summer morning to chat about the project she helped start last January. In simple terms, the team of eight created two saunas on…