N2N Goes Russian !

Thanks to Facebook and Twitter there are few things about me that people don't know. What many people don't know though is what my real hair looks like. Since hairdressers don't like to sign my confidentiality agreement and because I just hate waiting, I have been doing my own hair for years. Probably another reason why you can't see my real hair. I don't miss styling my own hair. When it rains, curls go limp, it takes tons of care and product and after months of vitamin E capsules it only gets so long. And let me be truthful, I change direction like the wind one minute I want it long the next short, colour, no colour, streaks, no streaks so it's best I experiment with someone else's hair.

I was on the job at a wedding recently and caught a glimpse of one of the attendant's hair!!  I had to find out where she got it . Since the recent "Remy" craze I have been doing my research but not everyone with a bag of hair can sell me on this "Remy" thing. But this girl's hair looked great. I went online and followed the seller Platinum Hair, a local company  on Twitter and Facebook and entered their giveway . I mean just because I wanted to buy didn't mean I wouldn't take it free!  Weeks later I open my inbox and I have won their weekly draw!!!!!!
Platinum Hair

Now don't get carried away wondering about my amazing luck . The draw I won gave me two options. I could purchase a hair type of my choice at a substantially discounted $200 a pack  or I could put my name back into the final draw to see if I could win the hair out right. I opted to buy. Who knows if I would I have won the final draw. Okay stop staring at the screen wondering if you read correctly, Yes I said $200 a bundle. But the hair I was lucky enough to get was RUSSIAN. I choose to believe straight off the head of a Russian princess. On their Facebook page the lengths I won 22" and 24" can retail for $600. So I saved $1200 . Yup because I had to buy three packs.  I know you are saying no Renee you CHOSE to buy three packs. But to look my absolute best I need fullness. I know some ordinary person could get by with two bundles but I am far from ordinary !

Here are the shots of the hair I received.

 The tote I received

I received this weft sealer and prior to the installation I sealed the weft to prevent shedding.



The bundles had a freshly washed Dove conditioner smell. Which made me feel better as very often when suppliers buy human hair in bulk it comes fresh from the heads of others with a little more in it than tangles, if you get what I mean. Truly raw or virgin hair should be washed prior . Also as much as I love the smell of fresh hair in the morning that packaged smell is a dead giveaway of the same chemical processes and colouring you don't want in Virgin hair.

I know some of you are reading and wondering about all the terms virgin, remy, remi, unprocessed, wefts. Trust me I will cover them all in another blog . It is all too much to put in one post. Sufficed to say another quick tip is to burn your hair with a lighter and watch and smell. 100% human hair is pure  protein fiber that burns with a small flickering flame and will not continue to burn unless you hold the flame continuously to the strand. It burns briefly with an orange flame and then chars leaving a dark ash that turns to powder when crushed. The odor is of burning flesh or burning feathers. I burnt a few strands and it was just as I had researched ! 100% hair !

Anyone paying full price for this hair will probably treat it kindly. I believe however if I have to treat my hair better than a small child it shouldn't be on my head. I cut the weft (those of you that are hair people just got goosebumps, I know.) I sprayed it, steamed it, curled it, flat-ironed it, spritzed it, moussed it, went into the pool and didn't rinse the chlorine out, dove into the ocean and went to bed with wet hair. I tried it all . NOT A FLINCH.  I got up after lying on wet hair and ran my finger through it. I actually went a whole weekend without combing my hair. Which is typical on those weekends when I don't have weddings.

Have a look

Got wet in the rain and still tangle free

Wet Chlorine filled hair

I didn't even pin it up!

Rocking my virgin Russian from Platinum with Maren who got her virgin indian from her momma!

Pros

Tangle Free

Natural brown colour

Easily blends with your processed hair texture

Strong wefts that minimise shedding

Wonderful smell on arrival

Maintains a natural wave pattern which looks good even when it is not curled (or combed :-)

Cons

You get no work done! Any job that requires two hands will suffer as your hands are constantly playing with your hair.

Needs to be set well to maintain curls in a humid environment..

 I love this hair. I really love this hair. I have installed another type of hair that  I bought online. However since I have changed my hair from the Russian Wavy, I have been greeted with weird looks from coworkers when  I forget I am no longer a Russian princess and turn up at work  and my new  hair which is tangled and needs combing. It was a fabulous few weeks and the only reason I removed the hair was to try some others. It will be making an appearance on my head again soon. So feel fry to walk up to me and ask if you can touch it.

More hair blog posts coming soon!

30 and Fishing!

My gal pal "Maah-ren" has known me  since we were 12. We met again at Community College where we both studied Biology and continued studying together at the University of the West Indies.  We loved Biology but were not so big on long hours in the library so we always had a "system". Maren branched off into fisheries. On the other hand you couldn't get me into a fishing boat if you tried. Then Maren became a certified diver ..HA!!! You know who didn't join her. The only thing I dive into is a sale bin. However having completed her Masters in Environmental Resource Management Maren moved to St. Vincent and is a Fisheries Biologist based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and holds the post of Research Graduate in Research and Resource Assessment.

Being my best friend you would think she too would be a diva-fied hottie with false lashes, nails, weave, and heels. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the sight of my lash collection causes Maren to shake her head in awe.  I finally got to do her makeup in between travels. Who knew fish could get you from Tobago, to Iceland, to Puerto Rico and back. I hooked up with her in between conventions and meetings to sit for my 30 and.. series. Maren chose 30 and Fishing !!!! You can decide what she is fishing for when you see her shots. But looking as great as she does here,she certainly won't have to fish for compliments.

Maren named this look the Parrot fish. ( I know, right ? WHAT?") The parrot fish lives on the reef and the colours we ended up using, selected by Maren, reminded her of this gorgeous reef fish.

The Look
Foundation- Black Opal Beautiful Bronze and Truly Topaz
Blush- Nars Taj Mahal
Shadow- Inglot shadow- Peach and Orange shades
               Sugar pill- Poison Plum
               Milani Liquif'eye-Teal
               Mac Summer Stack 2 Summer 2011
Liner- Milani
Lashes-Unknown super huge lash
Lips- Mac Morange lip gloss

Maren Before

We shot this at Pebbles and Himal did a great job. Maren is radiant . Of course to get the shot we had to cross over some shaky boards and broken beams. Being the sane one of the bunch I let Maren's sister touch up her makeup while I supervised from a safe distance.

Himal getting the shot on shaky ground

I don't know about you but this sure looks threatening and dangerous to me.

I was thrilled to be able to shoot with my buddy and had a blast finally getting to glamify Maren.

The Summer Soiree

It's official, my name is Renée and I am addicted to planning parties. Not just parties but fabulous, epic events perfectly coordinated to suit my exquisite tastes but empty pockets.After my birthday soiree the genie was let out of the bottle. I am a planning machine. So I of course I started looking for any excuse to plan something. My plan backfired my sister decided to move to Scotland giving me not only something to plan but something to cry about. Thanks to much inspiration online and many trips to Woolworth and the "$2 and $3 Stores" I was able to plan a Summery Flowery going away party for my sister , Alexis.

Photo by SHAE LASHLEY

Here are a few of my Favourite parts of the set up .

I filled cups with sand and used an umbrella and card to make a little lounge chair tablecloth weight.

I embellished my regular drink umbrellas with tissue  

I used a foam ring to create an exotic wreath 

My steal of the party, lanterns from the $2 store.

This vase from WoolWorth was on sale for $1.95. I imported flowers from Michael's

The candy bar set up with streamer curtains

Cake cones. I baked cake right into the cone and these can be toped with ice-cream!! 

Iced cake cone from GRACIE'S BAKERY !

 Candy!!  Even the "pool noodles" "life-preservers"and "kick-boards" had an umbrella

I LOOOOVED THESE. BBQ grill cake pops from SINNFULLY SWEET CREATIONS were my absolute fav. She never disappoints!

Look at the detail

I printed these cool designs and made cones, filled them with candy popcorn. The guy at Trimart Haggat Hall had all the colours I needed.

I loved cutting wedges of melon and making them stand in the bucket with the skewers.

Cherry Pie pops . Oooey, gooey pie filling on a convenient stick!! This is great

Oh Island in the Sun.. my pal sherry created this fruit plate.... but the 30 year old kids ate candy not fruit!

Gorgeous colours and wonderful food. We made it all !! But Alexis decided we had to have vege kebabs. I would have just had the pig tails, veges not so much.

Looking cool is a breze with this fab find on Oriental Trading

I used my skill from the Joel Brooks Photoshop Class to create a cool banner for my Sun Bar

The Sun Bar was a big hit. Hats, bags, visors, ice cold face towels, beach towels, sunglasses, chapstick, lotion, insect repellant, fans, totebags all available for everyone to take with the more use at the party! Finally Adult loot bags!

Ooh I forgot , Slippers too!

We set up a special area for our Mixologist for the evening KEVIN CLARKE

Luau umbrellas and flamingo stirrers another deal from Wool Worth

I got this cool battery operated fan visor in the $2 store !! I made the Summer BBQ fans with Cardstock.

We hollowed out a melon and Alana made a special punch

How cute are these labels for the towels

Loved this shot from SHAE LASHLEY  one of he photographers for the evening.

I had these skewers from my Kadooment day breakfast Buffet for my makeup clients and use the remainder to make an interesting pineapple centre-piece.

Jello shots in brightly coloured cups from $2 store.$2 for 10 !!!

More $2 store finds

Beachgate was amazing and we had the place all to ourselves.A fabulous location and great managers. They were helpful and friendly and I WILL be back.

I used random fruit and flowers from the garden to make this vodka keeper. It keeps the alcohol cold and looks cool too!

I knew I didn't need a bartender I wanted a Mixologist who could create exciting drinks for my gal pals. Kevin did not disappoint. Sex on the Beach, Strawberry tini, Passionate Screw the possibilities were endless. We had it all and had a ball!

WE WANT DRINKS!

Party was so good Kevin stuck around for the fun.

The  party was great but i think I have more fun planning, plotting cutting and pasting than at the party. I get high and then I need a new project.  My name is Renee and I am a plan-aholic. Can't wait for the next one.

PHOTOS BY CHAKA WELCH, SHAE LASHLEY and random cell phones.