Music Craze!!

Florrie just became my new favourite artist :) Check out her song Give Me Your Love and download the song for free HERE.

Have a great day guys!
Debbie

Hair Find: The Perfect Bun

I'm not much of a hair person, but I have been noticing that the ballerina bun is becoming all the rage in hair fashion lately it's regal yet can be playful and sexy as well, but sometimes it can be a bit difficult trying to achieve the perfectly coiffed bun, but there's a solution! I came across a video by Sonia of SCCASTENEDA on Youtube and she demonstrated how she achieved her perfect bun.

These strange contraptions are pretty good at creating a bun and they run in various sizes so even if you have shorter hair this will help you out. You can shop around on Ebay to find this set and it's super cheap (USD $1.00). Here's Sonia's tutorial demonstrating how easy it is.

 So whatever your hair type you can definitely achieve the look, and get playful with it as well add braids, a scarf, headbands, whatever it may be just to jazz up the look!

 Hope this helps guys
Debbie

Clip In Extensions 101

Hey guys I decided to experiment a little with clip in extensions so I figured that I'd do a pictorial to show you how I made them

Here's what you'll need

1. Bundle/pack of hair. I'm doing a full head of clip ins is so I used two packs/bundles of hair. If you're trying to achieve more volume for your own hair you'll need only one pack.

2. Regular sewing needles (hair weaving needles will be too big)

3. Sewing thread

4. Hair glue

5. A pair of scissors

6. Wig clips

7. Blow dryer (not pictured)

Now to help me demonstrate, I introduce to you Sally my mannequin head (lol)

STEP 1: Starting at the back of your head, take the weft and measure the width of that part your head. To make it easier, you can part your hair and measure across the scalp to better determine the correct width. This is the way you should determine the width of all your tracks from this point up to the crown of your head as pictured.

Weft placement at the back of the head

Weft placement at the center of the head

Weft placement at the crown

STEP 2: Now notice I did not cut the weft after I measured the width of my head  because I am going to double my tracks, as you will see in the next picture. Now it's totally up to you if you would like to cut the weft at this point or if you would like to  make doubled or even tripled tracks. The length that I measured for this next track is 12 inches (which is about the middle of my head) so for a doubled track I actually just folded the weft over.

 STEP 3: I subsequently cut the weft and put it aside, then I measured out the tracks for the rest of my head until the pack/bundle of hair was finished.

STEP 4: After I determined the lengths of all the tracks and doubled them, I moved on to applying the glue to the weft. I laid the hair out on a flat surface and applied the glue to the entire weft, being careful not to get the glue in the hair itself. I use glue to bond the track because it helps to seal the weft and stop shedding of the hair.

STEP 5: Now starting with the two ends of the track slowly begin squeezing the weft together.

STEP 6: Take the blow dryer and proceed to dry the glue while continuing to squeeze the weft together to  ensure that it is well bonded. After you have done this, apply extra glue to the tips of the weft where  it had been cut. and then continue to blow dry the hair.

STEP 7: Now it's time to begin sewing the wig clips unto the weft. You will need about 2 - 3 wig clips per track depending on the length. Even if you're not so good at sewing this will be a cinch, in the pics below you'll see how to I sew the clips to the tracks.

 STEP 8: Voila you're done with everything! Now just leave out a little of your hair at the crown to cover the tracks and corn row the remaining hair on your head and randomly attach the extensions and you should be good. Two bundles of hair yielded about 7 doubled tracks for me.


I have yet to install mine but this is how they look on Shannon. Clip ins are a great way to experiment with different hair colours and hair styles.

Hope that helped, and if you have any additional questions I will gladly answer them.
Debbie

MAC Arrives in JA!!

FINALLY, FINALEMENT, FINALMENTE!!! Whatever language you speak, if you're an avid fan of MAC as I am you would probably share the same sentiments..... MAC! What took you so long to get here?!!

Well If you haven't already heard through the various media and social network sources, MAC has finally decided to open up its first official retail store here in Kingston, Jamaica at the Sovereign Centre Plaza come this December; it is a long overdue venture in my opinion, but it is welcomed nonetheless. During the press release held last week Thursday, Gisel Calvillo, senior MAC makeup artist, along with other regional MAC directors and managers made the huge announcement and also spoke about the brand at a private event held at the Spanish Court Hotel.

I am beyond elated to say the least, but I am even happier at the fact that no longer will Jamaican women have to settle for the MAC knock-offs that have been circulating in certain retail stores here, no longer will we have to ask (or beg rather) a friend or relative to send us that MAC foundation that we ran out of and can't find anywhere in Jamaica, and I can finally get a hold of those limited edition (LE) MAC collections that they release ever so often. But, with all things said and done it's great to see the new developments within our local beauty industry, especially with the recent launch of Carol's Daughter at Nettle & Moss. Our local makeup artists and enthusiasts alike can indulge in the benefits of one of the best make up brands out there (IMO) and all I wanna say is THANK YOU MAC!!! took you long enough!!!

Hope to be doing a haul once the MAC store officially opens :) ;)
Until then guys, ttyl
Debbie

My Trip To Portland (picture heavy)

Portland is one of Jamaica's hidden gems, it's a great tranquil getaway from all the hustle and bustle of  'town life'.  Here are some random photos we took throughout the trip featuring the Sommerset Falls, Tropical Lagoon Heights Resort , the Blue Lagoon , Likkle Portie and random scenes of Portland.

Have a great day guys! and look out for my hotel review post later on....
Debbie

Shannon's Birthday Highlights

I know this is SUPER late, but I still wanted to share my birthday celebration with our lovely followers and visitors to our blog. I celebrated my birthday by having a dinner party at my favourite restaurant in Kingston, East Japanese. After dinner my friends and family partied hard at Fiction night club. I had the time of my life!

Outfit

Dress: ASOS
Shoes: Steve Madden
Bag: H&M
Neckpiece: Cotton On

Bangles: Bershka

Cake: Conceptsbyj

Hope you are having a fab day,
Shannon xoxo

Let's Play Dress Up: Mix & Match Prints

Sometimes a girl just wants to have fun and play dress up just for the heck of it!! I've always liked the mixed prints style sported by the fashionable Solange Knowles whose know for her 'out of the box' fashion sense, so I figured I would rummage through my wardrobe to see what I could find and this is what I came up with.

Shoes: Shoe Dazzle

Top: Thrifted

Shorts: Forever 21

Necklace: Jamaican Vendor

Watch: Guess

Photographer: Sanai

Fashion is what you make it...Dare to be different! Enjoy guys!!

Debbie

OOTD: Sheer Print

This outfit exemplifies my personal style: sexy and sophisticated. There is just something about a pencil skirt and a button down shirt that oozes sophisticated sex appeal.

I am in love with this printed sheer top which I purchased from Tobi. It is so versatile as it can be dressed up or dressed down, and the print is also quite unique.

Top: Tobi.com
Skirt: H&M
Shoes: Steve Madden
Clutch: Guess
Neck Piece: Cotton On 

Photographer: Sanai 

What do you think of this outfit?

Shannon xoxo

PSA: Kingston Bridal Week 2012

The Kingston Bridal Week 2012 is currently under way as it actually started on the 8th of September, but not to worry, the week long event will be culminating this weekend with even more activities such as a fashion show and of course a wine a catering show hosted by the purveyors of great Jamaican dining, Kingston Kitchen. Take a look at the flyers below and be sure to check out the website here for more information.

Until next time friends!

Debbie

FNO Recap: Night at Nettle & Moss

Hi guys! As we all know the annual Fashion's Night Out (FNO) event was held on Thursday September 6, 2012 and if you're a shopaholic like myself, you would have been out trying to find the best deals and steals that many stores had to offer for the night, but for FNO Exotic You spent the entire night at Nettle & Moss, Why? because we were invited by the lovely Aisha Morgan, manager of the boutique, to partake in the fantastic Carol's Daughter launch event at the store, where not only were all Carol's Daughter products 10% off for the night, but patrons at the event had a chance to meet and interact with the wonderful and gorgeous power house behind the brand Miss Lisa Price.

Miss Lisa Price herself

The event was awesome and well organized, patrons were able to freely browse and ask questions on the wide variety of local and imported products and brands that are retailed at Nettle & Moss ,while sipping on Appleton cocktails and munching on yummy hors d'oeuvres; some of the other hair and skincare brands which were on sale included Naniki Naturals, Blended Beauty, Kumea's Hair Perspective, and Nubian Heritage. It was great to be around persons who spoke and  understood the 'hair lingo' such as co-washing, BC (Big Chop), transitioning, pre poo, and other hair related jargon and also get hair care advice from Lisa herself as well as hairstylist Vonessa from Vonessa's Salon & Spa.

The highlight of the night for me was actually having a chance to hear Miss Lisa Price share her story of how her brand, Carol's Daughter, progressed over the years. Lisa started the brand as a simple hobby of making home made skincare products, and under the suggestion of her mother Carol, she began selling these products at local church fairs where they instantly became a hit; the business then progressed to where she made and distributed her products from her tiny apartment in New York and for six years she continued her passion until it blossomed into the brand we know today. For me, this is a remarkable feat and a very humbling and inspiring story of how a woman has defied all odds and brought herself to the top through sheer will, determination and wisdom and it should serve as an inspiration to all female entrepreneurs as well.

Kudos and thanks to Aisha for finally bringing the Carol's Daughter line to Jamaica and congrats on being the only distributor/retailer of the brand within the Caribbean!

Now enough talking, here are a few pictures from the event

Our invite

Helping ourselves to the food

Shopaholics doing what they do best...SHOPPING!

The women behind the event

Lisa Price and Vonessa form Vonessa's Salon & Spa doing a live demo with Carol's Daughter products

Other brands sold at Nettle & Moss

A few of Carol's Daughter skincare products

My friend Krystle and I

Aisha Morgan, owner of Nettle & Moss, and myself

DJ on duty

Photo credit: SKKAN Media

Hope to had fun at this year's FNO!!
Until the next one....
Debbie