Top Knot Tutorial

Happy Saturday! Today I decided to attempt a top knot! I posted a picture on Instagram and was asked how I got my hair to look like this. I decided that it was a good time for a tutorial. I have pretty thick hair and it's a little longer than shoulder length. I used a sock to achieve the volume in the bun that I wanted. 

First step is to put your hair in a ponytail on the top of your head. 

Stand it straight up.

Take a sock and cut the toe part off and roll it up so it looks like a donut. Slip this onto your ponytail but leave it close to the ponytail tip.  

Part the ponytail in half and tuck the tips under the sock. (You can see my thumb tucking one half under the sock above). 

You can see that both halves are tucked under (there are still some stray pieces which will tuck under as you roll it to your head). 

Use your thumbs and fingers like I am above and start rolling. 

Tuck as you roll so that the bun tightens. 

Eventually the hair will start to look neat. At this point you need to spread the hair around the sock so that no white is visible. With the next roll I'll be sure to push the hair forward to cover the front of the sock. You want to concentrate on covering the back of the sock first so that way you can adjust the front as needed. It's hard adjusting the back of your hair without two mirrors. 

And there you have it! You've successfully made a top knot! 

I've seen many different ways to put in a sock bun but this is the easiest way to me. 

Let me know what you think! 

Ciao for now! 

Jaclyn 

Ipsy Review: January Glambag

I have been subscribing to ipsy to close to a year. Originally, my roommate, Mica told me about the service because I love trying new make-up products. This subscription service sends you a Glambag every month full of four or five goodies for $10 a month. Before ipsy, I would spend more on that on random things at the drugstore. Ipsy sends me quality brands and I've yet to have a Glambag that I felt I hadn't gotten my money's worth. Bonus: ipsy always comes in a cute metallic pink mailer which always puts a smile on my face when I check the mailbox.

This is what the metallic mailer looks like. Cute, right? 

This was January's Glambag. Each month it has some sort of new creative design. 

The other side of the bag is white. I'm originally a Florida girl so I was a sucker for the colors this month. 

The first item in the bag was a liquid eyeliner. I usually stick to pencil but liquid gives a heavier effect which is more dramatic (and messy). I'll probably use this eyeliner on Valentine's Day. 

I LOVE it when ipsy sends brushes. This one is for all over eyeliner and I will definitely put it to good use. Plus, it's pink. Love. (I apologize for my short unpainted nails but I just haven't had a chance to paint them since I peeled my gel polish off. Bad, I know.) 

Honey face mask! What a treat! I used it earlier today and it worked well. I was definitely one of those kids growing up who would popular Elmer's glue all over my hands just to peel it off. It left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. 

Next up is a mojito lip balm. It smells great and was fine on my lips. You can never have enough lip balm in the colder months so no complaints here. 

I've gotten this eye shadow twice now in my ipsy bag and I am obsessed with it. Last time that I got this shadow, it lasted a very long time. I am thrilled that I got it again! (It's a blush/champagne color in case you can't tell)

Want to try ipsy? Sign up here!!!

Ciao for now! 

Jaclyn 

Never Again

I, Jaclyn, hereby solemnly swear to not get white gel nail polish again until next summer. 

My mother is in charge of infection control for a local medical practice. She cannot have gel nail polish because it absorbs germs / bacteria / icky things. Therefore, I knew that gel polish wasn't very... ahem... clean. After getting white gel polish, I have visually experienced the dirt and grim that the polish absorbs. 

For the first few days, I LOVED the polish. 

It was classic. 

It was chic. 

It was stark white. 

Then... it turned icky. My bronzer turned the tips of my nails orange. I looked like I had a messy halloween / creamsicle manicure. Very unforgiving. I would only recommend getting white for a particular event and then getting them redone within the week. 

As for my nails, I will stick to pinks, purples, and reds in the future. 

Like most painful yet beautiful experiences in life, I will probably only abstain from white temporarily. 

I just wish that someone had warned me. 

So here I am, warning you.

Ciao for Now! 

Jac