one of the most unexpected things about my life lately is this gig i picked up as a babble writer. a lot of people have asked me how i got this job, and really it was a fluke of luck.
a few weeks ago my editor approached me about doing a series for family style on beauty treatments and DIYs, sort of a "you try it out, then tell us how it goes" sort of thing. i drafted up a list of beauty treatments to pitch, and they approved them all. with a budget! and then i died.
the very first thing on my pitch list for this series was DIY hair extensions. i lost a lot of hair after huck was born, and i've been dreaming ever since of what having a normal head of hair might do for my self esteem.
first, we had to go buy a bag of human hair in midtown. um, that was fun.
and then last night my friend kristen came over with her husband shane, and we watched the olympics and ate chocolate cake and, uh, made us some hair extensions. it was basically the weirdest art project ever.
and now i'm just all babely with my normal amounts of hair. i'll try not to let it get to my head. ;) i documented the process and included step by step instructions in case you'd like to try it too. it's surprisingly inexpensive. HERE.
I was just thinking how, would it look if I ever mentioned bikini waxes on the blog. Lol can't wait to read the rest of the series.
ReplyDeletelooking forward to bikini waxes.....eeek!
ReplyDeletei mean, CAN you do that at home????
This is awesome!! I have always wanted to try hair extensions too! I cannot wait to read how it wen and congrats on your new gig!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited for pore extractions - my favorite pastime =) Love all your work, Nat!
ReplyDeletethis is SO fun! you lucky lucky girl!!
ReplyDeletexo
I love this! congrats on the new gig, and your extensions look great!
ReplyDeletewww.highheelstsoneakers.com
wow, you are brave! i'd love to see anything related to nails... nail polish, gel polish, polish remover, designs, etc. a comparison of the best brands?! maybe that's boring, but it's all i can think of right now!
ReplyDeleteThat picture with the hair strung out like pennant banners is too funny. I don't know much about extensions so to see it like that was a bit of a surprise. And hey, you are having FUN and getting paid! Everyone is jealous, promise!
ReplyDeletethat jex is a hair whiz and you look like a new person. this experiment shall be quite fun. also, i love how enthusiastic brandon seems about it all.
ReplyDeleteI just passed by the skeeviest hair store the other day. Jackpot. You're a fox, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Congrats on all the good things coming your way. Im excited to read about the chalk hair dye!!
ReplyDeletexx, alisia e
i have been thinking about hair extensions for ages and can never decide, so i can't wait to read all your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI think it is FANTASTIC that you have made writing/blogging/I don't know what other umbrella it could come under, but loads/etc work for you. Like, really fantastic. Nowadays work is sometimes about pulling together lots of semi-strands and making a whole, and you are doing this AND making family life work for you, and that is so great and really encourages me that it can be done (one day I can do it? I'm leaving that question mark there for now). Long live multi-tasking. Oh, and beauty treats in various guises (yes, it sounds MEGA fun, please enjoy!)
ReplyDeleteSo FUN!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSO fab. Love them, and love that you diy'd them!! Such a fun project. And I totally agree with you on the pretty, girly thing. I think more girls value it and enjoy it than we even say. It's not a bad thing either. It's lovely, I think, to try to do the best with who we are; how we look, how we think, how we act, how we love, how we play, how we work etc. To the pursuit of self improvement I say! And to hair extensions too! :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun! As a growing blogger I've been interested in how you get your gigs so thank you for sharing =)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! This sounds fun but I'm also really lazy about beauty stuff, so I'm excited you're doing the work and I get to read about what's good. :) If you have the time (not sure how long this series will last- I mean for waiting in between waxes), budget, and desire for 2 bikini waxes, I'd be interested in a comparison between traditional and sugar waxing!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I tried a bikini wax right before my wedding, and lemme just say--I will never be doing that again! (Word to the wise: make sure you pop like, 800 mg of Ibuprofen before going in). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOooh, very fun series! Looking forward to future posts.
ReplyDeleteHair chalking is awesome. It's my favorite thing in the world because I am that mom that still thinks I should have pink hair.
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome! And what an entertaining process... now I'm super bummed that I didn't get to visit the seedy shops in midtown before I left NYC.
ReplyDeleteI love that you admit you were sheepish to post this. I feel the same way when I buy new clothes... I have to remind myself over and over- I deserve this! (especially since I sometimes don't go shopping for months on end). I guess it's about balance. We need to have more about us then our looks. Though the looks part is especially addicting.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on this new gig! I can't wait to read about your experiments.
ReplyDeleteI am with you! I have had hair extensions (the kind that my stylist glues in every 6 weeks) for the past 7 months and I LOVE THEM! But everytime someone comments on my hair, I scream "It's fake!" and then I feel wierd. I wonder why I can't just accept the compliment and move on... *sigh* Now they know it is fake and that I am spending $$$ on something that is relatively vain. All of that aside, fake hair makes me feel very pretty!
ReplyDeleteduuuuude, this sounds like so much FUN. if you need a guinea pig, let me know. and seriously, those extensions look hawt!
ReplyDeleteOmg. You kill me. Hair extensions! Maybe I should have just done that instead of speniding 9 months growing mine out. Lol.
ReplyDeletedude, this is awesome. I am super jealous!
ReplyDeletethe extensions look fabulous.
and re: washing the hair with the beer- if you are interested in diy beauty recipe stuff, you need to check pinterest out (I know you're already on there :) I just mean for beauty recipe specific stuff) I have a bunch saved up on one of my boards if you are interested. my username is katdevargas & I can't link b/c my pinterest is taking a poop or something right now. there's also a girl that I follow b/c she pins a lot of good diy beauty recipes, but again with the poop. I'll link later
also, brazilian waxes really aren't all that painful. I mean, childbirth. you can handle it.
but *wear panties* after you have it done the first time. you swell up & it can be uncomfortable if you don't. the compression helps
I can't wait to read about the rest of your experiments! The extensions look great!
ReplyDeleteso random but hilarious! can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI love/am so jealous that you get to do all these fun beauty things. I cannot wait for the next one!
ReplyDeletei always wondered how you came upon these different writing gigs..so cool! i'm excited to read all your beauty endeavors! lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteCute and I have always wanted to try but then I just feel sad for the women in poorer countries that had to cut their hair for financial reasons :(
ReplyDeleteyou are too much and the hair is a bit creepy but in a hilarious way can't wait to hear about the rest of your experiments!
ReplyDeletehey this is an awesome opportunity for you! i loved when you wrote all about your fake eyelashes so i am excited to read all of these articles! especially the bikini wax one .. i prefer honeybee wax with no papers!
ReplyDeleteYou are living every girls dream right now! I can't wait to see everything especially the pore extractions.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome and guess what ... The beer-washing-hair really works! Just make sure to pick a malty one (I used Guiness) ... Makes your hair so unbelievable soft and full!
ReplyDeleteI'm really into washing my face with baking soda. It's so much cheaper than name-brand face wash and I'm convinced it's really helping combat DC humidity!
ReplyDeleteBaking soda/apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo and conditioner. People swear by it. Plus, how inexpensive!!! I haven't tried it, but I want to!
ReplyDeleteI freaking love this hahaha you look so excited in every picture!! have so much fun, I am excited to read about your crazy adventures with this!
ReplyDeletewow! what a process. that's commitment! but you look great and i love that you can just clip them in and instantly look put together! congrats on the new gig...looking forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteMy aunt totally used to do the whole beer hair washing thing in the 70's. Have fun. I think if I could do whatever beauty thing I wanted with someone else footing the bill; although I don't think I'd want to foot the embarrassment...I'd go for... find a pro eyebrow waxer (this from the girl who doesn't even pluck) my eyebrows are flat; and I daren't shape them for fear that they might disappear. Or I might try... laser hair removal. Yes, please. Maybe even a professional bikini wax. AWKWARD. But maybe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your beauty assignment opportunity, how amazing. Slightly unnerved by the hair extensions...they look fab but isn't it a bit weird? Does it feel weird?? But you've inspired me to paint my fingernails tonight...they badly need it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun assignment! Crazy, but fun :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks so pretty and natural!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to hear you talk about your Babble gig too. I'm a "work from home" freelance mommy, and I've always wondered how you landed your job at Babble! Sounds a lot more fun than some of my writing assignments! :)
washing your hair with beer? that should be interesting. good luck with all of these. i'm super pumped! you go anne - with an e - shirley!
ReplyDeletexo TJ
i've always heard about washing your hair with beer and i wonder if it really works. let us know how your hair feels and how it SMELLS. it has to smell like stinky beer, right?
ReplyDeletewww.wewouldlovetoadopt.blogspot.com
The extensions look LOVELY! Just read through pretty much your entire blog in one sitting...HA looks like I'm newly hooked! :)
ReplyDeleteChrissy
www.palatineave.blogspot.com
you're awesome. good gravy you are awesome.
ReplyDeleteTry Latisse. I'm dying to know if that works. And maybe some DIY hair dye that truly covers gray.
ReplyDeleteHi, new follower here!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like awesome FUN! Not sure if I could intertwine a stranger's hair with mine though... ew... And you shouldn't feel sheepish for talking about wanting to feel pretty, I think deep down 99% of women feel the same. You did a great job too, the end result looks hot (probably helps that you had a hairdresser friend on hand)
OMG Natalie! Can't wait to read everything. I am dying to try some beauty diys, and what better way to try some from your recommendations!
ReplyDeleteLet me suggest sugaring over waxing or that maybe you compare sugaring to waxing when it comes to having a Brazilian done.
ReplyDeleteYour hair looks luscious! Great questions at the end there, and I would love to hear your thoughts on some answers one day. I often ask myself the same things - fashion, beauty, blogging; it's such a love/hate relationship... :)
ReplyDeleteLife etc
Your pretty hair! I had to wonder what you were up to when you posted that picture of your bag of virgin hair. Ha.
ReplyDeleteYou are so goll dern lucky to have a big budget for beauty things! Trying not to be too jealous over here... :)
AWE SNAP!!
ReplyDeletePORE EXTRACTIONS?? I CANNOT WAIT!! But seriously... I can't wait. Sounds like fun :)
Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeletewww.magshop.us
So fun! I'm incredibly jealous you get to do such a fun thing as work! You're lucky you have friends experienced in such things to help you out as well, your extensions look great!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a post on creams and such for fine lines on the face, especially if there are DIY treatments since the products in stores are so expensive!
I'd also love to know if gel manis and pedis can be easily done at home if you buy the right supplies.
That is fun! Getting paid to try out beauty products/treatments, sign me up!!!
ReplyDeleteHow about testing out quick products cause I have about 10 mins total to get ready in the morning before I have to give over attention to my toddler.
YES! I had eyelash extensions a couple of weeks back - they're out of this world! And the time one can save by not having to put mascara on - oh! Amazing! Be careful - you might get hooked ;)
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing lash extensions for a few months now. BEST. THING. EVER.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be great. My son is 15 months old and alot of my hair fall out also , I cut my short it was long .. I try to do my hair better .. But it never comes out the way I like. :O(
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun! I do my own bikini waxes, so it is possible. I used the paper/clothless wax and it's really not that painful, but I'm excited to hear your take on what works best! Have fun and enjoy the awesomeness of getting paid to do what we all wish we could do. ;)
ReplyDeletebahaha- I just realized my previous comment about doing my own bikini waxes was under my husbands account. no worries- he does NOT do his own bikini waxes. (he goes to european wax center) ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo- micalah
Boooo. This is exactly why AWESOME blogs get boring. Too many "work-related" posts and ideas. I miss the old posts from Idaho.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this. I can't wait to hear your feedback about this DIY beauty stuff
ReplyDeleteI love that you're blogging more and more places! And let's be real, this rocks. They even look good!
ReplyDeleteWow! Just finished reading the step-by-step on babble. What a process! And some of those comments... Yikes! I'm sorry people feel the need to be so nasty. In any case, I think this sounds like a blast, and I'm a little jealous. Ok, a lot jealous. What girly-girl writer wouldn't want to get paid to do all kinds of fun beauty-related things and get paid for them??? And in New York, no less! AND you have a family too!!! Seriously, I want your life. Have a blast! These opportunities came to you, and I'm sure you worked hard for them. Why not enjoy the ride? Besides, you are an incredibly talented and entertaining writer! So you *should* get paid to write!
ReplyDeleteAnyway... looking forward to the rest of the series... especially the bikini wax and pore extractions!!!
Laena :)
laenalivingdream.blogspot.com
what a terrific gig to add to your repertoire. ya, we're pretty much jealous of you. well, i am, and i don't mind admitting it.
ReplyDeletethat said: oh my gosh, my daughter has the same apron your friend is wearing in the 'extensions-making' shots! funny to see it on someone else.
i don't think i could stand having clip on extensions in my hair but if someone needed them - what a lifesaver.
i was gonna say 'do eyelash extensions' but then i saw it's on the list. i had them done and wow. Just, wow. I loved them. But I didn't love having to have the extensions 'filled', or the in between and letting-them-go phase. as much as i love the look (and it's great!), i know it's going to have a negative effect on my real lashes and that's the last thing i need!
have fun and i'm excited to read all about it.
No questions or suggestions. Oh, who am I kidding? I need a make-over with a tractor!
ReplyDeletethe hair looks bomb! im super excited about this series!!! JOY!
ReplyDeleteI am not a daily reader, but I am really excited about this series! It sounds so interesting already! Way to forge ahead and through off outside perceptions of vanity. Truth is, no matter how effortless we want/try to be, sometimes it is just more fun to give a damn.
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I'd love to do some of those things, I'm anxious to see how they turn out!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this! And love even more that you essentially get paid to do it!
ReplyDeletei know most people are like "ahhh jealous of your hair!" but i am mostly jealous of huck's babysitter. what a fun job.
ReplyDeleteI have washed my hair with beer, it smells funny but gives it a nice shine. I think it's neat that you are doing this.
ReplyDeleteI love my lash extensions but for the love of all that is holy make sure you ask for hypo-allergenic glue WITHOUT formaldehyde. Oh man that was a painful lesson!! Once I asked for the hypo-allergenic glue I looked like Bambi and not like Rocky!!
ReplyDeleteHuman hair extensions add length and volume to your hair. They can be added partially or weaved fully into the hair. There are numerous ways to apply hair extensions; however, weaving hair extensions has become popular due extended wear and decreased damage to the real hair. http://www.wefthairweave.com/
ReplyDeleteGreat post.I love it.I have selected best post on hair extensions.Thanks for your post.
ReplyDelete