Showing posts with label Melissa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melissa. Show all posts

Aug 17, 2015

Melissa's Hair: Removing my braids and growing back my edges


Bye-Bye Braids!

I know, I know, I haven't posted a hair diary in WEEKS, probably months. Well, when you have braids for almost eight months, there's not much to report on. But when you decided to take those braids out, there's lots of discussion to be had. So let's get started. What's going on with Melissa's hair?


Jun 1, 2015

Melissa's Hair: Boxbraid touch-up, is it worth it?


As you know, I'm an avid wearer of boxbraids as a protective style. Currently, I'm growing out my hair after doing the whole, shaved-sides trend. While o loved my haircut, I was ready to return to my fro. Wearing boxbraids has been the easiest way for me to allow my hair to rest and grow, while giving me multiple styling options. 

However, at the rate my hair is growing and the amount of styles I do, my braids tend to loosen up and look more … furry … faster than I'm used to. I decided, I'd get a touch-up on my braids to extend the length of time in this style. 



I noticed in the photos above and below that my hair was starting to look a bit worn down. I'm a blogger who runs two sites, one for fashion and one for hair. So being stylish and having an awesome hair look is very important. Personally, I like a very manicured set of braids. As the braids grow you notice they may get matted at the root or tangled. My braider offers a touch-up service where she re-braids the perimeter of your hair to refresh your look. Is it worth it?


Yes! It is! My initial set of boxbraids took more than 10 HOURS to install. I'm not in any hurry to remove them, however I do want to insure the health of my hair while wearing braids. Getting the perimeter re-braided allows me to extend the style, insure that my hair doesn't get tangles (especially on the edges), give me a refreshed look. In addition, my braider was able to look at my hairgrowth, check her technique, and give me tips to help with adding additional tension or stress on my hairline. 


If you are wearing a protective style for an extended period of time (braids, crochet, weave, etc) make sure to visit your stylist at least every 4 weeks. They may recommend a touch up to extend the life of your installation as well as maintaining the glorious hair growing underneath! 

May 5, 2015

Product Review: Taliah Waajid Hairline Help 2in1

I haven't been excited about a new product in a LONG time, especially one that promises EDGE CONTROL! LISTEN! I promise you need to try this one! Taliah Waajid Hairline Help 2n1 is an edge control product you need in your closet. Click below, and I'll tell you why:


Melissa's Hair: Styling Box Braids



Last month, I had the pleasure of covering Nashville Fashion Week for my fashion blog, Fab Glance. The eventis a celebration of fashion and art in our city. I bet you didn't know that we've had fashion week for five years! And yes, I've covered each year. But this is about hair. Below, I'm sharing how I styled my hair for each day of the event. Styling box braids can sometimes be limiting, but I worked hard to give various styles everyday. So let's have a look:


Apr 20, 2015

GLIMPSE: Melissa speaks at the Wild & Wonderful Natural Hair Affair


I've been MIA for minute, but it was for a good reason. I've been spreading the news of Natural Hair across the nations. Well not the 'nations', but outside of Nashville. I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the Wild & Wonderful Natural Hair Affair in Charleston, West Virgina! I know, right?!? I was so excited to speak at this wonderful event. Can you believe this was the FIRST natural hair event held in the ENTIRE state of West Virginia? The message and motivation of natural hair is an important one - I was so happy to be the first speaker for this state. 

Below, I'll share some photos from the event: 

Over 200 ladies attended the event held at the University of Charleston

Apr 9, 2015

DISCUSSION: The New Beauty Curators

A few weeks ago when the world was buzzing about Giuliana Rancic's comments on Zendaya Coleman's hair, it stirred up something that I've thought about for some time.  When we consider "beauty standards" and the ones who set them, we may not appreciate their presentation, but quite often those who are marginalized are also their inspiration.

The times we live in now are so different because our communities have expanded into cyberspace. We're coming to a place where Social Media is just as powerful as what we've always referred to as "the media".  That is one of the reasons why Rancic's apology came so fast.  EVERYONE was talking about it.  And they could tell her all about it.  The social media exchange can really be powerful if the intention and will is present.

SELFIE: Melissa celebrates her first event with The Blogger Girls and the beginning of Fashion Week.

Mar 24, 2015

Melissa's Hair Diary: Growing Growing Growing!

Shaved sides 2014 to growing it out in 2015

Hey y'all! I'm back for my monthly hair diary! And I'm happy to report that, WHEW, my hair is GROWING! When you think about growing you hair back after having shaved sides, the task seems super daunting. But once you have a plan and a bunch of patience, you can make it to the next level.
Check out my hair, it's GROWING, GROWING, GROWING! I'll let you know my secret.


Feb 18, 2015

HAIR LUST: Braids and Beauty

I had to share one of the photos from my recent shoot for Fab Glance (my fashion & style site). Since I'm growing my sides out, my braids have become my staple style. And as you know, I'm getting ready for Nashville Fashion Week, so upping my workouts is a must! My favorite protective style is box braids. They are affordable, versatile, and long lasting.  Click HERE for more pics of this shoot!

Whats your favorite protective style?


Feb 9, 2015

PRODUCT REVIEW: Samson's Secret Hair Growth Supplements



I wanna be mad because Samson's Secret hair growth system has made me have to remove a weave installation months earlier than expected, a braid installation weeks earlier than expected, and is the cause of my hair getting to fro status faster than I'd ever imagined. I wanna be mad, but NAH! I'm happy as happy I can be. I'm not saying this is a miracle potion, but it's pretty close. Let me tell you about Samson's Secre

Samson's Secret is a hair growth SYSTEM that works at stimulating hair growth topically (drops) and internally (capsules). Made from 100% natural ingredients, you take two capsules a day and add three drops of the liquid to whatever drink you'd like. The pills are small and easy to swallow. The liquid is tasteless and can be used topically; massaging it into areas of concern on you scalp.

This product has been around for more 20 years, being used in hair salons. Now, the company is poised to take over the hair world. The difference between Samson's Secret and other hair growth supplements is that Samson's Secret targets the blood stream and the removal of toxins. By doing this, it supports the flourishing of hair follicles, promote hair growth, and stimulates the nervous system to aid in stress reduction. 

Nov 21, 2014

ROOTS & RHYTHM: India Arie f. Akon - "I Am Not My Hair"

This time of year is always seems to be a unique mixture of our past, present and future.  Families are planning to gather and celebrate each other and their traditions.  Individually we're planning for the year ahead while showing gratitude for the blessings of the year that has passed.

Candice, Toya, Ashiya, and Melissa at the 30th Annual African Street Festival 2012
It is a time of change and it has certainly landed at Natural in Nashville.  We will already miss Amber, just as we miss Toya.  That gives us another reason to be thankful for our online community. We can see them flourish and grow where they have been planted now.  And we miss them a little bit less.

NIN Spring 2014 Photo Shoot: Candice, Ashiya, Amber and Melissa.


The team is changing and growing for 2015 and we are excited for the next leg of our collective natural hair journey.  One thing writing for Natural In Nashville has confirmed for me is something we all know:  it is more than hair.  Healthy hair is the result of a healthy mind, body and Spirit.  It truly does depend on our lifestyle.

NIN Spring Meet Up: Melissa, Candice, Ashiya and Amber

Nothing made this more evident than looking over the blog and seeing our health concerns, personal beliefs and special moments in life all connected to stories about our hair.

As we welcome two new writers and prepare for 2015, I found no better song than this classic from Ms. India Irie.  We come here to share about our hair, but it is so much more!




Stay tuned to Natural in Nashville on Facebook for more on our new writers!

We can't wait to see you at the Natural in Nashville Holiday #PopUpMeetUp!  Get tickets here.


Oct 1, 2014

PRODUCT REVIEW: Briogeo Hair Care


Listen, Linda, LISTEN! If you are looking for a new product that your hair will LOVE please make your way to the Briogeo aisle of life. I've known about this product for about a year. Please don't ask me why it took me THIS LONG to do a review. But let's get into it.

So the nice people at Briogeo sent me some samples of their product about seven month ago. I received the Be Gentle, Be Kind - Cleansing Shampoo, Curl Charisma - Curl Defining Conditioner, and Don't Despair Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. When I tell you I was squeezing the package to get the LAST BIT of each product just because my hair love it so much!

First up, each product smells SO GOOD! The shampoo is SULFATE-FREE and it's amazing. My hair usually doesn't respond to sulfate-free shampoo, but this shampoo is ultra-moisturizing with a great amount of slip. It usually take a lot more product to cleanse my hair because it is very dense and very coily. I had a sample pack and I was able to get two washes out of the sample pack. Loves it!

Next, the curl defining conditioner that has no parabens, silicones or phthalates and all the fancy Nancy ingredients like almond oil, rosehip oil, and shea butter. It so moisturizing and it really helps define your curl. I couldn't believe it if it didn't happen on my head! If you do a light rinse you can use the conditioner as a leave-in as it continues to moisturize your hair. As with the shampoo, you don't need much to go a long way.

Lastly, I used deep conditioner - left it on for about an hour and my hair was looooooooving it.
It's fortified with ultra-hydrating avocado, sweet almond & argan oils, strengthening keratin protein, power-conditioning rosehip oil, soothing aloe, and super hair-essential vitamins B5, D, A, E and biotin - ALL THE GOOD STUFF. Since I'm dealing with heat damage and shedding from my fibroid surgery, it helped my hair with overall and added to it's manageability.

So, if you are looking to try a new product, I suggest you try Briogeo. You can purchase online or at Sephora. It's a bit on the expensive side, but as I've said, "A little goes a LONG way" and you'll get your money's worth out of one bottle.


Sep 25, 2014

Melissa's Hair: And then you get a weave …

So like, I got a weave. Why? I was tired of looking at my ears! Lol! NAW, this 'grow your sides out' struggle is REAL AND TRUE! I got so used to having such a tight fade ( to perfection!) so seeing my little 'fro pop out was tripping me out. I had to change something. Wah-la weave!


I kept it simple and bought some hair from the hair store (Kim's Hair Plus on Bell Road, Antioch, TN). I know a lot of people get hair off the internet - but I have to SEE and TOUCH my hair before I purchase it. And, don't let Instagram fool you, you can still buy good hair - in the package - at your local hair store. And it's ACTUALLY cheaper! I purchased Sensationnel 'Bare & Natural' 100% Brazilian Virgin Remi in natural black. It was 3 for $170. Right! Right!!


I wanted something with a natural wave that could be curled, dyed, and laid to the side. When I arrived at my stylist's house she was ecstatic to see the hair I purchased - it's her favorite hair to use. Score!
As far as hiding the fact that I don't have any sides; this hair has tremendous body and thickness. You can't even tell I have shaved sides. My hair at the top is braided and protected with a small bit of leave out. Now, I have to tie my hair down right to make sure it doesn't revert - but I shall not be using too much heat. We know my hair hates heat and will get heat damage faster than a toddler tears up a bedroom. The struggle is real keeping the African and the Brazilian hair looking like they get along!


So , here's to growing back my hair! As always, I'll keep you posted on my journey! 

Sep 13, 2014

Natural Hair, Fibroids, and Me - Part 2



Part 2 of this series should really be titled, "if you don't know, now you know!" 

In part 1 of , "Natural Hair, Fibroids, and Me" - I stated that I never had the traditional symptoms that fibroid sufferers have. My cycle was like clockwork, no swelling in my abdomen (that I could see), no pain or cramps, and no spotting. Even with my past 'well-woman' check-ups, my doctor never felt any rumors or abnormalities. By all outside accounts, I had no issues with my lady parts. But, there were other symptoms brewing - not normal for fibroid sufferers but definitely an issue. 

Let's talk about how I got a colon infection on THANKSGIVING! Oh yeah, let's not forget, my hair was shedding like an ugly Christmas sweater and my edges my edges were so sad.  The colon infection was the key to me finding I had fibroids. On thanksgiving day I was struck with (what I thought) was a bad stomach virus. After preparing a delicious meal, I could barely eat one bite. 

Cramps were ravaging my stomach coming as quickly as labor contractions. I had a fever accompanied with chills and I was sweating like I ran a marathon. I suffered for three days waiting to get an appointment with my doctor. When I got my examination, my primary care doctor was puzzled. A physical examination didn't show much in the uterus or in the colon; she sent me to get an ultrasound. 

Sep 1, 2014

Melissa's Hair Diary: Natural Hair, Fibroids, and Me - Part 1

 

About a month ago, I underwent a Fibroid Myomectomy - I had two large non-cancerous fibroid tumors removed - leaving my uterus intact. To say I was surprised that I had to go through this procedure is to say the least. I thought I'd share my journey to recovery in three posts. Part 1: Before I knew I had the tumors, Part 2: Living life with the tumors and Part 3: The recovery and the future. Let's get started.

The picture above is from 2011 - it was the last time my hair 'acted right'. It was thick, curly, and my edges were flourishing! About six months later my hair started to shed like crazy! I didn't know what the deal was, but I knew I had an issue. So, I did what most naturals do, I started the vitamins. After some research on other natural hair blogs and YouTube channels, I chose to use biotin and Vitamin E to help with hair growth. I went to a stylist and got my ends clipped too. Anything to stop the shedding.

What I didn't know was hair shedding is sometimes an internal issue. For me, the development of the tumor started to pull the important vitamins and minerals out of my system causing my hair to shed, break, and feel really dry. I didn't have an answer, I knew there was an issue, but I never thought it was a fibroid tumor.


In my circle, three of my friends had fibroid removal surgery in ONE YEAR. When it started to hit home, I started to realize that fibroid tumors were a real thing. I started to think about the women in my family, most had fibroid tumors, and almost all have had partial or complete hysterectomies.

During my research, I found that Fibroid tumors occur in 80% of ALL WOMEN, more than 50% of those women are women of color (African decent, Latino, and Asian).  Plus, there's a definite connection between relaxers and fibroid tumors. This connection is what leads many black women to starting their natural hair journey. That wasn't my story, but it's a real deal.

Tumors can grow in all parts of the uterus including the fallopian tubes, outside of the uterus,  and in the lining of the uterus. Most women experience pain in the abdomen, heavy menstrual cramping, long periods, and fatigue when the have fibroid tumors. Most doctors recommend removal of the tumors and/or the uterus to help women get back to normal.   

I never had ANY of those symptoms. So, I never thought I'd have to deal with the issue. I was different. My cycle was like clockwork, barely any cramping, and I still had the flow of a teenager, 5 days max. It was another discovery that led my doctor to the helping me figure out what the HECK was going on with my hair and my body. But, I'll tell you about that in Part 2 . . . stay tuned!

SOURCES:

Aug 28, 2014

HAIR LUST: Melissa shares her turban and her fashion!


Our editor, Melissa, is sharing her FAB Sneaker Style on our sister site, Fab Glance. Go to her page to see how she rocks this fabulous turban with . . .  SNEAKERS! Oh yeah, she tells you how to do this headwrap too. How do you rock your headwraps? Check her out!

Jul 3, 2014

UPDATE: WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?!?!


OMG! I know you are wondering, "Where has the team been?" What have we been doing, and GOSHDARNIT where are the posts? Lol! Sorry! We apologize. You know what happened? Life happened! Below I'll share a couple of updates and let you know when we'll get this train rolling again. 


MELISSA, The Editor-in-Chief: guess I'll start with myself. I've been traveling all summer long, with more travel ahead of me. Most importantly, I'll be speaking in MEMPHIS at the NATURALS IN THE CITY Natural Hair Event. Then I have to have surgery which will take me out the game for about FOUR WEEKS! Ugh! I know!

When September comes you're gonna see a bunch of changes with the site and with the team. I'm working hard (behind the scenes) to set up a strong foundation to handle such changes. Of course you know I run TWO WEBSITES (check out www.fabglance.com) and making sure both sets of readers are entertained and informed can be alot to juggle. No complaints, because I love what I do - but I need longevity to stay in this game. So sometimes I need to lay low in order to go big.



T-SHIRTS: real talk, manufacturing t-shirts takes money on the front end that you may not receive in the back end. I know I promised NEW t-shirts for the summer, but I think we are gonna produce more shirts in the fall (September). They will be nice!



ANOTHER EVENT: yup! I want to do another event. Like I said about the t-shirts, events cost money. BIG MONEY! But we LOVE to see you all in person so we are DEFINITELY going to do another event. I wanted to do something in August, but that's not gonna happen, so we are leaning more towards OCTOBER. In everything, I want excellence! Never wanting to do anything half-way, sometimes telling myself NO is the hardest part. You know we'll keep you posted about the next #NINMEETUP.

BUT CAN Y'ALL POST MORE ARTICLES? Umm - yeah we can. Posting articles takes research and time. It's summer! We want to play outside! Lol! But for real, I'll take the lead and start posting more articles. Especially during my recovery in August; I'll have some time to write a bunch of stuff that's been sitting in my queue for months. No, I'm not lying, the team has at least 25 UNFINISHED articles just waiting for us to buckle down and finish. We LOVE our readers and we APOLOGIZE for not posting daily like usual.

Make sure you follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, and TUMBLR! Those are spots where I post little gems, pics, and sometimes contests. Stay connected!  


First up, our girl Amber graduated from AVEDA!! Not only did she graduated, she won like a kabillion awards and scored a new job. She'll be a stylist at the TRUE BLUE salon on West End in Nashville.

And, Ashiya is working hard and making changes too. Not only did she chop her locs (aren't you loving this cut) but she's started a business with her family and she's steady advancing in her yoga teaching skills. SWAN HOLISTIC will be up and running soon; bringing quality yoga classes and teaching to you!



 And last, but not least, Candice has been working hard too. She got a fancy-nancy switch/promotion at her job, some very fly Havana Twists (seen above), and SHE GOT ENGAGED! Yup! We had to give the new fiancé some time to be happy abt all these new changes.

So you see we haven't forgot about you. We are just living life for a moment. But I promise, you aren't ready for FALL 2014 - it's gonna be bananas! I encourage you to take advantage of the summer, live life, take a ton if pics, and stop worrying about your hair! We love you!

May 29, 2014

Melissa's Hair: Shaved Sides and Curly Curls


Since the last time I wrote I was telling you about my struggle with using heat on my hair. Well, I figured out my beloved flat iron was broken - stuck on 350°! So I was burning the crap out of my hair and I've suffered a couple damaged/straight pieces. I knew I had to make a commitment to being heat-free for a couple of months. 

Of course I had fun with the traditional twist- out but I wanted more defined curls. I went to the closet, pulled out the perm rods. I had an idea! 

I washed and deep conditioned my hair with Shea Moisture moisturizing shampoo and deep treatment conditioner. After detangling my hair, I prepped my hair with Motions Leave-in Conditioner. I sealed in the moisture with coconut oil. To set my hair I used Motions Wrap & Set Foam.  

I seperated my hair and wrapped small sections around the small rods. I made sure to smooth the end using a bit more wrap lotion. I finished rolling my hair - using about thirty rods. I wanted to use the hooded dryer, but I slept in the rollers.  Luckily my hair dries fast! 


In the morning I removed the rods. I was skeptical. I didn't want to go to work looking like Kendrick Lamar! I started separating and fluffing the curls to give the look some shape. I began to fall in love! 

Why didn't I try this style a LONG TIME AGO! The curls were very defined and the style lasted for FIVE DAYS! I even got a chance to visit my barber, Tristan, who hooked me up with the sweet line-up and  fancy parts. Needless to say, this style was a hit. I received a ton of compliments. 

It's just a reminder to never be afraid to step out of the box. Try something new! What have tried in your hair? 

May 23, 2014

MODEL BEHAVIOR: Editor, Melissa, modeling for Charles Lord S/S2014

As you know, I (Melissa) run two successful blogs - Natural in Nashville and Fab Glance. Of course, sometimes I'll have stories that cross-over. Fashion and hair often do that. So, I wanted to share these gorgeous images from a shoot I styled and modeled for.

The designer is Charles Lord and he lives in Nashville. Charles create custom designs and vintage recreations sized to order. This look I'm wearing is from his Spring/Summer 2014 collection. I loved the easy-ness and the big graphic print.

Of course the hair is rocking! This is a crochet bob created with synthetic hair. One of my FAVORITE protective styles.

Wanna learn more about Charles Lord designs? CLICK HERE

Apr 16, 2014

DISCUSSION: Have you tried hair growth supplements?

 

HOLA!  Back in 2012 I wrote a post about adding Biotin to my diet to add in growing my hair. I've continued to use biotin but can't say it's helped or hindered my hair growth process. I mean, I did shave my head a couple months ago - lol. Anyway, as I cruised the instagram streets, I've seen many Hollywood Celebs and hair bloggers report on the amazing results of using hair growth supplements. It made me think, maybe I should try some of these so-called miracle pills.

For people who want to grow longer, stronger, healthier hair, most experts suggests a cocktail of WATER, Biotin, Vitamin B complex, and some Omega-3 fatty acids (source). Each of these supplements exist in our hair naturally, but through hormone imbalance, stress, and genetics, we tend to lack the crucial vitamins that sustain healthy hair growth. 

Of course, this varies from person to person, but most women can testify that their hair was longer and thicker as a child, than it is now. Why, your body was rich with hormones and natural supplements. I guess this is why we are looking for the holy grail of hair growth.

The two front runners in the natural hair vitamin supplement game are Hairfinity and Manetabolism (seen above). Below is a breakdown of what each promises:


Results from using Hairfinity via @she_becute_naturally
HAIRFINITY ($24.00 a bottle): Hairfinity is titled as a "Dietary Supplement" and said to have a proven formula that nourishes hair from the inside out. The company boasts that it's vitamin B complex, Biotin, MSM, and a couple other supplements that (used separately) are well known at helping hair to grow stronger while resisting breakage. Hairfinity has the most celebrity endorsements (Monica, Kim Kardashian, and Keyshia Knight-Pulliam) and the most multi-cultural users. Hairfinity sells supplemental haircare products as well.

Results from Manetabolism user @PorshaBelle
MANETABOLISM (@24.99 a bottle): Created by a husband & wife medical team, Manetabolism is the brainchild of natural hair celeb Courtney Adeleye (@CourtneyNaturalHair). Courtney is a nurse and her husband a physician, the two researched using Courtney's own hair. The product boasts the same ingredients as Hairfinity, but with more background studies and info to make buyers feel comfortable. Really the website is comprehensive! AND Manetabolism sells haircare products, oils, and supplies.

So, I've decided to try one of the supplements listed above. Although I've shaved my sides, I'm looking to have some extreme growth on top. Next month I'll reveal which supplement I've tried and my results so far. I'm going to commit to a 3 month trial, just for you, my favorite readers! 

Have you tried hair growth supplements? What's your verdict? Let me know in the comments section.

Mar 3, 2014

MELISSA'S HAIR: No heat, Low Heat - it's a challenge!



Oh my! February came and went so quickly! I almost forgot it was my turn to post a Hair Diary. So here we go.

So last month, I talked about the various ways I've styled my hair since shaving my sides. This month, I really focused on not using heat on my hair. I love flat-ironing my hair - but I suffered some heat damage, so I had to stop doing that. I decided to challenge myself not to use heat. There's no way to FULLY recover from heat damage, but you can take extra care of the ends so your hair doesn't break off.

I did alright. I didn't use the flat-iron at all during February. I used the blow-dry, on a lower heat setting, one time because I had to leave quickly and it was really cold outside. Here's the two looks I rocked during February:


Here's my super puff. Basically, I two-strand twist my hair with Miss Jessie's Baby Butter creme. Click here to read my review of Miss Jessie's Baby Butter Creme. This look usually lasts about three days. This photo was snapped on Valentine's day. As each day passes, my hair usually gets more and more fluffy. Then I wash it, and start the process all over again. I usually put flexi-rods on the ends of the two-strand twists in order to disguise some of my straight pieces.


I call this look, The Johnny Bravo! Basically, I'm growing my hair as long as possible so that I can have the SUPREME pompadour! This look was achieved by blowing my hair (almost) straight using Dr. Miracle's Curl Care Blowout Foam. Then securing my hair with a small hair comb. It's super easy, and I can create this look in five minutes. If you have shaved sides, I suggest you perfect this look, it's super easy and looks very polished. You can make the pompadour as big or as small as you'd like.


So, I'm going to keep this NO/LOW HEAT party going. I did experience some nice growth. In addition, after a couple deep conditioning treatments, some of my straight pieces are getting wavy again - YAY! I'll keep you posted on my NO/LOW HEAT challenge.

Oh yeah, March 30th is our first meet-up! I can't wait to meet everyone! YAY!!!
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