Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

2019 is over halfway done, but #BlackGirlMagic is still going full throttle! Black and Brown Women everywhere are proving themselves to be innovators, trendsetters, and the creators of cool.Thus being the CEO of a multimillion dollar hair care empire falls right in line with the mantra, “Black Women can do it all!” Kontrol Magazine and HeyMikeyATL chopped it up with, Miko Branch, co-founder and CEO of the game changing hair care line, Miss Jessie’s! 

When it comes to the creme de la creme of natural hair care products, Miss Jessie’s truly sets the bar. The secret behind this amazing line is none other than the sisterly bond between Miko, and her late sister, Tati. “She was such an amazing woman, and I miss her every who poured her heart into our company…we both wanted products that catered to people with all types of hair and curl patterns…[Miss Jessie’s] it’s the legacy of our sisterhood and I’m blessed to have it.” The Black hair care industry churns out billions of dollars each year; and as one of the premium companies at the forefront, Miss Jessie’s prides itself on a wide array of products. They have products that soften, repair, condition, moisturize, treat, and encourages hair growth. The trick and fun part is finding what combination of products works with your hair or curl pattern. “We truly have something for everyone no matter what kind of hair you have…we’ve taken into consideration that everything does not work for everyone, but none of our products will damage your hair. They work well, smell great, and get the job done!” Miko states. 

As aforementioned, Miss Jessie’s has products for everyone, but our personal favorites include the Baby Buttercreme, Coily Custard, Sweetback Treatment, and Leave-In Condish. However, products primarily targeting men have been lacking. Data, beauty, and hair trends show that men are taking better care of their hair and want products to assist in its daily maintenance. Thankfully, the hair gods have heard our prayers and in 2020 we will see new additions to the Miss Jessie’s family as Miko reveals a forthcoming men’s hair care line! “2019 has been really good to us, and 2020 will be even better! In the next year you can expect to see new products from us, especially those geared towards men. We have heard a growing male customer base telling us they want products for their hair and beards so you can expect to see that very soon.” Men’s grooming and care is the new frontier for the hair and beauty industries. Beard oils, balms, and natural hair care products are all the rave and we are here for it!

Miss Jessie’s is here to stay and with Miko Branch at its helm we are more than certain it is here to stay. 2020 just cannot come fast enough. In the meantime you can catch your own Miss Jessie’s products at your local Wal-Mart, Target, and most local beauty supply stores. They are literally everywhere, with something for everyone! You can also catch them at the next Bronner Bros. Beauty Show on February 8-10, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia. “We are blessed to have so many people who believe in us and our products. There really is no such thing as bad or unmanageable hair. Our products work for you because we work for you, and it’s something I love getting to do everyday.”

Whether you’re used to wearing your hair naturally and you want something new for a while or if you straighten your hair regularly, there are some things you have to consider before you put your hair through the stress of a straightening iron. Heat damage is a real problem and sometimes can lead to split ends or irreversible damage that can only be fixed by a haircut. But if you know what to do and what to avoid during the straightening process, you should be able to get the results you’re looking for. Here are some of the do’s and don’ts when straightening your hair.

Never Work on Wet Hair

This is one of the most common mistakes people make when straightening their hair and one of the main reasons for hair damage. Even if the iron you’re intending to use says that straightening your hair when wet is fine, avoid doing it at all costs.

The problem is that you’ll have to spend more time on your strands if they’re wet and you’ll end up exposing your hair to more damage than you’d like to. So, if you want to prevent the amount of heat your hair will be exposed to, try to use your iron on dry hair only.

If you don’t have the time, one of the things you can do is remove any excess amount of water you have in your hair and then blow it dry. Or, you could decide to clean your hair the day before, so your hair will be completely dry in the morning and only straighten it then.

Note that wet-to-dry straighteners are an exception, but they should only be used on damp hair, not when it’s soaking wet. Just because your model is a wet-to-dry, it doesn’t mean you can just use it out of the shower. And even then, don’t take the word of the manufacturer at face value; even in this case, it’s always better to limit the amount of direct heat you apply to your hair.

Use Protective Spray

We all know that heat can be your hair’s worst enemy, but it’s not something you can avoid when straightening it. However, there are some things that you can do to protect it. Even if you’re using the gentlest setting with the best straightening iron for your hair type, you are still prone to damage. In this case, your best protection would be to use a protective spray before using your straightening iron. While there are multiple types of protective sprays on the market, try to go for ones containing argon oil, as they’re particularly beneficial to hair.

Never Use the Maximum Setting

A lot of us have the bad habit of cranking our straightening iron on the last level to get the fastest results possible. But even if you’re on a tight schedule, this is something you should try to avoid as much as you can. You should never, under any circumstance, use the hottest temperature on your iron. Ideally, you shouldn’t go over 400° F if you have thick natural hair and 300° F if you have fine hair, or else you risk of causing some serious damage.

On the other hand, don’t assume that the opposite is true either. You shouldn’t assume that going with the lowest possible setting is a better option. If you go too low, you’ll have to go over each strand multiple times, which could cause cumulative damage to your hair.

Section your Hair First

One nice trick you can use when straightening your hair is to always separate it in multiple sections before you start working on it. It would be a wise idea to clip all other sections before you are done with the first one. If you don’t separate your hair into sections, some of the strands might get run over more than others and you could cause some of it to suffer more damage.

Don’t Clamp the Iron Down too Long

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is leaving the iron clamped down for too long on some of your strands. Whether you are distracted or just think that it’s the right thing to do, doing so could lead to some serious damage. If you spend too much time on one spot, you might cause an indentation and have to go back over the strand, which will cause even more damage.

Keep a Comb Close

You should always have a comb in hand while straightening your hair. Each time you go over a strand with your iron, comb the area through. Not only will it help to prevent knots from forming, but it could help you get more volume. Without volume, you’ll be limited in the styles you can achieve and might not be able to get what you were looking for. If you want some inspiration for straight styled hair, take a look at these from The Right Hairstyles which are best suited for women over 40.

Don’t Go for just Any Hair Straightener

Before you even think about straightening your hair, however, you have to make sure that you pick the right one for your hair type, or else you might cause some damage and not get the results you wanted.

One of the first things you should be looking for is a unit that will give you more control over the temperature. It should have a thermometer on it that will allow you to set it at the absolute best temperature for your hair and prevent you from accidentally setting it too high.

And when picking a straightening iron, don’t judge them by the price alone. Whether an iron is cheap or expensive doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to how well it will work on your hair. While hair straighteners all serve the same function, they all work very differently and have a different effect on hair.

When it comes to material, for instance, tourmaline, ceramic and titanium work very differently and aren’t suited for the same kind of hair. And just because it says ceramic on the box, doesn’t mean all ceramic plated iron are equal. Some might only have a ceramic coating, for instance, while others will be completely made of ceramic. So, before you pick a model, make sure that you do your homework and pick the right one for your particular hair texture.

You should also pick a model that is wide enough. For instance, if you happen to have finer hair, then you should pick a unit that is no larger than an inch if possible. If you have thicker hair on the other hand, then you should be looking for something like a 3” iron. But if all you want to do is do some styling, then something like a 1.5” iron should do. And if you’re trying to get some big curls while ironing, then you should try to avoid a straight edge straightener. You should go with something with curved edges. Not only will it allow you to get the look that you want but it will also prevent bumps from forming.

Conclusion

If you manage to incorporate these tips into your straightening routine, you should be able to prevent heat damage and get the results you’re looking for in no time.

Winners were crowned and given bragging rights after barbers from all across the South and East Coast gathered in Jacksonville, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Riverfront for the 2^nd annual Bury Me With My Clippers Barber Battle and Trade Show presented by Barber Life™ and hosted by Chico Boom of West Palm Beach, FL.

The event, originally scheduled for September 17, was postponed due to effects from Hurricane Irma, and was instead held on Sunday, November 17 with hundreds in attendance. “We had a lot of bumps in the road with this show, and overall, I feel it was a success…we impacted a lot of barbers and put on a great, well-organized show,” said one of the event organizers, Angel Raws of Raw Cuts Barbershops in Jacksonville, FL.

Educational classes were given at the start of the day to provide barbers and hair stylists a wealth of information on topics ranging from cutting techniques to financial literacy. Educators and speakers included high acclaimed barbers J-Roc da Barber of Picture Perfect Cuts (Houston, TX); Sipp the Surgeon of The Art of Barbering (Dallas, TX); J-Valentin of Kiss Colors (Baltimore, MD); Bonez da Goat of The Remix Barbershop (Palm Springs, FL); and Haley Humphrey of Capital Financial Strategies (Jacksonville, FL).

First place battle winners were presented with $500 cash and many other special prizes and gift packs. The barbers who gained top recognition are as follows:

Fastest Fade Presented by Booksy Biz:

1^st Place—Jason Padridge, Olde World Barber Shoppe (Warner Robins, GA)

2^nd Place—Ismael Santiago, A List Barber Studio (Salem, MA)

3^rd Place—Kevin Battle, Olde World Barber Shoppe (Warner Robins, GA)

Best Combover Presented by Gulf South Salon Services:

1^st Place—Adrian Lima, 6ixth Element Barbershop (Brandon, FL)

2^nd Place—Fernando Corps, The Art of Shaving (Jacksonville, FL)

3^rd Place—Soul Fly (Miami, FL)

Freestyle Battle Presented by Hat City:

1^st Place—Rigoberto Perez, Next Level Barbershop (Winter Haven, FL)

2^nd Place—Derrick Fraley, Chago’s Barbershop (St. Petersburg, FL)

3^rd Place—Adrian Lima, 6ixth Element Barbershop (Brandon, FL)

Duplicate Battle Presented by VIP Barber Supply of Tampa Bay:

1^st Place—Adrian Lima, 6ixth Element Barbershop (Brandon, FL)

2^nd Place—Rigoberto Perez, Next Level Barbershop (Winter Haven, FL)

Free For All Battle Presented by B. Clark Customs:

1^st Place—Khadijah Harris, Supreme Cuts (Jacksonville, FL)

2^nd Place—Ismael Santiago, A List Barber Studio (Salem, MA)

3^rd Place—Soul Fly (Miami, FL)

In addition to the aforementioned category sponsors, other vendors for #BMWMC2017 included Barber Life, Reign by Angel Raws, Hanzo Shears, Gentlemen Republic, Boss Barber Company, B3 Beard Grooming, Rolda, Barber Strong, and Kontrol Magazine (official media partner). The Barber Life brand took to their Instagram page following the event to thank all of the sponsors, judges, participants, and attendees for helping make the event a success.

Pictures and recaps can be seen by visiting @BarberLifeTheBrand on Instagram, or by searching the hashtags #BMWMC2017 or #BMWMC. For more information on future BMWMC events, email BMWMCEvents@gmail.com.

Check out a few pictures from the event below!