Titi and Miko Branch: Miss Jessie’s

Saturday Nov 1, 2008 – by Summer Hamilton-Smith

Titi and Miko Branch are carrying on the legacy of their legendary grandmother affectionately known as Miss Jessie. As a product of African American and Japanese ancestry, both the sisters faced a myriad of challenges in uncovering proper hair care techniques while growing up. Their grandma Jessie used her authentic yet practical sensibilities to personally develop products for their unique hair type. Today Titi and Miko have harnessed the very same love, care and innovation into a highly successful salon chain and super cult brand.

Clutch: There were some issues last year this time, and it seemed that Miss Jessie’s would longer be in New York. However time has worked miracles and you are back in NY to work your magic again! Is it safe to say, that our two favorite sisters have worked out their differences and we can all look forward to a long and hair-fabulous future with Miss Jessie’s?
Titi: Time has healed old wounds and my sister and I are back at it again. We are glad to be available to our clients again.

Clutch: Where is the new location and what appealed to you more about this area than BedStuy?
Titi: We have reopened the salon in the existing Bed Stuy location. We have not moved as of yet but plans are in the works …Stay tuned.

Clutch: What will happen to the salon in DC?
Titi: The DC Salon officially closed when Miko and I reunited. Amazingly many of the clients who traveled to DC now come to Brooklyn to get serviced.

Clutch: Let’s talk about pricing. That has been one of the biggest concerns with the Miss Jessie’s client and those considering your services. Can you tell us why your prices are significantly higher compared to most African-American hair salons? How do your services stand out from the rest?
Titi: We believe pricing is relative. Our pricing is priced at a rate where our staff feels compensated and appreciated for the work, dedication, love and care that we put into our work. Our client feels this every time they walk through Miss Jessie’s doors to get serviced. The level of work that we are providing is very labor intensive and requires expertise on a high level. Our pricing ensures that we continue to feel good about what we are doing and in turn the customer feels good too.

Clutch: There has been conflict in regards to what is considered “natural.” As a hair care professional and stylist, how do you define the term “natural” as it pertains to our hair?
Titi: “Natural” technically refers to hair that is not chemically processed in any way. However, this line has been blurred. Is someone considered “natural” when their hair has been exposed to permanent color? Or how about when it has been exposed to a Silkener? If we stuck to the strict definition the answer would be “no.” However “natural” hair has become synonomous with a look. And we find ourselves calling hair “natural” based on the look of it. So hair that is chemically processed with a Silkener can still look “natural” or hair that is processed with permanent color still looks natural.

Clutch: Is there a “right” kind of nappy? For example, the hair texture of Lauryn Hill vs. Tracee Ellis Ross.
Titi: Absolutely no “right” kind of nappy. “Nappy” is not our choice of language. We believe that “natural” hair comes in many different forms. All beautiful and diverse. In fact that’s the beauty of natural hair in that it comes in so many different forms and textures.

Clutch: You have created a hair treatment called the Silkener, can you explain what that is and what makes it different than a texturizer?
Titi: A Silkener is a chemical service that was created in Miss Jessie’s Salon by Miko. The purpose of a Silkener is to chemically stretch and smooth a curl, kink or wave. The thought process, the strategy and the end result of a Silkener is what makes it different from a Texturizer.

Clutch: Some of the ingredients in your products: lye and mineral oil are ingredients that the “natural” community has said is unhealthy for our hair. How do you reinforce that your products are not just about styling but are also healthy in terms of maintenance?
Titi: As far as lye goes, we have used lye effectively in our salon for years. Lye has a negative connotation in the “natural” community because for some being “natural” is all about not using a chemical in one’s hair. We get that. Our Silkener service is a chemical service. The reason that people choose the Silkener service range from wanting more manageability to more versatility. It is not an unhealthy option. It’s an option that promotes easier maintenance for natural looking hair.

When we formulated our products we were aiming for performance. Our experience with cosmetics-grade mineral oil and petrolatum is that it is considered the safest, most nonirritating moisturizing ingredients ever found (Sources: Cosmetics & Toiletries, January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2000, pages 44–46). Yes, they can keep air off the skin to some extent, but that’s what a good antioxidant is supposed to do; they don’t suffocate skin! Moreover, petrolatum and mineral oil are known for being efficacious in wound healing, and are also considered to be among the most effective moisturizing ingredients available (Source: Cosmetics & Toiletries, February 1998, pages 33–40). Mineral oil is just one ingredient in our product. The product also has other natural oils such as sweet almond oil, avocado oil, macadamia seed oil, shea butter which are proven to be moisturizing to the hair.

Clutch: Tell us about some of the new products you’ve released this year.
Titi: We’ve released four new products this year including: Stretch Silkening Crème: a whipped soufflé lighter version of Curly Pudding, Quick Curls: a lightweight styler that’s great for looser textures and relaxed hair options, Crème de la Curl: a sulfate free non-sudsing cleansing crème formulated especially for us, dry, parched, tightly coiled, fragile, used and abused curly textures and Crème de la Crème: a luxurious daily conditioner and leave-in styler that’s excellent for dry parched hair.

Clutch: I’m also really excited about the new sizes you’ve released in the Curly Pudding and Curly Buttercreme. How has the response been for you?
Titi: It’s been great. Initially our products were offered in the sizes that were appropriate for the amount of product our client typically uses. The smaller sizes have been great because they give people an opportunity to try the products and actually travel with them.

For more information on Miss Jessie’s salons and products please visit www.curve-salon.com and www.missjessies.com.

Jacintha says:

November 17, 2009 at 7:03 pm

I went to these sisters back in 03 or 04, and I didn’t regret it.

I have about three textures of hair on my head (I think it’s between 4a at the very top and 3c in front and back, to use the lingo the kids are all using now?) Their Silkener made my hair look the same when it was dry as it does when it’s wet its natural, no-chemicals state. The primary difference was the lack of shrinkage — the length of the wet curls did not change when they dried.

Their prices, however, are prohibitive. They charged me the same for a five-months touchup as they had for a full-virgin, mid-back-length head.

I admit it — I really miss that lack of shrinkage! There’s a versatility to it: With my different hair textures, to wear my hair in a nice “out” natural style while curly would require more cutting than I’m willing to do in order to make it look even, plus it would not come out evenly should I ever choose to flatiron it. With the Silkener my ends were even, whether curly or flatironed. (Possibly their “angle and balance” cutting technique would address this issue, but I couldn’t pay for that AND Silkener.

I also couldn’t take the very strong fruity smell of Miss Jessie’s products — I’d walk into work and people across the room would say “Mmm, who’s been eating pineapple?” It was embarrassing. I hear they’ve come out with a fragrance-free line…but again, the prices have all gone up and they were spendy to begin with.

My hair’s fully grown out now. (It never broke off while I grew it out, which was another nice thing — since the texture of the processed hair and the new growth is not that different, methods for styling the roots don’t hurt the older hair — but with regular trimming, the old processed stuff eventually does go away.) I’m tempted to go back, because there was a definite ease of styling with the Silkener, but I dread to think how much their prices might have gone up in the interim. In the meantime, I just follow the tips in the book “Curly Girl” for cleaning curly hair without drying and damage (low use of very diluted shampoo, for starters), and I’ve been using Kinky Curly products for styling and Pantene’s “women of color” line for washing and care. (I’ve had good results with Carol’s Daughter’s moisterizing products.)

(I am not mixed, just black, and I am currently able to achieve the look the women have in the second picture WITHOUT the chemicals, just with their Curly Pudding. But again, it’s a heavy product and had a very strong fruit smell. Not unpleasant, but suppose you want to wear perfume or something? Clash.)

↑ Reply

Vida Starr says:

November 26, 2009 at 12:23 am

Anybody who sits there and tries to say processed hair is natural is full of crap. Much like Miss Jessie’s hair care products. i bought the useless stretching cream which didn’t do anything but make my hair feel horrible. They are overcharging for the crap they put in their products. $22 for an 8 oz jar of mineral oil based cream? Mineral oil is the cheapest oil to use in hair products. Then the whole “silkener” thing is just ridiculous. It’s a regular chemical relaxer. It’s Sodium hydroxide. How can a chemical be natural? Seriously, shame on them for misleading people and taking advantage of people.

gg says:

February 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm

Agreed! I don’t really buy into that 4c 5ab hair type hype… Especially when a product claims to cater to them all. This stuff is Such Goo. It made my hair feel horrible. The purple stuff and the cream colored stuff beads up. If you happen to let water.. rain water, snow flakes… hit your head, it beads up and dries and it looks like you didn’t wash your hair in months.

My GF went to “thee” salon to have it done and she looked like a wet mop upon return. I let her know. I’m a good friend ;) I could have done better making small bantu knots and setting with foam wrap lotion.

This stuff is over priced. For those who swear by it, you’d find extremely suitable and more cost efficient substitutions if you looked. I’m all about black business, but sell some quality goods.

You get a whole lotta messy goo for 60 bucks. My baby gives me that for free.

Ashleann says:

March 20, 2010 at 9:24 pm

Im just starting to go natural and am hesitant to use their product. If the silkening process is looked at as just another chemical process like perming…. how fragile is your hair left after using these products. And also My hair is NOT the same texture as theirs, what would be my end result? (My hair is much more coarse)

March 20, 2010 at 9:26 pm

Ds your hair have to be natural to use the produt…Can it be permed?

March 20, 2010 at 9:30 pm

To all Miko and Titi customers:

Must you use their silkner every 6-8 weeks like a perm?

RHughes says:

August 13, 2011 at 8:56 pm

I am shocked to find out that Miko and Titi are the owners of Miss Jesse’s i went to their salon in the mid to late 90′s when i lived in Brooklyn. They were always really nice and at the time i was getting relaxed and happy with my hair. I think though that the ladies were looking for higher end clientele or didnt like doing my 4c hair. Im not sure i just know that they started making excuses each time i would call for an appointment. At the time Miko was pregnant and at first that was the issue etc… one day after about the 4th time they couldnt take my appt (booked up) i called back an hour later and asked for an appt as a different person and they accepted it. I still dont know what that was all about but im happy for the ladies to have so much success. I have never purchased Miss Jesses and im sure i wont because of the price not because of who makes it although they did leave me with a very bad impression.