Marcella Ellis/ Stylist Extraordinaire/ Just my THOUGHTS!!

Healthy LIFE, Healthy HAIR!!

2012-02-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I have been quite lazy over the last month or so but I am back to writing. I have been exercising now that I have turned 40; I have a new look on life. I am focusing more on my health and being a little more natural in my approach. Not only am I exercising, but I am starting to research more natural foods and products. I have noticed so many changes in my body it is unreal, from quirky little noises my knees make when climbing the stairs, to sharp sudden pains at any given time in random places on my body. It is inevitable, we will all get old one day or another; however aging gracefully is an art. The ART of Preservation! So in this blog I have
decided to add a few natural food finds to help us in our quest for preserving our
beauty with special emphasis on hair.

According to nutritionist and author Cherie Calbom, the common American diet actually
consists of everything that starves hair follicles of what they need to grow. “When your body has to go into overdrive to supply body systems with necessary nutrients, the first areas to suffer are hair, skin and nails,” says Calbom, author of the classic Juicing for Life (1992). “Those are the least of your body’s worries when it is trying to feed bones, muscles, blood and organs that you need just to survive. But on a typical American diet high in fat,salt, sugar, meat and processed foods, hair doesn't have a fighting chance!”

Here are a few of my natural finds:
Almonds: When eaten regularly, almonds protect the
body against heart disease, diabetes and weight gain. Interestingly, they also
pack a powerful punch in promoting healthy hair growth. A 1/4-cup serving of
dry roasted almonds provides approximately 45 percent of your daily recommended
allowance of manganese and vitamin E. Magnesium is "an essential mineral
for growing healthy strands." In fact, a deficiency of magnesium within
the body has been linked to hair loss. When consumed properly, magnesium and
other nutrients help the body to not only maintain proper functioning, but also
encourage the healthy growth of hair, skin and nails.
Cabbage- is one of many greens that provide vitamin A, an antioxidant that stimulates
hair growth. Vitamin A can also be found in pumpkin, broccoli, spinach and
meat.
Tomatoes -are high in vitamin C, an essential vitamin that maintains your hair's health
and helps prevent hair thinning and loss. Vitamin C can also be obtained from
turnips, broccoli, green peppers and most types of fruit.
Spinach -is packed with vitamins E, K, C, B2, B6 and A, which all contribute to hair
growth and strength.
Mushrooms- provide zinc, a nutrient that maintains your hair's moisture, which is
essential for hair growth in order to prevent breakage. Zinc can also be found
in dairy products, peanuts, beans, potatoes, yogurt, brown rice and meat.
Asparagus- contains hair-healthy minerals such as calcium, as well as fol ate and vitamins
A and C. High amounts of calcium can also be found in chard, beet greens and
artichokes.
I realize one thing as I take steps to maintain my health and prolong my life, that eating raw vegetables daily is the best solution to most ailments and disorders. If you cannot intake raw vegetables then I highly recommend juicing.

Here are a few quick pics I did last week. I am loving bangs just blow dried straight not a lot of heat, bouncy free flowing look, No chemicals of course. My 13 year old messy natural look. Her hair in the front cut with bangs no chemicals and 14 inch Marcella Ellis Signature Yaki hair in the back..

It 's me below with a handmade wig I made 30 mins b4 going to work... See YouTube video..

My daughter and her friend.. Natural looking blow dried partial weaves...

Happy NEW Years 2012!! Looking back picture Haul

2012-01-05T15:48:00.001-08:00

As we look at new beginnings and we say goodbye to another year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers, clients, friends, family and my team, for being supportive of Marcella Ellis Companies. This NEW Year will be exciting. We will be bringing you new programs, classes, products, new opportunities, new fashion and styles.
For this month’s blog, I want to share with you a GALLERY of pictures from last year, a quick look back on all of the fun we had with our clients, our staff, our many different shows; photo shoots, and endeavors. As we look forward to the future we must remember from where we came. I wish you all the very best this year. May you prosper and grow, live life to the fullest, and continue to be blessed!

HAIR REVIEW and SAGA Closure Piece

2011-12-06T06:26:00.000-08:00

My Grandmother's Old Fashion Back Wood Remedies

2011-11-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

During the Holidays, I always go through a moment of missing my family, old times and how we were raised. As I was thinking of my grandmother, I started to remember some of the remedies and anecdotes that she used to provide. Growing up with a grandmother that was raised in the back woods of Louisiana, most of her solutions to common problems were all natural. Not because it was the IT thing to do, like it seems today, but because that is the only resource they had. Growing up we made light of some of the concoctions thinking they were so primitive and silly. We only wanted store bought solutions to whatever we needed resolved. I mean all the hocus pocus, oil, vinegar, egg, salt, pepper; ketchup solutions were funny as heck to us.. LOL! Now as a woman I realize the natural remedies that our grandmothers' used were actually much better and better for us than anything we could possibly buy in the store. I am writing this blog to reveal some of my grandmother's remedies and how we utilize these ingredients on most of our handmade healthy hair cocktails mixed in our salon.
Baking SODA (natural cleanser, draws swelling and infection)- Back in the day my grandmother would use baking soda for many things. If we had a cavity or a toothache my grandmother would pack baking soda in the tooth to stop it from hurting. The baking soda would draw the infection and stop the swelling. She also used it when we had a boil with pus, making a paste with water and the baking soda, then packing the bump with the paste. The bump will eventually burst and the pus would drain and would not swell again. Of course baking soda was also used as a cleanser to brush our teeth and was also used as a clarifying cleansing shampoo.
If you have excessive dandruff or build up of product on your hair and scalp, take one tablespoon of baking soda to two parts shampoo. Lather the hair and scalp. Your hair and scalp will be amazingly clean. Only do this when needed not every time you shampoo. Follow up with a apple cider vinegar rinse..

Apple Cider Vinegar- was used for many things, colds, sinus infections, ACV thins mucus almost immediately. One of the first things you will notice after drinking apple cider vinegar is that the color of your mucus goes from white or green and thick, to thin and clear. Some of my Caribbean friends use apple cider vinegar to bathe, it is known to kill germs. For hair we use this acid rinse after the clarifying shampoo to restore pH balance of the hair making the hair smooth and shiny. remember to always use these products like ACV in its natural and organic form.

Vitamin E Pills- My grandmother kept plenty of vitamins in the house she was a firm believer of staying healthy. Visiting the doctor often was not an option simply because it was so expensive. Keeping in good health was a must. My grandmother's skin was beautiful and I would like to say Vitamin E played a major part. Not only did she take the pills internally but she also split the pills in half as a topical solution. She used them on her dry scalp and face as a natural lubricant. Vitamin E has a natural healing power for dry skin.

Eggs (protein used for strong hair) - Eggs are packed with protein, sulfur and biotin, all of which contribute to shiny, strong, healthy hair when eaten or applied as a hair mask. I can tell you story after story how I have used eggs to restore weak, chemically treated, damaged hair but that will take forever. What I will say is that using eggs as a treatment, and even a 911 treatment, has been my saving grace for many of my clients that have experimented on their own hair causing tremendous damage. I have also witnessed one of my clients in particular that went on a high protein, weight loss diet, eating 6- 7 eggs per day. Her hair went from being weak and average to extremely long and strong. After seeing her hair due to her high protein intake I was convinced that protein is a must in our diet as well as using it topically on the hair. Now all of my products are heavily infused with protein. We have testimony after testimony of clients that have taking their hair weaves out and their hair is 4 times thicker, stronger and longer then it was before our treatments.

Aloe Vera Plant- Now my grandmother kept an aloe Vera plant/cactus in the house it was used for many things. No matter what we did from cutting our selves, scraping our knees, blister, cold sores, acne you name it my grandmother went to the plant, cracked opened the cactus and put this slimy gel all over the problem. Miraculously it would heal in a matter of days..

Aloe Vera is known as a healing plant that is used in many ointments, creams, lotions and hair care products. It is also a wonderful skin moisturizer and softener. More importantly, it is a great “skin healer” that is extremely effective on minor burns, cuts, scrapes, insect bites or stings.
Use it for acne, to dry up pimples, for patches of eczema and especially, it's great to use on fever blisters or cold sores.
Be sure to keep an Aloe Vera plant around the house. It is easy to grow and does not require much water since it’s a cactus. Aloe Vera for the hair is used to promote hair growth, prevent hair loss and heal split ends.

Beer- I never knew why my grandmother would put beer in my hair but after researching I figured out why. There is a protein in beer that fills in many spaces that are lagging between damaged cuticles. Cuticle repair makes hair smoother and shinier.

Last but not least.....

MASHED Avocados -are one of the best home remedies for hair growth and make great hair conditioners. They’re packed with essential fats that are super moisturizing. This leaves your hair feeling softer and more elastic and makes it less prone to breakage.

As you can see many of these home remedies serves more than one purpose. My grandmother was very resourceful. As we enter this new era many people are becoming wiser on remedies that are natural and organic. Even if you didn't have a grandmother like mine there are many topics online that provide helpful natural solutions to any and everything. So before you go buy a bunch of overpriced hair products do your research, look in your kitchen, and get a natural healing made by your own hands.

What's going on this month:

We are giving away FREE HAIR WEAVES, HAIR EXTENSIONS and HAIR!!! click link
http://marcellaellis.com/referral_program?d=1321021062681

Check out our NEWSLETTER

http://menews.moonfruit.com/

Our new location is doing great! We have now partnered with LUX LASH BOUTIQUE located in our Fairfax, VA location

http://luxlashboutique.moonfruit.com/

We would like to thank our sponsors for doing an Amazing Renovation JOB!

Call them if you have any home improvement or commercial improvement needs

http://popehomeimprovement.moonfruit.com/

Check out our New School for those who are seeking State Licensing.. 2 1/2 month course!!

http://marcellaellisschoolofcosmeticarts.moonfruit.com/

NEW FREE HAIR WEAVE, HAIR PRODUCT, HAIR REVIEW, ADVICE LINE!

1-877-WEAVE-ADVICE
follow us on FACEBOOK

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003090556503

ADVANCED TRAINING FOR STYLIST!! Check out our site

http://mehairsystemstraining.com/

Wigs Gone BAD!

2011-10-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hello all, I am writing today about wigs... I have noticed a lot of women wearing wigs lately and for the record most of them look just like wigs! Many of you notice women in your office, in your family, your friends or maybe even You wearing a wig that looks too wig like. If someone walks up to you and ask where did you get your wig its obvious it looks like one. There are many reasons why one would choose to wear a wig, bad hair days, transitioning to natural hair, minor to extreme hair loss, bad haircut, color or chemical damage, or just because you want a change. No matter what your reasons for wearing a wig, it can be an easy fix to alter your look. One of the main reasons I am writing about this topic today is because wigs should look like your hair once you place it on your head, not like a mop, a helmet or just an artificial addition. The object is to fool someone with the look so that they will think it's your hair.

I have noticed this sudden surge of YouTube video bloggers giving advice on everything hair, wigs, weaves, make up etc... They are actually consulting the general public on what to buy and have you look just as silly as they look. Now, being a major YouTube fan I am puzzled on how so many subscribers take advice from secretaries, government workers, dept store clerks, Starbucks workers etc... on hair, wigs, weaves and makeup from these do it yourself bloggers. I know it is a recession and I understand people trying to find alternate ways to look good for less. However, I don't think it is wise to take advice from anyone on anything unless that is there line of work. For instance one of my girlfriends swore up and down I had a thyroid when I talked to her about some of my symptoms. "Girl you have a thyroid that's what I had, I got it removed, you need to do the same thing." she told me. Come to find out I had gestational diabetes while pregnant, thyroids was never an issue. Again, she is not a doctor and because her knowledge is strictly based on her own situation she can not give advice to everyone. Needless to say YouTube should not be your ultimate source for buying weaves, wigs, hair care etc...unless it is a person that is a licensed cosmetologist. I mean really, we had to pass the state board as well as go to school for at least 2 years to safely administer and give advice to the public.

Anyway, back to the topic, I was having a moment. LOL! Wigs can be cute when worn correctly, but first you must have them cut to frame your face. They must be de-bulked around the front of your face because most wigs tend to come heavy around the ears and temple area, which causes the wig to look fake. NOTE: You should never take the wig out of the bag, put it on and go. It is not ready to be worn like that! If the hair is straight you should comb the hair so that the strands are not still stuck together. Most of the time the wig is folded so it has a crease at the top crown part of the hair. The top part is a dead giveaway, when the wig sits up like a cone head. You should try brushing the top down, laying it flat and then spraying it with a stiff holding spray that does not contain too much oil. If you use a spray with too much oil then the hair will look shiny and stick together even more. Synthetic wigs don't last very long in fact only about 2 -3 weeks if you are wearing them daily. After synthetic hair goes bad it looks awful! If that synthetic hair is bushy on the ends "Sorry" its time to throw it away. You have gotten your moneys worth, unless you are going for the lady of the night, dirty streetwalker look. I have seen bad synthetic hair wigs and weaves, all around the DMV area and it is pretty scary. I suggest if you have the money to invest in a human hair wig, even if it is a little more expensive. At lease the human hair wigs will last a bit longer. You can shampoo and deep condition a human hair wig and keep it looking nice longer, but that also depends on how much you spent on the wig. There are good human hair wigs then there are superior human hair wigs. No matter what type of hair you choose it must be cut and styled to fit your facial structure. Can you do this at home? Maybe. I have revamped my YouTube channel "The Marcella Ellis Project," there I will be giving professional advice, doing tutorials, product reviews, quick and easy styles you can do from home, recession proof do it your self do's, and so much more... Nevertheless, I want you all to subscribe so that I can keep bringing you all the professional advice you need. Feel free to write and leave a comment so that I may give a video review of what you really want to know.

As always, Thanks again for reading my blog, These are just my thoughts! xoxox..:)M.E.

Links:

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/marcellaellis?feature=mhee

Grand Opening Party of our new location 9-29-11

http://www.youtube.com/user/marcellaellis?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/ej-CPCSOVAY

TRENDS

http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/trends-october-2011/4556007329

News

http://menews.moonfruit.com

Ghetto Hair!!

2011-09-04T18:47:00.001-07:00

I really don't want to offend anyone in this blog but I just had to write my thoughts. I mean who cares what I have to say anyway? lol! Whenever I'm out and about I am truly observant to the women in my surroundings. I look at their hair, makeup, clothes etc...I just can't help it, I'm a stylist. So what I've been noticing is a lot of bad weaves, runway avant-garde hair styles taken too far, ridiculous hair colors, hard frozen hair, and so much more. Don't get me wrong I do appreciate creativity, especially when you are doing fashion shows or photo shoots. But walking around in public going to work in these styles should just be forbidden. Shaving all of your hair off on one side and a whole head full of tracks on the other side is Ghetto, especially if you have two different textures going on. Track hair is silky and your hair is nappy, is a no-no.

Here is some advice try blending the cut with graduation from one side to the other creating some balance. This will make the cut look softer and look more like a professional did it instead of a home made style. Also buy hair that actually matches your texture, and relax your new growth so that your hair looks groomed..
The bad weave jobs are a dime a dozen. I see women wearing textures of hair that do not match their own, this is the first dead give away. I'm just saying.. Everyone wants beautiful Indian, Malaysian hair, but it is not a good idea if your hair is short and kinky. I mean who really wants a small nappy Afro on top and long flowing Indian hair on bottom. DON'T get me wrong there is nothing wrong with nappy, kinky, hair but the idea is too match your hair with the weave.

The next give away is unnatural colors and blends.. I think the whole color thing is cute (pinks, purples, etc..) if you are 16 and under. Natural colors like browns, blondes and even some forms of red, like cinnamon, or earthy colors are good, but you must also use these colors with caution. You should always try blending highlights and low lights when using light colors to make the weave look more realistic.

The cut is also very important. You should always put layers around the front of the hair, and soft layers throughout even when wearing the hair long. This helps the weave look more natural as opposed to wearing 18" of hair even all around. It looks very Elvira..ish

The Ghetto invisible part phenomena! I totally understand why someone would want this procedure done. It eliminates one trying to blend in there own hair with the weave. However, I have seen these parts looking absolutely horrible. Some of them with glue showing, tracks visible, and a part as big as a railroad track going right through the middle of their head. First of all, a part should be very thin, not 2 inches wide. So if you are doing an invisible part at home then you should try to lay the tracks close together only enough to see the line. Please try not to get glue everywhere so that it is visible to the public and also hide the tracks. If we can see your TRACKS that's not a good weave.

I know I write about things that no one wants to talk about but I have to keep it real. The bad weaves that look absolutely fake with the heavy eyelashes are making me ill. If your eyelashes look like you have caterpillars on the top of your eyelids 9 times out of 10 your eyelashes are too thick. Most of the nail salons are offering eyelash extensions and that's cool too, but they are applying them with too much glue and 2 packs of eyelashes on one eye. Ghetto! Sorry, they don't look good at all.

Believe it or not I'm really not trying to be funny, I'm writing this out of concern. Some people just don't know and you as their girlfriend do not want to tell them the truth, so I'll do it for you..lol! These are just my thoughts! Love you all and stay tuned for my next blog!

Check out what's hot this month!

http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/trends-september-2011/4554928157

Check out our new salon boutique location Grand Opening 'Sip & See' Sept. 30, 2011 in our news letter...
http://menews.moonfruit.com/

Trying new weaving and extension procedures can be good and bad. Let me tell you WHY!

2011-08-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hello all Happy AUGUST! It is super hot outside and so many people just want simple and easy.
Trying new procedures can be a plus but sometimes they can also be bad on your hair. My advice to my clients and new clients is too analyze your lifestyle and situation before deciding to try new procedures on your hair. I have people that call me everyday wanting to try something new. My first questions is what do you hope to gain from trying this new procedure? Are you looking for invisible free flowing weaves or extensions that blend seamlessly with your hair? The answer is always yes, don't we all want this? With every procedure there are pros and cons, understanding what is most important to you will help you decide what procedure to choose. I am listing the differences in weaves and extensions and the benefits of having each procedure. I will also list the condition, length, texture, and density your hair should be to obtain these procedures, as well as the disadvantages.

The difference between a Weave and Extensions

Hair Weave is a process of which hair is attached to existing hair or scalp through braiding or another interweaving process. This process is normally done with hair wefts and or wig attachments.

Hair Extensions are hair additions that are individually added to the clients hair in small clusters. Hair extensions are also known as strand to strand procedures because of the individual attaching systems.

When weaving the hair the most commonly form of attachment is braiding all or some of the hair and then attaching wefts of hair to the clients braids. This is mostly called a sewn in weave. This same procedure can be taken one step further by sewing the net on top of the braids, then sewing the tracks to the net, this is called a NET weave.

A more advanced weave is sewing the track to the hair with out braiding, but instead leaving all of the clients hair free. This procedure can be done a number of ways. Some stylists use micro rings to anchor the weft, some use rubber bands, some just use more thread, called pole weaving, Malaysian method, etc.. in substitute for the braid.

So now you understand with a weave you can either have your hair all braided, partially braided, are all out. Terms that are used with weaves are free flowing, natural looking, no lumps no bumps, ultra flat weaves. These are all benefits of having a weave.

Some may think that a weave can be invisible or undetectable to the eye, NO a weave can not be invisible, when you open up the hair and look at the attachment you will see the weft and they way it is sewn with thread. If you are looking for undetectable or invisible to the naked eye keep reading below.

The benefits from having it braided is that you hair is at rest underneath the weave. You do not have to worry about damaging your hair with flat irons, color, or chemicals. We recommend using our soy protein shampoo and conditioner, as well as our own healthy hair cocktail to keep your hair infused with vitamins and protein while under the weave. We have seen tremendous results from numerous clients that have been on our healthy hair care regimen. We have testimonies of just how their hair has gone from shabby, dry, short and broken, to healthy, long, thick and strong.

The other option with weaving is leaving partial or all of the hair out. In this case one must consider how you are going to keep your hair blended with the weave. Now this could mean constant flat ironing, the use of chemicals etc... The dead give away for any weave or extensions, is when the two textures do not blend well. If your hair is thick, course or nappy and the weave hair is not then you are in weave violation.. LOL!

When looking at leaving your hair out consider do you sweat, do you swim, how often do you get caught in the rain, hot showers etc... Even a small amount of moisture can cause most black women's hair to swell and therefore creating a new texture that is not like the weave you are wearing.

This is the same for Extensions.
Extensions require no braids at all. In fact all of your hair is left out and we simply add hair additions throughout your own hair in small strand to strand clusters.

The method of attachment varies depending on your stylists. Fusions, are done with a hot keratin wax, micro linking is done with small rings, undetectable strand is done with a small interlock, these are all examples of extensions. The pros are that we can make the strands big, medium or invisible to the eye. This will allow a beautiful seamless attachment. The cons are they can be high maintenance. The smaller they are the more they tend to fall out fast, they are time consuming to have them put in which means it cost more to have them done, and IF not cared for on a high maintenance plan will cause your hair to break off. In other words you can't put these in and because you paid so much to have them done think they they will last longer than a weave or think that you don't have to do much to them.. WRONG! The cost of these procedures have nothing to do with the length of time they last or even the care you must provide. The costs comes from a professional working on your hair all day, at least 5 hours or more to attach and not being able to take any other client. Most people think when you pay so much for the procedure you want it to last a long time. I totally understand, however these procedures are not for those on a budget or seeking an economical benefit. They are tedious and require a steady hand. Think of it as caviar, only a small portion of it will cost you a pretty penny, but by no means are you full. These procedures can be put in so that they are invisible to the eye and cannot be detected, but they are HIGH MAINTENANCE!
In closing weaves and extensions are exciting because we can always alter your look for whatever reason you choose. The best candidate for a weave is anyone who has thinning, balding, hair loss, hair breakage, chemical damage or those who just want simple safe healthy additions. In contrast, to apply extensions we must use precautions on certain hair types and density. Extensions do not cover balding or thinning, and is not recommended for those who have such. It is best suited for one who has medium to normal hair with the length being at least 5-6 inches long or to your chin.

Always remember, no matter what procedure you choose you must take good care of the process as well as your own hair. Maintenance is a must!

TRY OUR NEW HEALTHY HAIR COCKTAILS!!!!

Trust me, you hair is taking a severe beating this summer! Our Healthy Hair Cocktails are designed to give your thirsty hair relief!

On the menu:

**Pina Colada Super Moisturizing Charge

**Strawberry Daiquiri Turbo Boost

**Banana Cream Energizer

All of our moisturizing cocktails are hand mixed right in our salon. Filled with rich amino acids, vitamins, protein, jojoba, Moroccan, aloe, vitamin E oils and so much more!

Call now to schedule your Healthy Hair COCKTAIL!

301.474.0767

Don't forget to stop by our site! New info Added

TRENDS: http://marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/trends-august-2011/4553922679

M.E. NEWS: http://menews.moonfruit.com/

Just got Back from MIAMI American Black Film Festival!!

2011-07-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
I'm back from my work/ vacation week and I feel energized and ready to work again.. Miami was beautiful as usual, we sponsored the American Black Film Festival. Marcella Ellis Signature Products were given to all of the Celebrities and Prestige pass holders at the event. We were also there doing hair and makeup for our special VIP client. We got to hob knob and network with some of the stars and their PR people while we were there. First let me tell you about my hair and Lon's hair my marketing manager and how we wore it.. then I'll move on to my VIP client and post pics of me at work..

Both Lon and I wore Virgin Indian Wavy Hair 16"that can be flat ironed straight. I had to color my Indian hair to give it a darker more consistent appearance. I colored it off Black. Lon wore her Indian hair natural brown and also added some dark blonde highlights.

We both had braided sewn in weaves, her hair was braided with no hair left out and mine a small bit of hair left out in my parting area.

This hair actually worked out great because I wore it curled with long layers to the side during the day events. When I went swimming and got my hair full of beach sand the hair just turned into beautiful waves. Lon simply wore her hair wavy the entire time. I know we look like we are working hard.. LOL!

Oh, here I am doing hair & makeup for our VIP client Nicole Friday in her penthouse at the Ritz Carlton. She is the CEO's wife of the American Black Film Festival. She also has a celebrity cupcake business and is featured in this month's Essence magazine.

Overall we had a blast! I actually had a chance to relax and vacation a bit with my other half. So I am renewed and back to business as usual..

Please check our website Ive made a few changes.. http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/stylists/4550742306

Check out what's popular in the salon this month..
http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/trendsjuly-2011/4553327427

Until next time!

xoxo..(ME

Quick UPDATE! What's New and Exciting!

2011-06-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed to gain so many new and exciting clients from all over the world. We are excited to now offer our prestige packages for both our national and international clients. Our team of talented stylists will be servicing our daily clients that are also celebrities to us here in our Greenbelt, MD location! We are looking to open a new location in the Fairfax, VA area and will keep you posted as information is available. As for me, I will be reserving packages for our prestige clients and will be sending invitations to those that are accepted. There is a new and exciting website for this Opulent Society that is password protected..... Mobile Concierge service is available for our Opulent Society Club by invitation only.

The new website is titled couture which is a link from http://www.marcellaellis.com/

For all of our daily clients that frequent our Greenbelt, MD location we are excited to offer you new techniques and services. We now offer The Keratin Straightener Conditioning Process. We also have in stock new Beautiful Shipments of Remy hair both Indian and now Natural Relaxed Textures. We have thoroughly tested and approved all packs of hair to ensure you get the best quality on the market. As you all know we sell out fast so call now to reserve or purchase your hair... 301.474.0767

Visit our site for more EXCITING:

ME NEWS.. http://menews.moonfruit.com/

TRENDS... http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/trendsjune-2011/4551979438

NEW SERVICES... http://www.marcellaellis.moonfruit.com/#/services/4550797384

What's In /What's OUT! 2011

2011-05-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I am obsessed with all things beauty, hair, haute luxury and fashion. I look at styles what's in right now and try to come up with hairstyles that compliment what's HOT! This whole shabby chic, flower child, hippy look is in right now.... So I thought to myself hmmm.. Let me whip out the old crimping iron, dust it off and create an old but new look. I crimped my hair with my waffle crimp iron and made big waves in it to compliment my Indian print fitted dress that I wore to my fight party this weekend.. (Pacquiao vs Mosley).. I must say it was so CUTE! Too bad I don't have pictures cause our camera lady, which is our salons marketing manager was Tipsy! LOL.. anyway the pics she took of me made me look so fat! She was holding the camera wrong, you know! hee hee.. SO now this week at the salon I plain on crimping EVERY BODY'S HAIR!! LOL!
The MOW HAWK is out of style already... ENUFF!! Let it go!

A new Spin on the mow hawk is the heavy asymmetric! Long flowing hair either pinned to the side OR like Jill Scott is wearing on the front cover this month of EBONY.. a nice cut..

Also try braiding one side of your hair in a big braid pinning it to one side, with heavy long flowing loose curls or waves.. SO HAUTE!

SO Big Waves this months! If you already have a straight weave try crimping or twisting it with mousse, let it dry, and pull it loose... Wavy INDIAN Human HAIR is also thumbs up! I love, love the string head bands.. it also works for keeping hair in place.. LOl!!

Our new S-Reflector is amazing.. Perfect for shine without looking greasy and it's also a heat protector while curling and flat ironing hair..

We also have our new shipment of hair that just arrived FRIDAY! I'm so excited! The Ultra Natural Relaxed Texture is in stock! You have got to try it! Blends Perfectly with our hair... We have Indian Remy Wavy and Straight in stock as well... Call us to place your order NOW! 301.474.0767 visit our site http://www.blogger.com/www.marcellaellis.com

Stylist Tomela Wright/ Marcella Ellis Hair Studios wearing some of our Indian Remy Curly HAIR! I had to post this, she looks so cute!

I have so many new blogs already prepared to be published.. wait til you hear what I have to say next... Until then.. tootles!! kiss, kiss :)M.E.

Hair REVIEWS!!

2011-04-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

I am blogging about hair today.. As some of you know, my staff and I have recently been testing different types of hair to give you a more educated input on what not to buy... We have also been testing some of our own imports so that we may give you the best product on the market hands down...

Here are the results from all of my different hair dos this month..
Okay Bobbi Boss Indie Remi is good only if you are having a shorter cut. Lately Bobbi Boss Indie Remi has had too many reports from my clients as tangling and shedding.. The Yaki Straight and all of the Wavy Hair I'm rating: ... THUMBS DOWN..

This bob is actually Bobbi Boss Indie Remi which actually came out kinda cute.However Bobbi Boss is actually Chinese hair that is processed to make one believe that it is Indian Hair.. The hair is of a courser grade than real Indian hair.. I like the hair in a bob because it didn't tangle at all. However the bangs became increasingly greasy as days went by because of my oily skin.. You must shampoo Bobbi Boss at least every 7-10 days because it will hold oil and give that greasy sticky look ... uggggh!

Janet Collection Indian Remy Water.,,,

Okay I love the look when its wet... However it soon tangles, dries out and just look plain old bad after 2 weeks. All the Straight to Wavy Hair I always question.. Especially if it is not virgin hair.. When the hair is processed to go from wavy to straight it never really flat irons straight, and eventually the wavy looks awful... I don't recommend purchasing wavy to straight hair unless you are buying Virgin Indian Hair.. No chemicals, just raw temple hair..

Here is my current disaster,

Sensationnel New Remi Yaki Hair.. I bought this hair about 5 days ago and it is shedding and tangling like crazy.. All over the bathroom, the bed, the car, my clothes, my boyfriend even said it was wrapped around his toothbrush.. How embarrassing is that! This hair is the GOD AWFULLEST!! I'M Taking it out on Tuesday..

We have been testing our own imported hair on some of our clients, our staff and family members.. I won't lie we have been getting garbage, but here are two that I really like. My daughter has what I am naming the The Ultra Natural Relaxed Texture and The Yaki Relax ...we will be selling soon.. I put this weave in her hair about 4 weeks ago and have washed it at least 3 times. She has two different types of hair. In the back where the hair normally tends to tangle because of sleeping on pillows, collars, sweat, etc... I put the Ultra Relaxed Texture in the back because it is much softer.. This hair blends perfectly with African American Hair and remains super soft and tangle free even with a teenager doing GOD knows what to her hair...The hair on top is the Yaki Relax.. I put this texture on top because it seems to have more body and movement.. It is a a wee bit courser than the hair in the back which is perfect because I can blend and cut more layers for a more natural look. It does not tangle or mat either.. STAY TUNED we will have it in a few weeks...

As for now I'm still in love with the Outre Natural Remy Yaki gray package only... NO real problems reported thus far!

Why don't I have my Clients pics and info on this site!

2011-03-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

Someone brought this to my attention this is what they said. "I know it's your healthy hair care journal but why don't you have pictures of your clients, you're a stylist?" Now that is a good question! When I first started this journal I wanted to speak on some of my clients issues

there struggles and how I rectified the problems. But since then I've had a change of HEART! Somehow this journal became a journal about me and my struggles and how I have rectified my own issues with only a mild mention of a few of my clients. The reason being is I talk in depth to my clients about their lives and situations and I feel I have a sense of loyalty to them not to expose their business on my website. Since so many of my clients read my blog I feel that I will betray their trust by exposing their situations for others to read. Now if I were the messy stylist that didn't mind gossiping and keeping trouble started I guess this would be a really entertaining site. (We will leave that for the $50 weave shops.) LOL! But since I value all of my clients, I dare not to repeat anything I have seen or heard through a confidential conversation or appointment. If you didn't know we have a very private salon location. We never take walk ins and we only work on scheduled appointments. Our doors are always locked and if you are not a client of ours you can not come in. Exclusivity is how we built this business. The women that come to our salon are professional and enjoy their privacy. We have private rooms so that the clients feel comfortable. Our salon is located in an office park where you must know exactly where you are going to find us. Sounds like FORT KNOX instead of a salon right! You Betcha! Don't get me wrong you will feel very welcomed and at home more like a good friend invited you.

Okay .. So the question is why dont you talk about your clients...
SO here is what I am going to do, either I am going to change the subtitle of this blog or I'm going to ask a few of my clients would they mind me talking about there lives, their situations and how it has affected their hair. Oh and also allow me to post their pics! Any volunteers? Hmmmm...Stay tuned!

LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!!!

2011-03-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

OMG! I said I love this Natural Yaki Remy hair made by Outre but I can not vouch for Outre the brand. So many of you have emailed me with response to my last email, it is so nice to know you all are listening. I have even had some of my clients come in to the salon with Outre hair after I made that post. However, I can only vouch for the Outre Natural Remy Yaki Hair not there whole entire line of hair. The packaging is Gray with purple writing. This is so important because Outre has many grades of Yaki hair that is garbage. This is there newest line of Hair that is so close to black hair it is remarkable. I love it so much I am producing my own line similar to it... SO stay tuned!

Nevertheless, I have changed my hair style again! Okay.. lol.. Keep up already!
I have sewn in a full net weave with none of my hair out a few days ago, simply because leaving my hair out the whole winter has taken a toll. My hair and skin I notice is extremely dry. I noticed some breakage, so I didn't have a choice, I had to braid it all up again. Normally, my advice to all wearing weaves is to try to wear your own hair in the summer when there is more moisture in the air. I am a little backwards because I got tired of wearing full closed in weaves and took my hair out in the winter. My hair texture is already dry, and the bitter cold did more damage than good. Back to the drawing board... Thank God I caught it before it got too bad. In the winter you must continue to add moisture to your hair either through deep conditioning treatments or through daily moisturizers..

I decided to put Remy Virgin Indian Hair in with my full sewn in weave. We just got a new shipment of some of the most amazing hair I've ever seen! It is just simply beautiful. Since none of my hair is out, its all braided down and well protected under this net weave, The Indian Hair is all that you see. I love It! Free flowing easy to manage, and it has a dull matt finish like our hair.. not the silky shiny look. I also use our new S-Reflector flat Iron protector to curl my hair, it gives the hair a beautiful shine without making the hair look greasy. It is simply beautiful...and oh yeah my friend loves it! Ill put more pics up of my new hair in a few days... Stay Tuned!

Check out this new link!!

http://menews.moonfruit.com/#/new-hair/4549279776

Good Morning ALL!!

2011-02-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning with blogging on my mind.. So here is what I have to say. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Valentines Day! Now I got that out of the way.. LOL!

I know I promised to reveal my hair growth on my bday but as you know this whole weaving thing is very addictive. I took my weave out and felt completely naked. Although my hair is a nice length there is nothing like having my long flowing weave in my head.. I took some pictures but since I am dating someone new and fearful that he will see this blog I will post better looking shots in a few weeks. lol..

I have fell in love with Outre Natural Yaki Remy hair because the texture matches my hair exactly. I have all of my hair out now with only 4 rows of the flat method in my head. It blends so well together my new friend does'nt even know it's not mine.. Besides the fact that its 14 inches down my back.. I mean you know black women have long hair too.. LOL!

The truth is I really dont have to flat iron my hair to death to get it to match this texture. I usually shampoo it with our Soy Protein Shampoo and Conditioner.. Then I flat iron it light so that the texture still remains.

I put olive oil moisturizing hair lotion on my edges to smooth them down and VOILA!!

check us out..

Here is a link to our new news website.. http://www.menews.moonfruit.com/

Until next time! Be Blessed..

Happy Turkey! Its Thanksgiving already!

2010-11-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is client Appreciation Month! We want to say thank you to all of our clients by offering a $50.00 coupon on all of our procedures and techniques. We want to continue to provide each and every one of you with our superior products and services.

Hello out there! Im back to blogging....

2010-09-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

June 2010

I have been gone for a while so much has gone on this year. I took a long blog break. I can't believe this year is almost over when I just took my new years vows to blog once a month. LOL! I have'nt even come close to fulfilling that vow or any of my New year's resolutions for that matter. I know ...this upcoming New Year I won't proclaim any New Years Resolutions and I will probably do alot better.

Any way. I' ll start from my last blog. In June Marcella Ellis Signature Products was a sponsor in the black film festival in Miami. I got a chance to hob knob with so many celebrities in the VIP parties and events. It's funny the only person I really remember was Idris Elba! I partied with him all night at the BET opening night it was love at first sight... my future husband.. Only he does'nt know it yet. LOL!

This is what you look like when you have one, two many drinks.. Try to look sober! Ha!

Any way I had a sewn in weave with loose wavy Indian hair. Underneath my hair is growing and getting much stronger. My reveal date will be December the 9th, My 39th birthday!

Fast forward>>>>>>>

July, August, September 2010

For these few months we have been very busy servicing our clients, training students and shipping products. Our clients have been extremely pleased with our Healthy Hair Care System. We have been focusing on less chemicals and more vitamins and protein. The results have been phenomenal. I recommend for those of you who can not visit our salon to purchase our soy protein shampoo and soy protein conditioner. You may call in and place your order. Our signature line of Virgin Remy Indian Hair is a "HIT" as well. We sell out of hair every week! Call in fast to place your order. We have Wavy, Curly and Straight......

It's JUNE already!

2010-04-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

I know don't tell me, I'm late with my blog AGAIN!!
Please Forgive ME....

First of all I want to say thank you to all of our clients for patronizing our business it has been extremely busy. Who KNEW????? May was a very busy month. We offer our apologies for any time inconvenience that may have occurred during this heavy influx of traffic. We look forward to providing you all with our award winning services and appreciate your business.

I just want to update you all on our Healthy Hair Progress. We have had continued success. A few of my clients that immediately come to mind have seen phenomenal results. One in particular is a doctor that has been a client of ours since 2008. Recently we removed her weave to give her a new one, and discovered a tremendous amount of growth. She has been on our Healthy Hair Care System for at least a year and a half and we have noticed the condition of her hair is in excellent shape. She has at least 3 inches of growth since we first started and her hair is thick and strong. We just discussed removing her weave for good the next go around. Congratulations Ms. J, you know who you are!
I have continued my research trying to get to the bottom of what is really going on with the health of our hair.
Here is what I have discovered. The MD, DC and VA water has a high level of water hardness which is calcium carbonate and magnesium. You may notice slight spotting on your dishes when using your dish washer or residue in your shower. It also tested high with unsafe levels of toxic by- products of the chemicals (chloramine)used to purify the Potomac river water at levels above annual federal health limits. Now what does this mean? Well because this is a hair care blog we'll stick to hair but just think of what this is doing to our bodies. We use the water to cook, brush our teeth, wash our bodies including hair, our clothes, dishes, pets etc..... "I think the water has something to do with so many unknown streams of cancer." Just my opinion. Water Hardness and Chloramine levels differ from city to city and state to state. Please do your research on your hometown. I have noticed so many women in this area experiencing balding and thinning at very young ages.
Here are the facts:
http://marcellaellis.com/hard_water__effects_on_hair

To combat these pollutants, chemicals and hard water minerals, we have devised a plan of action. I don't want to advise you women to practice this at home because each head of hair is very different and should be first analyzed by a professional.
Our Clarifying shampoo is an all natural mixture only done in our salon not available for sale but coming soon:
* Removes build up of minerals and oxidizers that can cause adverse affects on the hair
* Prevents dryness caused by calcium, magnesium and chlorine
* Restores shine, moisture and manageability to the hair
* Removes discoloration caused by iron and copper
* Unclog calcium from the hair follicle which can cause dry flaky, scalp tissue and coats the scalp causing the hair to never grow again
* Help prevent further build up of minerals and oxidizers
* Ensures the proper processing of colors, perms and relaxers

If you decide to clarify at home please do it no more than once maybe twice a month. Clarifying can also strip the hair of moisture so be sure to deep, deep condition.

I am really on a mission to promote healthy hair care so please continue to follow my blog as I reveal more healthy hair care information.......
Talk to you SOON!

March Madness!!

2010-03-03T12:58:00.001-08:00

Classes start March 8th at our new Training Center..

Television Show "Marcella Ellis Glam Review" DCTV March begins shooting....

March 20th the first day of SPRING!!!

Hello all! March is here and it is time for me to update you all on a few things. I didn't write in the month of February but I am going to get better. I am going to try to blog once a month, at the beginning of each month that is...

Well I am happy to say during the snow storm I lost an extra 15 pounds. Mostly sleeping and not exerting a lot of energy. I wasn't eating very much could have been stress but anyway... its off. BYE BYE!! My friends say its not good to loose weight that way by not eating, that's probably true. However, I am just glad to have lost it by any means necessary. Now the trick is trying to keep it off. Plenty off Exercise!!! Dieting plays a big part in the health of our hair as well. I was not consuming many calories while I was home during the storm because I wasn't eating much. I tried to supplement my nutrition intake by taking one a day. I have also increased my protein intake by taking those new protein shakes by special k which they say controls your appetite as well..

I had Lisa my assistant put a weave in my hair. We got a new shipment of raw Indian, Virgin, Human, Remy hair in stock, and we are loving it. It is soft, and does not tangle at all. I jumped in the shower and washed my hair again last week, and I had this body wavy look going on. I thought I was Pocahontas.... This is the longest I have ever worn a weave. I have actually had it in since January and it is now March...

As far as health care, I have been experimenting lately in the salon, mixing protein in jars making different compositions of conditioners. Some of my new clients as well as old clients have been experiencing extreme dry and brittle hair. I contribute the dry season as well as the hard water we have running through our faucets throughout the metro area to this problem. I have been studying different natural ingredients that add luster and moisture to the hair both internally and externally. I bought gel Vitamin E tablets and have started cutting open the capsule and squeezing out the highly concentrated Vitamin E in the tablets to lubricate the scalp. My grandmother was always a fan of Vitamin E, she would use the extract on her skin as well as consume the tablets. Maybe that's one of the reason she looks so young even to this day at the age of 89. My grandmother was also a big fan of the aloe Vera cactus. I'm still studying the benefits of this tropical plant and how it can be used in our healthy hair care regimen. I have mixed a few of my favorite protein conditioners in one big jar and added carrot oil, olive oil, and Shea butter. We have been using this as our protein packs. For our moisturizing packs and hot oil soaks I have been using a few of my favorite combination conditioners and added Vitamin E to the mix. Stay tuned...I will fill you in next month with the results....

IT'S 2010!!! .....I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU

2010-01-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

As this new year begins to unfold and a rough year has now come to pass, I just want to take this time to say THANK YOU! January is a month of newness an indication of all things hopeful. New Year's resolutions are put in place, new ideas are formulated, there is a sense of hope for the remaining days to come. AS I look back in retrospect and realize that through it all I have so many reasons to be thankful. I want to first say Thank You to my Lord and Savior for seeing me through this past year with so many blessings I can't even name. I have learned to appreciate many small wonders, obstacles that I overcame in which I knew I had no control. I challenge you all to do the same. We look at our lives and continue to want more but never really being thankful for what we have. I secondly want to say thank you to my family and friends who have been there for me when I needed them most. We have cried together, laughed together and provided comfort to one another through the good times and bad. I want to lastly say thank you to my clients both new and old. I have bonded with so many of you sharing our similar stories about our obstacles and triumphs. It has been a pleasure serving you all in 2009 and will be a pleasure serving you for years to come.

I haven't been blogging lately because I have been extremely busy servicing my clients as well as working on opening my new schools. I am happy to say my company has just opened two new Advanced Training Centers in Alexandria VA and Los Angeles California. It fills my heart with gladness to see this dream come to fruition. We are now enrolling students that have an interest in excelling in specific industry skills. If you know someone that would like to enroll in continued education advanced courses please refer them to our new website
http://www.mehairsystemstraining.com/

Thank you All and GOD BLESS!

M.E Hair Systems Training Center

1940 Duke Street Suite 200

Alexandria, VA 22314

703-869.2935

M.E. Hair Systems Training Center

515 S. Flower Street Suite 3600

Los Angeles. California 90071

866-970.0767

All things change!

2009-11-11T20:11:00.001-08:00

I think I write the best when I am p. m. s...ing

When I first decided to blog I thought I would write about the many stories of my clients. The women that I service on a daily basis, their many different walks of life, their issues concerning health, relationships, careers and personalities. How all of these factors affect their health and ultimately their hair. However as I started to write I realized that at different intervals of my life, I am every woman. As I listen to their stories I realize that I have had very similar issues at one stage or another in my own life. As I look in the mirror getting dressed for work I realized that I am getting older by the day. The many trials and tribulations that I have overcome and even some of them that I continue to endure have left scars of aging all over my body. From the stretch marks and scarring from my daughters birth, to the acne scarring from puberty and even adult acne, to the stress of bad relationships, bills and poor diet. These factors and many others have taken a toll on my body. I use to lie about my age. My daughter was confused for a long time. She couldn't figure out why every year mommy was still 25. But now as I embark on my 38th birthday next month I have come to the conclusion that all things change. I am no longer ashamed to tell my age. As I look in the mirror I notice when I hold my head slightly down I have this double chin action going on. If I turn slightly left I notice I am loosing my ongoing fight to disguise my gray hairline. My girlfriend and I had the nerve to go to a young club last week. I felt like the old lady in the club trying to bring back the good old days. Oh well.. I can say this one thing I am blessed and truly grateful to be alive. I say to all you young women keep living you will get old one day.

Now how do these factors relate to hair. When your body changes so does your hair. The average rate of hair growth is 1/4 inch per month. Depending on genetics and texture some a little more some a little less. Hair grows at a rapid pace from the ages 12 -25 and decreases in rate the older you are.
So many women come into the salon and say my hair use to be down my back, long and thick but now I can't seem to get it back. I know the feeling, my hair seems to grow a lot slower as well. What I have noticed... is that the gray hair grows at a rapid pace! I use to pluck one and see five more in a matter of weeks.

So you have learned in this blog the average rate of growth, and all things change in time. LOL! As if you didn't know... Until next time..

Who says that short hair is low maintenance is a lie!

2009-10-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

So many of you have come into the salon especially new clients looking for my last hairstyle that I post on my blog. Yes it is gone! Cute for a while but high maintenance. I had to curl and flip practically everyday. WHO says that short hair is low maintenance is a lie. I tell my clients all the time that say "Im just going to cut it short so I wont have to deal with it" ... don't do it. I try to explain just how difficult it is too keep it looking good. Many women that patronize our business wear weaves for many different reasons. The majority of them wear weaves because it is low maintenance. I love weaves for so many reasons mainly because I can protect my hair while I try all of these crazy hairstyles. However some cuts require more effort too look good in the morning or during the day. This particular cut that I wore I wanted to keep it flipped and edgy so I had to keep curling it when the curls fell. The style that I love the most which is completely effortless is the long wavy look. I never curl just lay my edges down and go. I like to change my look regularly like I change my clothes.. as you all can see.

Fast forward..

I noticed when I took my hair out last week I had a lot of shedding. Now, I know I have been under quit a bit of stress lately and remember I texturized my hair a few months ago. I asked my assistant if it looked shorter as she was shampooing it and she said no. shhhhew!?%#.... I have to relax.. I can't afford to regress. I have slacked a little on my vitamins but I am constant on my protein pack from Starbucks every morning. Well at least 5 days a week. I am making Starbucks rich...

As for the texturizer it can be a double whamy, stress along with making the hair weaker from chemical relaxing. As many of you know even when we texturize it is the same chemical as relaxing your hair straight. The difference is we only slide it through quickly to loosen up the kinks when we texturize, instead of leaving it in and manipulating it until it becomes completely straight. Just a little FYI

If you don't know I will tell you again once you have relaxed your hair you must take extra steps regularly to maintain your hair. Regular protein deep conditioners is a must, as well as cholesterol and amino acids that help rebuild and restore what you have robbed from the hair. Take it from me, the older you get you must take extra steps to keep your hair and body healthy and strong. I know I am preaching again! I just want the best for us all.
Peace and love...
Until next time

Im feeling Bobs this month!

2009-09-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

I decided to braid my hair up again after wearing some of my natural hair out. I had my hair long and wavy with a small portion of my hair out. It was loose wavy Indian Hair. I loved it for a while but I needed a change. Remember I texturized my hair last month because the nappy afro was out of control, so blending it with the Indian hair was easy with my Edges soft gel.

Here was my regimen:

Texturized hair: with Creme of Nature No Lye -just ran relaxer through for a few minutes

Whenever I shampoo I use: Marcella Ellis Soy Protein Shampoo

Conditioner: Organic Root Stimulator- Mayo makes the hair strong/ Marcella Ellis Soy Protein Conditioner adds protein and makes the hair soft with a shine

Sheen: I use Castor Oil with Mink Oil made by Hollywood Beauty. I use the pomade it does not weigh the hair down. I also use Elasta Qp and Mizani Shine

Edges: To lay down my edges I use Edges by Hicks Transformation for a soft hold or Marcella Ellis Brick for a week hold when my hair needs a touch up.

Now my hair is starting to draw up again I decided to braid it all up again and try another net weave for a month. I saw Rihannas new look in the video We gone run this town tonight and I was feeling the edgy look. My interpretation of raw and edgy for me, is a wild, spikey bob, with highlights and low lights. None of my hair is out its all braided up. Net weaves are versatile can be short or long..

Next month maybe something conservative but this month Wild and EDGY BOBS!

"Okay, so I broke down and texturized my hair!"

2009-08-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

I was having another bad hair day this week. Only this time my daughter and my better half where ganging up on me. My hair has gotten so thick and nappy it was sticking out from the wig. I washed my hair with Marcella Ellis Soy Shampoo and conditioned it with my Soy Protein Conditioner as well as Organic Root Stimulator Mayo. Then I tried to pull it back in a scrungy, but because it is an Afro it did not stay put. I was too tired to try and cornrow it so I just pulled it back. Well after a few days of laziness of course the pony tail started to collapse and all you can see was a big Afro underneath my wig. I got tired of looking at it myself so I broke down and texurized my hair with Creme of Nature no lye relaxer. Now, I only use Design Essentials in the Salon, which, if ever I need a relaxer I would use this product. However, I knew that my hair was natural and I didn't want it to burn too fast before I loosened up the curl pattern. In cases like this I like Creme of Nature relaxer and Just for Me they give you the freedom of relaxing or texturizing very kinky hair without burning the client. So in goes the chemical and all I could think about is the fact that I had been growing out for a few months and I was so proud of myself. So I ran it through quickly only to texturize my hair and not relax it too straight. To my surprise my hair has grown a bit from the short Afro that I cut months ago to a nice length. The length is at the middle of my neck... not bad for only 6 or 7 months.

I have so much to tell you since my last blog! This one will be long.

2009-07-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have so much to tell you I don't know where to start. I'll start with the most important thing the progress of my hair. Since my last post I had my hair tree braided and that only last me two weeks. I really didn't like the look so much after all. The fact that my hair was all braided was great however the styling options were limited. I could not pull my hair up with out it looking like a hat and since I really needed to pull it up while working out that was not a good look. SO out they come and I move on to my next look. I made a hand made wig in a short bob out of a very comfortable stocking cap. I used #1B and #30 with a few subtle highlights of #27. I cut the bangs short above my eyebrows and cut high lift layers in the back. Soooo Cute! I wore that for about a month. Everyone loved it. Under neath I am still deep conditioning my hair and cornrowing it back. It is now all natural because I cut most of the relaxer off. I thought I was going to have to texturize it but it seems to be soft and manageable from all of the treatments. My hair is really in good shape. When it is wet it looks like an afro after we dry it and braid it, the braids actually have grown down to mid neck. Myboyfriend asked me "When are you going to wear your own hair?" As if it is not hard enough to stick to this challenge I have outside pressure to stop wearing weaves. I told him "look you met me with a weave and you loved it, don't look forward to me wearing my own hair anytime soon." I had to explain to him that I am growing my hair natural and that is going to take some time. When I finally wear my own hair again I want it to be long and strong with no extensions added.

Because so many of us have stressed our hair out with chemicals and curling and wrapping and so on....this challenge is for us to get our hair back to its natural state, healthy and strong and non dependant on so many chemicals.
Fast Forward.
I went to Miami to the Black Film Festival as a guest of the founder's wife, Nicole Friday. Hi Nicole. I did her hair for a few of the events and she looked fabulous. I was introduced to so many celebrities and influential people it was fascinating. Of course I was networking and passing out my cards. I had a ball.
I wore my hair in another handmade wig. It was #1b natural Wavy hair very soft looking wave. I had so many compliments. It was gorgeous. Now that I am back I am thinking what should I do next.. I am definitely going to take pictures of this next style. I haven't given you all much visual. Stay tuned I will write again next week. By the way my daughter started her first business and she is only eleven years old. Of course she is following in her mothers footsteps. It is a product and accessory line for girls. Yes the same protein and conditioners that I preach about to all of my clients we are developing these new combinations for girls as well.. Stay tuned.....

Wow, My Client told me to blog again, I didn't know anyone was actually reading. THANKS!!

2009-03-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies,

Now I know that people are actually reading my blog. I feel so special! Thanks a million....

Let me up date you ladies on current events.

I have decided to keep this blog about me I just can't bring myself to tell any of my clients business... I don't want to loose any clients you know. Any way my life is so full of hair mysteries, disasters, experiments and so on. I'm sure I can keep you entertained. I try every procedure on my hair first before I test it on any of my clients. I figure I should have my own testimony of success or even failure. So since I have last posted I got tired of wearing the wig and I decided to start working out again with my personal trainer. This time I said let me get my hair braided into micros so I can pull it up into a ponytail. I'm thinking even if I sweat I can still maintain this carefree style. So I call my girlfriend which is the salon's braider, over to my house and we get started.

Here is my first mistake. I went to the beauty supply store that I frequent, they know me very well there. I'm looking for a deep wave 22" pack of braiding hair. The sales person, a young girl, is so eager to help me she pulls out all that they have in deep waves. I settle for Milky Way deep wave knowing in the back of my mind this hair is going to tangle. It looked better than all of the selections but me knowing Milky Way I know that it is a low grade. I buy the hair which is #1B and #30 and I leave the store. Had I really planned this out, a better choice would have been to order from California, Perfect Locks and get the Indian Virgin Hair. I have used their hair on some of my clients and it is absolutely beautiful. But me being who I am (sporadic) I know I don't keep a style for more than 2 weeks anyway. Hhhmm... could this be a sign of not being happy with myself. At least my girlfriends think so. They say I need to get therapy.. LOL! NO I just like to change my HAIR!! It ain't that serious....

Anyway back to the story.

We sit for about 7 hours and Voila!! I hate it. The hair is too curly. I look like Curly Sue! All I could do was pull it in a tight curly, bushy, ponytail. My boyfriend/ fiancee/ husband, or whatever we call ourselves for the week, comes in the house and gives me a high five. He says I like it baby. A high five... not a kiss.. or romantic words, a high five! Now I'm thinking am I looking home girlish because I wasn't trying to achieve that look at all. LOL!

I took that mess out in one week. Sorry but I didn't even take a picture. My girlfriend was livid. Oh well, she still loves me! I just couldn't take it another day, plus the hair was tangling. So I have been thinking about tree braids as a matter of fact I have been dreaming about tree braids. I really want them in my hair badly. I tried to convince my girlfriend to do them for me but she is still in a state of shock! She can't believe she spent 7 hours braiding my hair and I took them out so fast. So I have to give her sometime to heal. I know how to tree braid I just can't do it on myself so I have to settle for the wig again. At least for now.

About the health of my hair. I have been on a high protein diet trying to slim down for the summer. I noticed that my hair is getting a lot thicker. I have opted not to relax my hair for a while just texturize whenever it gets to nappy to comb. The organic root stimulator is really making my hair thicker as well.

I'll tell you a quick story about one of my clients, we'll call her X. This is the only story I will tell. It supports my theory of protein intake. When X started coming to me her hair was very weak and damaged. We first started doing the Malaysian Method where we sew in the tracks without braiding up the hair. The end result was beautiful however her hair was not in the best shape. We eventually braided up all of her hair and gave her a sewn in weave. She wanted to loose weight so she starts this high protein diet. She lost a few pounds and was looking great so she decided to body build and compete. Her intake of protein increased, she was eating boiled eggs, raw eggs, taking protein vitamins and shakes... By the time we took her weave out, her hair was at least 2 inches longer and her hair broke my comb. Now normally when a client's hair breaks your comb we are thinking "OH MY GOD" this is going to be a long day and a lot of work. But in this case we were both ecstatic. It was so strong neither one of us could believe it.

So I am following in her footsteps. I'll let you know my progress... Stay tuned!

Is anyone READING this????

2009-01-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

I was reading a few blogs today and realized I need to update my own. Today I am asking if anyone is reading please join my blog. I am sitting here at the kitchen table and I realized I need to upload pictures to make my story a little more interesting. So I am uploading my current weave and explaining how I got here since my last post.

Holidays are long gone Christmas, New Years EVE , and now the Election. President OBAMA is safely in office and everything is back to normal. Back to business.

Here is the weave I wore in Miami last month. I was there for my birthday Dec6- Dec 10. I had #1B in the back 12" tracks and #1B and #30 in the front with a part down the middle. The hair was by SEnsationnel. Sorry but the hair didn't last. I purchased the hair while in Miami. I just ran in the beauty supply store and bought something affordable. Remember I told you in my last post the Miami trip was short notice we just up and went. So I had to find a college student to sew tracks in my hair when I got there. The hair was not Remy and boy did I regret it. It was beautiful for a few weeks then uggh!
Fast Forward! I kept the weave in until just after New Years. While wearing the weave I shampooed my hair with our own Soy Protein Shampoo and Conditioner. Had it not been for the conditioner keeping the hair soft I would have taken that hair out sooner. The hair only last for about 2 weeks and then it tangles so bad it makes you want to cry. Our soy protein conditioner is amazing. It really softens and hydrates dry hair, your hair and the weave.

After taking the weave out I figured let me give my hair a break for a month. I deep conditioned my hair using Organic Root Stimulator Mayonnaise. People I live and die by this Product. It is enriched with amino acids and proteins necessary for the hair. If you don't believe me try it at least 3 times. Every time you shampoo your hair deep condition your hair with this product. If you have weak or damaged hair you will see a major difference. This product will add an extra layer to the cuticle shaft of your hair. You must sit under the dryer with a plastic cap 20 mins for best result. If you do not have a dryer then wrap you hair really tight with saran wrap and let it stay on your hair about an hour so that your body produces heat.

Now I am wearing a partial wig. 14" synthetic wavy #1. I have deep conditioned my hair and braided it only leaving a small patch out in the front to cover the wig. I am also still taking my hair vitamins and I have increased my vegetable intake. I am trying to speed up this hair growth challenge. I can't remember when I last texturized my edges. I know it wasn't in Dec or January, I have to refer back to my notes to see when. Stay tuned..

Well I guess I will stop counting the days...

2008-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy that my blogs are not daily. For all those reading I apologize. I was in Miami last week for my birthday which was on December 9th. I had a blast. The first time I ever celebrated my birthday on the beach in the sand. Of course it was a last minute trip and I didn't even have time to get my hair done. My boyfriend/ fiancee or whatever you want to call him said Saturday morning let's go, and off we went. We packed in 15 minutes and got on the plane at 2:45. So typical of me, just care free, not worried about the economy, business being abnormal with many slow days. I didn't care I just wanted a break from it all and I was glad I did. I got my hair done by a young lady in Miami because as you know from my last post I had on a half wig. Can't walk on the beach or go swimming with that, it could have easily blown off. LOL! I had to find someone quick to sew in a weave, thank God for the internet. I found a college student that gave me the BOMB weave! I couldn't have done it better myself. I didn't even have to change it or correct it, it was perfect. I wish she lived in MD I would give her a job at the salon.

She first braided my hair backwards and for all those reading, any one braiding your hair in a circular pattern, stop them right away.. and run for your dear life. Circular patterns are very primitive and only amateurs braid in weaves that way. Anyway, she then stitched in my tracks very flat and smooth. I added color #1B solid in the back and #1B and #30 in the front, with a part down the middle. I thought I was Beyonce! LOL! It just blew in the wind,... it was gorgeous. Now that I am back home I just shampooed my hair with my soy protein shampoo and conditioner and it sure needed it because it was dirty and the tracks were starting to clump together. I bought Sensational hair from the beauty supply store while I was in Miami and now I regret it. It is not Remy hair.. trust me I know better, but it was all they had in this particular store, so I got it. I am going to have to take it out soon because as you all know it only last a couple of weeks.
I am still in my treatment phase so whats more important to me is the condition of my hair. My boyfriend thinks I am bald headed because I always wear weaves, so I want to surprise him when I take it out and it is just as long and strong as the weave. I can't lie I am addicted to weaves because they always look good, they are easy to manage, and you can flat iron and curl as much as you like without worrying about destroying your own hair. To make it short they make my hectic life much easier. If you have never worn a weave you should try it, you will be addicted to them quickly because they require less maintenance.
I am still taking my vitamins and infusing my hair with the soy protein conditioner. I also used a cap full of olive oil to help with my dry scalp especially during the winter months. I have about 4 new leave in conditioners that I have been testing for about 6 months on myself, my daughter and a few of my clients. One of them is strictly a vitamin and protein conditioner but it does not detangle my daughters hair. Her hair is extremely dry and tangles a lot, so I am probably going to combine it with the one that seems to work well on her hair. I can not eliminate the vitamins and protein from the ingredient however, it is just as imperative that the leave in conditioner detangles as well as repairs..
I know I have been saying this for a week but I am going to post pictures soon. I broke my digital camera and when we went to Miami we bought CVS disposable cameras. Hmmmm....Don't worry pictures are coming........

Day 2, After the long Holiday.......

2008-11-30T16:05:00.001-08:00

Even though its not really day 2 I am just getting a chance to sit down and write. Too much turkey and dressing I guess. Thanksgiving just didn't seem like Thanksgiving this year. I didn't get to travel home to spend time with my family so that was a major disappointment for me. However, I did spend time with friends so I made the best of it. I am not a big vegetable eater not because I don't like them but just because I never seem to cook and incorporate them in my diet. So for the Holidays I try to eat plenty of vegetables because they are available. No matter what others may say diet effects the growth of your hair. My diet is high in fat and starches, because I am always on the go, so I eat out a lot. Usually with foods that are going to fill me up for a long time so that I don't have to keep stopping and eating. NOT GOOD.
My resolution is to start cooking at least twice a week, a big pot of fresh vegetables so that I can eat only vegetables, when I come home form work. As a matter of fact I am cooking as I am blogging right now.
Okay fast forward. Saturday at the salon I got a new shipment of Soy Protein Shampoo and Soy Protein Conditioner. I couldn't wait to get started with my healthy hair regimen. This is what I did step by step.

1. I texturized only the front hair line and parting area of my hair with Design Essential Product line. This product is a professional product line that I highly recommend. It leaves the hair soft and conditioned unlike any other relaxer on the market I know.
2. I then Neutralized only the part of my hair that I texturized, by shampooing it 3 times with Design Essential Neutralizing shampoo. (When using chemicals, shampoo the hair at least 3 times to ensure the chemical is completely removed from the hair)
3. I shampooed my entire head 2 more times with our signature line of Soy Protein shampoo.
4. Because I have a few grays I put a beautiful collection jet black rinse on my hair for about 15 Minutes.
5. Then I deep conditioned my hair with a protein pack . I use two products Organic Root Stimulator Mayo and Marcella Ellis Signature Soy Protein Conditioner. With this treatment I heavily infused my hair with protein and amino acids, to give my hair strength.

After my series of treatments. I decided to dry my hair and braid it up with big cornrows leaving only the small area that I texturized out to blend in with the wig. Yes, I bought a new wig and put it on because I am going to do this same protein treatment every week for the next couple of weeks before I put in a weave. My hair feels really good. I also took my first multi vitamin for women, one a day and horsetail by GNC to promote hair growth. Stay tuned........

My first day of Blogging

2008-11-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

Day One>
Starting with myself let me first tell you a little about me so that you may then understand why my hair is at its worst. I am keeping it real so please don't use this against me. I am an entrepreneur that has dedicated my life to my business and my child. I am 36 years old and live a highly stressful life. I have no real time for myself due to all of my daily activities. I own a hair salon, I have launched another series of products, I am writing a book, I travel on tour every year to numerous cities and so much more. I am a single mother and to top it all off I am in a stressful relationship. I wear acrylic on my nails and I don't get them done until they are half way falling off. I wear wigs because it is the quickest solution for a style. I never let my boyfriend see me with out my wig so very seldom do I take them off. Due to the stress and lack of time I have had tremendous hair loss. Starting today I have decided for 2009 I am going to repair once again my damaged hair. I have grown my hair back numerous times only to go through stressful points in my life and damage it all over again. Through discipline, consistency, and routine it is so easy to get strong healthy hair. I am going to post my picture soon so we can watch together this amazing transformation.