Melyssah, my sister and Administrator of Hairlista Inc., has been on a Healthy Hair Journey since early September 2007. She has made tremendous progress‼ The pics speak for itself. She's learned a lot along the way, she's helped me on numerous occasions with my hair and plenty other ladies on Hairlista Inc. Social Network. She has a beautiful head of hair & I want to share that with you! Here is quick overview of her hair journey thus far.

What is your hair type?

My hair is coarse, so I would say I'm 4a around my edges and nape, and 4b at the crown.

What is your current hair length?

Right now I'm in between APL and BSL.

What is your hair goal?

My hair goal right now is to achieve BSL. My ultimate goal is mainly to achieve healthy blunt WL hair. I just want healthy ends, and to prove that black women can have long hair.

What inspired you to go on a Healthy Hair Journey?

I was never into caring for my hair. I just thought I would hide my hair in a FAB weave and neglect my hair. Nothing wrong with weave, in fact it grew my hair, but I never new how to take care of my hair apart from the weaves. So I was surfing on the net looking for wigs...lol and came across a few hair boards and saw women with my hair type with naturally long BSL, MBL, WL hair and I was like "What the @#$@?!!! Are you serious?, Okay I'mma try this hair thing for real and see what I can achieve".

I started experimenting, buying products to see what my hair likes and dislikes. I must have changed my regimen 100 times just what it likes and needs and this meant listening to my hair. Just seeing other black women with long hair made me realize okay...I can have that too and I will have that too. That is what inspired me!

Do you have any hair idols?

YES! Loveya4ever, Sylver2, BabygurlNC, Cathy Howse, Elektra, Traycee, just to name a few.

What is the single most important thing that you've learned on your hair journey?

Keeping it simple. In other words, not jumping on bandwagons and just listening to what YOUR hair likes. Trial and error is a must in order to see what contributes to your hair's health. At the end of the day, you'll know what products and methods agree with your hair. I've done this and it was a hard at first, but now I can say that I understand my hair and what it needs.

What is your hair regimen?

My hair regimen is simple!

I shampoo twice a week with a moisturizing Shampoo (Creme of Nature or Porosity Control Shampoo)

I deep condition with a moisturizing deep conditioner twice a week with heat (hooded dryer). I use either Abba Colour Protect, Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol, Silk Elements Moisturizing Treatment, or Elasta QP DPR-ll mixed AtOne Reconstructor and Herbal Essences Replenishing conditioner for dry/damaged hair. I usually add honey and EVOO to my DC's.

I co-wash after 5 weeks post relaxer, only when my hair needs extra moisture. I use either Aussie Moist, Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship or Pantene Beautiful Lengths conditioner.

I clarify when needed, if my hair has a lot of build-up etc. I use ION clarifying shampoo.

I do protein treatments once or twice a month depending on how my hair feels, if its too mushy and elastic, I'll do a protein treatment on dry hair with egg, Mane and Tail conditioner and EVOO for an hour, then shampoo, DC with a moisturizing conditioner and apply leave-ins.

I relax every 10-14 weeks with a lye relaxer.

I moisturize and seal twice daily morning and night with Wave Nouveau and Hot Six Oil.

I only air-dry. I tie my hair down in the front with a satin scarf and leave the back of my hair down.

I wear protective styles all the time. On special occasions I'll blow dry and flat-iron and wear my hair down.

I sleep with a satin scarf tied down at the front of my hair with the back of my hair hanging loose in a satin bonnet.

I dust after every relaxer. No trims.

Last but not least, any advice to the newbies just starting their hair journey?

Baby those ends. We have been led to believe that the scalp is what needs to be focused on, when its the ends that need our undivided attention. I can't stress enough about moisturizing and sealing your ends DAILY and deep conditioning at least once a week. The ends are the oldest part of the hair and it breaks easily especially for chemically treated and coarse hair in general.

Get a good quality deep conditioner that moisturizes the hair strands (my fave is the Cholesterol and Moisturizing Treatment from Silk Elements, Kenra and Abba). Get a good water-based moisturizer (my fave is Wave Nouveau) and an oil (Jojoba, EVOO, Castor, Safflower, Coconut, Hot Six Oil, Wonder 8 Oil just to name a few) to keep moisture in your hair and retain length. Dryness = Breakage and keeping your ends conditioned and moist is the only way in my honest opinion to retain length, its done wonders for me.


Be sure to check Melyssah out on the Hairlista Inc. Network http://hairlista.com and future Video Tutorials!

♥ Sunshyne