Finding Comfort From Within

    

                                                                     THIS IS MARLYNN


My grandmother does these annual dances to help those with scholarships around the world. She's pretty amazing yeah I know  . So she has a picnic as an appreciation for those who attend. So my grandma starts handing out flyers for my annual show at the picnic.  August 30th is Misa's 4th Tribute to hair.  We changed the location to XQuisite Ballroom in queens. This later led to me speaking to a woman about extensions and what I was doing with my career. Another woman heard us talking and was interested in my trichology journey because she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  We were talking and she was telling me the difficulties she is facing with her hair and how she's just not comfortable with embracing her hair after the results of chemotherapy.  She was unfamiliar with the faces at the picnic, so I knew someone who she could speak with that has blood cancer who goes by the name of Marlynn. Marlynn is use to having beautiful chestnut brown big curly hair but was experiencing breakage in the crown and decided to cut it all o ff. She went from big brown and curly to a curly pixie naturally a silver grey sometimes paired with a funky pink lipstick and jimmy choo glasses! Marlyn is extremely comfortable with her walk of life. She was close to leaving us but God wasn't ready for her yet. She is full of life and doesn't allow this tragedy to get in the way of her daily routine. After linking these two together I really wanted to just shave my head and get a henna tattoo on it. Then I was reminded of this grow out phase.  However every woman should cut their hair at least once I mean come on why not? 

   So I hope that this woman will someday embrace this journey because her hair actually looks great short. We just have to seek for that comfort within.  If we can't embrace our flaws hopefully those around us can. That makes the journey so much easier to process. So I decided to right about chemotherapy just to enlighten those who either are experiencing it or know someone that is.

  Chemotherapy hair loss is a unfortunate experience that many cancer patients have to go through.   “Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells –healthy cells as well as cancer cells.  The h air follicles and the structures in the skin filled with tiny blood vessels that make hair, are some of the fastest growing cells in the body. Hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours. “  Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss but it is common as an after effect.  Some people may lose the hair on their scalp, facial, auxiliary, pubic and body hair.  Varying from the severity of hair loss it can occur over  a period of days or weeks.  While the chemo does its work destroying the cancer cells along with destroying the hair cells.  The chemotherapy hair loss may be gradual or dramatic clumps in your hairbrush, handfuls in the tub drain, and or pillow.  Once therapy has been completed regrowth usually occurs within six to eight weeks.  Many who have to experience this altercation use cranial prosthetic unit wigs, hairpieces, hats, pieces and turbans.  It is best to allow the person to choose what he or she feels most comfortable with.   I would keep in mind of the overuse of hats, which lead to friction resulting in breakage.  Try to avoid sleeping in coverup as well the scalp needs oxygen!   If you decrease the friction the better state your hair will be in.  We must be mindful of what we expose our hair to such as cotton, which leads to increased sweating, indirect manipulation, and tends to dry hair. 

 Cancer Treatment Centers Of America understands the the impact along with changes of the skin and body during chemotherapy, which can be devastating.  This is why this program is available to help women and men prepare for radiation therapy and chemotherapy hair loss. 

The drugs that are used for chemotherapy will also affect your journey.  Adriamycin causes complete hair loss usually during the first week of treatment. Methotrexate thins hair in some people but no others and is rare to have complete hair loss from this medication.  Cytoxan and 5- fluororacil causes minimal hair loss in most women, but some lose a great deal.  Taxol usually causes complete hair loss, including head, lashes, brows pubic hair legs and arms.  Tamoxifen doesn’t cause baldness but some thinning.  As a result of radiation treatment if used to treat the breast there is no hair loss on your head but around the nipple if hair is in that location.  “ Radiation to the brain used to treat metastatic cancer in the brain usually causes complete hair loss on the head.  Any chemical or color services should not be used while going through the regrowth process of their hair.   

    In many cultures our hair is our crown yet we tend to have these experiences of life that can alter our appearance.  All we have to do is work with what we have and make the best of it! So lets start now! Have an amazing evening!

We Love Coconut Oil

Silk Pressed on Kinky Curly natural hair conditioned with a reconstructing and coconut mask treatment. Following a haircut only taking off a quarter to half of an inch off her hair freshening up her look! No more than that was necessary unless we are going for a different look but Toya stays on stop of her Haircare needs. Besides the longer you hang on to that length that is damaged and lifeless the more you will have to cut. Stay on top of your Haircare to avoid any problems that may take a while to revert because it's much easier to prevent. Protein, Moisture, healthy ends and a good diet (lifestyle) is essential in having healthy hair!

Protein helps to strengthen our hair from becoming weak and breaking similair to our skin. When our skin is dry it cracks, which causes aging.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Improves the moisture of your skin

Can be used as a pretreatment prior to shampooing depending the density of your hair before or after shampooing is up to your discretion. Someone with extremely coarse hair/dry may use it after shampooing for extra moisture while someone with fines air may use it before shampooing so it's not to heavy leaving the hair very oily

Helps detangle hair

Protects hair from potential damage

Contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides (fatty acids) used as a source of energy resulting in a therapeutic effect.

Used for cooking

Kills harmful pathogens like bacteria viruses and bacteria.

Pure Coconut oil can be used on your hair and skin, and for cooking!

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NYC if you haven't already book your appts as soon as possible!

Hardships of Education!

Many of you may know that my experience at Berkeley College wasn’t a  walk in the park.  My financial aid was depleting due to transfers, cosmetology, and things they fail to leave out upon enrolling.  This caused me to take off a year in 2012 not by choice, which really hurt me but everything happens for a reason.  I couldn’t get back into school until I paid my Summer Quarter off of  $8,900 and as a result of my financial aid depleting I would have to pay 23,000 out of pocket.  That is a total of $31,900 that was to be paid within a year and a half.   I was sure I would have to drop out but my support system didn’t allow me to!   I wrote a letter the following year and was able to get my summer quarter balance forgiven, which helped significantly.   I completed my degree December of 2014 and Graduated April 24^th, 2015.  It’s so an amazing what a letter with a splash of patience can do!   

            So as I sat down trying to get back into the groove of homework.  I received a letter from my Best Friend Linda Written by her cousin who I call Bouphachay.   The letter was beyond inspiring addressing perseverance and patience.  His family emigrated to the U.S due to escaping the chaos of what was going on in South East Asia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.  His parents couldn’t give him the education he deserved but he continued to strive.  He was attending a college In Virginia and had to be taken out due to financial hardship.  Bouphachay continued his education at MCC while working.  The letter went into depth of the Laotian Struggle, living in an impoverished neighborhood in Rochester, Laotians being the minority of minority, and despite it all his gratitude for that particular walk of life.  This showed him that everything in life doesn’t come easy but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to strive for your goals.  The letter I was reading was to YALE and they granted him a FULL SCHOLARSHIP.  He is one of the first students to transfer from MCC and get accepted into YALE UNIVERSITY.

            It can be tough when you are taking off track especially when you are doing everything you can to make it in life.  Trust the timing that LIFE presents to you, and remember everything happens for a reason.  The moment you feel like giving up in the future holds an even greater blessing for your hard work and determination!  Keep in mind that everyone’s blessing will differ from yours but that is because we all share different struggles.   CONGRATS BOUPHACHAY! <3 

The Study of The Hair and Scalp

Hi Everyone! For some of you who haven’t seen me recently or keeping up with me on Social media I have accomplished a lot within the last few months.  I started studying to be a Trichologist April 20^th and graduated from Berkeley College April 24^th, 2015 with a degree in Business Administration Management Concentration.  If you are wondering what a Trichologist is no worries I will tell you.  A Tricholoigist identifies and treats different types of scalp disorders, poor scalp environment, hair shaft breakage, and hair loss, and act as a health coach.  This is something I’ve been contemplating on doing for about 2-3 years, but I have started this journey when the timing was right for me.  This is something that I believe will change my life along with yours as well.  I am looking forward to sharing the importance of beauty, health and wellness with you all!  So let me to start sharing with you today!

          At the top of this article you will see one of my clients scalp conditions on the left and cleansed on the right.  Her hair was previously shampooed about a week ago, but I can tell she was in a dry climate because the debris is more excessive than usual.  I am sharing this picture with you to express the importance of cleansing your scalp.  How often you cleanse your scalp will vary depending on your texture and environment.  Your hair needs oxygen, water and nourishment to maintain the integrity of your hair.  “Regular shampooing conditioning and regular haircutting will keep the hair in good external condition, but diet also has an important role to play in keeping hair healthy and well nourished."   Keep in mind you are what you eat, but I am here to help you.

      Until I have completed the trichology program, which will be in about a year I will be giving 3-5 complimentary scalp exfoliations monthly.  Scalp exfoliations will help relieve your scalp from product build up and excessive flaking and promote hair growth.  This is a great treatment for those who co-wash, because product build up can become a big problem for you especially if you replaced shampoo with cowashing.     If this article serves you any interest please reply with some of your products you use at home and why.  I look forward to fulfilling your hair needs!

“Invest in your health as you would your appearance”  -Dr. Lorie Johnson

IBS NEW YORK 2015

You ever heard of the saying " Stay humble because you may go out of style! Well thats why you must always stay fresh and new so you can keep your brand/ or even yourself relevant! Dont focus so much of reaching to the top but focus on staying at the top! You can do this by investing in yourself and always staying educated. Change is inevitable so keep up with the changes constantly being made in this world!

DARE to WEAR Your HAIR How YOU Desire!

As a child I grew up around the beauty industry, which is probably the reason why I ended up acquiring a love for the cosmetology field.  One of the reasons why I love this industry is because we can express ourselves and create images freely.  In most artistic fields, we are fortunate to be able to do that.  However, with expressing ourselves, there comes criticism due to others expectations of us. These expectations can come from gender, race, and societal “norms.” Yet, as an artist in the beauty industry, I’m all about giving people the unexpected.  What you can expect of me may not be expected!

            With that being said I didn’t know that certain races could wear certain hairstyles or that a hairstyle determines your identity.  I know that I wear certain hairstyles because of my personal preferences and because I simply love wearing different styles, but many would disagree.  Last month there was a 12-year-old girl by the name of Mallory who was scrutinized for posting a selfie of her new hair style, which consisted of box braids.   According, to some of the comments made this hairstyle should only be worn by black people.  One person tweeted “ Yes something as “trivial” as a hairstyle can be triggering or upsetting. Let us have it. This goes to everyone, btw.” Have what? A hairstyle?  Oh please! Go to bed and try again!

            Thankfully, maturity still exists in the world and Mallory decided to apologize for coming off as a racist, although that wasn’t her intention.  Mallory stated,  “I just wanted a hairstyle, my sincere apologies to anyone I have personally offended, and my intent was most definitely not to hurt or offend anyone or their culture.” She saw a hairstyle that she liked and decided to get the same done to her hair like most of us have done at some time in our lives.   Well I am sorry, but I would have to agree with this tweet “ Your ethnicity doesn’t determine how you should wear your hair!”

Zendaya appeared on the Academy Awards Red Carpet rocking her beautiful faux locks.  On the Fashion Police it was said that Zendaya “looked as if she smells like patchouli oil… or maybe weed.” I’m not sure of the intention of the commenter, but it definitely came off as disrespectful.  I think she looked beautiful and I always appreciate a natural and or protective style for a special occasion.  Not everyone can pull this off, but Zendaya did, and she replied, as a woman should.  I love how she ended her statement with “To me locs are a symbol of strength and beauty, almost like a lion’s mane.  I suggest some people listen to India Arie’s “I am not My Hair” and think before opening their mouths to judge.

I truly appreciate these two young woman Mallory and Zendaya who responded as mature and classy adults.  It is not always easy to respond so respectfully to disrespect. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people have a little too much time on their hands and usually suffer from hatred in their hearts and boredom. 

There are people who will not agree with our decisions concerning how we wear our hair or how we deal with other matters in life, even if our decisions do not   concern or affect them. However, as long as we are not hurting others, we have the right to live our lives freely. We have the right to be free from others’ expectations and stereotypes.  As individuals we should be able to express ourselves through the things we desire! 

Mommy and Baby with Hair By Misa

Hey Guys I know its been awhile but I am back sharing my journey with you! :) 

Part of my previous Sunday was helping this amazing Mother on how to maintain her son's curlymane. I have maintained the condition of her hair for about 5 years, and now I get to assist her with her son's hair.  Cavalli gets baby of the year, because he was so well behaved with a little entertainment of course! Mommy did great!!!! So tell me mommies and daddies what is your go to style for your babies and why? I would love to hear about your favorite products as well!