I Can’t Go For That
A few of my readers (readers! I have readers!! Yay!!!) have advised me to try Miss Jessie’s products for maximum curl satisfaction. And oh, how I yearn to. I would buy the Baby and the Curly Buttercreme. I would throw in a jar of Curly Pudding just for fun. And I would fly to New York, just to have an appointment with Miko and Titi Branch, sisters with some of the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.
I would love to get a twist set, too. I mean, look at the photos of all these smiling natural beauties! I’d be honored to be pictured among them. Really, I would if I could. But I can’t. Why, you ask? Because a jar of Baby Buttercreme costs $58 for a 16 oz jar. That’s right, I said $58. Miss Jessie’s products range from $38 to $58. And that’s online, so you still gotta add shipping. To which I say damn, Miss Jessie! What about the hardworking curly girl?
There’s just no way I can afford to pay that much money for some hair goop. Let me correct myself – I can afford it, I just can’t justify it. I’m the kind of girl who gets real salty about dipping into my hard-earned trip-to-Europe fund for nothing.
Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions.
In order for me to shell out that kind of cash, I would need a 100% guarantee that this product works. And from what I’m reading in the forums of Nappturality.com, NaturallyCurly.com, and MyNatural.com, I am not yet convinced. It seems that Miss Jessie’s is real hate-it-or-love-it stuff. I suspect the strong feelings and the price of the products is directly co-related.
I’m a free sample kind of lady. I need to smell and touch a product before I buy sight-unseen. So if any of you have tried Miss Jessie’s, please share your experiences. If you know where I can try it, let me know. I need some convincing. I have a good feeling that I could fall in hair product love here, but I’m wary of such a costly commitment.
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Afrobella don’t even waste your time…I mean I’m all for uplifting my black sista’s but not only are Miss Jessie’s products expensive it doesn’t work. I can admit I’ve been on the website and was in awe at all of my beautiful black sister’s before and after photo’s and I couldn’t wait to go home and try this myself. I went to Ricky’s and spend about $150.00 dollars on the Curly Pudding, Rapid Recovery, Curly Buttercreme, Stetch Silkening Creme and the Creme De La Curl Shampoo. Followed the instructions for the Twist Out 101 and needless to say when I awoke this morning I had no curls whatsoever. My hair was a mess…. I haven’t had a perm in a year and I cut off all my perm hair. So can someone tell me what went wrong???????
I’ve used just about all the Miss Jessie’s products. My hair is standard issue African American (if there is such a thing). I’ve been wearing it in it’s natural texture for at least the past five years. Would attach a photo if I knew how. The stuff works, but like it’s been noted here, you really have to “work it”. Remember “Rio” promising us all hair like Lisa Bonet – well you’ll have it the first day. The next day you’ll have to glob on more Buttercream to make sure your hair doesn’t frizz. I’m sure w/a little work you can formulate the same thing in your kitchen.
I found someone in LA who mixes custom conditioner for my hair – less expensive with better results. Her name is Gwen Staples.
Please give the number to Gwen Staples. She and I are high school class mates. I lost touch with her and would love to contact her for hair advice now that I am all natural. I have since moved to another state and would love to contact her.
Thank You
I have 4b/4c hair and i love Miss Jessie’s products but I can’t afford them. I have found that Fantasia IC Gel with Sparkle Lites is a really good alternative to the Curly Pudding and the first four ingredients are identical. For this reason I no longer purchase the curly pudding b/c I can get the fantasia gel for less than $6 and have even found it for 3.99. I use it the same way I would the curly pudding, putting it on just washed and still wet hair, letting it air dry and then going over it with a moisturizer.
My hair loooves the buttercreme (not the baby buttercreme though, it soaked that up way too fast). My batch lasted for almost 6 months and I made sure to buy it during the holidays because they are buy one get one free making the 16 0z jar 30. But I am looking for an adequate replacement but so far no luck, my hair isn’t the same without it but if I find a replacement I’ll be sure to let you know.
I haven’t tried the shampoo because I use DevaCurl No Poo but I do really like the Rapid Recovery Deep conditioning. All in all, I think that Miss Jessie’s is great but is overpriced but until something comparable and cheaper comes along, i’m stuck.
I read most of the reviews and frankly, I love them. I am a licensed hair braider here in FL and used the products on a client with mostly 4a hair. Then I started transitioning and wore my hair in twists. It’s great to use Curly Pudding to help with combing your hair if your hair is thick, kinky and two textures like mine. I am a 4a/4b. Anyway, I do swear by the products as I only get Curly Buttercreme and Curly Pudding. The trick is to use sparingly and you won’t get the dryness of the hair. I learned that mistake the first time I did a twistout with CB. My hair was gooey and icky. Anyway, I am happy with the products thus far and will buy more in bulk soon as I go out of town again. I purchase the 2oz since my hair isn’t always in coils and I use Curls Organic Curl Moisturizer. I don’t recommend the Whipped Cream as it made my hair filmy. Oh yeah, if anyone can recommend a great leave-in/deep condish, that would be great! E-mail me that info!
Cynthia
Can’t believe I just sat here and read 3 years of posts but that goes to show 1) I’m in a state of confusion about what to do with my hair; and 2) I’m not alone in the struggle! Thanks to everyone who made comments I feel like I have 100+ new sisters out there in the world! I’ve worn braids for nearly 10 years. Thank goodness my edges are still thick and I don’t look like Stevie or Susan T. Anyway, you know there is no way, after 10 years, I’m going back to weekly visits to the salon or waking up every morning to curl my hair. I’m going to try the at-home curly-pudding option first and if that doesn’t work, I’m going for the silkener (if I can find Miko). I’m in DC but I’m willing to travel to NYC if she’s back there now. Anyway, I just had to share a post and add my voice to the mix. Cheers!
I have read this post and found it very informative. I also agree with many that it makes your hair dry-well, at least that is what I experienced from using the curly meringue and pudding. I don’t know what my hair numbered texture is and I am not into that, but I do know I have a mixed texture of curly, tight curly–nappy, and wavy. I use Miss Jessie’s for twisting and have not tried shingling. To help combat the dryness or frizzy effect, I use a hair polisher and Organics Olive Oil.
I do not twist my hair every night, I do twist the parts that may not have as much definition as others. I really think it depends on the supporting products you use on your hair. For instance, I use Nexxus hydrotherrape shampoo and conditioner and I love it. It helps with my hair texture as not to tangle and mat. It really moisturize my hair and feels great during a shampoo. Then I use Miss Jessie’s to twist. No, I don’t think its the best product in the world, but I like it. I tried Organics twist cream which twist really great, but it is flaky in the hair after about 3-4 days. I try to wash my hair every 3-4 days because I found that this is what I need now that I am natural.
Hope this helps someone!
I have natural 4c hair that’s so kinky-soft & cottony it won’t hold a ‘fro without parting down the middle. (It’s sort of kinky the first day, then starts straightening out during the following days.) Anyway, because I was growing out my relaxer, I have been wearing two-strand twists for about 4 years now, and it gives me the same look as the photos on Miss Jessie’s website – WITHOUT all the products, etc! My technique for my hair is simple and easy, resulting in over 6 inches of growth. (Just in the last year, I’ve gotten another 2 inches of growth, so my hair thrives on what I do! Here it is: 1)I wash my hair every two weeks.
And I never, EVER wash my hair loose. I always twist it into two-strand twists first.
2) I co-wash my twists or use a light shampoo like Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.
3) Using a thick towel I gently wrap it around my hair for five minutes to soak up the extra water, then I put some coconut oil or olive oil on my hair, and then let it air-dry. (If there are any twists that have come loose at the ends, I re-twist them at this time.)
4)Within a half-hour or less, my hair is dry. I then take out my twists, fluff and go!
In the evenings, I simply re-twist my hair back up into the two-strand twists. Becasue I have so much hair, I don’t do little tiny ones – I do thicker ones, maybe about 15 over my whole head. (Sometimes my boyfriend helps!) In the morning, I un-twist them again and go. If I want more fullness, I dampen my hands a little and run them quickly through my hair. Volia!
It’s important to note that every day my hair stretches out more and more. The first day it’s shorter, but by the end of the week it’s down to mid-back length – NATURALLY! Using No Heat, No Puddings, No Gels, No Chemicals of any sort! And not to seem arrogant – but I’m telling you the living truth – I get compliments on my hair all the time, from everyone: sisters asking my how I got my look, brothas, who shout out, “I Love your hair!”), and most surprisingly, from White Women who have approached me in the downtown business district! They always say, “I love your hair,” and…wait for this one: “I wish I could get my hair to do that.” Ain’t THAT a kicker? White women expressing the desire for kinky hair – I thought I’d NEVER see the day! So, anyway, this is what works for me and I hope it will work for you. But remember, Don’t ever wash it while loose,(twist it or braid it first) never, ever comb it (don’t worry, it will not tangle if you keep it twisted while washing or at night), and never, never use heat on it – our hair is too delicate for that mess. Ladies, free yourselves!
You might want to try Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. You can buy it at Whole Foods I tried it for the first time this past Friday and I love it. The Custard might be a little pricy $30 for a 16oz jar but, a little bit goes a long way, so it will last a long time. They say that it is best to use the Kinky-Curly Shampoo and Knot Out Conditioner which is what I used but, if you want to try it with your own shampoo and conditioner go ahead. Let me know how it worked out.
Qhemet Biologics and Darcy Botanicals have great products! I love their products!
There is one other company called Komaza Care and another called Uncle Funky’s Daughter which I am going to checkout as well. Has anyone used their products?
I used Miss Jessie’s CM and I like the creamy texture and the hold but I don’t like that it has mineral oil in it. I think they could use some better oils in it. It does last a long time though as you only need to use a little and my hair is waist length. I will use it as a wash and go until I finish the jar. I won’t be buying it again but will be looking for another cream without mineral oil.
THOUGHTS ON THE “MISS JESSIE’S” PRODUCTS:
1)The “MISS JESSIE’S” products USE MINERAL OIL
& PETROLATUM (both of which damage both
hair & skin) AS two of the KEY INGREDIENTS
2) Titi & Miko – THE OWNER’S of the “Miss Jessie’s”
product line (AND most of THE CLIENTS they choose
to photograph) — achieve their hair-styles because
they USE what they call ”Silkener”’ (which is simply
a mild relaxer / texturizer & made of CHEMICALS).
3) The same results can be achieved for a fraction of
the cost by going to a store and purchasing / applying
the same dangerous (ex. relaxer / texturizer) as well
as damaging (ex. mineral oil / petrolatum) products.
4) People should save their money (and hair) by avoiding
the cheaply-made / expensively-sold products (such as
the ”Miss Jessie’s” line) that contain worthless and
harmful ingredients such as mineral oil / petrolatum
and / or are “chemically-dependent” to achieve results.
Perhaps your Christian friend is only thinking of Buddha as an ethical philosopher–I’m a Buddhist, and that’s how I like to think of Buddha. Buddha himself said that he didn’t want anybody believing in his teachings simply out of respect or veneration for him personally. Actually, the persons whom I would compare to Buddha–whom I wholly like and agree with, without for a minute worshipping them–would be: Voltaire, Mark Twain, Epictetus, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, Horace, Albert Camus, Socrates, Marivaux, Chuang-tze, H.D. Thoreau, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bertrand Russell, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jean de la Fontaine, Jean Baudrillard, Henry (not William) James, Colette, Gertrude Stein, Gore Vidal, Richard Barnfield, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Love Peacock, Marcel Proust, Ned Rorem, Lucian, Marcus Aurelius, Lucretius, George Meredith, Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, Anatole France, Juvenal, Kurt Vonnegut, Rabelais, Ovid, Virgil, John Milton, Jean de la Bruyère, Molière, Nicolas Boileau, Charles Nelson, Michel de Montaigne, Francis Bacon, Carlo Goldoni, Lao-tze, Don Basile, Nicolò Machiavelli (the playwright more than the political theorist), and last but not least, Emily Post and Judith Martin (Miss Manners). The only thing about Jesus of Nazareth that I like–and I like it very much–Is the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mountain. But, as you might have guessed, I don’t believe in Jesus even a little bit: I agree with him, because we see things just alike.
I am a firm believer in reading the ingredients and hitting the kitchen… if Miss Jessie can do it so can Miss Tosha
I am able to admit her prices are way too steep for me… if I spend $58 on something i need to be able to eat it or see by it. Become a natural hair chemist…I have.