Ep 123 - Miss Jessie's Co-Founder Miko Branch on Pioneering Natural Texture Hair Products for All

Today we’re sitting down virtually with Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie’s Haircare. Hairstylist by trade, Miko launched the line in 2004 with her late sister, Titi Branch, sharing the Curly Pudding recipe they mixed up for their devoted clientele.Without any help from investors, the siblings bootstrapped the entire business, taking the homemade hair concoctions they learned to make in their grandmother’s kitchen to front and centre at major retail stores. Today, Miss Jessie’s is adored by celebrities like Alicia Keys, Lupita Nyong’o and Zendaya, along with curly, kinky, coily and wavy-hair women everywhere.

Image courtesy of Business Insider

In this episode, Miko takes us through the heart-warming backstory behind the brand, from their earliest days in the bustling Bedford–Stuyvesant salon to the secret to their best-selling Pillow Soft Curls — a wonder product that harnesses fabric softener technology for your hair – to keeping Titi’s legacy alive through the company. Plus, catch Miko’s best tips for embracing your curls and transitioning from relaxed to natural hair before leaving us with her seasoned advice on the best ways to support female Black business owners right now.

Stay tuned until the end for a special phone-a-friend! Curly girl and beauty journo Ingrie Williams of The T-Zone is back on the mic with her review of the iconic, Pillow Soft Curls cream.

Products Mentioned In This Episode:

*Note that every product recommended by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts is independently selected, though some products you buy through the below links may earn us a commission.*

• Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding

• Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls

• Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls

• Miss Jessie’s Honey Curls

• Miss Jessie’s Multi-Cultural Curls

• Miss Jessie’s Leave-In Condish

• Miss Jessie’s Don’t Want No Suds Conditioning Co-Wash Cleanser

• Miss Jessie’s Harm Me Knot Gentle Sulfate-Free Shampoo

• Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery Treatment

• Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment

• Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme

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Miss Jessie’s Co-Founders Miko Branch (right) with her late sister Titi Branch