An MU hair FAQ

An update on all the things related to my hair. Yeah, there's a whole newsletter on this.

This issue is sponsored by LATHER, which has been keeping my hair looking this fly and my skin looking this radiant for the last year-plus. Use the code XOMU to save 15% on your order.

Remember when I wouldn’t talk about my hair (or makeup, or clothes)? I was a very different Melissa then, existing in very different circumstances. Today, I know that there are many ways to connect with people. Sometimes it’s over something deep, like grief or an illness. Sometimes it’s over something less deep, like the shampoo I’m using or where I get my extensions. Both are connection. Both feel good.

Let’s do a fun update on my hair, because I still get questions all the time (and I’m not ready to write about grief).

Hair extensions

Yes, I still have extensions. After taking them out a few years ago and realizing that extension-free hair is much more work, I’m once again devoted. With extensions, I use zero hair products, style without any heat, and can “do” my hair in 3 minutes. Without extensions, I needed multiple products, lots of heat, and an hour a day.

Nuggets:

• I use Laced Hair Extensions. They’re Utah based and women-owned, and their hair is strong and shiny and lasts a long time.

• I spend $200 to move them up every 8-10 weeks. New hair (which I have to get every few months) is the most expensive part; it’s around $500 for a fresh, full head. Being gentle on your extensions and using good hair products makes them last longer.

• I use a weft, where the extensions are sewn into my hair in a long strip. My hair is thick and I have a lot of it, so this works well for me. You can also attach them with beads (which I did for a while, but it left my extensions looking stringy), tape (I hated tape), and clip-ins (which I used for ages as a low-risk, low-maintenance method). Talk to a stylist about the best method for your hair.

• I still do my no-heat overnight curls; tutorial in my Instagram highlights. I’ve tried all the trends, from “unicorn overnight curls” to sock curls to those satin curling rods. (I refused to try “legging curls.”) I still like my way the best. I can easily vary the curl by wrapping it tighter/looser, or using thicker/thinner chunks of hair when wrapping.

Hair products

Jackson Shower Hair: The Replay

Do you remember the Jackson Shower Hair saga of 2022? I went to Jackson, WY for a hiking adventure, used the hotel shampoo, and came home with the best hair of my life. So I tracked down the shampoo (LATHER Bamboo Lemongrass Hair Wash, a gentle daily shampoo) and tested it at home to make sure it wasn’t just the glorious Wyoming air. It wan’t! It was the shampoo! And it’s only $20! (I’ve paid much more for “salon-quality” shampoo that didn’t work half as well—I’m looking at you, Kevin Murphy.)

I’ve been using LATHER ever since (not just for my hair, but for my skincare too). My extension stylist says my hair feels the healthiest it’s ever been—so much so that she’s recommended LATHER to her other clients. However, she also advised me to rotate shampoos now and again, to address different hair concerns and prevent build-up.

LATHER just released a new Landscape Collection with bottles made from 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic. Their Mountain Fir and Elderflower Shampoo is the perfect compliment to my Bamboo Lemongrass. It’s designed for dry or color-treated hair, and it’s sulfate-free (perfect for the winter climate here in SLC). But does it work as well?

A week of LATHER’s Mountain Fir & Elderflower Shampoo/Forest Cedar & Acai Conditioner

IT DOES. And it smells glorious! I’ve been using the whole line (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion) and love them all. The scents are woodsy, light, and fresh, and I love LATHER’s environmental impact and accessible price points.

Nuggets:

• I don’t use conditioner every time I wash, but my stylist keeps reminding me it’s important for the health of extension ends, so I’m gonna use this bottle up. (I didn’t love the LATHER Bamboo Lemongrass Crème Rinse; the crème texture wasn’t right for my hair and environment. The Forest Cedar & Acai Conditioner works beautifully for me.

• I rarely use dry shampoo, but sometimes I will spray it just in my bangs to give me an extra day or two between washes. I’ve always used Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo, but picked up IGK First Class Detox Charcoal Dry Shampoo and like that even better.

• Though I’ve tried texture sprays and other products, as of now I don’t use anything else. I like having an easy routine, and skipping the hair product videos saves me a lot of time on TikTok.

Other hair nuggets

Other questions I get often:

• Will I ever chop it for real? Maybe! If I do, I’m going to go chin-length.

• Will I ever get bangs again? Nope. I think that ship has sailed; bye heavy-haired sweepy bang Melissa.

• What color is my natural hair? Blonde! It’s pretty light coming from my roots, so I darken them right now so it doesn’t look like I’m balding around my part.

• Will I start coloring it again? Probably not. I used to color it darker, but that’s mostly grown out. I do add some darker strands for dimension with the extensions I choose. (Another benefit!)

• Do I have grey hair? I think so? I occasionally pull one out of my hairline, but if I have them throughout my hair you can’t see them, so I don’t think about it.

Do you have other hair questions? Comments are open to everyone! I’m happy to answer because all of this is connection and I love not gatekeeping.

XO MU

*LATHER discount code applies to one-time purchases. Offer good for new and existing customers. This promotional code can’t be combined with other discounts.