Titi Branch, one of the co-founders of the successful natural hair care line, Miss Jessie’s, died Dec. 4, according to an obituary by NV Magazine.
The magazine said it was an apparent suicide but there was no independent confirmation of that. She was 45.
The success of lines such as Miss Jessie’s helped spearhead substantial expansions of businesses dedicated not just to Black hair care, but natural hair.
With her sister Miko, Branch ran a popular New York salon. The sisters opened their Brooklyn salon dedicated to curly hair in 1997 and launched their product line, named for their grandmother, in 2004. The company produced one of the first major hair care lines to grace the shelves of Target in the new wave of natural hair enthusiasm and the company’s presence soon expanded to Wal-Mart and several drug store chains.
Titi was credited with creating Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding, one of the brand’s signature products.
Their pricey but effective creation became a hit with many natural-hair enthusiasts.
Wearing your hair naturally hasn’t always been so simple in the African American community. For decades, for many Black women, the primarily desired look has been straight hair, which often can only be achieved through chemical relaxers, hot combs, blow dryers, wigs and hair extensions. While the look worked for some, the combination of heat and chemicals took a toll on the hair of others. And even for those who fared well with straightened hair, regular trips to the salon and other maintenance costs weren’t always wallet-friendly.
Branch and Miss Jessie’s offered a solution to Black women looking for more ways to style their hair. And that solution came from a homemade brew Branch and her sister created together.
Miss Jessie’s is in more than 2,500 retail outlets and is set to double next year. Also out next year, a book, “Miss Jessie’s: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch—Naturally,” penned by Miko about the sisters’ success.
