Glamazons!
You already know that we love to share stories about fabulous Glamazons who are really making a difference in fashion and beauty. I was fortunate enough to spend time chatting it up with with Tamika Fletcher, a natural beauty pioneer and a totally awesome industry leader.
She’s the creator of Earth’s Nectar products (The name absolutely suits the line. It’s made with 100 percent natural ingredients) and the owner of Natural Resources Salon in Houston, Texas. But wait… that’s not even the best part! Tamika started these ventures 10 years ago as an ambitious college student. If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what it is.
Learn all about her journey and her amazing products and salon here:
Glamazon Margo: You’re celebrating 10 years of working in the beauty industry! How did you get started?
Tamika Fletcher: I was in college studying Communications and really was going through some tough, irreversible circumstances. My mom and brother died in an accident so there was no going home for me. I always loved doing hair and needed to do something that I couldn’t get fired from. I knew I could do hair long-term so I started working from my apartment in college.
GM: Let me get this straight. You were doing hair and making products from your apartment?
TF: Yes. I was already offering consultations and I always loved doing hair. Word of mouth was big. My partner and I knew that we wanted to use products on our hair that were really natural so we looked in the kitchen. We came up with the name Earth’s Nectar because we were using the purest ingredients that we could get. Now, our products aren’t completely food-based, but they’re still made with 100 percent natural ingredients.
GM: What are some of the best practices for taking care of natural hair after leaving the salon?
TF: Taking great care of your scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. Neglecting signs of scalp issues such as tension, dandruff, or even oily scalp can lead to hair loss.
Detangling hair with conditioner and water prior to shampooing hair will save dozens of hair strands and small tangles. Shampoo at least every two weeks with sulfate-free shampoo.
Remember to use a cream-based moisturizer when combing curly hair. Use oil-based products and avoid creams when wearing hair extensions.
GM: Which ingredients are best for natural hair? What should naturals stay away from?
TF: At Earth’s Nectar, we love Monoi Tahiti oil, coconut oil, aloe oils, herb extracts and essential oils. We’ve always used Monoi oil from Tahiti and believe in its benefits for hair and skin.
Ammonium Lauryl sulfate and petroleum-based products, in my opinion, are not the best choices for overall healthy hair.
GM: A little birdie told me that you’ve opened a new-and-improved Natural Resources Salon location. Give us the scoop on this project!
TF: It was a labor of love. We started with an old insurance company and revamped it with all recycled materials from the floor to the ceiling. We even used eco-friendly lights and paint. It feels very green.
GM: What makes your salon a must-visit spot in Houston?
TF: We LOVE hair. Plain and simple! Everyday we have an opportunity to do what we love while building relationships and self-confidence in our clients and each other. We are always excited about going above and beyond the hair challenges we face each day. As a team we truly pride ourselves on teamwork, friendly and professional customer service and creativity.
GM: You’re into sustainable living from your all-natural hair care products to your salon. Why is this so important to you?
TF: That’s how I was raised. My grandma was green before it was cool. I’m a frugal person. It’s been my lifestyle [and it extends to my business]. We have a recycling program in the salon. Clients can bring empty product bottles back and we give them a discount. We try to reward them when they show their efforts.
GM: In addition to Natural Resources Salon, you’re also known for your DIY projects. What inspired this interest?
TF: It’s all in the same vein. I like all handmade products. When I go shopping, I always look at the tag to see if I can make it myself. My grandma and mom would look at tags not to see how much it would cost, but to see how it was made.
GM: You’re so creative! How do you manage to run a salon and be a hot commodity in the DIY realm?
TF: It’s how I make my living! I’m constantly thinking of new ideas. If there’s a way to make it, I’ll figure it out. When you love what you do, you make time for it.
GM: There are a lot of organic natural hair care lines. What makes Earth’s Nectar stand out?
TF: We stand out because we will never compromise what is best for your hair and over all well-being, and we will always be true to what we define as natural. We began as a 100 percent handmade company and still strive to provide the best natural and organic ingredients in all of our products and guarantee we will do everything possible to meet the needs of our clients. When comparing our ingredients to any competitor, you will see a significant difference in the quality.
GM: What suggestions do you have for us everyday gals to stay green and reduce our carbon footprint?
TF: -Reuse your old product containers for your own concoctions, to share products with friends, or to refill for a discount at Natural Resources Salon!
– Recycle the product containers you can’t reuse.
– Try making small amounts of fresh beauty products vs. packaged beauty products.
-A simple tip to reduce gas consumption is rinsing hair with cool water. Small decisions everyday make a big impact.
GM: What’s up next for the salon and hair care line? Any plans or announcements?
TF: We are aways expanding our line of hair products and are looking forward to launching our newest addition to the line, Coconut Curls, a creamy curling agent that moisturizes, detangles and holds perfect curls. Yes, it’s possible to have it all! We are also hosting the next Natural Hair Bootcamp this May for mothers, new naturals, or aspiring new stylists.
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Isn’t Tamika all-kinds of fab fun? I’m so inspired by her perseverance and dedication to sharing her experiences with others.
I can’t wait to try some Earth’s Nectar products! Stay tuned for our review. Shop Earth’s Nectar here and be sure to check out Natural Resources Salon on their website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages.
Ciao Bellas,
Glamazon Margo
Pictures Courtesy of Point and Click Photography
