Braids by Breslin's Marquetta Breslin

Braids by Breslin's Marquetta

Pro Stylist

Marquetta Breslin is the driving force behind Braids by Breslin, one of the most popular braiding tutorial videos online. For the last five years Marquetta has been out in front sharing practical methods of achieving salon results at home. She was kind enough to take some time from her busy filming schedule to talk with MyNHCG.com.

About Marquetta

MyNHCG.com: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and how did you first get started braiding?

Marquetta Breslin:

I'm from a small town in North Carolina called Bunn. I started Micro Braiding my own hair at age 14 and picked up my first faithful customer-my mother! After I graduated from high school, I decided to visit New Jersey for two weeks. I liked it so much that I relocated and lived there for a little over a year. While living in New Jersey, I did a lot of braiding and weaving. This is when I started to perfect my techniques. Later, I decided to enlist in the Air Force. While in basic training, I would cornrow others' hair and soon developed a name for myself. Once I made it to my first base, I quickly picked up a lot of faithful customers. It was later on that I met and married my husband, and we decided to start Braids By Breslin, LLC.

MyNHCG: So you're self-taught?

MB: Yes. It all started when my Aunt Micro Braided my hair just before my freshman year in high school. We all know that after two months, Micro Braids start to look a little worn, so I wanted her to re-braid my hair. Well, she was busy with a new husband and a new baby, so needless to say, she didn't have time to do my hair. I was so determined that I sat down one Saturday and decided to braid my own hair. That's where it all started.

MyNHCG: How were you able to hone your skills?

MB: Persistence, patience, and practice. Those three things have gotten me this far. I have a problem letting things defeat me. If there's a technique or something that I can't quite grasp, I stay laser-focused on that one thing until I master it. It may take me six hours-or six months-but it works.

Braids by Breslin

MyNHCG: So, why did you decide to start Braids By Breslin?

MB: I wanted to share my hair braiding, weaving, and wig-making knowledge with everyone. Many years ago, when I was starting out, I was looking for some instructional videos on braiding. The videos I did find were dated and overpriced, in my opinion. After getting pretty frustrated with all of the videos I bought, I decided to film my own videos and share my knowledge with others at an affordable price.

MyNHCG: I heard you just celebrated your five-year anniversary. How have you seen Braids By Breslin grow over the years?

MB: Thank you so much; it's exciting to hit the five-year mark. Braids By Breslin has seen tremendous growth over the last five years, doubling in growth every year. People are hungry for this knowledge, and it feels so good to see people benefiting from my products. Every time I get an e-mail from a customer who can now do their own hair or their daughter's hair for the first time, I get just as excited as when I first started the business. I'll never get tired of that feeling!

Advice and Tips

MyNHCG: When looking for a braider, what are some questions that you recommend people ask before booking an appointment?

MB: You definitely want to ask to see some of their work. And look around the shop to see if it's sanitary. I've been in braid shops and have watched them complete someone's hair-and then use the exact same comb on the next client's hair without cleaning it! You also want to be sure that they are paying attention to your needs. Often, when we go to a braid shop, it's because the hair is damaged and we want to give it a break, or maybe the hair is broken off around the edges. In some cases, none of the above is taken into consideration, and what you get in the end is either more damage or traction alopecia. Be sure to be clear about what you're looking for in a stylist. If you feel they don't meet your needs, just move right along to the next Braid Shop.

MyNHCG: What is your advice for those women who don't have access to a braider or who want to do their hair at home?

MB: Hey, that's how I got started! I'm all for it; the main thing is making sure you're properly taking care of the hair in the process. Remember to be patient and practice. It's not as hard as it seems-trust me!

MyNHCG: What are some things that they can do to create a professional look at home?

MB: My best friend is the hood dryer. They're fairly inexpensive and are phenomenal. I use my dryer all the time. I use it to do my finishing touches to my braids. I don't like to cut my hair, so I always put some gel on my hair and tie it down with a silk scarf. That always works wonders. You're also going to need a mirror. Sometimes I would have to stand in the bathroom with a mirror to get my parts straight in the back. It took me a long time to get to the point where I was comfortable with it, but I just had to keep doing it to get good.

MyNHCG: What are some ways to make extension styles last longer?

MB: A silk scarf works wonders! Using a silk scarf at night when your hair is braided helps keep them in longer. That's my little secret. Moisturizing the hair weekly also works wonders!

MyNHCG: There are some women who suffer from diseases and scalp issues that cause their hair to fall out. I know you have a special place in your heart for women who have battled with cancer. What advice can you give them about choosing an extension style, weave or wig?

MB: You're right-I do have a special place in my heart for those battling cancer! My mother is my hero. She's the strongest woman I know! I would advise the individual to start with something he or she is comfortable with. They can get their extensions done just like they wear their natural hair. Once they get used to wearing weaves or extensions, they can venture on to try new things. My mom used to experiment a lot. I think she had a different look every day! The good thing is that she stayed positive and was open-minded after the first few styles.

Final Thoughts

MyNHCG: Do you have any specials or promotions that you would like to tell our readers about?

MB: Well, we just had our anniversary sale, so we're not having anything going on in the near future. I'm in the final stages of my Lace Wig Training System. That will be released later this year or, at the latest, at the beginning of 2009. I'm really excited about this project. I've really poured my heart into making this the best Lace Wig Training system in the world at an affordable price. Please visit http://www.LaceWigTrainingCenter.com for more information!

MyNHCG: What are some of your goals for Braids By Breslin in the future?

MB: My primary goal is to keep building the Lace Wig Training Center (http://www.LaceWigTrainingCenter.com). I also want to have over 200 videos in my Insider's Club, which means a ton of filming, but it's a passion of mine. I also need to film more DVDs for Braids By Breslin. And lastly, I'm working on developing my own company to sell Remy Hair which is taking up a lot of my time, too.

MyNHCG: Any final thoughts or parting words?

MB: I just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story and my thoughts; it means a lot to me. I also want to encourage anybody out there who wants to learn how to braid, weave, or do wigs to keep pushing forward and trying their best. This is a wonderful industry, and I thank God for blessing me with this talent to share with others. Again, thanks so much for having me!

MyNHCG: Thank you Maquetta!