Impact Story: Melissa Bradshaw

Melissa Bradshaw’s entrepreneurial journey started with a simple challenge: finding natural hair care products that were good for her hair texture and type.

“Many Black hair care products have tons of chemicals and unwanted ingredients that aren’t healthy,” Melissa says. “I was having a really hard time finding natural products that worked for me. The products that I did find were in the US, so even though there were great products, I was spending so much on shipping, currency conversion and things like that.”

After some research, Melissa, who lives in Vancouver, realized that there was a huge untapped Canadian market for natural products for curly and coily hair.

Thus, Montego Brown Hair Care was born. “I really wanted to make vegan products with natural ingredients,” says Melissa. “My background is Jamaican, so I also wanted to incorporate my heritage with tropical scents and fruits. That’s how it all started.”

Montego Brown Hair Care now offers a full line of non-toxic, cruelty-free hair care products, including shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil, all available online.

In addition to the products themselves, Melissa is focused on education and empowerment.

“This is more than a business venture for me – it’s a passion project born out of a desire to make a difference in the way we care for our hair and ourselves. Educating customers about the benefits of using natural, gentle ingredients for their hair is a key focus.”

In the process of starting her business, Melissa has worn many hats – from graphic design to website maintenance to content creation to sourcing and formulating products, she’s done it all. While she now has freelancers to help her with some tasks, this early experience provided crucial insights. “I know what it’s like behind the scenes, and it’s taught me what I do and don’t like to do and where I should find support.”

With limited capital, Melissa says she looks for free and low-cost resources to help her grow her business, which is how she found Rise. In March 2023, Melissa joined the Peer Supported Startup Program (PSSP) where she says she benefited from training sessions and business mentorship. Most notably, PSSP connected her with like-minded entrepreneurs to collaborate and build relationships with.

“I’ve made amazing friends through the Rise program that I’m still in contact with,” she says. “We collaborate, encourage each other and support one another’s businesses. I just love it.”

And all of Melissa’s hard work is paying off.

“My customers love what I offer,” she says. “I’ve heard from people who tell me my products have transformed their hair care routine and boosted their self-esteem. Knowing that we’re making a positive difference in people’s lives and helping them embrace their natural beauty is truly the most rewarding part of running this business.”

Looking ahead to the future, Melissa wants to continue to grow Montego Brown Hair Care and hopes to open a salon one day. She also hopes to see more Black businesses joining the Canadian beauty industry. “I’d love to see more of that,” she says, “because there really aren’t a lot. It’s just a small number of entrepreneurs, and I would love to see more in this space so we can build community and support each other.”

Melissa’s advice to people considering entrepreneurship: “Just do it! Try it. If I hadn’t pushed myself to do this, I never would have known that this is such a great thing. You don’t want to have regrets. So just give it a try.”

Melissa Bradshaw was our 2024 Bell Let's Talk Start-up Award recipient.

Visit www.montegobrownhaircare.com to learn more.