Instagram story viewer> @melisnicolearch> Posts

Melissa ☯︎

@melisnicolearch

1.4K

followers

3200

following

𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗🧿
✂️ @melisnicole.studio
☮︎ 𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

I’ve loved you through so many versions of us, but nothing compares to the version where you’re mine to keep forever. You have this way of making everything feel safe and exciting at the same time, and being engaged to you feels like both of those things at once. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of saying you’re mine, foreverrr. 🤍 ♾️ by @melisnicolearch

167

21

24 days ago

Labor Day weekend was supposed to just be about celebrating Chase turning 40; an entire weekend built around him, surrounded by some of our closest friends, exactly the kind of over the top celebration he deserves. What I didn’t know was that somewhere in the middle of all of it, he’d turned the whole weekend into something bigger. He got down on one knee in front of some of the people who mean the most to us, and I said yes before I even fully processed what was happening. I’m still catching up to the fact that I get to call him my fiancé now. To everyone who helped keep the secret, who showed up for him and for us, who made this weekend feel like the two best things happening at once -thank you doesn’t quite cover it. Here’s to whatever’s next, together 🤍♾️ taken in Eastern Shore, MD by @melisnicolearch

336

112

a month ago

I’ve been thinking about this day a lot since graduation.

Watching my little sister graduate from Colgate University, magna cum laude, felt surreal.

Not because I doubted her for a second, but because it’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that she’s grown up.

When Kelly (@kellykowenhoven ) was born, I had just finished my freshman year of high school. By the time she was growing into the little girl she would become, I was already figuring out adulthood myself, when I was 23, my family moved to Massachusetts, where she (and my brother @pete.kowe ) would spend their childhood growing up.

In so many ways, I didn’t get the traditional experience of growing up alongside my baby sister. Instead, I’ve had the privilege of watching her become who she is from a different vantage point, seeing her grow, evolve, and find her place in the world.

And that’s what hit me that day.

Not the degree. Not the honors. Not the traditions.

It was seeing her so genuinely happy. So comfortable in who she is. So fully herself.

The older we’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how much we actually have in common. Maybe not always in the obvious ways, but in the ways that matter. The way we care deeply. The way we think. The way we move through the world. I see more of myself in her now than I ever did when she was younger.

I cried more times than I’d like to admit that weekend because I kept having the same thought:

Look at her. Look at who she’s become.

Time is strange. I don’t feel that far removed from college myself, yet somehow I’m watching my baby sister graduate and step into this next chapter of her life. If this milestone reminded me of anything, it’s how quickly the years pass and how important it is to appreciate the season you’re in while you’re living it.

Kelly, I am so proud of what you’ve accomplished, but even more proud of the person you’ve become. Watching you find your own path, your own voice, and your own happiness has been one of the greatest gifts.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for you. ♥️ taken in Colgate University by @melisnicolearch

39

6

5 months ago

Realized I never really share much of the person behind the hair anymore, so here’s little pieces of me lately.

A sober girly after years of chaos.
Probably overanalyzing something.
Detail-oriented to a fault.
Too observant for my own good.
Naturally nostalgic and emotionally attached to people, places, routines, and feelings.

I’ve spent the last few years becoming a softer version of myself while still holding onto the intensity that makes me me.

More calm. More intentional. More protective of my peace.

That shift has naturally made its way into my business too. I built this space around connection, healthy hair, low chaos, and creating an experience that actually feels grounding for both me and my clients.

Anyway… little snippets from my Ocean City, MD reset 🤍
Glad you’re here. taken in Melis Nicole Studio by @melisnicolearch

121

21

5 months ago

Two years alcohol free today.

This feels like both a milestone and a quiet checkpoint.
I didn’t stop drinking because it was casual or harmless for me.
I stopped because I couldn’t control it. I drank until I blacked out, lost time, crossed lines, and caused chaos.

There’s no pride in that version of me.
But there is deep respect for the version who chose honesty.

What sobriety gave me wasn’t just discipline, it gave me clarity.

Without alcohol clouding things, I could finally see people for who they truly were.
Not just drinking buddies.
Not just “fun” friends.
But the ones who showed up when there was nothing to numb or escape into.

I learned the difference between connection and convenience.
Between people who loved the version of me that partied
and people who loved the version of me that was present.

That clarity carried into my work, too.
I became more intentional with my time, my energy, and my craft.
More focused. More patient. More grounded.
Showing up fully, for my clients, my space, and myself.

Real relationships got quieter, and so much richer.
Conversations became intentional.
Time became valuable again.
I started choosing people, spaces, and experiences that lifted me up instead of pulled me sideways.

This choice changed how I move through the world.
How I protect my energy.
How I show up in my relationships and in my work.
More grounded. More aware. More myself.

No shame. No glamor.
Just honesty, accountability, and gratitude for the clarity that keeps unfolding.

If you’re on your own path, whether that’s sobriety, curiosity, or choosing better for yourself, you’re not alone. 🤍 by @melisnicolearch

207

63

8 months ago

One year without my grandma 🤍

I used to think grief was something you eventually “move past.” Now I know it’s something you learn to carry. It’s been a year since I lost my grandma and not a day goes by that I don’t feel her with me. She believed deeply in honesty and doing the right thing, even when it was hard. She taught me that character matters more than image, and that how you treat people is what truly defines you.

And like all of us, she was human too.

In her later years, she sometimes hid how much she was struggling, not out of dishonesty, but out of pride and a deep desire to keep her independence in her own home. She was strong-willed, fiercely autonomous, and wanted to remain herself for as long as possible. That strength shaped me just as much as her wisdom.

Those lessons, about integrity, resilience, and humanity, live in me every day. I carry them into every part of my life and my work.

In the way I show up.
In the way I care for people.
In the way I try to lead with heart and honesty.

So much of who I am, as a woman and in my work, comes from her.

I don’t just miss her.
I carry her.

Forever grateful for the love and values that shaped me and still guide me 🤍 by @melisnicolearch

75

6

9 months ago

2025 stretched me in ways I didn’t expect -personally, professionally, and internally. It asked me to slow down, to look honestly at my patterns, my capacity, and what I was continuing to carry simply because it was familiar. There was growth, loss, recalibration, and a lot of quiet lessons about boundaries, self-trust, and choosing alignment over comfort. Some of the most important growth came from learning what no longer belongs in my life, and choosing not to carry it forward.

I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support around me, for Chase, for his family, and for my family, and for my friends; the ones who stayed steady, showed up consistently, and held me down no matter what season I was in. You are my rocks in ways I don’t always say out loud, and I’m so thankful for you.

And to my clients -thank you for trusting me, growing with me, and standing beside me through every version of this year. Your support means more than you know.

This year changed how I move, how I work, and how I define success. I’m ending it clearer, more rooted, and more intentional than I began -with a deeper respect for my own limits and a stronger commitment to protecting my peace.

Closing this chapter with gratitude for what shaped me, appreciation for those who stayed, and confidence in what I’m choosing to leave behind.

Here’s to growth, clarity, and stepping into the next chapter lighter and more aligned. Bring on 2026🤍 by @melisnicolearch

55

5

10 months ago

Being a hairstylist is so much more than what happens behind the chair.

It’s holding space for people who carry more than they say out loud.
It’s pouring energy into others while remembering to refill your own.
It’s balancing art, emotion, and timing — sometimes all at once.
It’s helping someone feel seen, heard, and like themselves again.

It’s love and labor, trust and transformation.
And through every story, every connection, and every moment shared —
I’m reminded this work isn’t just about hair.
It’s about humans. 🖤

#melissstylist #mainlinehairstylist #hairstylistlife #behindthechair #luxurybutreal #hairexperience #phillyhairstylist #emotionalmarketing #haircommunity #connectionoverperfection #karmicmane Text reads “Being a hairstylist is…” over a softly lit salon photo of Melissa. The tone is reflective and calm, setting up an emotional look at life behind the chair. taken in Malvern, Pennsylvania by @melisnicolearch

47

15

a year ago

I almost forgot… this is what it’s all about.
This was my grandma’s last haircut—done at home, surrounded by comfort, love, and softness.
We didn’t know it would be the last. I filmed it by chance—just because.

After she passed, my mom found an envelope.
Inside: a lock of hair I’d cut for her during Covid.
Labeled in her handwriting:
“Melissa cut my hair during Covid.”

She kept it. She kept me.
It was never just hair.
It was care. It was legacy. It was love. by @melisnicolearch

54

12

a year ago

One year sober. One full year of clarity, growth, and showing up—fully and authentically—for the life I deserve. This journey has been anything but easy, but every challenge has been a lesson, and every moment of struggle has led to something greater.

Sobriety has completely transformed my outlook on life, the way I cope with hardships, my physical and mental health, and most importantly, my relationships. I no longer miss out on the moments that truly matter. I make choices I can be proud of, and I show up—not just for myself, but for the people I love.

There were times I doubted if I could do this, but looking back, I see how much strength it took to choose a better path every single day. I see how much I’ve gained—peace, self-respect, deeper connections, and a future I’m excited about.

If you’re struggling, just know that change is possible. Healing is possible. A better life is possible. And I promise—it’s so, so worth it.

Here’s to another year of growth, gratitude, and living life fully present. 💛✨

#OneYearSober #HealingJourney #Growth #Grateful by @melisnicolearch

157

23

2 years ago

Grateful is an understatement
I can’t thank everyone enough for all the love and support at our grand opening! I don’t know how to begin to explain my appreciation to all our clients, friends, and family who showed up for us and made us feel special! Our hearts are full at @karmic_mane 🤍

Huge thank you and endless gratitude to our vendors!
Catering🍽️ @jaccarandaevents
Cocktails🍸 @mix.it.up.with.michelle
Cake🍰 @josephinestreats
Balloons🎈 @3galspartydetails
Tattoos🌿 @cholemansi
Jewelry⚡️ @brazepermjewelry
Botox💉 @cocoaesthetic_
Body glow☀️ @j.glow._ taken in Malvern, Pennsylvania by @melisnicolearch

154

13

2 years ago

You already know @orangelotushotyoga is the spot! by @melisnicolearch

18

1

2 years ago