I decided to draw the spikes as beads, and changed up the pigtail-esque things... Without colors (maybe even with colors), I'm not sure it really resembles what it's supposed to be, lol.
Af far as the colors on Melia, I was experimenting, trying again to find a way I'd like to render things, but I do not like how it was turning out, so I've scrapped this attempt and will try a more streamlined approach tomorrow. As usual, shading hair trips me up severely, I'll need to study...