My Sisterlocks Journey

3 Year Pics

2011-06-01T18:42:00.003-04:00

So here are my pics at 3 years!

These are the comparisons at day 1, year 1, year 2, and year 3...

right side

back

3 Years!!!

2011-05-19T10:54:00.003-04:00

So it's my 3 year lock anniversary and I decided to dye my hair! Well, kind of. I did an auburn rinse (not bold enough for permanent color). It's subtle but I like it. I will post pics soon.

I retightened my hair and am really noticing my length now. I mean my hair isn't super long, but I've come sooooo far from when I started. I can't wait to do comparison pics.

This is cliche, but it doesn't seem like it's been 3 years. I've gotten so used to (spoiled :-)) with my locks that I don't think about my hair as much anymore. Imagine that, it's just hair ;-)

I do have an appreciation for it when I do a consultation with a client that's in the same seat I was 3 years ago. We all have the same story in different variations. Tired of chemicials/relaxers/weaves/braids/etc., hair broke off after (pick a reason), wanted to go natural but didn't know how to, want to be more healthy, and fell in love with Sisterlocks after seeing them somewhere. I still like the idea that I can introduce other women to something that freed me from many of my hair woes. And I'm still loving every minute of it.

Pics coming soon...

Month 35

2011-04-19T12:36:00.000-04:00

Can't believe it's been this long

2011-03-24T17:19:00.011-04:00

March 19, 2011 marked 34 months since I got locked up. In just 2 months I'll be celebrating 3 years with Sisterlocks and I can hardly believe it. I can't wait to do comparison pics, because it's still hard for me to see my progress. I can tell my hair has grown some, but I still would consider it short. Either way it's in much better condition than when I started, so I can't complain.

I decided to break my lazy streak last night and attempt to style my hair. I did a braid out while I was laying in bed, so it's not perfect but it's something :) I'll have to take some pics of it after I unbraided it and post them later.

It's been a while...

2011-03-02T07:10:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I finally have some pictures for an update. I took these in January when I was at about 32 months. I can't believe it will be 3 years for me in May! Time sure flies.

My hair is still growing, and I've been lazy about styling lately. I'm not liking my rod sets as much these days. I tend to use a curling iron just to add a slight curl to my hair, but I mostly wear it straight.

Month 28

2010-09-13T08:03:00.002-04:00

It's been busy an I haven't done much with my hair lately. I am pretty much trying to keep it retightened on a regular schedule. I'm in a bit of a styling rut but as my hair is growing out some I think I'll have more options.

On the sisterlocks trainee front, I finally submitted my certification application to the sisterlocks home office :-)

Here are some random pics I took last month. I had set my hair with soft spikes but didn't have time to let it try completely, so the curls had already fallen by the end of they day.

Month 26

2010-07-18T08:22:00.005-04:00

So I've made it to month 26 of my sisterlocks journey. It's still hard to believe it's been that long. At this stage, I was surprised that I was able to take out one of my locks. I have some locks that are on the larger side, and they started to annoy me so I just figured I'd try to undo it and it actually worked. I decided to take out the one next to it and make the two locks into 3:

The one on the left is one of my original locks, and the 3 to the right are the ones I just did. I may combine the two on the left since one of them is a little on the small side now.

I haven't had a lot of time to do much to my hair, but after I retightened my hair I flat twisted the front and rodded the back. The pictures below were taken about a week after I set my hair, and a day after an intense workout that sweated out all of my curls :-)

2 Years!!!

2010-06-01T23:28:00.005-04:00

It's official!!! On May 19, 2010, I celebrated my 2 year lock anniversary!

OK, so I didn't do much celebrating (I was retightening a client's hair), but later that week or the next week I actually did get a massage and finished retightening my own hair :-)

As promised, here are the pictures of my bangs styled with a curling iron on low heat setting. The pics aren't the best but here it is:

Here are some comparison pics of my 1st day, 1st year, and 2nd year. Looks like I'm making progress...

Right side where I had a LOT of breakage when I started...

Back view...

(the middle picture is actually at about 13 months)

To Color or Not to Color, That is the Queston

2010-04-27T16:49:00.006-04:00

I will soon be at my 2 year lock anniversary. Time flies!

I am contemplating getting color when I hit my 2 year mark next month, but I'm not sure. I have seen varying degrees of results with Sisterlocks and color, and I'm not sure I'm ready to take the leap yet. I have seen differences in hair texture and breakage as a result, so I may not be willing to take that risk.

I did buy some henna some months back but am concerned about build up and my hair turning orange. I may consider doing a rinse to see how that works since it's only temporary. Anyone with experience/advice on color, please msg me.

I am in an experimentation phase with styling. I wanted more of a wrap look, so I got some large rollers but they didn't work that well. I have started using a curling iron on a low heat setting just to get a bend in the front of my hair for bangs and to frame my face. Everyone thinks I got a hair cut :-)

I am going to try to limit the heat on my hair, but I haven't seen any adverse effects from using the curling iron yet. I have noticed if the setting is too high, it can flatten your locks out some, especially locks that haven't matured yet. That happened to a few of mine but after I washed my hair they were back to normal. Also, the curl is so loose it doesn't hold up for long, maybe a day or so, and you can forget it if it's raining or humid.

I haven't done a roller set in a while but I also invested in a hair dryer so I don't have to always wait hours (or overnight) for a set. I still have yet to use it, especially since I got the curling iron around the same time.

My hair is still growing slowly at its own pace, but I'm still loving the journey. I will post more pics soon.

Month 22: My Tiny Ponytail

2010-03-19T20:10:00.003-04:00

I'm inching up on 2 years, and I may have an inch of ponytail :-) No laughing please, but here it is:

Here is a lazy picture of the back of my hair I took while I was laying down. I can tell my hair is growing, but I am still a little paranoid that my locks in the back are too large. They aren't huge, but just big enough to be annoying to me since I really like small locks. I was hoping they would have contracted more by now, but I'll get over it.

In the sisterlocks trainee world, I have actually completed over 3 locking sessions but I still haven't submitted my application yet. My goal is still to turn it in by the end of the year, and if all goes well I'll get it in by the July deadline. Wish me luck!

It's Been a Minute

2010-03-11T23:35:00.003-05:00

OK, so I haven't blogged in a minute. It's been pretty busy and my computer crashed, so I've been playing catch up. I will be coming up on 22 months in a few weeks. It seems like just yesterday I was getting my locks and now I'm approaching two years. Time sure does fly.

I did hit a milestone of sorts a few weeks ago...(drumroll)...I have just enough hair to pull into a little ponytail. OK, so it's not impressive but I've seen smaller. I will post pics soon.

I am still working towards becoming a certified Sisterlocks consultant and have been pretty busy with retightenings and a few new clients. I'm definitely keeping busy :-)

New Style

2010-01-24T23:11:00.003-05:00

I experimented with a new style for a gala I went to over the weekend. I curled my hair with rods all over (smaller ones on the sides) and twisted it up. I think it turned out well...

20 Months Today

2010-01-20T12:06:00.011-05:00

Today I am officially 1 year and 8 months Sisterlocked! I have graduated to using the green tea shampoo (which I love) but I will still probably use the starter shampoo every now and then. I also started using sisterlocks conditioner and moisturing spray. I also tried the Crinkles & Curls setting lotion. I didn't notice much difference in it holding my curls but it does smell good. It's supposed to make your hair dry faster. I guess I'm turning into a product junkie (no!!!!!!!).

I haven't been doing much with my hair lately, but it is still growing at its own pace. I did reach another silly landmark though....the headband! lol. OK, so I really don't wear headbands but I needed something to keep my hair out of the way when I wash my face (imagine that, hair in my face..lol). I would end up with a few straight locks on the sides of my head when I set my hair because it would get wet while I washed my face (not cute). So I got some very thin headbands (they look more like big rubberbands) just to keep my hair dry and it's been working so far.

The pictures below were taken last month (at around 19 months) after I washed my hair:

More pics to come...

17 Months

2009-11-02T08:53:00.003-05:00

Here are my pics at 17 months:

So my hair has finally grown enough in the front for me to pull off having bangs. :) This is a pretty small milestone, but progress nonetheless considering how short my hair started. Ever since a bad haircut several years ago, along with years of braiding, I have had this bowl look (short in the front, longer in the back). I am slowly but surely growing out of it.

I am still using the starter shampoo and shampooing once a week. I used the Sisterlocks reconstructor conditioner because some of my ends were looking on the dry side. I am experimenting with some hair mists though (more on that later).

Month 16

2009-10-10T07:52:00.007-04:00

Here are my pictures at 16 months (close to 17 now). It's still growing at its own pace (slowly but surely).

I tried using soft spikes last week but my curls fell after 2 days. Maybe my hair wasn't wet enough. Anyway, this time I wet my hair thoroughly and used a little crinkles and curls setting lotion. I set it overnight on rods about 4 days ago.

top

front

top

side

back

I have been thinking about coloring my hair but I am on the fence about it. I've never really been that into color but I've been seeing a lot of people lately with nice color and have been considering experimenting. I like the color of my hair and the texture. Many clients I have seen with color have experienced a change in hair texture and sometimes breakage, so I think I may just forgo the coloring thing for now. It sure is tempting though.

On the goal front, I have almost accomplished the goals I set out at the beginning of the year. Good thing since I will be thinking of my 2010 goals soon. So far the first one is to become a certified sisterlocks consultant.

At my last swim lesson with a new instructor, I actually swam on my own for the first time! No flotation devices, just me in the water and not drowning :-) I still have a few more lessons, because I still need to work on my breathing and form...but I am happy I was able to do that on my own. It looks like my Egypt trip will definitely be postponed, maybe for a few years, and I still haven't found an Arabic class. I downloaded some stuff from iTunes but haven't listened to all of the lessons yet though I learned a few phrases.

15 Months! - 2009 Goal Update 6

2009-08-18T18:19:00.006-04:00

It's been a minute since I've updated my blog. I am at 15 months now and have been experimenting with different looks. I haven't taken as many pictures lately but I will try to post some more soon. These are my pics after just washing my hair:

I think my hair is maturing OK. A lot of my ends are sealed and some are still open. Some of the puffiness is going away too.

As for my goal updates, I finally got my master's degree in the mail last month and got a frame for it. Feels good, but it is an expensive piece of paper. I still have only taken one swimming lesson but I have one scheduled next week so hopefully I will make more progress. I have been doing retightenings like crazy and am looking forward to doing some new locks pretty soon. Working on different hair textures, lengths and locks at different maturity levels is a learning experience. I am going to start putting together a portfolio soon also.

13 Months! - 2009 Goal Update 5

2009-06-20T18:33:00.007-04:00

So I've made it to 13 months and need to do something with my hair. I plan to curl it tonight, but here are some post-wash pre-style pics:

This month I actually retightened my own hair for the first time (well, at least the front which is the most challenging part since I still have hair growing in between my parts...my consultant finished the back the following week). I split one of my locs in the front because somewhere along the line it looked like two got joined together. It is growing slowly and I am in the swelling phase where my locks are plumping up, especially in the back, but I'm happy with my progress. I can feel that several of my ends are fully encased while some of my ends are still open.

I graduated last month so now that I'm done with school, I have time to focus on my other goals. I started working in a salon this week so I have been doing more retightenings. So far so good. My retightening time is down from 5-6 hours to 3-4, so I am getting a little faster. It also depends on the condition of the person's hair of course, but that's my ballpark range.

I am still working out on a regular basis and have recruited some work out buddies along the way. I am addicted to Zumba, which is a group exercise class based on latin/international dance. I have also been doing weight training consistently and it turns out I've gained a pound. I bought Bethenny Frankel's book Naturally Thin and it's a good read. It's helping me not become neurotic and obsessive about losing weight and I like her sarcastic/dry sense of humor (she's the natural chef from Real Housewives of NY). I also need to focus on some key things like reducing/eliminating soy intake, increasing protein which can be challenging since I'm a vegetarian, and reducing my caloric intake. Overall I enjoy working out and I feel healthier so at the end of the day it's all good.

I had my first swimming lesson last week. I am getting some of the techniques down but I am still afraid of drowning because I don't think people float the same way fish do. We'll see how that goes.

Year 1!!!

2009-05-20T14:42:00.005-04:00

Yesterday marked my official 1st year with sisterlocks! I treated myself to a massage to celebrate. Here are my pics:

11 Months Sisterlocked! ~ 2009 Goal Update 4

2009-04-26T18:46:00.002-04:00

I made it to 11 months on April 19. Nothing much to report, except that I am looking forward to month 12 which will mark my official 1st year sisterlocked! I've been thinking of something to do to celebrate but I have no ideas. I don't want to make too big a deal of it but I do want to acknowledge the day. Maybe I'll take a trip to the spa, or get something for my hair. I don't know, any suggestions?

My 2009 goals are coming along. As of today I FINALLY finished all of my papers, projects, and assignments for class. Now the nail biter...waiting for my final grades to get in. I have calculated where I am so far but I don't know my final exam and report grades yet. Hopefully I'll know where I stand by the end of the week.

I have still been going to the gym regularly, although I missed a couple of days. I like the group classes, they are usually an hour and give me a full body workout without having to think about it. I'm focusing more on weight training though to make sure I get it in at least 3 times per week. If I stick to my schedule, I should lose 9 lbs. by July (10 lbs. fat loss, 1 lb. muscle gain).

Since my school work is finished, I am going to sign up for swim lessons. I had an appointment today but I had the time wrong so I have to reschedule. After that I need to plan a vacation...

I have given up on trying to find an Arabic class but I downloaded some lessons from iTunes I have been listening too. Not bad, but it doesn't help with writing the characters. I will have to carve out some time to do self-study with the textbook I have.

2009 Goal Update 3

2009-04-01T16:13:00.005-04:00

OK, so I am having trouble finding an Arabic class around these parts...I may just have to try studying on my own at some point. That's for later this year though.

As for my other goals, here's how it's going so far:

School: I am slacking a little on my classes but I'm mostly caught back up. I finished my paper the other day which was a struggle. I'm waiting for it to be graded *crossing fingers* and now I have to focus on my group assignments again. One thing is for sure, I am DONE with college after this! Graduation date is May 16, 2009!!!
Sisterlocks: I am looking forward to going to the black hair expo this month to hopefully pass out some brochures for Sisterlocks. Business has been slow but I've been focused on school so it's just as well. At the end of the month when classes are winding down I will concentrate on it more. I am thinking about working in a salon so I don't have to do SLs out of my home.
Fitness: As for my vaguely stated goal to get in shape, hanging out with PLMachine-MD and NeesasMom is slowly turning me into a fitness junkie too...or as PLMachine-MD says "the new princess of fitness" lol. My goals aren't as lofty as theirs, I just want to lose 2 inches off my waist (maybe 10 lbs. while I'm at it) and get in shape. Once I'm reasonably "fit" I may take some martial arts classes. I definitely want to do some self-defense training but I'm not into karate, I want something more practical so if I'm in a dark alley alone I can hold my own (not that I hang out in dark alleys). Anyway, I have been touring different gyms in the area and finally joined one this week. I have 14 days to try it out but I may not cancel after all.
Swimming: Now that I have Sisterlocks and don't have to worry about my hair looking a hot mess, my new goal is to learn to swim by the end of the year. I did know how to swim at one point, I think, when I was like 4 but I guess like they say if you don't use it, you lose it. So I plan to learn how to swim this year so the next time I go to a beach or get on a boat I don't have to worry about drowning.

Reached the 10-month mark!

2009-03-19T09:10:00.006-04:00

I made it to 10 months and things are moving along. My hair is progressing nicely and I am noticing some of my ends are fully closed now. Mostly it's still coiled at the ends, but my days of slippage are gone. I am enjoying life wiithout braiding and banding! It takes much less time to wash my hair so I am glad I made it pass that phase! I took some pictures with my digital camera after my retightening:

On an unrelated note, I am moving along with one of my 2009 goals. I got a 93 on my mid-term so hopefully I will make it through the rest of the semester. Wish me luck!

9 Month Pictures

2009-02-27T14:22:00.008-05:00

Here are my 9 month pics. I was in a bit of a rut with the freestyle so I tried an updo. I don't have much length but I think it looks OK. I flat twisted the front and the back and did a twist out and pinned up the middle.

Here is a pic that shows my progess from month 1 to month 9:

9 Months!

2009-02-19T22:32:00.003-05:00

I have made it to month 9 of my Sisterlocks journey! At my last retightening I got some good news.

Drumroll....

I no longer have to braid and band!!!!!!! I wasn't expecting this so soon but my consultant shampooed my hair without braiding and banding and it held up fine.

I have also started doing some of my own retightening but I've stayed away from the back since I can't see back there. I made a few mistakes that I was able to correct...I retightened two locks into one (not cool) but I was able to get them apart. I am learning to feel my way around but I also just don't have the time to get through it all right now, so I will continue to go to my consultant every 4 weeks.

I am definately going to enjoy shampooing my hair this week...wish me luck!

2009 Goal Update 2

2009-02-14T09:03:00.002-05:00

OK, so I found out after registering and purchasing the text book that the Arabic class I was going to take was cancelled due to low enrollement :( The book has a DVD so I think I will still study on my own, although at this point my other class is kicking my butt. I have to buckle down and get to studying. I stayed up last night to get caught up with my reading as of last week, now I have to start on this week's assignments...

Black Hair Survey Results

2009-02-13T16:42:00.002-05:00

OK, so I finally got around to summarizing the results from the survey. Around 50 people responded to my 2008 survey. It revealed some interesting things to me about the reality of our hair versus our perception of our hair and natural beauty in general. I plan to repeat it in 2009 to see if I can get more perspectives on black women's hair care.

State of Hair

Most women who responded to the survey, around 75%, had naturally dark brown hair (in the 1B to 2 range for those accustomed to the braid/weave/track colors) and still have their natural hair color. More than half (about 53%) described their hair as tightly coiled (as opposed to a medium or loose curl pattern).

An overwhelming 92% had a perm at some point in their lives (bless the 8%!), and about 90% have worn braids at some point also. 16% believe natural hair is unattractive but around 60% are happy with their hair texture. A little over half had tried twists, corn rows, or afros. Most respondents had natural hair:
· Natural/Loose Hair: 37.0%
· Perm/Relaxer: 15.2%
· Traditional Locks: 4.3%
· Sisterlocks: 43.5%

Hair Styles & Maintenance

Most ladies who had sisterlocks reported that was their favorite hair style (usually a braid/twist out or freestyle). Only 3 people reported a preference for weaves. Over half did not feel their hair was high maintenance.

Hair Care Problems

Only 12% reported they never had any hair problems (lucky!). ¾ of respondents currently or in the past reported problems with dry, itchy, or flaky scalp and about half previously had hair that was too dry. Nearly 90% experienced a problem with breakage in the past or currently.

These results indicate to me that we do not know how to care for our hair and/or the chemicals and products we have used in the past were not suited to our hair type and texture. Yes, even products with red, black, & green logos have not treated us well.

Almost 60% had previously or currently experienced thinning hair along the hair line. This is probably due to styling (weaves, too tight braids, etc.) and the natural tendency of the hair around the edges to be softer, thinner, or more fragile. The same amount reported issues with their hair tangling. About 40% reported current or previous uneven hair as a problem and 47 percent currently have a problem with their hair shedding.

Hair Length

Only 39% were happy with their hair length and 58% wished their hair was longer. Only 2 people felt their hair was too long. 55% of women said they had short hair while only 12% think they have long hair. 41% report never having had long hair in their lifetime. Despite this, no one believes their hair is unable to grow. This tells me we know we are doing something wrong and may just believe we don’t have the right answer. I know my hair can grow, but I don’t know how to treat it so it will be healthy and grow naturally.

I did not state long or short in inches because I wanted it to be based on our perceptions of length. I may be more specific in a future survey to see what we think is long versus short hair. As a gauge, shorter than shoulder length seems to be considered “short” while anything beyond that is “long.” Shoulder length hair could go either way depending on your perception.

More than half believe men prefer long hair and that they would look better with long hair. Only 14% believe they look better with short hair. This was striking to me because most people don’t believe their hair is long but they think that’s what men prefer. I wonder if that’s true or if that’s what we think. What an effect that can have on our self-esteem. I am almost tempted to do a black men’s survey to see what they think :-)

Latest Styling Attempt/First Retightenting

2009-02-11T08:50:00.012-05:00

I was getting tired of the soft spikes since my last attempt at curls only lasted 48 hours. I wanted a tighter curl that lasted longer so I bought some perm rods and some setting lotion (gasp!). I know, I broke the cardinal lock newbie rule of putting something in my hair besides water. My curls lasted for a t least week until I washed it so I'm happy with the results. Next time I'll just use water so the Sisterlocks gods will smile down upon me :) Here are my pics:

On another note, I did my first retightening! It took about 4 hours but I finished retightening Neesa's Mom's hair over the weekend. I also met a potential client while I was getting my blood drawn at the dr's office (guess you can talk about Sisterlocks anywhere) and through a friend of mine. Hopefully I will get my first client soon.

2009 Goal Update 1

2009-01-29T15:15:00.003-05:00

So in my happy new year (2009) post I stated a few things I planned on doing this year. I thought I would give a quick update on what I've done so far since I actually feel like I accomplished some things already :)

I signed up for an Arabic class near my house so I will start the class next month. (I already bought the text book!)
I registered for the last class required for my master's degree this semester and purchased all my text books.
I completed the sisterlocks training class

Seems like I'm moving at warp speed so I'm going to have to slow down. Of course I realize the initial burst of energy will drain, so hopefully I can stay consistent with completing my goals. That's always the hard part.

Month 8 Pictures

2009-01-29T08:52:00.002-05:00

Here are my pictures from my 8th month being sisterlocked. I set my hair with soft spike curlers and slept in them overnight. They didn't last that long and were fairly loose. As my hair settles in more I'll be able to use setting lotion so maybe the curls will last longer. For now I'm just using water.

8 months!

2009-01-19T21:15:00.001-05:00

Today I have officially been sisterlocked for 8 months. I just got my hair retightened and it feels good to have parts again. I had a lot of hair growing in between my locs. I almost felt like there was a mini fro taking over my locks! Luckily most of that weird growth spurt has been pulled into my existing locks and my parts are visible one again. I will post pics soon.

Sisterlocks Training & Hair Care Survey

2009-01-14T10:41:00.000-05:00

Its official, I am signed up to take the sisterlocks training and I can't wait! I admit I made the decision on a whim (an expensive one at that), but I am passionate about sisterlocks and hope the class will help me be able to help others love their natural hair. I know some consultants already that I can hopefully work with to fine tune my skills after the training. And of course I will be my first guinea pig!

I also decided that I should wrap up my hair care survey and post a summary of the results. Some of the responses were quite interesting. I will probably shut it down later this week so this is your last chance if you want to participate (link to the right or look for post labeled black hair survey).

Happy new year!

2009-01-03T09:34:00.005-05:00

I was reflecting on 2008 and realized I had a few firsts this year:

I got my first iPod! (I know I'm late)
For the first time my two front teeth are even and gap free (long story)
I went to my first presidential political rally
I went to a spa for the first time
I went to my first concert (rock the bells!)
I am wisdom tooth free for the first time (got the last 3 pulled, what fun!)
I got my first bike since I was like 8 years old
I discovered the joys of butternut squash
I started my first blog

And most importantly...
I got sisterlocks!

In 2009 I plan to take a class to brush up on my Arabic skills that I seem to have left on the campus of Howard University, plan a trip to Egypt for this year or 2010, take the sisterlocks training class, and finally finish my masters degree (one more class).

I don't make new years resolutions, but suffice it to say I know I am out of shape and need to get back to exercising (don't we all).

Happy new year!

7 Months and Puffy

2008-12-24T14:30:00.003-05:00

So on December 19 I was officially sisterlocked for 7 months. I had some pictures on my phone after I did a soft spike set post-retightening but they inadvertently got erased. For now all I have is one not-so-good pic from days later after all the curls fell.

My locs in the back are puffy. They have swollen some, which I am told is a natural part of the locking process, but the ones in the front haven't changed much. Here is one of my locs and you can see it is a little fatter than when I first started:

I am getting some balls at the end of my locs but most of them end up falling off so I don't know that it's actually locking yet. Here are some close up pics of some locs that I think are beginning to seal:

I'm still being patient with my hair and just letting it do its thing. Just for fun, here is a comparison pic of the back of my hair at day one and at about 6 1/2 months:

Paranoid about Parts

2008-12-22T13:59:00.011-05:00

OK, I think I am starting to obsess over having the perfect parts. I think I will mention it to my consultant at my next retightening. I am beginning to notice that my parts aren't as straight as they used to be. It's not that big a deal but now it's starting to bother me because I generally flat twist the front of my hair so parts are important. Towards the middle it's starting to look a little scraggily. The pics below are after my last retightening and BEFORE a shampoo. What do you think?

Back View

May 22

Dececmeber 22

Top View

May 22

Dececmeber 22

Styling Suggestions Anyone?

2008-12-07T18:51:00.005-05:00

It's been about 6 1/2 months since my installation and I still love my sisterlocks. I have to admit I haven't been doing much styling lately. With short hair it is a challenge and I usually am content with my usual freestyle look.

I tried a braidout today and I was happy with it. It was actually by accident because I was scratching my hair and some of my flat twists in the front started to unravel and I noticed my hair had a little wave to it. So I braided up the rest of it but I didn't have much time to let it set so the waves weren't that tight. When my hair is longer I am sure I will like this look more and also when I am able to use products (setting lotion, etc.) so the curls will stay longer.

Here are my pics:

6 Months Sisterlocked!

2008-11-24T22:18:00.006-05:00

It's finally been six months! Here are some pictures I took after my retightening. I am happy with my progress so far...

Back View	Top View
Right Side	Left Side

Day 1 - Month 5 Comparison Shots

2008-10-19T23:36:00.006-04:00

I thought this would be a good point to do some comparison pics to see how my hair has changed over the past 5 months.

Here is a comparison of the back view of my hair from day 1 and 5 months (today). I think it has grown some and is a little fuller than it was on the first day.

This comparison is of the left side. I had some spots on the sides of my hair that had broken off really bad from some braids that were too tight. Now it's finally starting to look normal again.

The right side is one of the most dramatic comparisons. As you can see, my hair had broken off so bad on the right side I actually had some spots that were almost bald :-( I'm happy to say after 5 months, you can hardly tell I ever had this problem. I can still tell it's shorter on the sides but at least I have some hair! :-)

5 Months Sisterlocked!

2008-10-19T23:27:00.004-04:00

Today I am officially 5 months sisterlocked! Here are my 5 month pics after my retightening:

Four Month Pictures

2008-10-19T13:31:00.001-04:00

Here are my pictures I took last month around the 4 month mark. I think I had just washed my hair and hadn't done much of anything with it...so here it is...

Approaching 5 months

2008-10-16T19:14:00.001-04:00

Ok, so its been a while since I've posted. This weekend I will be officially 5 months sisterlocked!

I will have more pictures then after a retightning. I'm still braiding and banding (sorta) and don't really have problems with slippage anymore. I am getting balls at the end of some of my locks but they mainly just come off. I notice a little growth but only after retightenings, but not too many changes in my hair besides that.

I took 4 month pictures, even though I didn't post them yet, but I will post them soon.

3 Months Sisterlocked

2008-08-19T10:09:00.001-04:00

Here are my 3 month pics. I have a better digital camera now so these are a little more detailed. You can really see the texture of my hair. These are pre-retightening pics. I will have more soon!

2 Months Sisterlocked!

2008-07-25T19:48:00.004-04:00

2 months sisterlocked and I already feel like a veteran :-) So far 2 people that didn't know I was getting sisterlocks have actually identified my hair as sisterlocks, and a few others as locks. So far I am still happy with my hair. It is going through its changes. I notice I have more loose hair then I did when I first got my hair locked. I'm still braiding and banding and almost out of starter shampoo.

Here are some 2 month pics:

Back View

Braid Out

Left Side, Front Flat Twisted

Right Side

Dream Kitchen

2008-07-10T21:37:00.005-04:00

After looking through some of the SL lifestyle journals I noticed the dream kitchen pictures, which prompted me to check out my hairline in the back (never looked before):

I love the feeling of no longer worrying about my "kitchen" being unsightly. Yet another benefit of SLs :-)

Here is a pic after my last retightening. The front seems to be growing out some :-)

Week 6

2008-07-06T15:12:00.004-04:00

Here are some week 6 pics...overall I still love my SLs and like wearing the curls and corn rows.

I had some slippage after I went on vacation and my hair got wet (not all of it, just the front and back from snorkeling). Some completely unravelled. I knew the spots that were really short wouldn't survive the salt water.

To prevent further unravelling, I tried shampooing my hair with only the starter shampoo. I usually use the Knotty Boy shampoo to get my scalp clean and then use the starter shampoo on my SLs. I figured I'd give it a shot since I hadn't actually tried using just the starter shampoo. I was pessimistic after reading everyone's blogs about dry scalp. Low and behold, the trend held true for me too. My scalp didn't itch much but was very dry. I used ACV with it too and that still didn't help. From now on I will go back to my regular routine.

One Month Locked Up!

2008-06-23T16:42:00.011-04:00

So it's been one month since I got my sisterlocks. I didn't blog on my one month lociversary because I was out of town but here are the pics I took on the 19th:

(Left - Day 1, Right - Month 1)This was after I washed my hair and did nothing to it. You can see the texture has changed some since my installation.

(Left - Day 1, Right - Month 1)

Right now I'm pretty much just wearing a freestyle although the front of my hair was twisted in this pic. I can feel a difference, and I think the starter shampoo is really helping my hair along. I have some balls forming at the ends already. I have a pic of that but it's hard to see, I may post it if I can clean it up some.

I am getting retightened in another week and then I'll be on my four week schedule. I still have some slippage in the back and the front in the really short spots, and going to the beach didn't help. I didn't submerge my head in the water but the back did get wet. I may just two strand twist those areas for now until my retightening...I'll just have to remember to take them out :-) All in all I'm still enjoying the journey and watching the change my hair is going through.

First Retightening

2008-06-11T19:42:00.002-04:00

I had my first retightening this past weekend and I am glad to report my consultant said my locks are progressing nicely so far and they look really good. I was glad to hear this because after two shampoos I had some slippage, but nothing out of the ordinary. I don't have any pre-retightening pics after I shampooed my hair for the 2nd time, but here are some post-retightening pics:

I've Been Tagged!

2008-06-10T12:29:00.003-04:00

I was tagged by Journeii

The rules:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes my six random things...don't judge me :-) . . .

1) I have been addicted to CNN for months. The political primary season turned into the best reality show I've seen in a while. Unfortunately now that it's all over, I am going through withdrawal.

2) I think myspace is trying too hard to be like facebook and that annoys me for some reason. Anyone who used myspace last year knows I'm telling the truth.

3) I have never worn, and never will wear, capris. I think that is a fancy name for highwaters and when I was growing up that was not a good look. It's amazing to me that people purposefully pay for a look that could be achieved free through hand-me-downs or simply buying regular pants in petite/short.

4) I have devloped the dry habit of listening to NPR shows over the past few years. I admit that I feel like a bit of a nerd, but I can't help but love NYC's Radio Lab and Science Friday on Talk of the Nation. I also hate any Tavis Smiley show for reasons that require a post of their own. Did I just revoke my Black card? I also listen to News & Notes with Farai Chideya and Tell Me More with Michele Martin so that should put me in good standing.

5) I don't think bikers should drive in the street unless there is a bike lane. I absolutely despise grown people with helmets on 10-speed bikes in the middle of the street during rush hour traffic. If I had the power I would pass a law requiring them to be on the sidewalk. I secretly want to hit them but I know that's wrong, so I just complain relentlessly until they turn or I pass them.

6) I love my Sisterlocks! I think I debated way too long over getting them and should have done it a long time ago. I know that sounds cliche but not that I have them I can say it because it's true. Locking requires patience and if I would have started earlier I feel that I would have been further along by now, but I'm happy I finally did it!

I am tagging. . .

Curls!

2008-06-04T23:42:00.006-04:00

I curled my hair with soft spikes curlers, sprayed a little water on my hair, and left them in over night and the next day...

...curls! I was afraid the curls wouldn't work that well since my hair is pretty short, but I like the result. I think my hair looks fuller with the curls. I will definitely be using these more often.

First Shampoo

2008-06-01T23:08:00.012-04:00

OK, so I was finally brave enough to shampoo my hair. I did an ACV rinse as well to help cleanse my scalp. Here is how (crazy) I looked after braiding and banding and spraying my hair with my ACV/water mixture:

It didn't take that long. I had to experiment with some different bands. The first ones I bought were too big (I never planned on using the rubber bands in the SL starter kit). I found some that were small but worked ok, although a few slipped off while I was shampooing. I used the SL starter shampoo and the knotty boy shampoo because of my dry scalp. After reading stories about the starter shampoo drying out your scalp I didn't want to chance using just that and going another week before shampooing my hair.

As you can see from the shots below, I had some slippage around the front where my hair is really short, and the scalpy look has gone away. I don't think you can even tell my hair is locked in the front after flat twisting it now.

flat twists before shampoo

flat twists after shampoo

I have some slippage in the back of my hair too in a few areas where my hair had broken off really bad before I got my SLs, so it was really short. My follow up visit is next week so hopefully my consultant will fix the front of my hair and my report won't be too bad after my shampoo attempt.

Lock Sighting

2008-05-27T22:40:00.004-04:00

For the first time someone asked me if I was getting "dreads" last week. I really don't like that term, I prefer "locks" but I was just so excited that someone had even noticed I was locking my hair so I didn't say anything! I also didn't feel it necessary to go into the whole "well actually they are sisterlocks" thing and then have to explain it, because I don't think it matters that much unless someone starts asking me a bunch of questions. Locks are locks.

Since then I had someone ask me yesterday "how is your hair?" She didn't say it in a mean way but she was genuinely interested, like she hadn't seen it before and was curious. I explained that it was a technique used to start locks that is similar to a backwards braid that starts at the tip. Luckily there was someone else present who knew what sisterlocks were so I didn't have to go into too many details (although I already think I went too far in my explanation). She asked "so you're not taking them out?" and I said no....it took a minute to process. She was even more confused because the front is flat twisted, and she couldn't even tell there are locks in the front because they're so small. She asked what I was going to do with the front, and someone else explained to her that the front was locked too but I had styled it. Overall the response was positive.

Has anyone else been surprised by people's reaction to their hair? I'm not used to getting this much attention over my hair. Part of me likes it but then I feel like I'm on the spot and might say something silly or that I should be the ultimate "SL ambassador"...any thoughts?

More Pictures!

2008-05-22T21:18:00.011-04:00

Did I mention I was a little picture happy? :-) Here are some more pictures from my first few days with SLs.

I know my hair is short, but I am thinking of some styles I can do even with my length. I braided my hair last night, spritzed with some water this morning, and got in the shower to see if that would do anything. It was a little curlier look than I had yesterday, although you probably can't tell from this photo (please ignore the weird piece of hair sticking out on the bottom left side).

I was going to get carusos after reading on so many blogs about them, but I ordered some small Soft Spike Curlers today after reading brunsli's blog and BlaqKofi's blog about how the curls don't last that long. I'll see if they work for me, and if not when my hair grows out some I'll try again.

Oh, and did I mention I love my SLs!

:-)

Finally Locked Up!

2008-05-20T07:31:00.003-04:00

After two days and 9 hours, I am finally a part of the Sisterlocks family!

I already love the fact that I was able to style them right away and I don't have much scalp showing at all. I flat twisted the front after the first day which was easy since the parts are already there. I am just realizing how much time I spent parting my hair every week to flat twist and two strand twist.

I am nervous about shampooing because both sets of sample locks I had unravelled after 2 - 3 shampoos, but I'll give it a try. Braiding and banding will be difficult because my hair is really short, so any suggestions are welcome.

I was told I should have around 350 or more locks but I haven't been bored enough to count them yet. I am a little picture happy and will be posting more soon. I took so many that the memory on my phone was full so I had to stop. :)

Inspiration

2008-04-30T20:24:00.001-04:00

As I wait patiently for the 2 and a half weeks until my locking session, I watched this video again for inspiration.

Black Hair Survey

2008-04-17T13:06:00.004-04:00

I have been talking to many black women lately and have come to the conclusion that we all have very similar issues with our hair. I decided to do a very unscientific survey to see how true this is for those outside of my immediate circle.

Please take a brief moment to complete this hair survey. This is mainly for my own info and is completely anonymous, but I will post summary results on my blog for those that are curious!

Click Here to Take the Survey

Help spread the word...add the link to your blog to get more people to fill it out!

 < a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=j6RSDRrEHJtPBU6Hlp2Wkg_3d_3d">Black Hair Survey < /a>

Choosing a Consultant

2008-04-12T13:51:00.004-04:00

OK, so after reviewing the sisterlocks website for the 400th time and reading other blogs, I decided to do some consultant shopping. Also, the first consultant I went to could not schedule me for a locking session until June 1 and I am being a little impatient.

My test locks from my first session came out, mainly because I had my hair washed at a shop (that claimed they did sisterlocks) and they were literally combed out! That was only one of the mishaps of the visit, so after letting the shop owner know (a sisterlocks trainee) she offered me a 1/2 price locking session after telling me she didn't completely agree with all of Dr. Cornwell's techniques (Red Flag).

Today, I finally had a thorough consultation with a certified consultant and scheduled a locking session for May 18th & 19th!

New Sample Loc

Wish me luck as I try to develop patience for my one month and 6 day countdown.

Entering the 21st Century (Finally)

2008-03-24T16:33:00.003-04:00

OK, so I have decided to enter the 21st century along with the rest of the world and create a blog. I have seen hundreds of posts about sisterlocks and wanted to share my story as well. I went for my consultation on Saturday, March 22nd and am looking forward to talking to my consultant to schedule my installation. I have been on the fence about it for quite some time but I think I'm ready to take the plunge.

My Sample Locs