8 Months Sisterlocked

Okay, I am horrible at blogging! I know it. But, I am still loving my hair. As of the 13th of Oct. I have been happily Sisterlocked for 8 months. I have still only had 1 loc slip on this entire journey. I enjoy the braid-out style as it maximizes my styling options. I will take some pictures SOON to post!

6 Months Sisterlock'd!!!

Hi all. Well, I have been Sisterlock'd for 6 months as of Aug 13, 2010. I am even more in love with my locks than ever. I wake up every morning and do Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I never have to worry about sweating-out my hair-style! I think, since my hair was 7-9 inches long on day one, shrinkage has simply kept my hair the same length instead of made it look shorter like some others with locks. (I hope I explained that well.)
I have no buds or coils at my ends but I can see the locking at the root and a few inches out. I know that I will have straight ends for quite some time, but I am okay with it.  I am still dealing with a bit of dry-scalp and flaking. I am using T-Sal shampoo (with the Starter shampoo) and it works very well. I think it would work better if I shampooed more often but I don't want to risk slippage. I would rather have an itchy scalp for an extra few days than have my locks slip. So far, I can wash my hair every week and a half  to two weeks and have no slippage and very little itchiness. If you have any comments or advice about this, please feel free to leave a comment. I have included some pictures of my hair (I hate taking pix).

I usually wear it like this or up in a pony-tail. This is a braid out from my last wash...about 2 weeks ago.

From root out about 3-4 inches, I am seeing thickening of my locks.

Just finished a work-out. Didn't have to worry about sweat! :-)

5.5 Months Old

My Sisterlocks are 5.5 months old and I am still in love with them. I had a few (very few) issues. My scalp is ultra dry and flaky. To combat this I tried tea tree oil/water spritz for the itch and then I used Sea Breeze a few times as well. I try not to put too much on my scalp or hair because I don't want gunk in my locks.
I had a re-tightening yesterday and didn't want my consultant to have to deal with my crazy scalp so I tried something new. On Thursday I washed my hair twice with T-Sal shampoo and then once with the Sisterlocks starter shampoo. On Saturday morning I washed once more with the Sisterlocks starter shampoo using less water and shampoo. My scalp felt great and my consultant said that I only had one lock slip at little.
So, I am on a 6-week re-tightening schedule trial...I am going to wash every two weeks to reduce scalp itch and flaking and I am going to check in with my consultant at the 4 week mark to see how I am holding up.
Have I said that I love my locks?!?! They are wonderful!
I have a question for everyone out there? How much do you love your Sisterlocks consultant? My consultant is Stephanie Robinson from Rialto, CA. She is patient and knowledgeable, answering all of my questions with informed answers. She takes care of my 368 babies as if they were her own. And, she comes to my house because she can do three heads that way (my sister and brother-in-law as well).

Loving that I didn't have to cut my hair. No permed ends but my hair is still straight.

Parts are immaculate!

You can't see it very well but they are getting thicker right now.

About 4 1/2 months Sisterlocked

Tried flat-twists. Cute and easy style.

From the side after two days of sleeping on them.

From the back. Have lost no length, even with the braid-out curls.

Okay, so I am horrible at blogging!

I know, now, that I am horrible at blogging. I am not sure why...I am on the computer all of the time. I think it has to do with the pictures. I hate taking pictures of myself but I love my locks so I have taken a few shots to show off the progress. My consultant, whom I adore, says that my Sisterlocks are not slipping and that my growth is right on task. For all of you out there, no matter what you think, following you consultants lead is the only way to ensure that your locks will be gorgeous. Thanks to Stephanie Robinson from Rialto, CA for making sure that my journey is enjoyable!

EUREKA

I have finally found it! Even though I have wanted locs for about 10 years, I have finally found that 'feeling' that everyone is talking about. You know, that warm and fuzzy feeling that you get when you can just walk out of the house as YOU with no additives? I have been a braid wearer for years and, although my hair is shoulder length, extensions helped with thickness. The braids afforded me the freedom that many of my friends didn't have. I could get ready in minutes, go to the gym, swim and look fly the entire time. But, there came the time to take them down and get them re-done. That was a 12 hour ordeal for me...6 hour take down, 6 hours to get them re- braided. And I did it happily for years. THAT was my freedom. Well, I have been locked for exactly one week today and I am in love with my locs. They are thin and straight and my parts and scalp are showing but I am in love with them. I uses Lock Loops two nights ago and have a really tightly curled bob and I feel fabulous. This is me, with no additives! Now all I have to work on is being 10% fat free!! ;-)

 

My hair after it air-dried. The day before my installation.

 

The back after being parted.

 

The side after being parted.

 

Bantu knots after 16 hours.

 

I WAS TIRED!

 

Bantu from the top.

Aahhh!

My installation is complete. I spent about 16 hours in a chair with 2 great Sisterlockticians. We laughed (oh, how we laughed) and talked and laughed some more. It was a great time. They worked nearly non-stop on my hair while telling me stories about their Sisterlock journey. I am exhausted but I wanted to post my pictures for all to see.

On my way

Hi World! Last night I had my test locks put in. They are thin and straight and don't look like much right now. But, I have no worries. I live with two people with amazing locks and I can see the future and it is bright! I have my appointment for my full installation next week and will post all of my before, during and after photos at that point. If you are trying to decide if Sisterlocks are for you, join me on my journey. If you already have Sisterlocks, encourage me through my doubts. To everyone, thanks for reading my blog and have a great day!

 

My test locks. They are really straight and I think she had to use a 4 reverse locking pattern.

 

My press n curl. No relaxer here, but my hair is soft, thin (when this straight) and resists curls.

The Journey Begins

The world is filled with people who wake up one day and realize, "I am amazing just the way God made me." This is their story. Now, right here is where you should here that Law and Order music! I am writing this blog simply as a thank you to all of those who have blogged about their hair journey and given me such peace of mind while I embark on mine.
I am 40 years old and have had my hair in every style imaginable. I thought that I was okay with all of the hassles of hair maintenance because that was a way of life for women of African descent. Then, one day about 11 years ago, my sister started locs in her hair. She had this amazing short platinum blond hair at the time and she was rockin these cute little locs. I have been in awe ever since.
I am not one to cut my hair all of the way off, so I thought locs were out of reach for me. I continued to press, relax and braid my hair and fall in line with the norms of the world in which I lived until, one day, someone told me different. About 6 years ago, my sister was getting her hair re-tightened by a man who said he could loc my hair without cutting it. I fell for it, hook, line and sinker. For 6 months I drove 1.5 hours one-way to have him 'loc' my hair. He used a method that involved bees wax and rubbing my hair between his hands. My head looked a hot mess but I was determined. After six months, I washed and 'combed' my hair out. He claimed my hair was too soft to loc and that I would have to cut it off.
I wasn't as devastated as I thought I would be. I went back to pressing, braiding and relaxing just like I had my entire life. I went back, but never forgot that I wanted locs.
I had this amazing braider who is from Trinidad. She would twist my hair and make it look amazing. I went to her every 2 months and was glad to pay the $200 that she was charging. If I couldn't have locs, at least I could have hair that looked like a natural style.
When my sister and her husband were looking for a new person to tighten their hair, I told them she could do it and they drove 1.5 hours one-way to see her. She did a great job for them and they continued to see her for a few years. Then, my sister re-connected with a former co-worker who lives 5 minutes form us. She is a Sisterlock Technician. After some talking with her, my sister and her husband had their first re-tightening appointments and were more than happy.
I started to research Sisterlocks and found that there is no need to cut my hair. Fantastic! I had just gotten my hair braided so I was going to wait 2 months for an appointment. While waiting, I pondered my natural self. I read blogs and went on journeys with women who had gone natural before me. I talked to my sister, a lot. Then, I looked at my well manicured, French-tipped acrylic nails that I have had for 22 years. Every 3 weeks for 22 years. Acrylic nails. I liked my nails, obviously, but was it time for them to go? Was it time for me to embrace ME.
So, I took them off and OUCH. The tips of my fingers are tender and my nail beds are raw but I am hanging tough. I have an appointment to press and curl my hair today, my test Sisterlocks tomorrow and I am on my way to being NaTruly Me. I am excited about this journey and grateful to everyone who is going on it with me. I will add pictures soon. Thank you for reading my blog.