My...how time flies...

I know I haven't written since August. For those who care, I apologize. I started nursing school in August and have been even busier than I thought. I love the fact that it's fast pace, but by the same token, it takes all of my free time studying and whatnot. Anyhow...I still haven't committed myself to the locking process. I am still natural though. Ain't never gon' be no change in that! I have been taking pictures of my daughter's braidlock voyage all the while. Her hair has changed each month. This month, which is her 3rd month on lock-down, she is experiencing shrinkage and buds. Some of her hair looks somewhat locked. The hair in the back is starting to lock, but the hair in the front still very much looks like braids. I am going to try to post some photos so you can see what I mean. I am still loving the freedom from not having to force her hair into submission just so that it can look pretty. I love that she can just wake up, wet her hair and go. I don't love the re-tightening sessions. It's not difficult but it is time consuming. She has micro sized locks and it takes me days to do her hair. I don't have time to dedicate to her hair so I get in when I fit in. For those of you who are looking to this blog as an inspiration for your own lock journey, I will put together a list of shampoos and other products we use and processes we employ. I welcome any questions and positive comments. Until next time, I wish you well.

What is that saying about the best laid plans??

*sigh* Remember when I aid I was going to install my own locks? Well, I truly intended to install my own interlocks. I actually did start. I did from my nape to the top of my ears. They weren't coming along as nicely as I would've liked. I knew it would take a long time, but there were more factors against me than just time alone. An example: when I finished finger latching I used my latch hook to complete the rotations to my scalp. Well, I married/joined a couple locks together on more than one occasion. A couple times I forgot to include strands of hair into a lock so I would have a row done only later to discover that there is a lock with loose hair right next to it. Needless to say, I took my hair done again. I repeat, sigh.

I contacted a loctician recommended to me by a good friend. I spoke to her on the phone and she suggested single strand twists instead of interlocks. She said they form into dreads faster because it coils in the same direction as the hair grows. Makes sense. My reason for wanting interlocks was because I can achieve skinny locks. She said it can be done with comb coils, but I have never seen anyone with single strand twists done on hair with similar length as mine. I've only seen them on people with very short hair. Also, I would have to get my hair retwisted bi-weekly. I don't think I can afford that. I do admit that I like the fact that they would look smooth and uniform, I could possibly retwist them myself as opposed to having them done for me. I just don't know. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but I guess I don't. I'm overwhelmed with options. Any suggestions out there? Help a sister out, please!?

Taken Down

I finally finished taking down my braidlocks. It took me most of the weekend but at least it's done. I forgot to post a pic of my loose hair before I had installed my braidlocks, so here you go. I know I have a lot of hair and it's got some length to it. Having said that, I know I have my work cut out for me when I install my interlocks, but I am excited. I want to get started right away but domestic duties come first. Oh well, c'est la vie. This is just a quick post. I'll be back, God-willing.

Braidlocks Take Down

I am taking down my braidlocks. I know some of you complimented my hair but hear me out... I liked having them in my hair. I liked the freedom. I liked the low maintanance. I love being all-natural. What I didn't like was the size of the parts she gave me. The grid was too large and not even. I was splitting them to make them smaller but she gave me diamond shaped parts and splitting them into 3s was impossible to do if I wanted them to be even. I was going to just let them be when I thought of something; the purpose of getting my hair locked was because of freedom and pride. How proud could I be of my hair if didn't like it? What kind of freedom is there in having to "settle" for someone else's idea of how my hair should be? (I told my stylist how I wanted it done, showed her photos, etc. so there would be no question as to what I wanted. She mentioned something about not making them too small because of potential breakage. I told her I understood her concern, but to please do as I asked and what I paid her to do. She didn't.)

Although it would've been great if my hair had been done correctly, having this experience taught me something about myself that I had forgotten; a)I am worthy of goodness and b)that even though I may not see the destination from where I presently stand, if I keep following the road one step at a time, I'll get there. Starting these locks is like starting a new chapter in my life and the old me would've settled for whatever. I have to live with my hair. I have to like my hair. Just tolerating it isn't good enough.

After giving it some thought, I started taking them down. I still want locks! Although it will take me forever and a day, I think I will have to do them myself for them to be done good enough for me. (No, I am not a perfectionist. If you don't believe me, I could take some photos of my house!) Finances don't really allow for me to get them done by a loctician. I am about to return back to school in a few weeks and have some school related expenses. It'll be nice to have people admire my hair and ask who does it and I can say, "me". I won't be braiding them this time. I will be interlocking them. They're tighter and I think they'll lock faster than braids. I even started some practice ones in the nape area. I figured no one would really see those, so it wouldn't matter too much if I messed those up. Well, I did an ok job. (yay me!)

Thank you NubianLockedPrincess and Kalia Dewdrop for all the DIY info and videos. I am so grateful for your selflessness and willingness to share what you learn(ed). Well, that's about it for now. I have to finish taking out these braids!

My new Braidlocks!

Hello again. After hours of researching (in nappturality and other people's blogs) I finally got my braidlocks installed. While I am happy that I got them done and the freedom they offer me, I am not pleased, however, that she didn't do what I asked. Before I start griping about my experience, I want to say some positive things first. I like being able to spend only 5 minutes styling my hair. I am proud to embrace my nappiness and wear it like a badge of honor. I no longer feel like I'm trying to be something or someone God didn't intend me to be. I feel like my hair, like me, is beautiful in it's natural state. My perception of permies' hair has changed. I used to think of their hair (my former hair) as neat and acceptable and beautiful. Now I see it as broken. You see, in order to get nappy hair straight, you have to break it's natural structure. Weaken it. Our hair is never stronger than in it's natural state. I have been transformed. I have transcended from my former ideal of beautiful hair. Having said that, I will now tell you why I'm not happy with my hair.

First of all, I can braid hair myself. See the photos of my daughter's braidlocks and that will remove any lingering doubt. In fact, I did her hair exactly how I wanted my to be done. I didn't do my own braids because I knew I wouldn't have time to do my own and it would be difficult Before picking out what I thought was the right braider, I called around, asked questions, explained what I wanted and showed her photos when I went for consult. Based upon what she told me, I thought she understood where I was going. Well, she made the part base or grid too big. I told her that I wanted micro sized braids with small bases. I explained to her that the braids will eventually swell and will correspond with the grid's base size. Anyway, about 70% of my head is done incorrectly. I paid her $90 and I still have to go behind what she did and break them down from 1 to 3 or sometimes 4 braids. I'm not a happy girl. The whole point of having someone else do it was so I would get what I wanted and save myself some time. I got neither. The only reason I'm posting my photos is because I may want to look back on this moment one day, but I was so upset with my hair that I didn't even want to take the photos in the first place. I was going for the micro lock look. I can't even find someone willing to help me with my re-braid and my budget won't allow for another salon visit. I'm disappointed. I'll update later. Anyhow, check out the pics.

My Daughter's Lock Journey Has Begun!!

omg! that's the basic reaction to my daughter's hair. she is now braidlocked (bradeloc'd)! it took me exactly 7 days. yes, an entire week to install her microlocks. because she was still attending school and i'm still breastfeeding my other baby girl (7 mos. old), i could only do a couple hours a night.I wanted them to be micro/small. the outer perimeter are smaller than the middle of her head. she LOVES them! they fit her personality. i love the styling freedom and the endless options. i owe all of you ladies out there a debt of gratitude for being generous with your shared stories, trials and tribulations, tips and tricks. you have helped us establish a new chapter in our lives. i am posting some before/during/after photos. i enjoy watching her hair every day it seems to change each day in some form. i just look at her and smile and i know we made the right choice. i already heard a naysayer mention that "...dreads aren't supposed to be that small". i rolled my eyes. this comes from a permie who wears long flowing weaves more often than not. what i wanted to say was, "no, our hair isn't supposed to be Caucasian straight. if it were to be so, it would grow out of our scalps that way and you wouldn't have to buy it from the store." but being me, polite and soft-spoken (most of the time), i kept this to myself. perhaps the next person who mentions something like that won't escape so easily. to borrow again from that often quoted statement made by marcus garvey : remove the kinks from your brain, not your hair!

*help*please*

i spent another weekend obsessing over locs. i stalked just about every blog relating to all types of different locs! with each one i am more inspired, although i am still a bit apprehensive. i don't know why exactly. i've been natural for 5+ years already. i am pretty comfortable with my natural hair. i just think i need to talk to someone who actually has locs. i think i need a little push to get me off the fence. problem is, no one has replied to my requests nor comments. i visit other blogs and i leave comments and questions in hopes that at least Some One will communicate with me. so far, no good. (sigh) *help*please*

i went to anais karim's fotki and was amazed at her hair! she started out with micro bradelocz. i want mine to be that size for styling flexibility, however, i don't know if i can maintain it by myself.

i did a few test locs on myself. (i misplaced my camera and will post the pics soon) i made teeny tiny twists and used a small amount of styling gel to keep them together. i must say that i liked the result! i expected the ends to curl and wave but i didn't expect the entire length of my hair to do it too. my hair looks like very slim telephone cords. lol. my husband admired them and my 8 year old daughter liked them so much she wants me to do hers too! i will be looking on the web for little girls who have micro locs to show her what she can expect. i'm confident that i can maintain her locs. i'll be using the latching method. i never put relaxer in her hair. i tried to instill in her the true beauty of her natural hair. i'm glad to see that she likes locs.

sisterlock alternatives

just as i have been doing for the past couple months or so, i've been looking at other sites that show photos of women and their Sisterlocks. I want those micro locks desperately! i just can't afford them. my hair is just past my the top of my shoulders but not quite reaching my shoulder blades. i think the length alone would cause a price of at least $800 perhaps more. there is no way i can afford that price. not now. i mean, realistically speaking, i could probably pay it but my rent and other bills would have to take a back seat. that would be irresponsible and selfish. then there are the retights. i was starting to become discouraged. i was just starting to resolve myself to the idea that i would not be getting Sisterlocks anytime this year and who knows when next year. then i came across another blog and read about another person who basically shared my dilemma. she did her own micro locks by way of microbraids and does her own retights with the Nappyloc tool. when i read her blog, i was again inspired and the fact that i could do it myself gave this locking notion a whole new flavor! i am a beauty school dropout, so i know a thing or two about hair. i think i can do it. i'm thinking about purchasing the business in a box from Nappylocs. the cost is WAY less than Sisterlocks. i want the look of Sisterlocks but can't afford the cost. i will continue to do my research, but i have to admit, i'm pretty keen on the Nappylocs alternative.

still thinking about sisterlocks

i've been viewing more blogs about sisterlocks. i'm afraid that i won't be able to pay for the retightening sessions. i'm a student and we have only one income at the moment, so funds are a little low. and with 4 young kids, money just seems to disappear. anyhow, i digress...i just don't want to get into a situation that requires dedication and i'm not able to afford it. each time i see a sister with sisterlocks, it just ignites something within me. i become excited. i can almost see myself with them. i envision how i would style them. *sigh* i enjoy doing my hair so perhaps i can learn how to retighten on my own but taking the course costs money too! besides, i have a 6 month old baby, a rambunctious 5 year old, moody 8 year old and a 13 year old with the soul of someone much older...when will i have time to sit in my own home and spend hours on end retightening my own hair? i breastfeed my baby and we're together so much that i think she thinks we're one person. i don't want to talk myself out of getting them before i even get a consult, but i want to make sure i know what i'm getting into. any suggestions or thoughts?

how it started

i like my hair. it took me years to finally accept my natural texture. even the strongest relaxer can't make your hair grow straight. every 6-8 weeks, my natural wave pattern would emerge. i'd rush to get it relaxed again to hide my new growth (can't be seen with nappy hair!). back in 2001 i lost my job and couldn't afford to go to the salon every 2 weeks and get my hair done. it was then i realized something so fundamental and simple but made such a huge impact on my life: God didn't create me with naturally straight hair, so who am i to try to improve his perfection? how did my acceptance of my natural hair texture impact my life so profoundly? i know it sounds like a far leap but being in my natural state felt right. i felt beautiful as i was. i didn't have to alter myself. i felt so empowered and more confident. i tried explaining that to my family and friends. they just looked at me with the "yeah, whatever" look. i am freed by wearing my hair natural allows me the freedom of not worrying about humidity or fear of getting it wet. i take pride in the natural wave pattern of my hair. if i feel like wearing it straight, i can always blow it out and flat iron it. but i don't do that often. i'm sorta petrified about putting heat on my hair. my hair has grown longer than it has ever been. i even started using natural products such as avocado, honey, eggs, olive oil, etc. i have 2 young daughters and i hope to instill in them the love of their own soft, thick, kinky hair.

*wow. i've long admired and read other people's blogs, now i have my own. yay! *

first i want to say, i'm new at this. please bear with me and be patient. i'm learning as i go.

this blog is a narrative or chronicle of my hair. sounds simple and perhaps mundane - but honey, i will have you know, my hair has an attitude all it's own! i have natural ethnic or otherwise known as nappy hair. i have been wearing it natural for about 5 years. i don't know what to do with it exactly, but my curiousity with Sisterlocks(tm) has been piqued. in fact, seeing the other sisters' hair blogs inspired me to create my own. my research has taught me a quite a bit, however, i feel like i need to know more. i contacted 2 consuiltants but none have contacted me back. it's been over a week. i guess i should start my search again. i'm about 80% sure that i want Sisterlocks(tm). i like the styling freedom and how they promote healthy hair growth. i would love to talk to anyone else who has Sisterlocks(tm). well, i've got to run. until next time, peace and love.