A New Change!

Hello again. I was looking for some inspiration for my daughter's locks. I told you that I am pregnant again and in nursing school. As you can see from the photos, my daughter has very thick and very small microlocks. With being pregnant and added time killers like studying, cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, going to school, prenatal visits...I was left with very little time or energy to re-tighten her hair. I used to latch hook them. I would do half with the intention to continue no later than a few days. Well a few days turned into a couple of months, so when I was doing the second half, the first half I had done needed to be re-done! It was a mess!! I felt so bad for starting something and not being able to maintain it. I went on youtube and was impressed with a member with the moniker "roksdalocs". She has long and well maintained locks. They are small but definitely larger than my daughter's. I had made her locks so small because they seemed more feminine and would allow for versatility in styling. Seeing "roksdalocs" youtube video on how she washes, condition and re-twists (via palm rolling) her hair made me change my thinking. Right then and there I decided that I would combine my daughter's locks to thicken the base and maintain them using the palm roll method. Well, honey, let me tell you...I am in HEAVEN! This is what I did...

1. I wet her hair thoroughly with water with a spray bottle.
2. I sprayed her hair with apple cider vinegar (ACV)
3. I put a shower cap on her and let her sit for 20 minutes then rinsed thoroughly with water
4. Applied a mixture of 1 part Suave Clarifying shampoo and 1 part water, shampooed/rinsed twice
5. Applied a mixture of 1 part TresSemme moisturizing condition and 3 parts water, left on for a minute, then thoroughly rinsed
6. Applied extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) via spray bottle and scrunched it through hair to ensure even distribution, left it on for a few minutes
7. Rinsed, rinsed, rinsed!
8. Blotted hair with a towel
9. Applied "Better Locks" twisting gel to her new growth and combined locks by twisting/palm rolling them, clipped them to prevent unraveling
10. Let hair air-dry and removed clips

What I noticed...

I used the ACV because it completely releases any product buildup or any other unwanted gunk from the lock. It seemed to soften her hair nicely but didn't make it feel like it would unravel (her hair isn't 100% locked yet).

I was concerned about putting any oil in her hair. I had read that oil isn't necessary for locks, but after seeing "roksdalocs" hair routine and her results, I decided to try it...and I'm glad I did. I was worried about buildup, but I rinsed her hair completely after applying the evoo. Even if it did leave any residue, the acv rinse will take care of it before I shampoo her hair again.

I like the twisting gel because it holds very well and it does not flake at all! I does not contain any mineral oil or beeswax. I heard so much about Jamaica Mango and Lime, but their products contain both beeswax and mineral oil. The "Better Locks" gel had a nice smell to it but not overwhelmingly fragrant. The consistency is just a tad bit thicker than styling gel .

I am thrilled that I decided to combine her locks. They're still small and feminine and they won't take forever and two lifetimes to maintain. I have decided to shampoo her hair every 3-4 weeks and re-twist her hair after shampooing (if it needs it). I will not over twist for fear of weakening the hair and breaking it off. I combined her hair by palm rolling a few strands at the new growth and then twisting to length (like 2 strand twists). I used the locking gel on the length to help it hold together. For the most part, they held beyond the new growth. I would estimate about 85% of the length is still twisted tightly enough. The remaining is still twisted, but just a bit looser. In time they will fuse and lock together. I thought it would look different than the rest of her locks, but it is all blended nicely together.

It didn't take me long to re-tighten using this method and I'm actually looking forward to doing it again next month. Next month will be her one year anniversary! Yay! I will post pics soon of the results.

Please feel free to contact me with questions!

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!

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.