Bantu Knots

Been feeling like I need to experiment with some more styling options so I tried bantu knots on Thursday night. The Bantu knots were more uncomfortable sleeping on than the lock loops and to top it all off I wasn't impressed with the end result. What do you think?

Today is now 4 weeks since my last retightening and I have another 4 weeks to go before my appointment. I have a good amount of new growth I can only imagine that my retightening could take 6 hours which I'm so not in the mood for. Have to call my consultant this week.

In other news, I have found more locks that have buds on the ends. This is actually pretty exciting because I'm bored and can't wait to get some color added to my hair.

In one of the chat rooms there has been a lot of talk about wrap a loc which you can wear in your locs for days. I'm going to look into this and see if gives better results than lock loops, in the interim has anyone ever used these?

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Consultants

Although today is gloomy out I'm thinking about those hot summer days that are coming soon. With SL's when its time to go swimming do we have to braid and band? I have to put this on my list of questions to ask my consultant. I certainly hope not because I'm ready to strut my stuff :-).

Here is a picture of me today with my new specs..and what more looks like a braid out than curls, but one thing I notice is the length difference.

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Nothing much new today. Here is my second try with braids and lock loops. I only used about six lock loops call me lazy so my braid out is much more present than any curls. I wanted to try a center part but one side is fluffier than the other but I still like. I'm starting to feel knots close to my root, I think this is part of the process but certainly feels a bit concerning will do my research and get back to you.

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Possibly Locking Already

Now I don't know if my hair has actually sealed at the end but it definitely feels like it has. The first two pics are what all my locks look like and the second two pics are the loc that I think is locking. Let me know what you think.

Length Shots

Here are my length shots taken the other day. Finally!!! Obviously I need some length love in the front...

Misconception of SL's

Back at the dentist today...don't even ask. But the dental assistant asked me about my SL's you know the usual how long it takes, how you take them out. Then she was like while bobbing and weaving her head "you can't even tell where your hair stop". Well, I quickly responded its ALL MINE and then pulled one -lol!!!! This is not the first time someone asked me that and I think its hilarious because my hair to my account is not that long, I can only imagine when it actually has a lot of "hang time" i.e past my collarbone.

Laptop still on the fritz and I need to post the length shots and one lock that I think is locking.
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Consultants

I've been debating maybe I should start looking for another consultant. Not that I'm unhappy with my current one but the travel is a bit of a nuisance. Due to my own schedule of taking my daughter to school and wanting to pick her up that only gives me about seven hours to play with. Sounds like a lot of time, but factor in 2 hrs travel time (no traffic) and 4 hrs re tightening it doesn't leave much room to play with for anything else. And on top of this I've taken the day off so its almost like a wasted vacation day spent mostly in my car.



With that said I'm feeling like I have tons of questions that haven't been answered just to throw out a few:



1. How long until my hair locks?

2. Actual timing of when I can color?

3. Is my hair doing what it should be?

4. How often should I was etc...



Those just on my mind today. I have these questions now, but when I went for my 2 week check up and then 1st retightening. I didn't ask them.



For my newbie SL sisters, what made you choose your consultant and actually made you decide on them for installation and now maintenance?



I'm interested in hearing from you. You can send a direct email to me at gigglz665@gmail.com if you don't want to leave a comment.





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So much to say.....

So much to say today, I've been dealing with my laptop trying to get rid of some viruses to post but oh well...who has time for that!?! I am not in IT..... have to put my thoughts on paper. First up..I used lock loops again last night without braiding my hair up first and seriously this is a definite must. I was not really feeling my hair the past few days and the lock loops brought the love back. Although my hair is a bit wild it gives a more sophisticated look which fits so well when I'm at work. During the weekends "wild style". Lol :-)!!!
Here is the pictures for this one....I have some length shots coming and oh my....I think one of my hair ends locked...can we say WHAT!!!! Have the pics coming for that too....
Stay tuned....
Oh yeah...in the car as usual so a weird shading from my sun roof being open...
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Freestyle Look

Here is the freestyle pic...hmm for me not HOT!!!!!! This was spritzing with my mixture which gave me a bit of length. And I shook and went...

Won't be looking like this for a Monday morning anymore...

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Freestyling

I haven't been doing much to my hair these past days and I don't think I like the "freestyle" look. I went to visit my mother yesterday and did absolutely nothing with my hair, I pushed it off my face so it was kind of wild. She wasn't really a fan of the "natural" thing at first but it seems like she is really coming around to enjoying my journey as well. She said "I can't wait until it grows nice and long" (me and her both, LOL). Last night, I was out a little late so I didn't put any braids or rollers in for the work week so here it is Monday and I'm free styling.

I woke up and made a concoction of 1 part aloe vera gel, 1 part jojoba oil, 1 part green tea oil, 1 part peppermint for smell (after I dropped some in, I realized I'm not a fan...too late), and 8 parts water. I shook this thing up and went on a spraying frenzy...hmmm I am not feeling it to say the least...my ends are nice and curly but not exactly the look I'm going for.

In other news..I posted about a woman who stared at me in the dollar store, guess what ran into her again on Friday at the bagel shop. I am awful, because I certainly behaved as if I didn't know her because she was staring once again with no words...o well. When she is ready to ask she will....

Also I have some thoughts about consultants and the questions I have...will do that in another posting...with some pics (that's what you all come to see...smile)~

Preaching.....

I think I can be an inspiration to many other woman who are teetering on either going natural or the decision to loc their hair. Earlier today, I was talking to a friend I've known for, wow, over 15 years and I was telling her I loc'd my hair and how great I feel about myself. She told me I sound spiritual and uplifted. You know what she hit the nail on the head. I feel liberated, uplifted, and free!!!!


In reading a post I sent in the Yahoo forum, what do you think??

"Hello - I read your story and honestly I'm 31 and just started with my sisterlocks and wondered how it would turn out. I have gone through countless hairstyles over the years I've had anything from perms, texturizers, short cuts, weaves, extensions to say the least I've had it all. When I made the decision I was apprehensive and so was everyone else around me that I wouldn't stick it out. Its been two months not a long time but I could not see myself without my SL's. I've made a commitment to myself and to my hair to keep it natural and healthy and I've fell in love with myself and my hair through this journey.  I don't think I was in love with myself enough due to my disconnect and understanding of my hair, always trying to add length of something to make it "behave".  Locking your hair isn't just about a hairstyle its also a connection with yourself and soul."

I would say...oh yeah!!! I have finally connected with my soul and its extremely freeing knowing that I am 100% me and free!!!!


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Random thought for the day

I always try to support African American owned businesses and practices. Last week, I went to the dentist to have my cavities replaced (they are over 15 yrs old and they were silver, talk about an eye sore when I opened my mouth). Anyhow, they replace two of them one on the left the other on the right both bottom molars. I go home, once the novocaine (spelling) starts to wear off one of them felt as though it wasn't even so my mouth felt lopsided the other felt like it wasn't done properly so I have trouble biting down on anything of substance and I feel sensitivity to hot and cold. Needless to say, I'm a bit agitated, but I come back today to have it looked @ my appt was at 11am, I'm sitting in the dentist chair waiting, why........why do we have to live up to the stereotypes out there we continuously perpetuate them instead of striving for better. Ugh!!! A bit frustrated.....



On to my hair, a more appealing topic :-)....its doing well and I am going to try and watch the Tyra show on you tube discussing "good" hair. I even got an email saying we should reach out to her about the versatility of SL's and the love we have for them. If you did not receive this email let me know and I will forward it to you...





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The "Real" aftermath

I sleep with a satin cap and I think I may need to find something that doesn't smush my hair together before I even put my head down to rest. After a workout in the gym and adult "exercise" this is what's left. This morning I spritzed with green tea and water fluffed and this is what I ended up with. Looks more like free styling but I will take it. Tonight I will probably have to do something with it...o well.
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The Aftermath

After a workout my hair is dripping with sweat, and it was no different today when I left the gym. Here is a pic after my shower and my hair has dried. I think its not to shabby, although I have lost my curls the crinkles from the braids are still very apparent. I also forgot to mention in my earlier post that I spritzed my hair with green tea oil and water mixture before braiding or rolling. I LOVE the smell...
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Lock Loops with Braids

I washed my hair with the sisterlock shampoo, braided it up with Jane Carter wrap lotion, and put in 20 lock loops last night. I left my bang just braided and didn't put in any curlers. This morning my hair was still wet in some spots but here are my results, what do you think? For me the jury is still out.....

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Mother's Day

Well today is Mother's Day and I've been online working yeah tell me about it. Gotta pay bills :-)!!! In any event, on Friday night I used the Lock Loops rollers and I took advice from A Sista Who Locked and braided my hair up first before rolling it and I also put the rollers in vertical to get more of drop curl look. Hmm...maybe I was doing to much at the same time. The results were quite different from just rolling my hair so the jury is still out on if I will do this again. I actually took my family portraits yesterday with the look so I will be posting the pics once they are developed.

Today I'm going to wash my hair and I will post some pictures of that later this week.

Enjoy your Mother's Day!!!

Pics

The first picture is of me the morning after my re-tightening can you see the difference in length just from my bang alone. Woohoo!!! I'm excited to start documenting my length and hopefully I can retain it all.

The second picture is my second attempt with my Lock Loops. I feel like I'm from the Dorothy Dandridge (spelling) era, but I love the look. I want to try rolling them all going vertical so I can get more of a drop curl look. Results to come....

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Back Comparison

Check it out..the back is fully, shiner and tamed!!! LOL

Lint

Two days now .. not in a row (thankfully) someone has picked fuzz balls (i.e lint) out of my hair. First and foremost this is embarrassing; it happened first at a social gathering and the next at work..ugh ur kidding me right was the thought that ran through my mind today!! This brings me to what can I do to not have this happen again and secondly what is it that is making the lint get caught in there.



If I look at my routine, I sleep with a satin cap every night even if I sleep with the rollers (yeah I know real sexy) hehe!! In the morning, I take off my cap and shake my hair, I put on a shower cap take a shower then take that off. Before I walk out the door give or take every other day I spritz with a mixture of water, tea tree oil, and coconut oil and go about my morning routine. I don't put a hat on, or scarf so where is it coming from?



The only thing I can surmise is that any dust/lint that is in the air is attracted to my hair and viola there it goes. I have to figure out what can I do differently to avoid this in the future besides actually "rummage" through my locks daily?!?!?



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Compliments Part Deux

So I come back to the compliment posting I did earlier in the month. Today, I'm in the dollar store purchasing some items for goody bags items for my daughters birthday party and this woman is literally staring at my hair with her mouth open. She says excuse me is that braids I answer nonchalantly and say no they are sisterlocks. I continue on my merry old business. So, she doesn't say she likes them but she stares again and asks how do you take them out? I say you don't, her face seems to frown up then pays for her items and walks out the store. This was now another time I should have educated another Sistah and I didn't seize the moment. Today, I think this had more to do with where I was. I was in a local store close to home and I was in a rush.



To give some background, I live in a predominately white neighborhood and the woman in question is black and seemed much older than me. Although no "true" compliment was paid I should learn to handle these types of conversations because I'm actually a walking advertisement for SL's and I should represent them to the fullest as proud as they make me feel I need to shout that to others.

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1st Retightening

I had one lock that totally slipped out in the back and my edges in the front had some slippage as well. It took a total of four hours, and my consultant didn't even stop to use the ladies room or eat. I guess for having over 550 locks that's not so bad. It feels great to have my intricate parts defined again and it feels like I have a brand new do because I've gained some length and its nice and tight. So far so good in this journey and I'm not bored yet. I will definitely start taking length comparison shots from this re-tightening going forward.

I guess I will post some pictures but honestly what is there to see :-). Nothing much, but I will post in the morning once I use my lock loops again...my new best friend!!

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Washing

Today I am getting my first re-tightening and as my consultant is going through my locks she says "some of them want to get married". What she means by that is that the locks are trying to stick together and that's from the one time I did wash my hair my self I didn't separate each lock afterwards, I got right in the bed with a wet head an all. I won't be doing that again because those few strands that did "marry" didn't feel good getting divorced ...hehe I crack me up!! For all you newbies make sure you separate after a wash.
I will let you know all about the re-tightening in another post as I'm still here.
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