As I get close to my loc-a-versary I started thinking back over my past year I asked myself why did I become a DIY'er. It started out as I didn't think that I should pay $200 for a retightening that took 4 hours. It was just way too many hours; the shop I had to travel an hour to get to and the shop didn't allow children. So for me that meant taking a day off, or "working from home" and traveling with my laptop! NO FUN!!! Getting my hair done was supposed to be relaxing and to me it wasn't relaxing driving thru rush hour traffic to get into/out of NYC. That was step one.
Then I found another consultant she too took 4 hours or more. So the timing was good, my travel time was 35 minutes, but I sat in a kitchen table chair listening to her daughter and my daughter playing and making all types of racket. NO FUN, and not relaxing, and not for 4 hours! Step 2. I love my baby, but after 4 hours of squealing, I'm done!!!
Now please don't get me wrong, I have/had no problem with paying for quality. Trust me, I paid for my SL's. The original trainee was good, but with all the extra's it took to get to her, not worth it. The second wasn't bad, but if I'm going to be in someone's home I can be in my own. Step 3, was more mentail because a part of me felt in the dark about sisterlocks and my own hair, which I had been in the dark with for so long between the weaves, braids, perms, cuts, color and all. I was always relying on someone to "hook it up" for me. I didn't know how to treat my hair and I was still relying on someone else to tell me how to care for it. Enough was enough, SL's is about freedom and self enlightment so I took control and become a DIY'er and I haven't looked back.
With all that said, for you DIY'ers out there what led you to the decision? Or for newbies are you looking towards becoming a DIY'er?
12 comments:
I would love to become a diyer, it just really seems unnatainable. I don't see how I could manange to hold my hands over my head that long. How do you all manage? Even doing a few locs seemed a bit tedious to me. Maybe I just truly dont have the patience or maybe too many locks (547)? I havent completely ruled out being a diy'er but I know one thing for sure. I am truly OVER paying $200+ for a retight!
I wrote out a long response and it somehow was erased!
To sum it up, I'm tired of the time and money spent on retightenings, but I also can't imagine tightening all 700+ locks... It seems like too many and would be impossible! Any insight?
My goal is to stick with a consultant for 1 year but I can't wait to take the SL class in July and that is 1 week shy of my anniversary. I love learning new things about taking care of my hair/skin and I think learning to take care of my locks is an important part of that. However, I think I will still visit with my consultant every so often for grooming and for 'check ups'
@Natural High - If you put your mind to it, you can certainly do it. I don't actually finish it all in one day. I've never attempted to do it one day, because its tedious and time consuming and you don't want to be in a rush. I've only done 1 retightening in a day which was a full 12 hours.
@peglegnmh - 700 locks, lol! That is a lot, but if you can do 100, you can do the 700! Retightening prices can be discouraging!
@TWI - If you're planning to become a DIY'er I defintely implore you to take the class. 1 year is perfect timing!
I wasn't thinking about becoming a DIYer when I first got SL, but after 3 months, I know that that is what I want. I have always been in control of how I looked, even when on creamy crack, I only visited the salon when I wanted a cut.
Not only do I hate being at someone else's disposal and all of the slippage that occurs at the hairline in between my 5 weeks, but the cost of the retightning is a bit much considering I didn't spend money monthly on my hair to begin with.
I'm 3 months shy of being able to take the SL re-tightning course...did you find the Nappylocks tool beneficial?
It's been 4 months since my install and I must say, I am feeling the DIY-itch. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to sit back and let someone else do my hair, but what is more convenient than doing it for yourself.
Hey Gorgeous!
I didn't realise your hair was taking so long or costing so much!!! Wow!
I became a DIYer because of logistics I guess. My 'installation' consultant is in Barbados, i live in london - so I had to find a London consultant who lived close to me AND who was willing to take on maintenance (something very few of them are willing to do - especially when they didn't get the 'benefit' of installing them for you).
I also didn't like the cost (and mine was only taking 3 hrs @ a US dollar cost of about 75 (for the whole thing not per hour)) but I had been natural for years and spending that much on my hair that regularly wasn't something i was used to...
That said - with the baby on the way I was happy to go sit in a salon last week because I just can't handle it on my own right now!
Your SLs look gorgeous and more power to you being a DIYer! To be honest with you, I didn't really have much of a choice to become a DIYer at the time because the only trained consultant in the area & nearby class was 2 hours away, she was not available for 6 months and she charged $400 (for the class!). Either I did it myself or let my roots go crazy, so I just did my best and after two re-ti's I was on a roll! I haven't looked back since.
There is nothing wrong with becoming a DIYER, When Ifirst became a DIYer it was because I was having consultant issues, don't get me wrong she was very nice, didn't charge much at all and finsihed in timely manner, the only thing she was unprofessional, for example stopping in the middle of a retightening to take care of something personal, that was not an emergency. Anyhow and then looking for other consultants wa a hassel, so I took matters in my own hands. After a year of DIying I I decdied to go backj to a consultant because I couldn't keep up with my own retightenings. And since I had some hair loss in the front of my hair line, it's really important that I get my locks done by my consultant. However now because of the distance and the time it takes my consultant to do my locks it's becoming money and time consuming. I thinking about taking the class and just letting her tightening me up every so often.Or let her do the front and I do the back. We will see what happens. sorry for the long post, felt like talking, lol.
There is nothing more empowering then being able to do your own hair.
@Beautifully Made - out of all the tools I have tried I'm in love with the SL tool. Ever since I got it I have never used anything else, although I tried the latch hook and absolutely hated it!
@Coco Pebb - nothing is better, if you dn't mind and you make the time for it.
@Brown Buttafly - keep me posted on what you decide.
@Bajan Lily - if I was pregnant I would be running to someone's chair, just so I could get some rest :-)
@Dewdrop - thanks :-)n After one good reti under your belt its like we are pros, lol!
My reason which is darn the reason for almost all of what I do: the moolah! Also, I have control issues regarding things that pertain to my body, my time and of course my moolah! lol
I'm with msfullroller....
I have control issues regarding things that pertain to my body.
I'm also in agreement about not spending any money (outside of shampoo and conditioner) on my hair every month.
And who wants to sit at someone else's convenience?
I love my installation consultant. She was my MOH at my wedding. But I want to do it when I want to do it and I just couldn't take the hair bill every month.
Keeta aka MrsEmancipated
SL 1 yr
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