Embraced My Sisterlocks in NJ

Playing Around

2012-01-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

Just a few styles I've played around wiht since I have a bit more length -- thanks to you tube. You can't really see the details but here they are

Side swept basket weave and airborne twist pinned down

Basket weave going up in the back - flat twist into the front into a bun

Sideswept to the side into a bun (can't see it) with a hump in the front

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T16:00:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To all my fellow bloggers and followers! Looking to make 2012 a great year in my personal and professional life and wishing you all the same.

Lets do it again....henna time

2011-12-10T10:16:00.000-05:00

It's been quite some time since I posted and as usual its because nothing has changed with my locks. I just mixed up a batch of henna. I only used one box of the henna powder from Mehandi as with the past two times. This time I mixed the henna with Apple Cider Vinegar instead of the Orange Juice for the acidic portion and I added in vegetable glycerin for the moisturizing effect. And instead of mixing with a spoon I used a hand mixer. The last few times the mixture started out more like mashed potatoes but this time I finally got the consistency of yogurt. Although I had no issues of applying the mixture the past few times I'm hoping with this consistency I can easily smear it on and washing it out can only be easier. I did most of the changes based this you tube video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/quotidianlight#p/search/0/v7R2wBrPeqw

What I'm hoping for this time is to see a more drastic red in my roots. I plan to only to do my roots and if I have any leftover I will do some of my ends. As you see here my ends are already pretty red and don't need much color especially since its the colder months.

Hues of red

Henna 2nd time around

2011-11-06T18:32:00.002-05:00

Hey All - I have definitely not been keeping up with my blog, but I don't have that much to say, but I did another treatment of henna. I mixed the henna in the AM and applied it around 8pm and slept with it. I wrapped my hair up in saran wrap then a scarf and then put on my bonnet and went to bed. It was easy as 1-2-3....only thing it did dry up and I saw particles in the bed the next morning. Again this time around no issues washing it out and I didn't use any shampoo/conditioner afterwards. After my 2nd application I'm ready to place my next order for 3-4 boxes to do a treatment every month. Oh...the reason why I'm going to order is I feel that my locks are definitely thicker and have more body now without any curls (because curls no longer hold in my hair...even with mousse ). Additionally, I do feel that my locks seem to hang longer and although I'm still using a mist of water and oil I do feel my hair is more moisturized. Well thats all I have for now ladies :-)

2 and a half years

2011-09-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update.

As they says its not just a hairstyle its a lifestyle. Over the time frame I have tested and tried different products but I have come back to the sisterlock products for washing and conditioning my locks. Additionally, from my most recent post I will only be using henna to color my hair and for the added conditioning properties of it. The less you do to them the easier the daily management of them becomes. I use Carol's daughter Tui Oil in between washing which is every week and that's it. I also continue to maintain my SL's myself. I don't even bother looking for trainees/consultants anymore because I always walk away disappointed.

Here I come year 3, still loving my locks!!!

Henna

2011-09-06T16:17:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I met up with a lady whom I've kept in contact with locally. She had her sisterlocks installed give/take 6 months after me. When I saw her locks I loved the highlights she had in her hair. When I asked if it naturally grew out like that she said no it was her grays that turned color from henna. You know the product junkie that I am I started asking more questions and where I could purchase it from. She said online, well that couldn't be a better answer. I came home and logged onto the Mehandi website and ordered henna for African American hair. I strongly suggest if you are interested in using henna that you read the wealth of information that is on the website.

Moving forward a week or so later I finally received my package. Now knowing that I was in love with my brownish color locks I was a little apprehensive to jump right in and use it. It was Labor Day this past weekend (as you already know) and I had plans to go out. I had plans to stay in all day Monday and get prepped for my daughters first day. With my anticipation of staying in Monday I mixed up the henna on Sunday afternoon around 1pm with a little bit more than a cup of OJ and smidget of water. My disclaimer on that, just follow the directions given in the box because who knows if I put too much, too little. I mixed it all up covered it with saran wrap and kept it moving. As with my social life at the last minute I decided to go out Sunday night and I didn't get home until midday Monday, exhausted at that.

I look at my henna and say to myself now that's a wasted batch but at the same token I don't want to just throw it out. This morning I woke up and I figure I will take my chances and slather it all on, hey its natural what could go wrong. LOL!

I put my hair into six sections and put my gloves on (very important)! I started in the back and literally felt like I was putting dirt on my hair. My consistency wasn't thick but more like a paste. I go thru each section carefully making sure that I applied to my roots and all the way down to my ends because they really needed the conditioning properties. After about 20 minutes I was done. My boyfriend helped wrap my hair up in saran wrap like a cone head and I then put a towel on my head as well to keep in the heat from my body. I left the henna in from 9am to about 2:30.

Here are the results!

Washing it out was not difficult at all and I did so in the shower. I used no conditioner or shampoo. Although the smell is still a bit herbal I have yet to put any oil in my hair. My hair feels a bit softer but not dry and I'm happy about that. I will take another picture in a few days because the color is supposed to oxidize a bit more over the course of a few days. What do you think??

I like it :-) and I see myself using this going forward for the strength, coloring, conditioning properties. And I would love to have big locks so if this helps with that process I'm all for it!

Length

2011-07-18T22:13:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since posted a picture of my hair down. So here you go. I'm long overdue to do a comparison shot but you get the idea. It has grown, lol!!!

Effortless

2011-07-17T18:55:00.004-04:00

Here are just some random shost that I liked that my locks were truly effortless. They are pulled back because its HOT!!! and right after a retightening so my parts are on point. Excuse the expression, a fellow walked into my light!

27ish months, who's counting

2011-07-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

Well it has certainly been a while....and yet I have nothing to say :-(

There is nothing really new with my locks, actually no thats not true. I feel like the front area of my locks are unlocking based on that new product I was raving about in my last post. It made my locks so soft which was a great thing but over time it felt like after every wash my ends were curly q's verse locked ends. On top of that, every time I run my fingers thru my hair I can pull balls from the ends because they are literally handing on for dear life! Since I don't use anything on my hair besides maybe once a week spritzing with a mixture of Carol's Daughter Tui Oil and water I figure the cause has to be the shampoo. So I decided to go back to the sisterlock products. I ordered the salon formula along with the green tea formula and I received it yesterday. I haven't washed my hair yet, but I know it has to give me that hard rough cuticle I need again to continue the locking process. Other than that, I truly haven't been styling a thing. I pull my locks into a messy bunish/ponytail and go out the door. I put some curls in the other day with lock loops but by the end of the day they were almost out, so why bother! And really isn't that the best part so I'm not complaining. Unfortunately, I don't have any new hair pics although I'm infamous for taking car pics but I switched from the blackberry to the Iphone and instead of taking pictures I'm now consumed with playing words with friends! Well thats all I have but I would like to know .....

What would you like to hear from me??? I've gone blank :-)

I did it again..

2011-05-04T17:52:00.002-04:00

Oh yes, I colored once again, I couldn't help it. In my past coloring experiences color hasn't take as well as I would have liked it too so I didn't do my best in applying the color to my roots in the middle or the back. I also did not do a good job of putting color in the back. I opted for Texture and Tones Honey Blonde.

Honey Blonde 6C

I put the color in more so the front and put on a plastic cap. After putting on my plastic cap I wrapped my hair in a towel and clipped it. I had just bought my daughter Just Dance 2 for the Wii so we played for 30 minutes with my hair wrapped up. I didn't think much of how the color would come out but when I took the towel off I was SHOCKED.

Shea Moisture

Before I got too excited I tried my new shampoo and deep conditioner made byShea Moisture. I love how it smells and makes my locks feel heavenly. Its nice and creamy and feels like it can penetrate the lock. It even got some of the debris out of the back of my locks, you know the lint that accumulates at the nape of your neck. So I sat with the conditioner for about another 30 minutes and walaaaaaaa, this is what I ended up looking like.....

New Hair Color (Honey Blonde)

Oh yes ......I actually have honey blonde hair and I didn't have to pay out my wazooo for it!!!!! I know this picture isn't the best, because I need to take a picture of the back. Honestly (as I'm laughing) there is nothing new to see in the back, the color is still dark brown!

Pattern Change

2011-05-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

An interesting question was posed to me the other day about my pattern change. As you recall I changed from a Pattern 4 to a Pattern 3 sometime ago, you can read the reasoning here (just click, "here"). Now the question was very simple:

noticed you started with a 4 pattern and now use the 3. As a result, have you noticed a difference in the size or appearance of your locks?

I must say that I have not noticed a difference in the width of the lock at all and its now been close to a year and a half since I did change the pattern. I took a picture to see if there is a difference, you tell me?

Two locks in the left front side

They actually look thinner at the root to me, but I know that's also due to them still being in the pattern and not locked yet so they haven't swelled.

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-05-01T09:24:00.001-04:00

OMG!!!!! I received an email that I was nominated for the stylish blogger award. I have to say I'm so surprised that I was nominated, I can't say my blog is stylish but I will take it anyway :-).

I just want to give a special thank you to Kreyola for nominating me, and she gave me a great compliment:

"I love her blog. I been following her for a while now and love all her sisterlocks updates."

Here's what you have to do nominee's

THE RULES
Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award

Share 7 things about yourself.

Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

Contact these bloggers and tell them about it.

Now, wow 7 things about myself....that's a hard one, here goes nothing...

My friends call me Dancehall Queen. As you know my parents are from Trinidad (mom) and Tobago (dad) so any soca music that I hear seems to get into my blood and I really just feel the music. I LOVE TO PARTY!!!!
I LOVE to workout, its becoming one of my favorite things to do, of course its a huge thank you to having Sisterlocks and not having to worry about my hair afterwards. I started after having my daughter because I used to be a toothpick prior to having her. Not as if I'm large now, but instead of just being slim, I want to look and feel fit and I am. I have really gotten into it over the past three years, if I could just stop the cocktail consumption I would be better :-)
I have a beautiful daughter who just turned 7 on Saturday 4/30. She is a joy, wakes up smiling, goes to sleep smiling and is so smart (who doesn't say that about their own child), but hey that's what everyone tells me :-)
I have an undergrad degree majored in Finance and minor in Economics, I also have a MBA in Accounting. I've used all of that to earn a living working with Hedge Funds first as a Manager and now I work in an analyst role.
I am anti-social when I just meet people, unless I'm in the mood to be social. However, once I get to talking I'm a talker and can dominate a conversation and room. My mood normally comes more often than not to be a social butterfly:-) ....now that doesn't sound like a good thing.
As you can tell I take a lot of pictures of my face. This all has to do with trying to figure out what styles work for me, what makeup works and doesn't work. And this also has to do with having a blackberry. Prior to blackberry with the camera I hardly took pictures from the phone. I take a lot of pictures with my camera, never download them so I'm the only person who sees the events I have gone too :-).
I am addicted to my blackberry, I really cannot leave home with out it. Nor can I go longer than 10 minutes without looking at it even when I have all the notifications on to let me know I have received a message. Its addicting, I also have an Iphone because I wanted to test out all the clever applications they have. I got tired of paying two bills so now my Iphone has turned into an Itouch :-), but trust me I'm debating giving my blackberry up full time for the Iphone 4.

Since the blogger award has been going around for some time the ladies who have already received it as well as passed this along are the same ladies I would nominate such as Dewdrop, Saabira, and Blaqkofi I always find myself going to there blogs to read up on things I'm questioning. In addition, I have to give a great shout to my girls, we all started the journey together Bajan Lily, Cshan, and Kay Exquisite.

Thanks to all my fellow bloggers as well as followers. I truly nominate you all, because we all deserve it!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T08:54:00.001-04:00

May I take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you
a most blessed and happy EASTER filled with the peace
and love and joy of the Risen Christ.
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Thank you Immensely

2011-04-18T13:11:00.000-04:00

I've reached over 100 readers on my blog and I just want to take this time out to say thank you to each and every one of you. Originally creating a blog I didn't foresee the future of meeting beautiful woman and gaining sisters that I don't biologically have. I've met quite a few of my readers personally and I look forward to meeting more of you. Once again thank you as we continue this journey together!

Stunted Growth

2011-04-09T22:34:00.005-04:00

The consensus seems to be to go back to the reddish brown color. I must say that I agree with that decision. What I'm concerned about is stunting my growth. I don't know maybe its me but I feel like my locks should be longer. I throw that thought out the door and plan to color again in about 4-6 weeks. This time around I think I'm going to make my coloring experience a (GDO) girls day out with my close locked sister :-). She has traditional locks and is interested in getting them colored as well. I told her we should go to the salon together and do it together. Totally digressed!!!

After coloring have your locks grown at the normal rate or slower?

Too Many Colors Options

2011-04-05T20:59:00.000-04:00

As I look at my pictures above I am examining the color. The one on the right is year 1 and the one on the left is year 2, as you can see there are two distinct colors. Both pictures are from March, my loc-a-versary, so the season didn't play a part in my decision, I must say I do like the red. But I'd love to know what you think, the reddish family or brown? Or both, but it just matters on the season?

Sleep Position

2011-04-04T19:49:00.005-04:00

How random is this? I was getting my eyebrows threaded in an Indian hair salon. It was quite busy for a Sunday morning but the client next to me was getting her hair cut. After the hairdresser was done cutting I heard the client say one side is heavier than the other. The hairdresser responded is that the side you sleep on it will always be heavier. It got me thinking that wow that is such a true statement. For a while now I have been noticing and complaining (smile) that my left side is longer than my right side, and yes you guessed it I sleep on my left side. Now when I think about that it seems strange that the side that you sleep on and constantly moving about would be thicker than the side that is free and getting all the air. Is one side, or back thicker than the rest of your head because of how you sleep? What are your thoughts?

Compliments

2011-03-20T10:33:00.000-04:00

Compliments! Its been a long time since we discussed them. Have you gotten any recently? Or do you still remember that one compliment given to you on a day you needed it?

24 months and still counting

2011-03-19T10:01:00.004-04:00

2 years of sisterlockdom! I can't say that the time has flown by because it does feel like a long time since I originally had my installation. On day 1 I really thought 2 years in I would have locks literally down my back, I DON'T :-). I thought that all my locks would be locked, can you believe they are not? The front (hairline above the forehead) especially, which has always been my problem area is unraveling a bit and breaking -- totally frustrated!!!!! Since the front isn't locked and its now breaking I am going back to braiding and banding that has to help. Or at least that's my thought anyway. The back is doing well all nicely locked and growing. In the back, one of my locks seemed to have thinned in the middle from me constantly pulling it into a ponytail and so it was longer than all the others. Yesterday when I reached looking for it I found it snapped off, I lost it somewhere who knows! Ah well, another one lost to the struggle.

Now, who would of thought you would read a 2 year anniversary post so negative. Although I'm having issues I would not have it any other way. All hairstyles have positives and negatives and I just want to chronicle it all, because its not all peaches and cream. I'm still fiddling around on what products I use, from the SL line to liquid black soap to Jane Carter, but it all depends on my mood. Moisturizer I switch up to from Carol's Daughter to a local oil I purchased. The one thing I'm going to try to refrain from this year is coloring my hair. I don't feel it has been harmful but it can't hurt NOT to color it. I'm going to go thru the spring and summer without coloring and see what changes that brings to my locks. All in all I'm still in love with my locks and don't regret the decision to lock with the sisterlock family!!!

Almost 2 yrs!

2011-03-17T16:51:00.001-04:00

I'm almost 2 yrs locked,well I guess you can say I am because its tomorrow but I will put my thoughts to keyboard tomorrow with comparison pics!
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And I colored again...

2011-02-17T18:34:00.007-05:00

It really is somewhat addicting because you don't have to worry about the ramifications of truly damaging your hair/locks. I decided to color my hair once again because although it was very nice it looked too brassy and truly two tone colors. I colored using Naturtint with light copper chestnut. I knew going into it that my roots wouldn't really take the color too well, but surprisingly they lightened up a bit and my ends darkened so I have a color that blends well from root to tip. Or I should say it lightened from root to tip. Of course I don't have the pics to really show this because I've been pretty bad of just taking pictures of my locks. I'm now more so taking pics of styles that work and don't work. Attached is a DON'T WORK look :-) but you sort of get the gist of it. I don't have a much changed routine, I'm still washing once a week and now I use some rosemary and regular tap water to spray on my locks in between the wash. Although its cold, my locks don't feel all that dry so I have not been using any oils on a regular basis. I have to say I'm a BORE when it comes to my locks. I've been trying some new styling ideas and I will share that once I get a chance to upload pictures from my camera. I am now 23 months locked and still loving it. I will do my comparison pics for 2 years, I'm long overdue for that.

22 Months

2011-01-21T18:58:00.005-05:00

On the 18th of this month I celebrated 22 months of being SL'd. Additionally on the same day I had Lasik surgery. Although my vision is still a bit blurry I've been off for the week and starting to become a bit stir crazy, so why not blog. Adding to that fact, the snow came again this morning and its bitterly cold outside.

I love my locks and I have no thoughts of cutting them off but as I flip through magazines I do find myself staring at the new short crop cuts thinking WOW that style is FIAH!!!! Then I find myself looking at some loose natural styles and thinking wow the versatility with the curls popping and the options to straighten it, I miss the options. I know we have options with SL's, but in truth and honesty we have more options than traditional locks certainly, but not the options of a loose natural. Yes I wear my curls and ponytails with a bang or just a full ponytail and that's all great, but don't you miss the true styling???? One thing I am noticing more and more is that on commercials any African American woman is normally a loose natural and every now and again you see a sister with locks (SL's, traditionals etc). I appreciate that we are making waves in Hollywood---but we have yet to become that phenom!!

Now I'm a bit lazy with doing anything with my hair unless I'm in the mood and that comes far and few in between. As I type this I have perm rods in my hair because I have plans to go out tomorrow and I don't feel like being bothered tomorrow. I do appreciate that my curls are lasting a bit longer, but that has nothing to do with my current regimen. The density of my hair has certainly changed and allowed the curls to last much longer.

Can you believe in 22 months, my locks are still not 100% locked??? Especially in the front half of my head it isn't sealed on the ends probably because I manipulate that area the most, but come on really!!! It doesn't bother me at all as I plan to color my hair in the next month or so. With that said lets just go over where my locks are:

Where I am:

My locks are not fully locked

I no longer separate after washing (never really did)

One side is longer than the other and seems to grow faster (right)

I have this one long lock in the middle of my head that hangs the longest in the back

I shampoo with a liquid black soap and my scalp feels extra clean and smells clean

I air dry

I only use Carol's Daughter Tui Oil maybe once a week

I sleep 40% of the time with a loc soc and other 60% with my hair out on a satin pillowcase

I wash weekly

I don't really get compliments anymore - just more of your hair is growing alot

I no longer worry about length, I'm just letting it do its thing

I retighten for myself faithfully every 4 weeks, mostly because I don't like the feel or how my edges look

I try to take pictures daily, but moreso to figure out what looks works and what don't

I wear my locks up the majority of the time, its just easy and the ends seem to hold a curl.

My roots aren't taking a color, I have no plans to lift it again.

I like the two-tone look

I love my locks, it suits me and my personality! DIFFERENT

Just to add a photo because thats what we all come for -- here is one from May last year so that 14 months.

Quick Flick

2011-01-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

I took this photo as usual in my car but I liked the detail it showed of my locks. I owe you all some close ups and comparison photos which I will get to in the next few weeks.
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Happy New Year

2011-01-01T08:19:00.001-05:00

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Happy Holiday Thoughts

2010-12-30T20:51:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays to all my blog family, I know I'm late!

As a New Year is coming to a close I always reflect on what I have accomplished, what I can do better, and what I want to eliminate or add to my life in the next year. I'm not one for resolutions because those should come as life changes not just because the calendar flips. With that said, I got to thinking about this blog. I originally created it because I wanted to chronicle the changes my locks go through and post for everyone to see. As I'm closer to my 2 year mark I haven't really noticed changes in my locks besides growth and the color change which I invoke. I do find myself taking photos but more so of the styles and not exactly a good look of my locks definition and thickness. I have not done a good job of informing those who are now considered my blog family on what I'm up to and that was the main purpose. I'm beginning to feel as if my effort or I should say lack of effort is futile to maintain this blog. I'm going to start or attempt to post monthly of what is going on and see how well that goes. Hope you all have a safe and healthy new year!!

Month 20 outings

2010-11-30T19:49:00.004-05:00

This is basically how I'm wearing my locks lately and I can actually find wear one ponytail with hang time and using a loose ponytail holder, these are the best. Check them out here, in black of course!

20 months exactly! And its my birthday

2010-11-18T19:24:00.000-05:00

Another year has gone by and I love my locks more and more each day. As I was grabbing breakfast I was complimented on my locks which has been quite some time. The woman was so intrigued and I totally forgot the response SL's get. She asked first 'are they braids' and I proudly answered no they are sisterlocks! She like the two-toned color and then she asked how long I had them. I sat and spoke for about 5 minutes and it really felt good to be a proud walking ad!!

Here are some pics I took on Tuesday!
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Quick Flick

2010-11-13T17:00:00.001-05:00

Just a picture from today. My curls (created by lock loops) fell right which is after a workout and wearing a hat. I do really like my locks curled but they don't stay cause of all the sweating, but I will do it if only it last for 2 days.
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Doing it myself

2010-11-11T22:09:00.004-05:00

One thing I want to add to my previous post. I really do enjoy doing my own retightenings. Hmm...enjoy is exaggerating a bit, I like doing my own retightenings. When I'm going thru my locks I can truly see the areas growing and if any of my locks are weak, which gives me total control of whats going on. I've tried so many consultants because I'm looking for that one I can use give or take 3 to 4 times a year just to check to ensure my locks are doing well. Or for that time when I need to get my retightening done all in one day for a special event, or just cause I don't feel like doing it myself. Either way, I'm not looking for that perfect one, but I'm looking for one I can rely on and be pleased when I get out the chair. But every time I try a new consultant it just reminds me that its so worth me doing it for myself. Thus far the only one I've been pleased with overall is my installation consultant because I can use her to tighten, wash, and style but I know that I have to use 6 hours of my day to get that done, and I better bring my wallet fully stacked!!!

Consultants Analysis

2010-11-09T17:57:00.002-05:00

In my 19 months I have tried 4 consultants and I really cannot say I've been 100% satisfied with any of them. I decided to do an analysis of them all.

Installation Consultant
PROS
1. Professional
2. Clean Salon
3. Knowledgeable about SL's
4. Impeccable work

CONS
1. Did not have SL's
2. Slow
3. Expensive (hourly)
4. Far
5. Hard to get an appt

2nd Consultant
PROS
1. Professional
2. Had SL's
3. Cheap - flat fee
4. Ease of appointments

CONS
1. Dining room chair as salon chair
2. Did not wash or style
3. Slow
4. Missed locks in retightening
5. Far

3rd Consultant
PROS
1. Extra fast
2. Clean Salon
3. Styled but lazy

CONS
1. Did not have SL's
2. Unreliable
3. Hard to get an appt
4. Far

4th Consultant
PROS
1. Professional
2. Had SL's
3. Cheap - flat fee
4. Ease of appointments
5. Super close

CONS
1. Computer chair as salon chair
2. Did not wash or style
3. Slow
4. Missed sections in retightening

In looking at this list it basically comes down to wanting a professional, reliable, close, decently priced, fast consultant. I don't think that's asking too much since they are trained consultants. Basically, consultants who work in a salon I feel should be professional and reliable but they aren't. Yet those who work out of there home are super slow and they don't have a very comfortable seating which I was in for hours. Argh!! What makes a good consultant to you that keeps you going back?

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Sisterlocked Interview #3 - 1 year later

2010-11-07T17:28:00.008-05:00

A year has gone by for us all and it has been an especially good one to this sister. She was interviewed by me a year ago (click here to read it) and she has come back to show her progress. Not only has she had a beautiful year with her SL's she has embarked on a new life by taking her nuptials. Doesn't she look beautiful!!! Congratulations!

Don't forget to VOTE!

2010-11-02T12:16:00.001-04:00

It takes 2 minutes out of your day, subtract it from those minutes of blog surfing :-)
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Halloween Costume!

2010-11-01T19:34:00.004-04:00

I was feeling myself :-)

In any event I used the bendable rollers because I wanted really loose curls and left them in about 4 hours and I ended up with this.

Change of Color

2010-10-28T19:15:00.002-04:00

Caught you :-), not me, just my blog.

Since the weather has started changing it was time to cool down the colors of my blog. I loved the bright orange to celebrate the warmer months, this lavender represents the cooling of the atmosphere! Hah! Nothing new to report with my hair, I don't curl anymore unless I have an event to go to and that seems to be frequent lately, but otherwise its a ponytail with a bang. I find that curling on dry hair with some mousse and air drying for 1-3 hours serves up a nice set of curls. I will be rocking that for Halloween and I will be sure to post my costume :-)

You can see it here!

2010-10-19T11:35:00.002-04:00

I'm glad I colored!!! That's all I have 2say!
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Spiced Cognac - Jazzed Up

2010-10-09T16:34:00.003-04:00

In this picture you can see the color! Hah, not really just my blonde ends look a little more reddish brown, but I like it. I'm off to a wedding and I used the yellow perm rods with some mousse (Talij Waalih..sp). I put them in on dry hair and air dried for about 3 hours. Let me tell you the curls were super duper uber TIGHT!!! Love it because I originally planned to wear my hair up but the curls were so tight I twisted up into one side for this.

In any event, these curls should last thru a few workouts so I'm looking forward to it! Back to the topic, what do you think of the color? I'm used to Jazzing running when I had a perm but its not running now, I'm not sure if they changed the formula but I have no complaints thus far!

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Lock Progress ...

2010-10-09T13:35:00.002-04:00

I found a new trainee that lives only 10 minutes from me. I was so excited when I made my retightening appointment for Friday (yesterday). Although I can finish my retightenings in 3 days give or take I wanted to make sure I've been doing the right thing. The other trainee I went to at Strandz didn't give me any feedback on how my locks were doing so I wanted an opinion. In any event, I got there around 10 to 6 and we got started right away. Well....finally around 11:30 I was finished. Yes .... 5 and a half hours. Whew! I so don't miss those days and I don't plan to do it again anytime soon. The bright side of the whole thing was that she gave me great feedback on how my locks were doing. She said I've been doing a great job and I don't need anyone to do it for me. She said my parts were still intact and my locks are the right size. Whippee!!! Needless to say I won't be looking for anyone to retighten them for me anytime soon because they are doing well and I'm doing what they would do. And who the hell wants to sit 5 and a half hrs!! Certainly not me!

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Color I did it ...with Jazzing!

2010-10-08T13:56:00.002-04:00

Well I colored it yet again!! So funny as you read my prior post that I wasn't going to color. After a trying evening of working on 1st grade homework with my daughter I picked up a bottle of Jazzing rinse that I purchased and got to it. Honestly, the difference is very subtle and if you don't really pay attention you won't even notice. I will post pictures later this weekend.

Color

2010-09-28T15:05:00.001-04:00

I decided I'm not going to color right now. I was in the beauty supply store buying some more perm rods because I didn't have enough and I perused the color aisle. First, I didn't find a color I even remotely liked and then I realized I sort of like the two-tone color it seems to bring more to my look of locks. When I wear my hair curled all you see is the ends to you see the color, when I wear it up you see my natural root color, whatever that is. So for now, I'm holding still and I won't change.

Abandoned...but lets talk about whats going on at 18 months.

2010-09-24T15:27:00.000-04:00

Wow, it feels like I have abandoned my stepchild (blogging). I'm so preoccupied in my day to day life its like I'm living in my own bubble of life.

Alot of this has to do with not being preoccupied with my locks anymore. They are definitely growing and I'm not obsessed with the length and I'm just enjoying them so lets start with whats going on in my head:

COLOR
Since fall is now here I'm feeling like I should color my hair, but it hasn't even been a year since I originally colored. I'm trying to hold off for the year mark and then maybe put a rinse in, not a dye. I'm looking more towards reds and with my lighter ends I think it will be a nice color movement from the darker red at the roots to lighter at the ends. I may end up trying a rinse before my birthday just for a different look. I like the colors of Jazzing but they bleed so much and I sweat alot during working out that my clothes may be stained in the process. I don't know I have to see what else is out there. All in all, I see it happening pretty soon as I'm an spontaneous one :-)

RETIGHTENING
What more can I say about that besides I'm still doing it myself. I find that it takes me about three days now to complete. The bad part is within like a week and a half I have fuzzy roots :-/. Again this has a lot to do with the working out, but not willing to give it up. The one issue is that the clip tool is getting too small to wrap around my whole lock that has sealed and clips into the lock instead of the entire lock. I still have my NL tool and latch hook one of them I may have to start using again. This will slow down how long it takes to complete my whole head, but I don't' want to ruin my ends by continuously clipping inside of it.

SEALED ENDS
Uh!! Can you believe 18 months and I'm not fully locked. The back of my head is sealed but the front half is not. Its weird though, because I don't know what I do different in the back to the front. I find that when I use the SL shampoo the ends seem very unraveled, but I'm going to continue because that's what is recommended.

SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER

I have reverted back to using the SL shampoo. I purchased two bottles and I'm strictly using that as my shampoo. I am sticking to only using conditioner once a month and I'm using the Lustrasilk which I previously wrote about.

MOISTURIZER

Using green tea oil, that I purchased from Khamit Kinks and the Jane Carter twist and lock. I use them interchangeably. I more so use Jane Carter when my ends feel dry and I use the green tea when my scalp feels like it should be moisturized.

Ok enuff chatter, time for the comparison pictures.

Month 17 Looks

2010-09-24T10:52:00.007-04:00

Here are two pics of how I wore my hair during Month 17. I have a little more length so I can defintely get my hair into a ponytail and I'm loving that. It makes not doing anythign with it so much easier. This is more so my staple style lately because I have not rolled my hair since the wedding back in early August.

I'm still here!

2010-09-16T10:24:00.002-04:00

Yes, its been close to a month but I'm still here and still loving my locks. Recently, I pulled off the 2 headed dragon tails for the majority of my locks they were becoming to thick to pull thru my new growth. I'm now able to pull my locks up into a high ponytail/bun and I really love that because it gives me more styling options. Here is a quick pic from yesterday, with a fresh retightening..yes and as always in my car!
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Bang'ed Out!

2010-08-16T08:15:00.000-04:00

I attended a wedding on Friday and I wanted to wear an updo. I twisted all my locks into a ponytail and left a bang out with some curls. I LOVED IT!! Since then I've been wearing my hair like that so maybe bangs are for me ..in an updo at least. The first pic is of me this morning and the second is the morning after the wedding...curls a bit looser and the back I took down because the pins were killing me. I will post more pics this week.
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New way of curls

2010-08-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months I have strayed away from styling because I've gotten lazy but even more so from using the lock loops and moving towards the perm rods because it gives such a nice looser curl from day one. I conditioned my hair with Lustrasilk shea butter chole sterol only for a little over an hour. I then washed it out and used only the Organix coconut mousse as my setting lotion. I left the rods in for at least 10 hours while I did housework. I took them out before going to sleep because they are really difficult to sleep in. Unfortunate for me I went for a run the next morning so I did lose a bit of the curl in the process but either way the look in my opinion is much better than the lock loops at this length and stage. The drying time is still an issue for me, but I'm still not sold on sitting under the dryer so air drying is my thing.

I have come to the conclusion however that bangs are not for me..permed or locked :-)!!! I'm going to leave those for others going forward!!! However I love, love, the way the back and sides fell.

Comparision Time Again

2010-08-09T09:51:00.004-04:00

This is not one of the better comparisons over the months, because its a bit misleading. Number one the color throws the visual off and additionally the style is not the same so its hard to really tell the growth. However, I'm looking at the sides by my ears and I can tell it has grown not as much as I thought of course, but progress is progress so I will take it.

Retightening Finally Done

2010-08-07T07:38:00.001-04:00

I finally finished my retightening, its taken me close to 3 weeks. I started, stopped, started again and just was in no rush. Now that I'm finally done guess what its about time to start the front and back again ugh!!! What I saw is that I had tons of hair around my locks and I pulled them all in but its only happening in the middle of my head. I must say I'm loving the feeling of my locked locks, they are soft yet with such a cylinder feeling. So with that I'm feeling a bit better and I might do some curling now just to spruce it up.

Oh one last thing I've been using Organix coconut mousse to curl my hair and it worked fantastic my curls had sheen and bounce although they didn't last for the next day because I went to a nightclub the before was worth it.

I plan to do a deep condition this weekend, sit with it for longer than an hour just because its been so hot and I feel like my locks are a bit dry. I will be back to report on that. Additionally I've been looking @ my 2 headed dragons I think I might cut them bcuz its getting difficult to pull it all thru the new growth with the clip tool, more to come on that too....enjoy your weekend ladies!

Not exactly a rut but still moving forward.

2010-08-05T19:14:00.002-04:00

Although I'm back I have nothing new to report. I'm not fully out my funk, but I'm not in a funk enough to even debate taking my locks down. I barely have a regimen anymore, I'm more or less just listening to my hair, when it feels dry I put some oil in it. When it smells dirty to me, I wash it that happens maybe once a week and the dryness about every 3 days. I have done no styling, curling, or rolling, just truly freestyling and hoping it looks ok.

Here is a pic from this weekend. Nothing new, feels like my locks aren't really growing, but I don't even put a lot of weight on that anymore. I have lost a lock which I combined but it got so thin that it literally came out in my hand from the back. Ah well, no love lost on that one, then today the long lock I had that would just not curl started getting longer and longer you know why because midway up the lock it was just strands holding it together. So with my fast self I just pulled it out..now all is even! Maybe later on I will join it back, but right now no Biggie!

Definitely not all LUV..in a funk foreal!

2010-07-27T17:42:00.001-04:00

Not a clue what to do with my hair. Tired of rollers, bantu knots, braid outs, freestyle all of them just make my hair look ..I don't know but I don't like it. The braid outs leave my hair frizzy, the rollers and bantu knots only last a day even if I use the highly talked about Taliah Waajid mousse ..yeah whatever still one day makes no difference. What I've been doing is putting my head under the shower stream getting out and going with a pin up here or there. Still not loving it...where did the love go? I'm in desperate need of a retightening which I don't feel like doing nor dealing with someone else to do...what's a girl to do. I will get to it eventually.

All in all at month 16 .. Not loving my SL's they are just here. The front has still not sealed so it looks like half curly yet uneven ends. The back and sides have sealed ... Just over it right now but trying to get past this phase of funk!

Mayo n Egg conditioner part deux

2010-07-13T13:10:00.002-04:00

Last night I once again did the egg and mayo conditioner, and this time I used one egg and less mayo. I mixed it up and put in back in the fridge hoping the mixture would become a little thicker in consistency. Well it didn't! Lol :-). There was a lot less this time so I figured it shouldn't run like it did previousl . I jumped in the shower put it all over my head and sat for an hour with little to no leaking. Yippie!

Now an hour passed and I was ready to wash it out. I remembered that I had cooked egg particles in my locks the first time so I made sure to use cold (frigid) water. Albeit uncomfortable, I withstood the water and washed it out squeaky clean. Now it was time to get that horrid smell off my locks. I grabbed my Aubrey Organics conditioner applied it mostly to the ends, put the water slightly (operative word) warmer and washed it out.

So I'm all done and I go to the mirror, do you know what I see. Egg particles!!! Humph! Are you kidding me! Now I spend a good 10 minutes in the mirror picking them out! Yuck! All of that, and I must say my locks feel no different and I don't see any extra shine. Why did I do this again????????

Next time around (my calendar reminder is set for 60 days) I'm only going to use mayo and I'm going lather it up!!!

Stay tuned.....

Back on the Scene

2010-07-03T10:16:00.002-04:00

I was on a 6 day vacation with my girls! We had a very nice relaxing time and my SL's were so easy to deal with yet again on vacation. I forgot my rollers and any type of setting gel, so all I had were my fingers to do bantu knots and bobby pins for pinups here and there. The majority of the time I freestyled...oh yes SL's are whats up.

I will be back to post some pics of my vacation :-)

Fresh Faced

2010-06-25T09:15:00.002-04:00

Nice and fresh faced, I'm loving my SL's. I still have my twists in that Strandz put in last week and the curls have fell, but I'm definitely going to recreate this style! And wohoo, I see my locks growing.

Compliments are Lack thereof

2010-06-22T16:30:00.000-04:00

Compliments always come from strangers or the person who doesn't really matter in your life, but they make you feel so special for that day you are walking on cloud nine. The same holds true for negativity. These incidents happened to me a few weeks ago now and they still bother me...I know I shouldn't let them, but it does and although I'm upfront and very confrontational I will not address this because honestly the person just doesn't get it what its about for me.

Here goes......I told someone who will remain nameless that I was going for a retightening, actually I said I was going to get my hair done because the person in particular doesn't fully understand. So after I said that they ask "are they going to clip your ends" I respond, "no, why". They say, and I double quote "because they look raggedy". RAGGEDY!! Hmm, do you have any idea what you look like with permed thinning hair ... .are you kidding me! OK so needless to say this was not the first time that they said something to me that got under my skin so this comment just boiled my blood. A few days prior to this incident they pointed out someones hair to me and I said oh it was a wig but it did look nice. They comment, I'm surprised you haven't bought one for a "CHANGE". Hmm, a change, they just don't get it, not that I'm on the Black Panther Revolt but the fact of the matter is my hair is natural and I love it the way it is every single day. I don't want a change, a change to me is pulling it up instead of to the side, curl and pin instead of let it hang free. It's mine all mine and I don't have to worry about taking it off daily or how I need to sleep for a CHANGE...

That felt good...so what comment has set you off?

2nd Retightening at Strandz

2010-06-21T16:19:00.000-04:00

As you know I have been extra lazy on wanting to do my own retightening so I went back to Strandz over the weekend for my retightenting. There was some confusion as to the time of my appointment, but it got straightened out and a different person did my retightening for me (the issue with going to salons, when you DIY no time confusion). Anyway, although I ended up with a different girl doing it who talked (and stopped as she was talking), she also had to stop to style someones' hair (which came out like FIAH), and talked some more it took her 3 hours. Just imagine if she didn't chat so much. In any event, this time around I got a style and it's nothing fancy but it's a change. I put some perm rods in for the curl in the back, I'm not overly thrilled with it but hey it will probably only last a few days because my head is feeling a bit tight. The one thing I did take out were the two twists on the side, I looked like I was 15! Now I look 17!

Additionally, I do wanna state is that Strandz can really do some natural hair. The styles that ladies are walking out with are FIAH, and they know how to care for natural hair as well. The shampoo they used and I don't know what it was had my scalp tingling nicely and then in the end my locks are so nice and soft. I loved it!

With all that, I made my next appointment for four weeks out :-). Summertime just doesn't feel right with me sitting in the house in the evening tightening my hair, I'm just going to have someone do it for me for at least July and August..unless they get on my bad side :-)

Retightening needed @ month 15

2010-06-19T21:31:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick flick I took before going out to a dinner party on
Friday. My roots are a mess can you see the nonexistent parts.

Aubrey Organics Review

2010-06-19T16:12:00.004-04:00

Lately I have been feeling like my actual locks don't smell to good. As they move past my face I was not happy with the odor. So yesterday I jumped in the shower and did a good wash with the Aubrey Organics shampoo, first started on the scalp and then used some more shampoo on my actual locks. It did lather up very well but it was a hard feeling to the my locks you know the one you get when you use any of the sulfate shampoos. I did three shampoos without diluting it. I then used the Aubrey Organics conditioner and I tell you my locks felt like butter. I left the conditioner in only a short time as I washed up and then I rinsed it all out. My locks feel so nice and soft and the smell that I've been experiencing is gone. In my book this shampoo/conditioner combo will be in my collection for a while. I don't really suffer with an itchy scalp so I'm going to stay away from the Suave and VO5 that I currently have in my shower. What I like about the Aubrey is that it does have any sulfates and is great for all hair types in addition to it was not tested on animals. So if you're looking for a new shampoo I recommend this one.

Creativity...maybe not

2010-06-12T08:33:00.004-04:00

Trying to be a little creative..my curls fell out so I did a quick braid up and left the side out.

Totally Slacking on my Macking

2010-06-11T11:41:00.007-04:00

Its been way too long -- well 11 days actually but I've totally slacked on blogging. Its probably because I have nothing new to report. I don't do anything with my locks besides freestyle, wash, do a bantu knot out, and then let the curls fall to the end of the week and redo the cycle. I did run out of the sisterlock shampoo so I purchased Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner from Whole Foods (I love that store). I only used the shampoo thus far for a one rinse so I can't do a full review on it yet. I plan to wash & condition this weekend so I can post my results on Sunday.

Retightening done by Strandz..

2010-05-31T13:56:00.003-04:00

Memorial day is here and I decided that I didn't want to DIY for my retightening this time around because I was hosting a BBQ that was going to take the majority of my evenings. So I made an appt with a salon in NJ called Strandz, they have no website but I went on yelp.com and read only 2 reviews which weren't the best, but I heard from word of mouth that they do good work. I went on Friday and got my retightening done in less than 2.5 hours and I was shocked that she did it so quickly. The previous times the trainees did them they all took 4+ hours, needless to say I was pleased with that fact alone. I didn't get any styling because what was offered I knew I wouldn't like it. In any event, I had a new lock installed in the area that I lost one a while back and all the stray hairs I was mentionining before is actually not new hair growing apparently I have been doing my tightenings too tight and causing my hair to break. I'm glad I went so that I now know that I can correct it ASAP. I already scheduled my next retightening for the end of June because I'm going on a girls trip and I don't want to spend a week doing my hair at that point either. I'm feeling quite lazy with that these days, maybe because its summertime and I have better things to do then be stuck in the house retightening my hair in the evenings I want to be out and about enjoying the weather. My color is looking even better in the sun and I have no plans to color it anytime soon but I'm appreciating it more and more as it grows in, and the only styling I've been doing is bantu knots they haven't been lasting all that long but I like the looser curl which hangs a bit better ... from the senorita picture.

Senorita...

2010-05-23T12:04:00.001-04:00

An overcast Sunday, trying to bring some sunshine to the day. Throwing something new in the mix...I like it. I tried the flowers as a loose natural and it never really worked out this is much better. I can't wait to wear it with a nice sundress on my girls trip in June :-).

And for Bajan Lily - the ample pink is in full effect!!

-Gigglz

Month 14

2010-05-21T14:29:00.006-04:00

Been a while since I posted some pictures here are the sides. I'm stuck at home waiting for the contractors to finish putting in windows so here it is. Nothing is new with my locks they feel heavy and I've been freestyling a lot more not because I even really like the look just because I've gotten lazy with the whole curling and braiding thing. I don't sleep with my satin cap anymore and I find myself taking a shower without a shower cap those drops of water provide a new fresh feel to them.

Mayo n Egg Conditioner - UPDATED

2010-05-09T19:26:00.006-04:00

After my horrific experience with the ACV rinse that I thought would give my locks a new sheen and it didn't, I thought I should go out and purchase the cellophane color that is clear but adds shine. Well, since it was Mother's Day and I really didn't feel like leaving the house to go anywhere I opted against it. I happened to be doing my daily stalking of blogs and ran across Kalia Dewdrop's mayo and egg conditioner. I youtube'd it some more and decided it was a good idea. I looked in my fridge and darn it, I only have light mayo, not exactly what I'm looking for. I called my cousin who luckily lives close and she brought me some mayo. I mixed up the mayo (which I didn't measure, I just went off the eye) and threw in two eggs. I mixed it up and then put it back in the fridge because I was still retigtening my hair. When I mixed it up, it was quite liquidy, so it was evident I didn't use enough mayo so the mixture was runny.

I started applying the mixture with my fingertips on the sides in the roots and worked my way to the middle; then I went to the back and applied only at the roots and worked up to the middle, then I did the other side. By the time I was done with that I had the mixture all over my sink. I then just took a scoopful and put it on my roots and kept doing so until the bowl was almost empty. When all my locks were saturated I bent my head over, took the bowl contents and poured the remainining on my head. I put on a plastic cap and started the time. I figured since it was the first time I didn't want to go for 90 minutes, I would do an hour and see the results. As I sat around it started leaking down my neck and that confirmed that I didn't use enough mayo. After an hour I was ready to go; now I specifically recall that I shouldn't use hot or warm water to wash it out. So I set the water to cool and washed it out until the water ran clear. I put some Organix conditioner in to mask the smell, but where I messed up is I turned the water temperature to a little warmer and I washed the conditioner out.

Pros (immediate difference)
*locks felt a bit heavier
*locks felt solid
*softer

Cons
*washing with cool water
*if not, white chunks,

As for the con, I immediately put my head back under cold running water, but to no avail I had to pick it out. It wasn't too much but I know next time. In any event, I'm defintely going to do this every 2 months because its natural and I see immediate effects. I'm hoping over the long run I will see the difference in my root to tips.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T10:38:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all those who are already mothers, expecting mothers, and single father's out there! Enjoy your day!

Let's Play Catch Up

2010-05-05T19:05:00.005-04:00

I have been a delinquent in posting to my blog and there is so much to write about and definitely not enough time in the day for it all. Not enough time especially since the weather has been warmer and I've been spending much more time outdoors so lets get to it.

So about a two weeks ago I tried the ACV rinse.

When I originally purchased the vinegar and put the bottle to my nose I thought, yep smells just like vinegar with a hint of apple. I love red vinegar or balsamic vinegar in my salads the more the merrier so I was quite pleased that the smell was along the same lines. I jumped in the shower put half a bottle of vinegar in my plastic clear bottle filled the other half up with water and started pouring the solution from my front hairline and working backwards. I didn't feel a huge cleanse feeling on my scalp so I left the solution on while I did my shower duties. I diluted another half bottle and mixed with water and then..what a STENCH start to emerge in my entire bathroom. My boyfriend just so happened to walk in and ask "WTH is that smell"..needless to say it was unpleasant. I began to wash out the 2nd ACV rinse and noticed no difference, my scalp didn't feel especially cleansed but my face felt burnt!!! I did a quick conditioner only on the ends of my locks put it in and washed it out. I jumped out the shower and thought nothing else of it.

Now the following day I went to the gym and as usual sweat in my head...WOW that dang stench was back! It was a mixture between someones butt crack and another person's buttcrack ..hehe! I came home and washed my hair. Needless to say I won't be doing another ACV rinse because I certainly didn't feel like my locks felt uber soft afterwards nor did I feel my scalp and locks were extra clean.

Moving on, in a previous post I asked about cutting off processed ends, not permed ends. After the beautiful responses I got I cut the ends of about 5 locks. I checked them out and I liked how they progressed so I got to snipping on the majority of all my locks. I still have ends that need to be cut which I'm doing a little bit each day as I see them. My ends are definitely looking more sealed in the front and middle and my overall appearance looks a bit more clean than undone.

One last thing to catch you all up, I purchased the Taliah Waajid Crinkles and Curls because literally no matter what product I used for my curls they aren't lasting more than 2 days. So many SL wearers have raved about this product so I of course have to give it a try.

Whew...now that we are up to date there is nothing much else going on. This week I've done about 7 flat twist in a somewhat side going back direction and pulled the back up into an 'onytail'...you know the immature ponytail :-)!

Air Drying Time

2010-04-21T13:21:00.001-04:00

Nothing new to write about. Oh wait yes, I did an ACV rinse, I have to take some time to write that story but for now here is a pic from this morning with my lock loops on day 2. I couldn't take a pic on day one because I had to drive (yes drive in the morning commuting traffic) with my lock loops in because my locks still weren't dry after 10.5 hours, wth? How long does your locks take to air dry nowadays? I'm still have no plans to use a blow dryer or sit down dryer so I better make time for air drying.
-Gigglz

How do you do it?

2010-04-18T13:31:00.002-04:00

If you recall in one of my blog post I switched to washing my locks weekly because they looked so fresh and I would always get compliments after a fresh wash. The 'fresh' look wasn't happening after a while and it felt like the dirtier my locks the better they fell and curled. So I went back to washing every other week. With my bimonthly washes I use the SL starter shampoo for one wash and Suave clarifying shampoo for the other. On the wash I use Suave I follow up with the SL moisturizing conditioner. As my locks have gotten longer and have more hang time, during my workouts I feel and see the perspiration dripping from the end of my locks. I just purchased ACV and I have yet to try it but based on what I heard it will give my scalp a good clean feeling. I know I can't use this weekly. So for this reason, I'm going back to weekly washes so I ask you.

How often do you wash? And do you use the same product each time until the bottle is finished?
-Gigglz

Thank you for keeping me blogging!

2010-04-15T21:11:00.003-04:00

I'm a bit late, but I want to recognize the first day I started my blog which was 4/9/09. I started this blog with the intention of documenting my journey which I didn't know what to expect and I think I've done a pretty nice job of doing so. Of course I deviated from time to time and I took hiatus when I had nothing to say. However, if I ever had a bad hair day or bad day at all, I could unconsciously lean on my blog family. Over the course of the year I have met some great woman with a strength that is undeniable. I want all my followers to know that I appreciate every comment, question, and even just a thumbs up that you have given me over the past year it is greatly appreciated. As I noted in another post I will continue to blog and keep my dedication to my blog the same as it was in the first year.

Stay tuned for more product reviews because I've become antsy for some new ones I'm definitely in the mood for some new styles!

Looks this past month

2010-04-12T20:33:00.005-04:00

Normally I do not put any products in my hair for styling, but I think its time. As you will see in all of these photos the curls in my hair are GONE!! I just have to find a good product for hold, and that's also a good hold for after a workout which is key!

Note....I'm prepping my daughter for her photos...check the crook in her neck!!LOL!

Share your Compliments!!!

2010-04-11T20:32:00.000-04:00

Compliments tend to come when your feeling like its time for a retightening or you did absolutely nothing to your SL's. Please let me know what was the best compliment you have received to date? Was it a total stranger, loved one, friend, co-worker? And how did it make you feel?

We get them all the time, please share....

What is your staple style?

2010-04-08T09:42:00.000-04:00

Out of the 7 day week, how do you find you wear your hair the most? For me, I find that pulling up the front with maybe a few locks hanging works best and its the easiest.

Here is a picture from this morning with a bantu knot out that I used no product for so the curls are almost nonexistent.

-Gigglz

Curls be gone!!!

2010-04-07T14:08:00.000-04:00

Although I should be writing up procedures or something I decided to flick a pic of myself. Here is my curls after using the jherri curl rods on Monday night. As you can see from the first picture which is today the curls have dropped although its quite hot in the tri-state. The second pic is the curls when I first took them out yesterday, they were loose but that was good. I pinned them up slightly during the day and did the same today.
-Gigglz

Just a quick updated..letting you know growth is internal!

2010-04-05T16:51:00.005-04:00

For the past month I have been diligent in keeping up with my health. I implemented taking the following every single morning:

Daily multivitamin
Biotin
Wheatgrass smoothie - not my recipe just taken from another blog.

I didn't notice anything different about my locks until I started my most recent retightening. I'm almost complete and in doing it I noticed tons of new growth in between my locks, lots of strands of hair sprouted out around my locks and not just stubble. It was enough growth to pull into the surrounding locks. I must say I'm quite happy about that and I plan to keep up with my vitamins and smoothie. In addition to the stray hairs, I noticed a growth spurt. I haven't been wearing my locks out since the weather has finally broke so I'm trying to keep my locks off my face and neck but once I do I will do another comparison picture from even a month ago.

You always hear that your hair shows the health of your body internally and I must say this change internally is exuding externally.

Nothing much else going on with my locks, I haven't tried any new styles, but I have got some ideas in my head that I need to try, but since being able to pull my hair in one bun, my ease of that has taken over...but I will try something new within this next week. My color is doing well and I haven't experienced any issue thus far since getting them colored.

I will be back when I have some additional time to post new pics!

Still Blogging??

2010-03-28T19:26:00.004-04:00

My boyfriend out of the blue asked me if I'm still blogging. I told him that it seems like most people aren't blogging like they used to and more people are now doing you tube videos. No one reads anymore or writes...hmm I'm definitely concerned about how my daughter will communicate in the future. From the texting where you abbreviate everything will children truly learn how to read, write, spell correctly...ok on a tangent. So with that I'm starting to think whats the purpose of blogging when I can just create a you tube channel and get in front of the camera and ramble, trust me I'm good with that.

Here are just some recent photos with an updo. Unfortunately, my curls are not staying like they used to, so my bang looks SHOT. It seems like my locks are going through a phase where I have to use some mousse or spray before putting rollers in. Another change in the journey.

Processed not Permed Ends...do you need to cut them? Help?

2010-03-22T22:16:00.002-04:00

I posted this to LIU, but then I thought I could also ask my blog family to see what thoughts you all may have. So here it is:

I have had my SL's for almost 13 months and I originally started with probably about 2 inches of processed hair. My hair was processed with somewhat of a texturizer chemical (Miss Jessies). After 13 months I have quite a few areas of my head that has locked. However, depending on what shampoo I use, when my locks start to air dry the ends look curly (like how they looked prior to locking). I have not cut any ends off the locks that have locked, so my question is, do I need to cut the processed area off in order for the remaining locks to lock? Or will the processed ends fall off on there own?

-Gigglz

3/18 it's my 1 year loc-a-versary!!!!

2010-03-18T21:28:00.004-04:00

Oh wow! I can't believe its been a year of trials and fails :-) and trials and successes and I wouldn't change anything for the world! Its funny because although at the time I decided to lock I felt I was making a simple change to my hair, that simple change of chemical to natural, and natural to locked has trickled into my life. I have started using all natural products for my body as well and I am more aware of what I put into my body. I have learned a lot about myself over this past year as well.

It feels like over the past 2 weeks or so, my locks have stretched its like the year marker was approaching and my locks, LOCKED!! Its really weird but I will definitely take it. It seems odd to that over this past week I have gotten a lot more compliments then I have over the past few months, maybe the color has me walking with a bit more swagger, who knows! But whatever it is feels good.

The things I have learned about my locks is that I should keep it simple. Stop with all the product experimentation because at the end of the day a spray bottle with tap water is enough to refresh it all. If that fails stick with the sisterlock products. For me when I use them my locks seem to come alive again with bounce and moisture. Also a satin cap and a satin pillowcase go a long way. I have not had to battle with lint as I hear this can be a pain; satin against satin feels nice going across my locks as well.

All in all, I am glad I made the decision to lock, not only to lock but to lock with SISTERLOCKS! I love my sisterlocks and I'm looking forward to the changes they will go through in the next year.

My plans for this year is to do more updo styling and also down styling but with more accessories, pins, flowers and curls. Stay tuned :-)

Creative Juices Flowing....W/a pic

2010-03-16T20:23:00.004-04:00

UPDATE Here is a picture of the back!

I have been wearing my locks in a ponytail with a bang. But to achieve the ponytail I split my head and two and put that in ponytails and then pulled it all together in one. Then I put a roller in the bang for a curl. This morning, I think I must have been dreaming about how I could wear my hair and I woke up with a bright idea. Why not put a french braid going up into a ponytail!! I thought to myself, yes, that will work, because it would alleviate the tension I was causing with the 3 ponytails. So I did it, I didn't have to use pins or anything!!! I slept with the jherri curl rods in my bang and it came out BANGING!!!!

I received so many compliments from the ladies at work on it, so this is definitely a keeper. I tried to take pictures but it was actually so sunny out that the flash made the pictures dark. So I will post pics once I do it again. Since Thursday is my actual official loc-a-versary I will be taking tons of pics!!!

Hair Type

2010-03-15T13:21:00.002-04:00

Before SL's how long were you a loose natural?

For me, I was natural under braids but as far as a loose natural, hmm. Maybe 2 months. I was not pleased with the daily maintenance and I just didn't know what products worked and for that reason, I tried them all that were mentioned on blogs. While being a loose natural the question always came up of what "Type" of hair I had. Ugh, nappy coils! However after research I figured I'm between a 4b and 4c. With my hair type my SL's took pretty good and I didn't experience much slippage and my hair seemed to lock in the average time of a year, although I still have some curly Q's probably because I tried coloring 2x at home. What's your hair type and do you think it help or hinders your progress?

Year One!!!

2010-03-12T20:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a video i put together for my Year one journey!!! It has been...a journey needless to say!

Color .... Oh yeah good look!

2010-03-10T18:44:00.002-05:00

I've been quite lazy the past week and I've been wearing my locks all back. Scarfs and headwraps just won't work for my job so this is what I opted for. The funny thing is I was looking at my locks before being colored and its definitely two different looks. I'm enjoying the look of color :-)
-Gigglz

Taking it back to the Basics...YET AGAIN!

2010-03-06T17:40:00.001-05:00

Although I'm not seeing hairs shedding from my locks, I feel like the color now shows how thin SL's really are. So a week after I got my hair colored I orderd the Green Tea Product kit from the sisterlocks website. Ironically, Dewdrop mentioned in her combining SL's into TL's post that extensive coloring started to thin her locks out and I've been feeling that its definitely possible. Today I used the green tea shampoo which has a really nice smell and lathered up so well. The applicator bottle posted on the SL website that came with the kit notes to put water in with the shampoo. Its funny because you read so many places that you should or shouldnt' dilute who actually knows the answer. I had stopped diluting the starter shampoo for months now, maybe I shouldn't have. Oh well :-(. So I used the green tea shampoo for 3 shampoos and I didn't bother braiding and banding, I think I'm definitely over that (at least for now). The shampoo has a nice tingling feeling and I felt like my scalp and locks were getting a really good cleaning. I moved on with the reconstructor conditioner and left that on with a cap for 30 minutes. I must say my locks feel so soft and really, really moisturized. I had no reason to even put any oils on my locks. What they (who is they, lol) say is true, sometimes its just better to go back to the basics and use the products made for what you have.

Whats your reason?

2010-03-03T20:55:00.000-05:00

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?

Better View of Color

2010-02-28T13:28:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I found my battery charger so here is a better picture of my color. I did some Bantu knots yesterday so this is the curls from it this morning.

More pics

2010-02-26T19:57:00.002-05:00

Not that great, but a better look @ the color. Still looking for my charger :-(

-Gigglz

A Touch of Color

2010-02-24T23:17:00.002-05:00

Update: Today (2/25), I'm feeling much better about my color, the red tone seems to be blending in more with the brown. So far so good!

I couldn't do it any longer. I have been staring at my locks day after day and saying BLAH! The dark color was just blah! I was trying to hold out for my anniversary to color, but if you know anything about me you know I want what I want when I want it. No matter what! So, I broke down and made an appointment at the same salon I received my creative styling from. My thought on color has flip flopped from highlights to just coloring the top half to coloring the whole thing. I'm so indecisive with simple decisions like this. The one thing I knew is that I had to have the black color lifted. I figured I would see what color it looked like once lifted and go from there. So, this is what I have! Hmm....its brownish, red I guess with different tones of brown and red throughout my whole head. At first, I was in shock since I've kept my hair black for so long, but tonight as I looked at it, its starting to grow on me. Of course I sought out opinions and the consensus is to see what it looks like it two weeks, a shampoo, workouts, and see what I have. Only time will tell.

Sorry this picture quality is not that great but I can't find my battery charger for my camera.
-Gigglz

Bantu Knots

2010-02-22T08:58:00.001-05:00

I've really been slacking on doing my retightening so I decided this weekend I would get it all done. Sunday, I worked on it all day and finished. Happily, I can report I didn't combine any locks, and if I did I was able to unhook them. I also didn't have to combine any locks because they were too thin. All in all, my locks are doing well. After messing in my head all day, I really didn't feel like putting too much tension with cornrows and I didn't feel like pulling out rollers so I opted for bantu knots (still tension, I know, lol). I've never been the master of bantu knots, but as I was two strand twisting my daughters hair on Saturday I noticed how easy it would be to do so I hopped to it. I carefully parted my sections and made sure all my rows and knots were even in size. I didn't put any products in my hair I just put my head under the shower stream for about 5 seconds (this also soothes my scalp after a retightening). It was pretty easy and I was able to tuck all my ends and they stayed in place except the back row, so I put a rubber band.

This morning I took them out first thing, my head was hurting from the retightening and the knots and here are the results. On the top view shot you can see the separation from how I did my retightening but other than that ,not too bad, looks like I used lock loops, but not as tight. What do think?

-Gigglz

11 months

2010-02-18T08:17:00.002-05:00

Well ladies...I have no updates to report. Its 11 months and I'm still chugging along. Only thing different is I've been noticing a lot more growth in my 4 weeks than before. I've been going into the sauna after my workouts and my cousin swears that her hair grows much faster when she does. Ah well, I will be back to post some pics of ugh...nothing new! Lately its been braidouts no curls.

Never fails

2010-02-09T11:42:00.001-05:00

Just a quick flick of my fresh braid out, it never fails even when the curls do!
-Gigglz

A little new

2010-02-06T19:42:00.002-05:00

Update:
I did try this overnight and the curls flopped, it was a total waste of my time, because I barely had a bend on the ends. Womp, womp!! I will use this again if I only have a few hours before going out and I need a quick look to my locks.

Since I was stuck in the house with the snowstorm that hit the east coast I thought I would try something new with my hair. I always love my curls on day 2 or 3 after I sweat or the curls drop a bit so I've been thinking how to get a looser curl from the door. I pulled my hair into about 10 little ponytails using little rubber bands. I then split the ponytail in two and put 2 perm rods on each ponytail. I only spritzed some water on my hair and let it sit for about 6 hours. My results were exactly what I'm looking for. I will try this again overnight to see how much better it comes out and post pics.

-Gigglz

Newly Sisterlocked Interview #6

2010-02-05T15:24:00.001-05:00

Gigglz: How long did you want Sisterlocks before actually getting them installed?
I stumbled upon Sisterlocks on the internet a few years ago. I really liked them, but I wasn’t ready to commit to the style or the cost. I decided to grow out my relaxer in February 2009. I had grown tired of the relaxer cycle and I was frustrated that my hair wasn’t strong enough to grow past a certain length. I decided while I was growing out my relaxer, I would try extensions. I had a few sets of micro braids, and a full sew-in weave. I never really felt like myself with the braided extensions and the weave drove me nuts!! I came across Sisterlocks again while searching hair sites. I figured after spending hundreds on OPH (other people’s hair) I can afford to invest on my own hair. It took me two months from my decision to my installation.

Gigglz: How long were you natural before getting Sisterlocks?
My last relaxer was in February 2009. I transitioned with braids, a weave and a wig before getting Sisterlocks in November 2009. I started my SLs with 4 inches of natural hair. I have 3-4 inches of relaxed hair in the top, and much less on the sides and back. Because I wore braids and a weave during my transition, I don’t really feel like my hair was natural until I got Sisterlocks.

Gigglz: How many consultations did you have before deciding on one, and did price play a part in your decision (honestly)?
I only had one consultation, but I researched blogs and hair forums for weeks for additional info on certified consultants. Timing was more of a factor for me than price. Most consultants in my area were priced generally the same. I didn’t want to pay more for 5 inches of natural hair, so I had to get them done before my hair grew longer. The retightening price did play a part in my decision. Some consultants charge by the hour and others charge a flat fee. I was more comfortable knowing what I have to pay each time.

Gigglz: What made you choose your consultant?
I chose my consultant because she was a certified trainer. I figured if she is training others, she must know what she is doing. I also choose her because she has a shop. I have nothing against home-based salons, my mother and grandmother were licensed cosmetologists and each had a home shop. I never went to a salon growing up, so that’s likely the reason I like the salon environment. One interesting thing happened during my consult… Dr. Cornwell called my consultant to discuss hosting a book signing. That was confirmation for me!

Gigglz: How many hours did it take?
It took approximately 15 hours to install my 450 locks. We did it over two days. I even got my vacation days back once I told my boss what I was doing. He told me they were personal days. I love my job!

Gigglz: What was your initial reaction to them?
I took a few peeks in the mirror while she was working. I have to admit, it looked like a bird’s nest! Mid way through my install, I went home and refused to look at them, because I didn’t want to get discouraged. After she was done, she flat ironed my ends and it was neat. I wore that style for one day, because I just didn’t like the lock-to-straight look. I tried a braid-out and I really liked the look, so that’s been my signature style. It gives the straight ends some texture and blends well with the Sisterlocks.

Gigglz: Do you see any disadvantages to Sisterlocks?
Right now, the disadvantage to me is that I can’t wet them all the time. With the braid out, my permed ends would straighten if my hair got wet. So, I only mist my hair when I know I have time to re-braid my ends.

Gigglz: What products do you use and how often do you use them?
I use very little product at all. I have a 2oz spray bottle that has distilled water and a few drops of oil in it. I like the small bottle because the mist is really fine. I try to part my hair so that I can spray the locks and not the permed ends. I wash my hair weekly and I just finished my bottle of SL Starter Shampoo. I’m now trying the Suave Clarifying shampoo. I think I was diluting the SL Shampoo too much and my hair was not getting as clean as I would have liked. The Suave shampoo is really sudsy, so I may need to dilute it a little more. I also use ACV after I shampoo and rinse really well. The flakes I experienced during my first few weeks have pretty much disappeared, unless it’s shampoo time. I've been very lucky not to have any slippage or bunching.

Gigglz: What hair accessories do you wear?
Occasionally, I wear a headband when I can’t shape my hair properly. I normally just style it with a side part.

Gigglz: What do you wear to protect your hair at night?
I wear a satin pocket bonnet I found at Wal-Mart. It’s like a bag with a tie at the top. It allows your hair to hang loosely while fully encased in satin. It has no elastic, so your edges are protected. It’s cheap too, less than $3.

Gigglz: How do you feel about your SL's today?
For the first time in my life, I am embracing my super kinky hair! It’s unique, it’s thick and healthy! It has truly been a confidence booster! Now I have the opportunity to grow my hair long and strong! Sisterlocks were truly made for me!

Photo 1. Microbraids
Photo 2. Taken after one of my last relaxers
Photo 3. My hair pressed (it reverted the next day!)
Photo 4. install completed
Photo 5. My Sisterlocks at 2 months

**Most importantly for all you reading is that she was installed with her permed ends.

Still here...

2010-02-02T21:30:00.000-05:00

I am still knee deep with busy season at work and just life in general so I haven't had time to blog far less think about a topic to blog. I'm just dropping a line to say I still love my locks and I'm starting to try different styles no pics yet because the jury is still out. One thing is that I was trying to let my kitchen grow in, but changed my mind and shaved it off!! Can't do the in between stage, I have over 550 locks I don't need 2 new ones at my nape!! LOL!!

Till next time...

Small Community

2010-01-31T08:34:00.002-05:00

I went to a training class at work and I sat next to one of my black co-workers. This co-worker in question is from the Caribbean and actually sat next to me in a meeting on day one after my installation. The first day she said "wow, how long did that take". I gave the standard response for me at the time "15 hours, but its never coming out, and its going to lock so its worth it."

So back at this training class she kind of whimpered "are you locking your hair?" I responded, "yes". She said "when are you going to start locking it". Ugh...really!!! I'm like its already locking she was like "ohh......I was waiting for it to be twisted up like you know coils." She goes on to say "I thought they were braids, they are so tiny". You know the same comments we've heard a million time by this point.

What amazes me is that even in the black community people only know of one type of locks, and that's traditional. Although the blog community of SL's seem to be big but in the grand scheme of things SL's are basically unknown. The ironic thing is we have seen Sisterlocks on famous people year after year and have mistaken them for braids. Overall, sisterlocks need more exposure.

Newly Sisterlocked Interview #5

2010-01-30T09:11:00.002-05:00

Gigglz: How long did you want sisterlocks before actually getting them installed? ~ I had never known of Sisterlocks before I went natural in July of 2009...One of my tenants (I'm a property manager) has sisterlocks and invited me to go to the website. I was smitten on day one and quickly decided that this is what I wanted. From awareness to installation it was about 6 weeks.

Gigglz: How long were you natural before getting sisterlocks?
~ I began growing out my relaxed hair in May of 2009 and decided on July 21st, 2009 that I could no longer deal with the two textures. I did the Big Chop on July 19th 2009.

Gigglz: How many consultations did you have before deciding on one, and did price play a part in your decision (honestly)?
~ I had gotten a bit frustrated with the whole process....I contacted at least 10 consultants from the website and I have YET to hear from 8 of them. I was getting a bit pissed, like, are these really business people who don't answer back? One consultant was really helpful and very friendly,spending a lot of time talking to me, but she wasn't accepting new clients. I then saw an ad for a trainee who was offering introductory specials and I contacted her. She was very prompt and professional, extremely accommodating and knowledgeable. Another consultant ended up contacting me before my scheduled install and I had an informal consultation with her, but decided that she wasn't the one for me. She boasted about her clients hair, but her own Sisterlocks were very unkempt and unruly. Price didn't play a factor, I set aside a certain amount from all the information I read before.

Gigglz: What made you choose your consultant?
~ My consultant had a love for Sisterlocks. Having them herself, I knew she understood the process, and as a recent trainee, I also knew that she would be very meticulous and accurate with the grid, which is the most important thing. She answered all of my questions and I got a good vibe from her. Its not just about compentency when you choose a consultant...you'll spend a great deal of time with this person for your install....12+ hours are really long when its someone you can't talk to or vibe with!

Gigglz: How many hours did it take?
25.5 hours over 5 days. (December 4th - 9th, 2009) (Size: Small, small/medium. About 500+ locks)

Gigglz: What was your initial reaction to them?
~ I loved them. They were better than I thought...I imagined little twigs on my head since I started with about 3 inches of natural hair. It doesn't look as short as I thought and it is nicely curling on the ends.

Gigglz: Do you see any disadvantages to sisterlocks?
~ The washing process is really time consuming (for a stress free hairstyle). I understand the logic behind it, but omg!

The only disadvantage I see now is the initial stage and the corporate world. Before your hair actually locks, there's the fuzziness and such and corporate America can sometimes be a bit uneasy.

Gigglz: What products do you use and how often do you use them?
~I'm a newbie. I use water to bring life back into my hair every three days or so and I've been using ACV in my scalp with a q-tip for dandruff. I've washed with the Sisterlock shampoo and Suave Clarifying shampoo.

Gigglz: What hair accessories do you wear?
~None...my hair doesn't have the length yet. I haven't even bought any curlers. I put the occasional bobby pin in the front to section it off.

Gigglz: What do you wear to protect your hair at night?
~ Satin bonnet and a satin pillowcase (some nights I'm so tired I forget to put the bonnet on).

Gigglz: How do you feel about your SL's today?
~ Today, I like them. Running late for work this morning, I was in love with the fact that I just had to fluff and go! I'll like them even more when I get a retightning!

Picture 1 Afro - before
Picture 2 Red Sweatshirt - Day one
Picture 3 Purple top - Today

Follow her journey here.

Blast from the Past

2010-01-29T10:43:00.002-05:00

This picture was taken one year ago (January), before even making my final decision on SL's. I mixed up a concoction of shea butter, aloe vera gel, and jojoba oil what a greasy mess. I pulled it through my hair and took my daughter to ballet lessons-thinking I was cute. I got home looked in the mirror to see that in the back I had yellow crap just hanging on to my hair strands. Yeah too much shea butter....certainly don't miss those days!!!

Its good to reflect on where you have been to understand how far you have come :-).

Not a Gigglz original-lol!

10 Months In

2010-01-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

My 10 month anniversary has come and gone on the 18th and I did nothing special to celebrate. 10 months, not all that special just 2 months shy of a year. I will harp more on that on my actual loc-a-versary! Here I am at 10 months with a list of 10 issues and/or lessons learned:

Locks still not locked yet, budding yes, but not locked
Since I stopped B&B around month 7 I have experienced some bunching. To combat the bunching I have been pulling it loose, that led to a lose of a lock (BIG OOPSIE)!!!
I have woken up days telling myself like I'm tired of looking like this and want to cut it off! To combat this I pull my hair into two ponytails and put on a headband, its working so far.
I do have to use a clarifying shampoo about once a month. The lint from sweaters and any material is ANNOYING.
Overall I lost 3 locks, all my own doing. 1 was from trying to pull the bunching out and I popped it. The other 2 were from retightenings. 1, I popped too much hair and it was hanging on for dear life, the other other I joined and tried to cut the budding of another one out and cut the joining (OOPSIE).
I don't have to retighten my whole head within 5 days. I now retighten over the course of a week or two.
I can't go longer than 4 weeks otherwise my hairline looks very untidy and my locks seem to shrink up.
Although I don't suffer with dry scalp, I need to give my locks some moisture in this cold weather.
I don't feel the need to seperate my locks after a wash because after a wash I style either braid out of rolling so I'm manipulating my hair.
Sleeping with a satin cap and satin pillowcase is best. In case your cap comes off you still have the pillow.

Retightening Tools...Try the Latch Hook

2010-01-21T20:25:00.002-05:00

I've been swamped with work because its year end. Anyone in the financial industry understands that means the closing of the books, audits, financials, and tax work and I'm responsible for it all. Needless to say the busy season has started and with a bang. With all that going on my blogging has definitely suffered from the holiday season and now busy season so let me try and catch you up on some things. Over the holidays I got curious, yeah I know whats new!!! Hehe! I went to the local arts & crafts store and purchased the latch hook that so many DIY'ers talk about. Before I give you my review on it recall that I purchased the NL tool about two weeks before taking the official sisterlock retightening class. I then took the retightening class and received the official SL tool, at that point I fell in love with the official tool and ever since the class I've been only using it. Now 4 months later I have purchased the latch hook.

See my pros/cons of the SL tool to the NL tool here. Now that I have the latch hook here is my review:

HATED IT!!!!

I can't even do a review, seriously it is so cumbersome and doesn't exactly make retightening small locks easy. Mind you I only tried one on my hairline and it was just really hard to manuever in comparision to the SL tool. My clip wasn't flipping up and although it made my lock tighten closer to the root than the SL tool I actually see that as a con, because I could overtighten and weaken the root. I will be leaving this tool in the drawer, hoping it will be easier to use down the line when my locks are longer. I doubt it but I'm going to remain optimistic.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion on the latch hook and I know many DIY'er swear by this. I don't knock there opinion but for me this is a no go.

WHY???

2010-01-14T21:05:00.001-05:00

I am really distraught about the situation in Haiti. I am not of Haitian descent, but knowing the lives of some Caribbean people makes my heartache. Both of my parents are from Trinidad & Tobago and I can only imagine if the earthquake happened there, calling for my family members, wondering if friends are ok and knowing that its going to be such a struggle for them to put there lives back together. In addition, hearing that DR is not allowing some Haitians to cross the border unless they are in desperate need of medical attention...I can't even go on. Honestly, what is going on in this world. These catastrophes only seem to hit areas where the people are already living in poverty or close to it. First Hurricane Katrina and now an earthquake in Haiti.......

How old am I???

2010-01-08T17:38:00.002-05:00

Here I am with 2 ponytails and a bang. This will only be good for working out. 9 months marker, can't wait to see where I am in this journey for 1 ponytail. Maybe then I can wear it fashionably!!

-Gigglz

Lock Loop Curls vs. Jherri Curl Rods

2010-01-07T14:49:00.023-05:00

With the successful curls that turned out with the lock loops I decided that I should try different types of rollers to see what else worked. I went to the beauty supply store and picked up five packs of jherri curl rollers. I had recently washed my hair, so I wet my head under the shower and rolled probably 10 locks on each rod. The rods were not as easy to work with as I thought they would be. One issue was when I was trying to close them they would be too loose. To combat that I wrapped the elastic around it first then snapped it closed. Now the wrapping caused too much tension so the elastic would pop out the top. It took me about 10-15 minutes to get the hang of it and put in 3 rods, but once I got the hang of it then came the actual placement. I was trying to get a more spiral rod so set so the placement of each roller was key. Only product I used was my water bottle with my EO. I went to sleep with the rollers and yes as you can imagine it was definitely uncomfortable to sleep. On top of the fact I put on a satin scarf first to hold all the rollers, then I put on a satin cap. I'm not used to so much fabric or anything on my head so it was not a pleasurable experience. Luckily, I was tired and fell right asleep, but I don't think I will be sleeping with them again. Next time around its air dry time (daytime).

Well, with all the trouble the results were a more loose, bouncy, yet fluffier curl from the lock loops and the curls have last much longer and have what seemed like a longer way to fall out. These pictures were taken two days later

Mood For....

2010-01-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Admittedly so I have not been in the mood for blogging. Don't ask me why, I think this New Year has me in a mood for something new, fresh, exciting. New career? baby? marriage? home? I'm going to settle for neither, and I think something like a nice vacation with some R&R will cure me of my new year blues.

What has been going on is I've purchased a new product, Jane Carter Twist & Lock. I purchased it at Whole Foods for who knows how much probably about $20 bucks. I justify this since I don't spend money on my hair at all, it all balances out! In any event, I have tried it on wet hair, right after a fresh wash I put some on my scalp and also on my locks and used the lock loops. The results you saw, the poodle look (smile), not bad huh!! Now again this week I tried it after my curls starting to fall out. What I like about it so far is that it is lightweight gives a bit of a shine without having my locks feeling weighed down and greasy to the touch. I run my fingers through my scalp and I have no residue on my fingers after. I do like it and you don't have to use much product so although its costly it will go a long way so this is staying in the arsenal, well for now at least!

In addition, I must admit my lock appearance seems to be changing. Over the weekend on more than one occassion someone has said "wow, your hair is really growing" I think they are well on there way to locking and appearing longer and not bunched up. I would say they have "dropped" i.e LOCKED enough to lose the natural curl. As I have been walking, working out I feel locks falling in my eye and lots of bounce, I am really enjoying the progress. I have started sleeping with my satin cap, (I've lost my sexy at night) but for good reason!! LOL!!!

Lint..

2010-01-03T17:04:00.001-05:00

I have not had a huge issue with lint over the past nine months. I give large credit to sleeping on a satin pillowcase for the past six months, and if I don't sleep on the satin pillowcase I sleep with a satin bonnet. Its either one or the other. When I am just laying around, I probably put my satin bonnet on 50% of the time. When I have pinned up my hair over the past few weeks I noticed lint on my last row in the back, and two or three locks seem to have it randomly in the front. So a few changes are going to be put into place starting now.

First, I'm going to wear my bonnet 100% of the time when laying around. Secondly, I'm going to start using a black towel instead of white when drying my hair. Lastly, I'm going to use the VO5 clarifying shampoo for every other wash and then follow up with another shampoo.

I anticipate that over time the lint will dislodge itself and fall out ...hopefully!!

-Gigglz

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T15:59:00.001-05:00

Great start for Jan, Love for Feb, Peace for March, No worries for April, Fun for May, Joy for June to Nov, Happiness for Dec.

Have a lucky and wonderful New Year!!
-Gigglz