Standstill

I think my hair is there, at a standstill.  I started retightening and I feel like my hair is not growing anymore.  Ok thats not entirely right becuase if it wasn't growing I wouldn't have anything to retighten but at the same time the change isn't as apparent.  I'm at the in-between stage where my locks are just filling in now, but the overall look isn't much different from before.  Since a visual effect always proves what is truly going on I had to do a comparison. 

So here it is a month 5 and month 7, what is very apparent is that my left side is growing at a much slower pace than the right.  So it is growing, and I need to exercise more PATIENCE!!!   We can easily get discouraged in this journey so make sure you are taking pictures to remind you that things are progressing, SLOWLY, but progressing!!

Mohawk Time

As I mentioned in a previous post I was going to get my hair styled by a professional on 11/14.  I went back and forth, and forth and back if I actually wanted to go get it done because I really had no place to go.  It turned out that I did go out last night to a sports bar to watch the anticipated boxing match between Pacquio and Cotto (I digress).  In any event, on Thursday the salon called to confirm my appointment for "creative styling".  Creative styling, ok thats an interesting way to say it but it peaked my interest evevn more and I went with my gut feeling and confirmed and went to my appt Saturday morning.  The stylist was very eccentric and artsy but I loved her shop and the positive aura she gave off.  She washed my hair vigorously and I experienced no slippage or bunching so you know that means I won't be B&B any longer!! Glad thats over with.  She also put a conditioner in, and then got to it, within 15 minutes maybe even less I ended up with this.  I love it, and although its a bit tight because I'm not used to any tension in my hair its not too uncomfortable.  I will probably keep this for close to to 2 weeks, we will see how that goes.  This definitely makes me want my locks to grow longer to get more "CREATIVE STYLES"!!!

Locking or Thinning at the Root?????

I'm almost 8 months locked and I'm still not 100% certain what my hair should look and feel like when it is locked, or has begun locking.  My assumption is that since I have been locked for almost 8 months that I am well under way in the locking process.  I started feeling around and felt up my lock.  At the end and going up the middle of the lock it feels spongy like, soft and thicker than before.  I assume that means the hair is no longer tight in the pattern but has coiled around itself.  Now as you go further up the lock with your fingers there is like a harder spot than the sponge like spot and as you continue going up the lock gets tight and skinnier.  Basically, what I think is going on is the portion that is skinny has not locked yet so that is why its tight and still in the pattern, the soft spongy portion has locked.  I hope I did a good job explaining, but I know that a picture is worth a 1000 words...

Organix is a Keeper

The results are in!!! Last night, I decided it was time to test out the products.  I jumped in the shower with my four bundles (thats the amount I'm down to now).  I opened the shampoo bottle and the smell is so soothing and relaxing.  I poured the shampoo in my hand and then started in the front and worked it through my scalp, can I tell you it just felt like butter on my locks.  I did two shampoos, and then I used the conditioner.  I mostly focused on my ends with the conditioner (even still in the bundles) and oh my felt like someone else's hands were in my head it felt so great!!! When I got out the shower I was pleased to see my curly q's weren't retarted (and not curly q's) so I was pleased with the products.  I then used the split ends mender to do a braid out.  I put in about 9 jailhouse cornrows (straight back) and  I went to bed.  This morning I took them out and my hair still feels lightweight and I feel like it has a shine to it.  What do you think?  I definitely like this product and it will be mixed in with my SL shampoo going forward weekly.

Change in Locks

I don't know what is up with my hair.  I used some lock loops on Sunday and today the curls have already dropped.  They look more like just some wild curly hairs on my head.  My locks don't feel any heavier than what they used to feel like, and they aren't much longer than before making this drastic change in holding curls.  And no, my hair was freshly washed, so its not dirty.   I wonder if its possibly because my locks are actually locking causing this change.  This is a welcomed change and I'm going to have to go back to some braid outs which is quick, easy, and a snap to do. Just another change in the journey. 

Today's Hair Routine

Just finished washing my hair using my starter shampoo.  I felt like my hair could use a good condition, since its been a while and I used the moisture treatment.  Can I tell you the moisture treatment felt so soft and smooth in my locks.  I still braided and banded, but once I put in the moisture treatment I took the rubber bands out so that I can make sure I removed all the conditioner.  My hair was drenched wet and it felt clean and soft, so while it was still wet, I went ahead and sprayed some of the herbal mist on my locks. 

This is what my hair looked like right out the shower.  You will notice my Curly Q's are here to stay after this wash, and its all due to the moisture treatment.

Now after it has dried with the spray moisturizer, my hair feels a bit harder than it normally does, and I think thats due to the spray moisturizer, but my curls are still there. 

Getting Faster

I have yet to wash my hair, put some braids in, use some rollers (lock loops or sponge rollers).  Lazy is not the word, but I did complete my retightening.   I started on Monday and I finished about an hour or so ago.  I'm down to completing it in 3 days.  Now 3 days is about 9 hours still, because I'm working 3 hours more/less a day.  However, I definitely feel more comfortable moving around and I don't have to use as many clips to hold locks out the way, I can literally feel the lock and even what direction I need to go in from the feel.  Yes, yes, yes this is coming along great!!   Here are some pics of what my hair is looking like now (nothing special), I'm going to do some quick cornrows to hold me over for the remainder of the work week.

Sponge Styling

After a wash with the SL shampoo yesterday, I rolled up my hair with the sponge rollers like a doobie (that's what we call it in the tri-state) which is a roller set.  I went to bed looking like I was back in 1985,  so I doubt this will  be added to my arsenal, but I digress.  Moving along, although they are sponge, I thought they would be hard to sleep with since they are so big, but  they weren't.  This morning, I took them out and had very loose curls, which I liked.  I put some pomade in my hair, because it looked very dry, then I finger styled my hair and ended up with this.

 

 I didn't do well with opening up my curls, but you see how loose the curls are are.  I put some twists in just to give it a little sumthin sumthin...I will try something with it again tomorrow, but uh.....

Maybe I should have tried 2 strand twisting or brading my hair up first before rolling to get some more going on before the bend.  What I liked about the rolling is that I am able to see a very slight bend on the ends which I liked because I can really see which ends are open from my color job.  The bad thing is that one of my rollers must have been too tight, because a lock by my temple is very sensitive to the touch.  I just retightened it, ( a full rotation at 3 weeks mind you) but thats another story for another day.