Maybe This Is Why I Do It!

This is the saddest thing I've seen in a long time!!!

Week 7!!!

Good morning y'all!!!!  I wanted to post a few pics of my journey thus far!!!!  To sum it all up, I LOVE MY SISTERLOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A pic from my first retightening!!!

Headed to a wedding!

After a workout!!

First attempt of a "style"..  (Not too bad, I need some more practice)

Loc'ed and loving it at work!!!



So, this post wouldn't be complete if I didn't talk about regrets, right???  The ONLY one I can think of is that I WAITED SO DAMN LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I LOVE NATURAL HAIR, NO "LYE" (pun intended)!!!!!!!!!!!!

Month 1

OMGoodness y'all!!!  How time flies (when you're having fun, that is)...  So, I realized that yesterday I was sisterlocked for one month.  And man ohh man, what a great revelation. 

So, first let me apologize for not posting in awhile.  I have been CRRRR----AZZZYYYYYY busy.  Here are a few pics to show the progression of my locks during this first month.

A roller set with a headband!

An upside down picture of the Madison Square Garden (while visiting NYC.)

A pin up style that I tried!!!

A roller set without the headband, lol!!

So all in all, I couldn't be more happy than I am now with my hair.  It has provided me with a freedom that I never imagined possible.  I am able to clean my house in the morning, workout without worry and most importantly, WALK IN THE DAMN RAIN!!!!  Who woulda thunk it!!!!!  My only regret is that I didn't fire the creamy crack a longggggg time ago!!!!!

Until next time gang!!!  Love, Peace and No More Hair Grease!!! 

First Bad Hair Day: Day 8

Mawnin' Y'all,

So, I experienced my first bad hir day yesterday, kinda!  I teach a Zumba class on Fridays at noon and after all the sweating I have to go back to work.  I forgot to bring a sweatband to keep my hair off my forehead and neck so this was the result:

Before!

And After!!!!

Just a limp resemblance of themselves.  I don't know what I'm going to do about it until they mature.  Any suggestions???

Day 7

Today is my 7 day milestone, so of course I had to post my progress (or lack thereof).

I don't know if I'm progressing or not really!

Left Side

Right Side

Front

Front Pulled Back

So, as you can see my locks are still very limp and kind of lifeless (in my opinion). I have been surviving by rodding them DAILY!!!!  Ughhhh....

So here is the comparison of day 1 and day 7:

Day 1

Day 7

Somehow they seem just a little thicker but that's it (to me).  I'm excited to see how tey progress though.



My New Dreadsock!!!

Good morning y'all!!!  My "dreadsock" arrived yesterday and I couldn't be more excited!  So this accessory is marketed as a headdress to sleep in so that my hair will be protected from lint and my "wild sleeping".

I have been using a stain bonnet that I've had FOREVER!!  It hasn't done such a great job because it is stretched out because of the many nights that I slept with rollers in, ughhh!!!  Never again!!!  It is usually not on my head by the time I wake up either, lol.  Here's a picture of it.

So, I saw this page on FB entitled: "Dreadsock"  It's a company that markets the product to:

Made of the same durable poly blend material as the Dreadsock. This isn’t your ordinary skullcap. Perfect for “newbie” locks, twists, braids, or any short style. The 4-way stretch material allows the shortie to fit any hair length.

So, I purchased it online for $19.99 and I chose purple and University of Memphis Tigers blue (yes, that is a color, lol)  of course.

I really like it, it fits snug and feels secure. 

One concern, the elastic is all around the dreadsock and my itty bitty locks in the back (pictured below) my be effected.   

Day 5: My Scalp is ITCHY!!!!

Thus far, everythng seems to be going well.  I have inspired two of my colleagues to consider Sisterlocks, that's a plus.  I continue to get compliments daily and that helps too, lol.

But, there are two challenges.

1.  I am getting tired of rodding my hair every morning so that its curled.

2.  My scalp is getting itchy!

The first challenge is one that I have complete control over.  I could just stop!!  However, I don't want my locks to look unkept so until they mature a little more and are "behaving", I will continue to rod it.

Now, number two!!!  I can't take this at all!!  I've never had a dandruff "problem" so this is all new.  I notice more and more everyday that my scalp is itchy and I am afraid I will soon see flakes!!!!  OH NOOO!!!!  I can't handlethat.  So, I have deciced (without my locticians advice) to attempt to relieve this with a tea tree oil mist.  I will spray it on my hair every night (if it works) for now.

I've read that it's great for dandruff and itchy scalp, so why not??

So, I rushed over to Whole Foods after work and picked up the tea tree oil that I needed.  It is a .5 fluid ounce bottle 100% pure essential oil.  It has a "woodsy" smell that I am concerned might come across as masculine.  But oh well, here goes nothing.

1 cup distilled water
8 drops tea tree oil
1 spray bottle

I dropped eight drops of the tea tree oil in the distilled water, poured it in a spray bottle and misted it on my scalp, very lightly.  I'll let you all know how it goes...  ITCHY SCALP, BE GONE!!!!

Creamy Crack!!!!!! What is it, REALLY?!?!?!

Good morning guys and gals!!!!  In another conversation I was having with Marti (friend and followerer) she asked me, so how often do I have to get locks added to my hair.  I proceeded to tell her, never!!  And then it hit me like a ton of bricks!!  I will have to get some "added", the creamy crack (relaxer aka perm) has broken my edges off.  When my hair gows out on the side, I will have some locks "added"!!  Thanks Marti for the revelation!!

This video will explain the creamy crack socially (how many black women feel so passionately about it)chemically (a chemist explains what it does to the hair) and physiologically (how it changes the hair)...  It's an excerpt from the documentary "Good Hair" by comedian Chris Rock.  How I wish I'd seen this film 20 years ago, I may have told my mom that I didn't want anymore relaxer!  Enjoy!


Technical Issue:  I couldn't post the actual video because it's disabled but here is the link!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCEX34-1o6M

First Style Attempt and First Sisterlocks Sighting!!

Good morning y'all!  I thought I would post about my first styling attempt of my new Sisterlocks.  I was sent away from Salon Natur'elle with specific instructions to "leave my hair alone" for two weeks.  Welp, I'm very hard headed so I didn't listen, lol.

When I woke up, my locs were wiry and the curls that were there the day before were just about gone.  I had a long day ahead so I attempted to recreate the look my loctician had created the day before.  So off to the local beauty supply store I went.  I think subconsciously, the hard headed child that still lives in me knew this day would come so I was paying close attention to the products that my loctician used.  Here they are:

Lotta Body

$3.19

First up, "Lotta Body".  A texturizing setting lotion that is marketed to provide "maximum hold, beautiful body and unbelievable sheen.  Use on natural, relaxed or color-treated hair.

• Creates a firm, glossy hold
• Conditioning ingredients leave hair soft and smooth
• Adds incredible body and shine
•  Quick drying
• Non-flaking"

So these are all the promises they made, I hope they were right!   Now,  I am very familiar with "lotta body", it is a staple in the black woman's hair care world and has been around for decades probably.  I knew it could/would deliver these promises on relaxed hair, but I wasn't sure about natural hair.

Distilled Water

$1.79 (Distilled Water)

So, I have learned through other blogs something that makes a whole lotta sense, if I am going to wear my hair natural maybe I should keep as many chemicals out as possible.  Tap water, and bottled water have "added" chemicals for taste and health reasons, so maybe distilled water is the way.  Here is an explanation that I borrowed from this site.  You might wanna check it out, it's full of information.

 http://nadiasnotes.com/2010/10/11/qa-whats-the-difference-between-bottled-and-distilled-water-for-hair-purposes/ 

To summarize:

Distilled water is the product of distillation, meaning the original water source has been converted into steam and then cooled down until it condenses into its final distilled form. This means heavy minerals and metals such as salt and iron do not generally survive the conversion to steam and are left behind as residue. Distilled water contains only scant traces of the minerals contained in natural spring water and other water sources.

So, that leads me to another possible future purchase, a purifier for the kitchen faucet (and possibly the shower).  Those are the places that I plan to wash my hair in the future.  Can you believe that I haven't shampooed my own hair in years?  How could I?!?  What would I do with it after it got wet?!?  

Cold Wave Rods (sometimes referred to as "Perm Rods")

$.99

 I purchased 3 packages of these.  I opted for the "medium" size rods.  You can purchase them from (very small to extra large).  I only ended up using 1 1/2 packages.  Next time, I will part my locs more meticulously and apply more rods (to hopefully create more volume).

Rodding (rolling) the hair:

I combined the 8 oz. bottle of "Lotta Body" and 8 oz. distilled water in spray bottle. This concotion should last about a year, I imagine.  I didn't spray it directly on my hair instead opting to spray it on the bathroom vanity (two squirts per rod) and lift it from there with my fingers.  I lightly applied it to the ends of my hair (paying extra attention not to disturb my roots) and rolled the rod from end to root.  One of the first things I learned is that unfastening the rods before using them prevents frustration, like so:

This is the a picture of the front with rods in:

And then, the back:

The back was a little difficult to rod because I couldn't see what I was doing.  The next time, I will take more time with the back of my head and apply more rods.   The best part was that by the time, I showered and dressed, I had beautiful curls!!!  Quick huh??  No sitting under the "blow torch" (hair dryer) for an hour.  

I was semi-pleased with my work.  I popped a headband on and was out of the door to get my son to baseball practice, Go Lions!!!!  And then it was, off to Greek Fest!

My cousins, Stacy and her baby girl Madison (aka Maddie Paddie) joined me and we had a great time! Great food, music and dance!  If you can imagine meticlous line dancing, connected to a person (by the arms) on either side and lots of "foot work".  I watched in amazement for about an hour and finally got the nerve to join in.  I stood on the sideline and attempted to learn the foot work pattern, epic fail.  LOL...  So, I stand behind the line and try to mirror the obvious strongest dancer.  I am paying soooo much attention to his feet that I never look up at the other person beside me, but I know she's black because I see her feet, lol.  We are the only two "brave" blacks on the dance floor, lol.  Keep in mind that this is Memphis where distinct lines are drawn in the sand around race and ethnicity.

A very nice Greek lady (I assume) comes to assist us with learning the dance and "we get it"!!!!!  After the music ends, I finally look at the woman's face and she has BEAUTIFUL SISTERLOCKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HER WAIST!!!!!!!!!  I say, "OMG, you have Sisterlocks!!" She smiles and says, "yes I do, and I see that you have just got started too.  You'll never regret it!!  It's the best thing that's ever happened to my hair!"  First sighing y'all!!!!!  I was thrilled!!!

Well, I wanted to share a video of Greek dance so that you have a better idea of what we were doing: