I am blog crazy lol. So I thought I would write about two purchases I made today. After reading other blogs I decided that I would get some vitamins. So, I went to the local GNC and bought Biotin and Folic Acid.
$14.99 at the local GNC. The highest dose that they sell.
So I've heard that I should grow 1' per month. We shall see. I have 8 more days until my big day (officially sisterlocked) and the anticipation is killing me!!!!
SO, I'm up early this morning listening to India Arie's song I Am Not My Hair. I think it's a marvelous summary of the journey that led me to this point!! And, I also had a revelation, black men struggle with "this hair thing" too!! I wanted to share the video and the lyrics to the song!!
I Am Not My Hair (feat. Akon) lyrics Konvict...Konvict...
Dat dad a dat da [4x]
Dad a ooh
Convict music, uh-huh
[Akon]
See I can kinda recall
Little ways back small tryin' to ball
Always been black and my hair I tried it all
I even went flat, had a gumby curly top and all the crap, now
Tryin' to be appreciated
Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies
Then I hit by the barber shop real quick
Had em give me little twist and it drove them crazy
And then I couldn't get no job
Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
Then I thought about my dogs on the block
Kinda understand why they chose a stealin' rock
Was it the hair that got me this far? (uh-huh)
All these girls these cribs these cars (uh-huh)
Hate to say it but it seem so flawed
Cause success didn't come 'till i cut it all off (uh-huh)
[India Arie]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen then I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
Fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and then I went all natural
February two thousand and two I
Went on and did what I had to do
Cause it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
Looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that
Hey...
[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your ex-pec-tations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within
[India Arie]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
It's time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off like a South African beauty
got in on lock like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
It's what's underneath and say
Hey....
[Chorus]
[Akon]
Who cares if you don't like that
With nothin' to lose posted with a wave cap
When the cops wanna to harass
Cause I got waves
But he's sayin' nothin' like that
Not in my days (noo...)
Now you gotta change all feeling's
Based on one another by their appearance
Yes, India I feel ya girl
Now go on and talk the rest of the world
[India Arie]
(oh, oh, oh)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? nooo...
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity...
[India Arie]
Breast cancer and chemotherapy
Took away her crowning glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh...
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like
Hey...
So, I watched Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair when it debuted but I thought I would revisit it with a renewed mind. Now, I must admit that I viewed it with a different "eye" this time. If you haven't checked it out, out should. Thankfully, I am the proud mother of a boy, I don't know what I would do if I had to decide about hair for myself and a child. I then began to think about my 2 year old niece, Chloe. She is a beautiful little, spunky, feisty sista (people say that she inherited her temperment from me, go figure).
Anyway, I was so saddened after watching these little bitty black girls subconsciously feel "less than" because of their hair texture. I just hate that for tee tee's baby (Auntie's baby). More than ever now, I am committed to "showing" her to embrace ALL that the creator has BLESSED (YES BLESSED) her with!! She is more ammunition for all the naysayers!!!
Paul Mooney (comedic genius) made a comment in the film, “If your hair is relaxed, white people are relaxed. If your hair is nappy, they’re not happy” That hit me like a ton of bricks and before I knew it tears were running down my face. Whewwww, the pressure y'all!! As a young professional I have many more career goals to attain and I don't want to be stunted by a sense of acceptance by the job market . Isn't the opposite of self-acceptance self-hatred?!?!?!? If so, that is wrong on sooo many levels that I can't begin to explain. I love me, right?? I accept my body as a gift from God, right?? Well if so, I need to love me for ME (all of me)!!
Because music is at the core of healing, emotion, fun times, sad times and in between times for me I went straight to youtube and typed in "I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie. It has been a comforter in this transition. I am absolutely in love with her (and I always have been). But, I starting questioning, am I my hair? As a black woman all of my life has involved HAIR! Being fried, dyed and laid to the side is a must before going to work, church, club, WHEREVER. I must get my hair done!
So, I go back to youtube and listen to "Video" by India Arie and again tears start to flow. Not because of sadness, but of joy and relief!! Y'all my mind is made up!!! Ain't no turning back!!! I will make a playlist of inspirational music and keep my eyes on the prize!!!
I just wanted to update you on a few things! So first, Happy Easter (even though it was yesterday). It was a good day. I am begginning to receive compliments about my "new look". I am still wearing the cornrows with an afro puff and I guess people are just getting used to it.
One of the ladies at my church said, "girl, I love your hair, you should wear it like that all the time" another young lady looked at me from across the sanctuary and held up the black power salute (fist pumped in the air). At first, I wasn't sure if it was a compliment but when she smiled at me, I knew she liked it!
On to my sisterlocks accesories. I have purchased the dreadsock and I am anticipating it's arrival before my sisterlocks installation. It is hair protection cap that is supposed to prevent lint (which seems to be a concern for many sisterlocks wearers) and should hold snug through the night. I am a 'wild' sleeper so that's comforting! I opted for the "shortie" because it is marketed for beginners and I chose my alma mater's color, "University of Memphis Blue" is what we Memphians refer to 'royal blue' as. Go Tigersssss!!!!!!!
In other exciting news, my first garden in coming along beautifully. I have big boy tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, cucumbers, red onions, strawberries, watermelons and cantaloupes attempting to grow in pots, buckets and storage bins, lol. I decided that before I "break ground" and get all caught up in this gardening thing I'd better see if I could care for them. No fruit yet but I am caring for these plants like they're my children. They better make me some beautiful grandbabies soon!! LOL
And last but not least, I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and therefore, I'm ALWAYS reading something or another. I ran across Dr. Joann Cornwell's (creator of sisterlocks) book, That Hair Thing while browsing others sisterlocks pages and of course, I ordered it too. I hope it arrives before my installation date. I think it will be a great passtime for this long installation that I'm going to have. And, what better way to feel connected to the process than by peeking into the brain of creator.. Cheesy, I know!!
Other than that, all is well. 10 days and counting before I am officially a member of the Sisterlocks family and I can't wait!!!
As I shared on the previous post, 4 test locs have been placed in my hair and I am excitedly awaiting my installation date, May 5th or Cinco De Mayo. I was super worried about not falling victim to the creamy crack during the 2 weeks that I would have to figure out how to style my hair, especially for a business trip I am just returning from. I am pleased to announce that I didn't relapse to the creamy crack (perm) and I survived the week with no mishaps. Thank God!!!
As I mentioned earlier the loctician suggested me wearing my hair down in some style or the other (I stopped listening when she said "wear it down", lol). I opted for this style, cornrows and an afro puff. Now to the untrained eye this probably seems like an easy feat! IT WAS NOT! I tracked down my cousin and asked her to braid it, $20! I had to purchase the afro puff, $10 (YES I HAD TO BUY IT), lol. Remember, my ends are straight because of the perm and resemble a wet cat's fur after a bath.
No big deal right?? Not really, except I had to drive 30 minutes to her house and go to the beauty supply store to purchase the afro puff with my own hair looking as if I was rubbing one of those static balls that the "Weird Scientist" uses, lol.
Has anybody noticed that any "good" beauty supply (Asian owned) ALWAYS has a black girl working in the "weave section" to bridge the gap between customer and owner?? I thank God for her because I was lost!! She was very knowledgable about the fake afro puff, how to put it on, what color matched my hair, etc.
So this is the style that I've been wearing since last week when I went for my Sisterlock consultation and had the 4 test locs installed. It has provided numerous benefits (ease and compliments to name a few). The only cons that I can think of is that I can't see/feel the test locs, so I have no idea how they are doing and I was in a city that doesn't have many folks that look like me in general, much less with an afro puff to boot!!
But all is well thus far. I will choose this same style next week and I hope my confidence level will continue to increase as I embrace my "nappy roots"!!! LOVE, PEACE AND SOUL!!!!!!!!
This is my terrible attempt at styling my hair after washing and blow drying it. I tried to pin it up in order to make my beauty supply run!! A sista hates being in public lookin' a hot mess, so I took extra care when applying my makeup, lol... Go figure!
Getting ready to bunjee jump at the Africa in April Festival last weekend!!
So, I mentioned yesterday that I would have a SUPER BUSY day and boy, did!! It was such a busy day until I came home and passed out! So, I am up this morning (at 6:08 am on a SATURDAY) to update you on it.
First things first. I am a newly trained Zumba fitness instructor and yesterday was my first job as an instructor. My nerves were through the roof as I made my trek over to Friends For Life. This a wonderful nonprofit agency that provides ALL kinds of services to persons living with HIV/AIDS. I too, work with HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons as a Program Coordinator at a nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment facility, Cocaine and Alcohol Awareness Program and Bloomfield Urban Ministries. I am also an Adjunct Sociology Instructor at the University of Memphis, so let's just say a sista in BUSYYY!!!
So anywho, when I arrived at "Friends" several clients were waiting outside the room where we would workout. My heart really started pumping then. I played it cool and we got busy. It was GREAT!!! A surge of energy (adrenaline) kicked in and I rocked the house. The clients (and I) were dancing, sweating, and "feeling the hypnotic beat" and before I knew it, the hour had passed. It was very rewarding to provide a fitness class to such an (often times) marginalized population. I will work with them one day a week from now on. Can you say, job #4? LOL.
And then came the Sisterlocks consultation!!! I drove to my mom's house, removed the quick weave that I was wearing and she helped me take my cornrows down (that were under the quick weave). I washed my hair and bolted out of the door to meet Barbara, my soon to be loctician at Salon Naturelle, in the Whitehaven area of Memphis. I was immediately impressed by the sense of warmth I felt from her spirit. She possessed this motherly quality that made me feel so comfortable. She sports BEAUTIFUL, long, blonde Sisterlocks and has had them 11 years (of course I asked her). She told me that her journey began after an adverse complication to medication that broke her hair off.
So, we sit and she begins an easy conversation with me about my hair. I soon relaize that she is assessing if I am "really" ready for this journey. I tell her about all the internet research I've done, the relationship I've had with my hair over the years and how ready I am to start my locs. She asked to look at my hair. The nerves kick in immediately!!!
I am transitioning from a perm to natural hair and as you can tell by the picture, MY HAIR IS A MESS!!! An enormous sense of embarrassment sets in. I take off the cap that I am wearing and she says, "Oh wow!" and my heart immediately sinks, she follows with "You have sooo much BEAUTIFUL HAIR!" I am floored!! Never (in a million years) was I expecting that response. I was actually expecting her to gasp when she saw the combination of kinky roots and straight ends. Blushing, I asked her, "really??" and she replied, "girl yes!!!!"
My confidence begins to win the race over embarrassment as she escorts me back to her work area (my hair standing straight up on my head) and there in her styling chair sits a lady with beautiful Sisterlocks obviously getting a retightening. A teenage boy with beautiful Brotherlocks sits watching TV and eating McDonald's, (embarrassment takes the lead in the race again). The client obviously picks up on it and with a bright smile asks, "are you going to 'loc up'?" I reply, "I hope so" and she goes on and on for about 10 minutes about how happy she is with hers; confidence picks up the pace again. I take a seat in the styling chair and Barbara begins to run her fingers through my hair and embarrassment runs passed confidence again. I knew what to expect because of all of the research I'd done online about the consultation and as expected she begins to assess my hair type. I am so sure that my hair type is "THE WORST" she's ever seen. To my surprise a few minutes later she says, "your hair is smooth and spongy"... I don't acknowledge her because I am not sure that I heard her accurately; I assumed my hair was "nappy and coarse". I just nod and she giggles. She inserts 4 tests locks, tells me to stay away from any chemicals (including weave glue and conditioner) until I return for installation day. I'm left thinking, "WHAT THE HELL AM I GONNA DO???" She senses this and suggests a roller set. I think but dare not say, "A ROLLER SET???? LADY ARE YOU CRAZY??? MY HAIR IS TOO DAMNED NAPPY FOR A ROLLER SET!!"
We set my installation for May 5th at 7am, Ciinco De Mayo!!! I am very disappointed because I wanted to get started the next day. She explains that the test locks need a chance to "set in" so that she can see which pattern will be best for my hair type (she explains that she inserted four different pattern styles... (they all seemed the same to me). I reluctantly accept the appointment, make a mental note that I need to take off that day, pay my $100 deposit and shortly thereafter, I'm out the door.
I got in my car and looked in the rearview mirror and cracked up!!! A roller set?!?!? Girl please!!! Not on these naps. I call a young lady that braids my hair (without extensions) and of course, I'm sent straight to voicemail!!! Frustrated, I contemplate the "creamy crack", I tell myself, "I can't walk around for 2 weeks with nappy hair". "I have to be out of town for a whole week on business". "What am I gonna do?" Exhausted, I take the 40 minute drive home and allow Jill Scott to minister to me in song "Let It Be!" I'll figure out what I will do with my hair tomorrow. I've come too far to turn back now!
Sisterlocks, here I come!! I will not backslide to the addiction of the "creamy crack" (perm), I am in "hair recovery"; total abstinence of the perm is the only way! I can do this! I MUST DO THIS!! This is just a test!
First day as a Zumba Instructor!!
My hair after taking out the weave and cornrows!!
As my mom takes these pics she asks, "Are you going to put these on the internet?!?!?!" LOL... YES I AM!!!!
Two of my test locs, I couldn't find the other two.. They are lost in the naps... LOL
This is a picture my hair braided (without extensions). I plan to wear it similar to this until I return to Salon Naturelle for My Sisterlocks installation
So I'm up really early unable to sleep just anticipating today!!! Two HUGE things are happening today!!
1. I will instruct my first Zumba class today!!!
2. I go for my sisterlocks consultation today!!!
I'm not sure which I'm more excited about... I will follow up to let you know how both events turn out... I will also figure out how to post my consultation via a video today!!!
I can't tell you how excited, nervous and anxious I am about getting sisterlocks!!!!
I thought I would post pics of the various "weave jobs" that I've had over the last year (hopefully, they'll be the last I eva, eva, eva, eva (Smokie from Friday voice) lol.... Now, I gotta go practice these Zumba routines!!!! Have a great day!!!
Hello ladies (and gentleman)... I am starting this blog in efforts to chronicle my journey to natural hair, in particular Sisterlocks... After several years of wanting desperately to embrace "all of me", I've finally decided to "LET IT BE" (Jill Scott voice, hehehehe)... I was inspired by soooo many other ladies all over the country (and all over the world), via the net, to be like Nike, "and just do it"... So, I shall...
What makes my situation a little more complex and complicated is that I have VERY LITTLE SUPPORT. My mother who is beautiful and natural is behind me and that's about it!!! Here in this area of the South (Memphis) many folks still carry some heavy burdens about nautral hair. The brothas are rockin' braids, dreads and even afros; but for the most part, the ladies, not so much... I was told by someone close to me and I quote, "They (locks) look ridiculous, and I hate them. I love you with your hair down and flowing (permed)... I mentioned to my boss that I was interested in locks in passing one day and his response was "Oh Lord, not another Black Power Sista"... So, I recognize that this may cause many heads to turn, and not in good way, but I'm going for it... I am hopeful that my career growth will not be stunted because of my "personal" growth...
Anywho, enough about "them", this is about me... So, I was thinking about pictures of me with natural hair and realized the only one that I have is when I was about 1 1/2 years old. What a shame!!! I posted it as my profile for this blog as a constant reminder of the me that I truly am!!!! It's actually one of my favorite pictures of myself. I was obviously happy, without a care in the world and certainly not consumed with thoughts of inadequacies about hair!!! I want to return their AND I SHALL!!!!
Sisterlocks, here I come... Dr. Cornwell has answered my prayers and I thank her mind, body and soul!!!
Please follow my blog, leave suggestions, comments, positive affirmations and even constructive criticism. I need it all.... Until the next time, LOVE, PEACE AND SOUL!!!!!
$14.99 at the local GNC. The highest dose that they sell.
$7.99 at the local GNC. The midrange dosage.
