8 Months Sisterlocked!

I've been Sisterlocked for 8 months now. This is a cool milestone for me. I hear that at this point the hair growth really takes off. I'm looking forward to that. I think it's already starting to happen because I just got retightened a couple weeks ago and I already feel new growth.

Here are a few pics I took this morning. I did a front twist of sorts. Not really caring about neatness, just something different to pull the hair out of my face. I couldn't get a good clear picture but I think you get the idea.

I looked in the mirror this morning and had to smile because I am a beautiful, natural woman. I never thought I would be at this point but I'm here and it's awesome! The time has flown but with each new day I feel blessed to have Sisterlocks. I really love my hair! I love my life and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Yesterday I had a pretty mindless Sunday. I rarely do that, but it made this Monday morning quite bearable. I'm not a Monday morning person because it seems to take everything in me to get started. But I have a new attitude and am loving my life.

I am toying around with learning how to maintain my own hair. I've always done it and have been pretty successful, but Sisterlocks may be an entirely different story. My main concern it aching arms, shoulders, and back. I suppose I could do a little at a time or just bribe my 13 year old daughter to do it for me. She has no interest whatsoever in doing hair so that might be a major feat.

Well I thought I would share my progress and pictures of my current state of hair affairs. Until next time be blessed and continue to enjoy your Sisterlock sister journey.

Retightened

I got retightened this weekend and can see some growth. I am loving the wavy look because I don't have to do anything to it but shake out and go. I like the length too...very "corporate" or professional. I got this look by plaiting my hair in small sections and sleeping in them. I blend the hair with my fingers after I take it down. I don't re-plait but just sleep on a satin pillowcase.

Here are a few more shots from different angles. The side profile is not the greatest because I can see how flat it can be when I don't do anything extra. I have to fluff it out more in the future or throughout the day.

I've noticed that I love playing in my hair. It feels good and I can see it's changing. Everytime I see a picture of mature locks I get excited because I know that's how mine will look pretty soon.

My sisterloctician said when people reach the 8-10 month range their hair begins to grow like crazy. I'm almost there. In two weeks I'll be 8 months sisterlocked. So my journey continues and I'm loving every minute of it!

Sisterlocked for 7 months now

My Sisterlock journey through the last 7 months. I finally cut most of my relaxed ends off and I'm loving it. I feel more authentic, if that makes sense.

The picture of me in green is one I took today. I shampooed and plaited it for the wavy look last Sunday. It's lasted all week. This morning I curled the ends and this was the result. I really like it.

I want my locs to mature faster. I suppose everyone feels that way when the locs are still babies. I've been reading that salt water will help them lock faster so I will start spraying them with salt water. I'll post pictures of the changes.

It's Been Toooooo Long!

I am now 5 months Sisterlocked and I am still loving the journey and my hair. It's grown a lot and the locking process it coming along nicely. I don't do much to my hair because I want it to go ahead and lock. My Sisterloctician says that it is doing well and I'm doing a good job taking care of it.

My routine is to shampoo every three weeks (for now), plait it up, and rod it with my hot curlers. I like the curly look so I don't deviate much. I sleep on a satin pillow so I don't have breakage or lint from a pillow case. I've ventured to do a couple of cute styles but the curly look is my standard. I have been going without a headband for about a month now that it's grown out more.

I still have my relaxed ends but I've been itching to cut them off. Shawn, my loctician, keeps telling me to wait another month. I reluctantly say okay but I know it's probably for the best. The natural locking part of my hair is about an index finger long, which is pretty good. The rest is relaxed but it blends well because I curl it.

My daughter says I shouldn't cut it, but I'm sure when I do get it cut it will grow like crazy. I've been working on my daughters braidlocs and they are doing well. I know how to retighten in the 4-point pattern so it's looking good. Her hair is curly so it's going to take a while for it to begin locking. We just keep it shampooed and plaited for a nice wavy pattern.

I remember when she was younger I'd do a two-strand twist all over her head. I'd leave it like that for a while and it would try to lock up after a couple of weeks. It was a beast to untwist. The braidlocs are a different story. Maybe she should shampoo more. I don't know. I'm not worrying about it but will just let it do it's thing.

Well that's all for now. I'll try not to wait so long to write and post pictures next time.

Two Months and Going Strong

I am now 8 weeks or two months Sisterlocked and I am loving it so much! This is the easiest hair to manage.

My daily routine is to get up, spritz with water and rosemary mix, and curl with my HotStixx heated rods, finger style and go. It's so simple it should be a sin. But it's not so I'll keep doing it.

Later on I'll try curling on pipe cleaners like my Sisterlock consultant, suggested. They should be easier to sleep in and my curls should last longer.

I hate sleeping in rollers or rods because I get a headache. I am doing good to wear my satin scarf so fortunately I have a satin pillowcase, otherwise my hair would be a mess.

My name is Samantha and I'm....

This is a mostly accurate description of me. Don't hate, just congratulate! LOL!

You Are Seductive and Ruthless

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

The Second Week of My Journey

I am into the second week of my Sisterlock journey. So far I am loving it and haven't had any issues other than minor itching. I've been practicing styling my hair different ways though there is not much length to really do anything dramatic.

I went out and bought hair accessories and heated curlers. I really like them because they do the job quickly and well. It takes about 15 minutes for them to heat up completely and when they are hot, they're hot! I've burned my fingers a couple of times.

I bought two black hats as well, but my daughter is getting more use out of them than I am. During the kid's spring break I might venture out and look for more afrocentric accessories. I really want some cowrie shells to put in my hair. But with the relaxer still on my ends I don't know how that will work out. I will probably have to put them closer to my scalp. We'll see and I'll take some pictures.

Here are pictures that I've taken over the last week:

Braidlocks for the Little Miss

After doing research on Sisterlocks for myself I looked into it for my daughter. The thing is the Little Miss has a lot of hair. I'm talking a little past her shoulders and it's all natural. On top of that, she's tender headed and prefers for me to do her hair. I can understand her angst because I'm the same way. I have to admit that when I got my Sisterlocks installed I had to take Aleve. I have the kind of pain that makes me want to pass out. I'm not kidding! It's really bad. But those two little pills made all the difference. I had a little tenderness after they were done but nothing like it could have been. Okay, I got completely off topic. Back to the Little Miss.

I learned about braidlocks a couple of weeks ago and I saw a few pictures of young girls who got them in. I felt that was my answer to doing my daughter's hair. She could have the same look as me for free. I was very confident that I could do it because I've been braiding her hair for a long time. I am good at parting and styling. So I talked to her about my plan and got her feedback.

She was still on the fence about whether she wanted a permanent style or getting her hair locked. I showed her pictures; lots of pictures and she's seen the style in action on one of the Disney show characters from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Giovonnie Samuels (She's graced the cover of the Sisterlock magazine). This young lady's hair is gorgeous so that made the Little Miss feel better. She likes the idea of not having to comb her hair any more but the permanence is a bit of a challenge to her thinking.

I made a deal with her. I'd put in the braidlocks and let her wear them for 2-4 weeks. She could see how they looked, style it, and experiment. She agreed and I went to work on her hair. So after 10 hours I completed her braid locks. I plaited them up for the night and the next day we took the plaits out. The results are wonderful. She looks so pretty with her new hair. The braidlock are wavy because of the plaits and they really complement her features. I have a happy kid. So we will keep them in for the next few weeks and do a couple of shampoos. I'll keep you up to date on her progress as well as mine.

Here are some pics of the Little Miss:

Journey to Sisterlocks

Today is the first day of my Sisterlock journey. The events that lead up to the day are pretty typical for a black girl in the south. I was born with a head full of hair and from day one it has been thick and a challenge to manage.

I've been pressed, relaxed, natural, chopped it all off, had the TWA, braid extensions, and twists. Fortunately I didn't get jheri curls or any activator dependent hairstyle.

So here is my hair chronicle: