Sisterlocks Convert

The contrast of different hands

2009-09-10T17:45:00.004+01:00

Usually I do not let anyone get too deep into my hair when touching it, but after experiencing someone really caress my hair and like it, I may not be so quick to not allow this in future. I was slightly shocked as guys are not usually good with touching afro hair in my my experience Lol.

Anyways onto a different scenario, I felt my hair was dry today, so knowing my Gran would have a really honest funny reaction I asked her to tell me if she felt my hair was dry. Oh how I wish I never asked as she immediately grabbed a big bunch of my hair and began scrunching away roughly. Her verdict was my hair was way too crispy so I put some spritz in it. I doubt I'll ask my Gran to touch my hair anytime soon, it brought me right back to the days when she used to do my hair - ouch Lol.
Not only did she say my hair was too dry but she started saying why can I see partings in your hair and that I better not be losing my hair. I did reassure her by saying that I recently retightened my hair and that due to my hair texture at the front the partings are most likely to show!

Oh please ignore the dates on the actual pictures - they are wrong and will be corrected for future pics.

Pic showing my hair looking a bit dishevelled after moisturizing it:

Pics showing my new baby locks inserted by platting them and then to assure they do not come out putting some thick elastic bands around them. I know this may lead to a longer locking process, but I will be retightening these weekly so that they do not tangle with the elastic bands.

Pic showing the front partings of my hair:

Pics showing the front of my hair - the front two locks where one was the result of twisting a broken lock around another healthier one (the one on your right):

Random pics:

2 year anniversary

2009-07-28T17:24:00.004+01:00

I actually didn't take pictures on the exact day of my 2 year anniversary - I forgot! I took pictures on 28 July - technically 1 day early. Why you may ask? Well I was having too much fun at Rotterdam Carnival and well by the time I got back the time just flew by, but hey 1 day early is better than 1 day late LOL.

I took too many pictures of the costumes, but I really like the fact that I have an ok angle on these two pics:

Whilst eating breakfast I had another lady comment positively on my hair after explaining what sisterlocks was - briefly (I was enjoying breakfast way too much) and jotting down the website I felt I had done a good deed Lol. I felt for her as she stated that she could not find anyone in Rotterdam to handle her afro hair so got it texturized.

This picture shows some of the handy-work I had to do at the front - three becomes two! I lost a lock to the front so have basically twisted the a little bit of the half fallen out lock onto the strong lock and in doing so have tried to maintain a centre parting (the twisting is not quite complete in this pic):

Hot summer days + one wash = goodbye new baby locks

2009-07-04T17:14:00.003+01:00

Today I washed my hair and braided and banded the few new locks I have at the back of my hair. The hot days have pretty much loosened them up but this wash was all it took to undo the baby locks.

Here are the photos before and after the wash:

I visited my consultant today

2009-06-11T16:21:00.003+01:00

The last time I visited my consultant was to take the retightening class and since then with university, the distance and lack of money I haven't been back. But today I wanted to go for a maintenance appointment and to ask a few questions.

My consultant gave me feedback on my hair and I managed to get the answers I needed to continue doing my hair myself. I was slightly taken by surprise that she didn't think my hair was as fab as I thought (and still think lol). In our session she retightened more than half my hair, started a few new locks at the back of my hair. I left with most of my hair retightened and I did the rest of my hair a day or so later.

My consultant gave me the following straight up feedback:
1. My hair is not as she would expect it to be and she can tell I have been maintaining it myself
2. Each lock is not uniform and cylinder like in appearance, some of them being a little bit raggedy
3. A few of my partings have gotten bigger and some locks are not in the original uniform parting pattern (she found a diamond like parting for one of my lock's)

My main questions and answers given my consultant were quite helpful:
1. What could have caused some of my locks to thin in places?
Following the fact that I admitted to not retightening regularly and sometimes have gone 10 weeks, she said that this was the most likely problem. If I retighten regularly the new growth is less likely to start to lock by itself. This seemed to be what my hair has been doing - the new growth locking itself and then when I push the tool through I am not pushing it all the way down into the new growth. She also said that using the nappylocks tool is not the problem, as she saw that some of my locks were cylinder like.

2. What can I change about what my routine to put my hair back in a better condition?
Retighten more often - at least every 3 weeks. This is based on the fact that at 4 weeks I sometimes have to do 2 complete rotations - my hair growing quite quickly. Even better if I have the time to retighten weekly and push the tool through once or twice on each lock this will save time and make errors less likely. In addition I was told to make return regular visits every 6 months so that she could check over my hair.
3. What can I do about the lint in my hair?
I was not told to dye my hair as an excuse to get rid of lint, she suggested picking it out and that my lint is not that noticeable.
4. When should I groom my hair?
A.S.A.P. I was told that my hair needed grooming as I have stray hairs sticking out of most of my locks. She suggested I see herself or at least a trainee sisterlocks consultant and not do this myself as there have been clients who have lost locks due to being a bit too snappy with the scissors.
5. What are your final tips?
Do not spend all day doing your hair, fit it around your life and maintain it regularly. Most of all do not worry so much about your hair (I am guilty of worrying about my hair allot).
6. What would you say if I said I cannot see anything majorly wrong with my hair?
Although your hair isn't in the condition I would have it if you came to me, as long as you are happy with it then that is the main thing. As you are self-maintaining your hair you are more at risk of mistakes happening.

What is my feedback on the feedback:
I really appreciated my consultant's honest feedback but I will still continue to maintain my hair myself, however I will see her for a check-up once in a while. I continue to love my hair and have made a pledge to retighten my hair every 3 weeks.

I washed my hair the same day of my appointment and these are pictures following my hair wash:

Only one

2009-05-11T16:14:00.001+01:00

I took only one picture in May, in this pic my hair was due a retightening.

New Hits Counter added

2009-04-23T19:42:00.003+01:00

I left this quite late but I decided today to see if there are people who really visit my blog LOL. It helps to know you’re out there; I am guilty of silently lurking on blogs on occasion. If you’re out there, feel free to comment :)

My hair is not perfect

2009-04-17T15:07:00.007+01:00

Love:
1. My hair has transitioned from being thin to thick as my locks have developed. I just now need the thickness to develop into length.
2. That I have become less worried about how my hair will turn out and mistakes that I make when retightening including putting holes in a few locks.
3. That I can spritz shake and go if I cannot be bothered to style my hair.
4. That my hair is unique to me and that I do not have to think as I once did before going natural of new looks to not look like everyone else.
5. That my hair is stronger and my each individual hair strand is thicker and less prone to breakage.
6. That I do not own a comb, but a piece of metal - the Nappylocs Tool which is the only thing I use to retighten my hair. I began with the micro Nappylocs tool for the front parts of my hair but now use the small tool all over my hair due to the thickness of it.
7. That family and friends now understand that my sisterlocks are here to stay and are not just yet another one of my hairstyle phase.
8. That I do not have to worry about the price of human hair anymore.

9. That I only have to use the small nappylocks tool, instead of alternating between the micro and small size when I first began self-retightening.

Dislike:
1. That some of my locks have come out at the back meaning that the length at the back does not look as long as it should be. I have about 4 locks missing in the back. I think I need to get some kinky hair to put in the back, as re-attaching an already damaged lock does not appeal and having a baby lock would make my hair length look very funny. For now I have let the hair grow free until I decide whether I will do this myself or go back to my consultant.
2. Some locks are thin in places, one currently being a lock at the front and near the root. This makes my thinning locks hang differently.
3. One or two locks have a lump that needs to be cut off - this was due to me retightening in a hurry and not being able to smooth them out.
4. I have a few thin locks that I have married together that need the ends cut off.
5. Dandruff being a pain to get out and is attached in some of my locks

I intend to solve some of my hair problems myself or by visiting my consultant for a maintenance check-up.

Although my hair has a few imperfections, this does not compare to how happy I am with how my hair is progressing!

Hair Routine and Products

2009-04-17T14:32:00.007+01:00

Routine and Products overview: I have not become the product junkie which I once was when I first went natural. My hair in 2009 has become more moisture thirsty, drier and prone to dandruff at the front.

Current routine (2009)

In 2009 I decided to introduce a few products that worked well with my natural hair namely ORS Moisturizer, Herbal Essence Conditioner and eventually the Herbal Essence Shampoo. As my hair has stopped slipping I may also experiment with essential oils that I can use on hair and body– most likely coconut oil and lavendar oil.

I have not become the product junkie I once was and have stuck to select products that I feel work. I have not had to ACV (Apple Cidar Vinegar) rinse my hair since having sisterlocks so I am keen not to have to clarify my hair by sticking to as few products as possible to avoid any build-up.

1. Wash hair every 3 weeks with Neutrogena T-Gel Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for greasy hair - I find one wash is enough, as when I have done two washes my hair becomes too stiff and feels stripped of all moisture.
2. Condition hair on alternate washes with Herbal Essence Silk and Shine avoiding applying too much conditioner to the unlocked ends of my hair at the front.
3. Separate hair
4. Apply to the dry scalp Organic Route Stimulator Moisturizer mixed with a tiny bit of rosemary oil. I find the oil helps to seal in the ORS Moisturizer which usually is not enough to combat dryness.
5. Apply to dry hair length IC Fantasia Olive Oil Moisturizing serum by section hair and rubbing through - this product is a very light, doesn't require too much of it and has a pleasant smell.

6. Apply spritz mix of water and essential oils (currently extra virgin olive oil and rosemary oil). I occasionally replace the olive oil with jojoba oil.

7. Use spritz mix daily and top up on scalp moisture with ORS Olive Oil moisturizer on an as needed basis.

6. Apply spritz mix of water and essential oils (currently extra virgin olive oil and rosemary oil). I occasionally replace the olive oil with jojoba oil.

7. Use spritz mix daily and top up on scalp moisture with ORS Olive Oil moisturizer on an as needed basis.

8. Retighten every 3 weeks following washing hair and moisturizing it (not leaving it longer than 4 weeks). This has been quite hard for me to do as can be seen in my previous posts, but I intend to make more of an effort.

Old routine:

This was prior to my locks getting thicker and locking (edit deleted word: maturing - as I don't think my hair has matured yet).
1. Wash hair every 3 weeks with Neutrogena T-Gel Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for greasy hair
2. Separate hair
3. Apply Cocois to dry scalp
4. Spritz with water and rosemary oil
5. Retighten every 3 weeks following washing and moisturising hair
6. Use daily water and rosemary oil spritz to ends of hair and scalp if needed

Sunshine, Hair and Granny's roast

2009-04-15T14:14:00.001+01:00

Here are some pictures of my hair. Today is the first time that I have liked the way my hair has felt straight once shampooed, dried and moisturised. Usually I have to wait until the next day to add more moisture to really combat the dryness. This time all my products seemed to work quite well together.

Also I just had to take a picture before we were all plated up for Easter Sunday Roast at my Gran's, I really enjoyed this meal (note I do not often make roasts myself). The meal was nice, and I got to witness a funny seen - teaching my Gran how to use her new dishwasher! Note she still doesn't know how to load and put it on herself but seems to be accepting that having one is miles better then washing by hand Lol.

Thick hair shots

2009-03-20T15:49:00.000Z

A few pictures to show the thickness of my hair.

Retightening Marathon Part 2

2009-03-18T13:49:00.004Z

I finally finished my hair on 16 March 2009 - 2 weeks and 1 day. The hardest part was one side at the front where I really had a lack of energy attack. The best part was washing my hair afterwards. Usually I would wash my hair before but as there was so much re-growth I felt another shampoo could make my hair slip and tangle too much.

The shampoo consisted of my usual Neutrogena T-Gel Anti Dandruff and I used a much missed conditioner - Herbal Essence. My hair smelt like dessert afterwards and as this is the first time I have conditioned my hair since having sisterlocks my locks felt soft but not loose!

Pictures 16th March
Retightened, washed and conditioned

Pictures 18th March
Enjoying the sunshine and a picture showing where a lock came out

Retightening Marathon Part 1 - DO NOT try this at home!

2009-03-15T13:08:00.000Z

I began and told myself 1 week and that's it, but instead it turned into a 2 week mission starting on 1st March to fully retighten my hair. I developed armache, shoulderache, backache, headache - all sort of aches from spending approximately 2-3 minutes per lock. What kept be going was watching movies like Marley and Me, comedy by Katt Williams and catching up on episodes of Shameless.

Halfway through my marathon I thought to call my consultant and request for her desperate assistance. Then I had to face the facts - this was my fault and I could save money - which were the two things that brought me swiftly back to my senses.

Retightening the front section of my hair was no fun at all the regrowth made my already tiny locks at the front even harder to retighten due to the amount of growth and the fact that my texture is quite straight around my hairline.

Here are pictures from 1st March to 15th March.

There is alwasy time to smile and socialise though (picture after attending a university fashion show):

Will I ever learn my lesson - retightening

2009-02-15T12:35:00.003Z

Wow I have had to document just how long I left my hair without my nappylocks tool touching my hair to begin a retightening: in total 11 weeks, but more on that later (1st March).

I cannot believe just how much re-growth I had, it was even worse once stretched as I am sure I had a growth spurt - perhaps 2-3 inches. Some of my locks slipped to half locked and half unlocked and I had to disguise the re-growth with headbands.

My reason for taking 11 weeks to begin retightening - being busy with university plus pure laziness. I need to get over this I know as it is second wrong-doing to my hair which I love.

The pictures show my hair before being washed (07.02.09), after being washed - literally took of my silk scarf (08.02.09), and the rare moment where the sun comes out and I cannot resist taking a picture (15.02.09).

Cuckoo aka Turned Cornmeal

2009-01-25T11:45:00.003Z

One of my 09 resolutions is to become better at making certain foods which up until now I can only obtain at my Gran's or at a Caribbean takeway.

The dinner list: Cuckoo (aka Turned Cornmeal) and Roti: this list will be the first one I concentrate on doing.

The baking list: coconut tarts, homemade wholemeal bread: this list will take a great deal of time and energy to begin and perfect as baking is really not something I enjoy - yet!

Today I really had a taste for Cuckoo, which usually I have with fish and okra at my Gran’s or stew. As I have never made fish and okra, I decided turkey stew would be a safe-beat.

So I began my second attempt at Cuckoo. Boiling the salted water, taking the pot off the fire, adding dry cornmeal, stirring like nobody’s business then adding the pot back to the fire whilst trying to make the cornmeal thicken with no lumps by stirring it some more. This went well but I soon realised that the cornmeal wasn't thickening no matter how much I added. Instead of throwing it away, I decided to adapt - adding uncooked couscous to the pot in order to make the rounded balls firm. This turned out ok, but wasn't pure cornmeal so I felt like a cheated slightly, but I still really enjoyed the meal.

The downside was that I completely burnt the bottom of one of my favourite pot’s to the point where no amount of soaking and scrubbing would make it as it once was - clean! So naturally and regrettably it went in the bin.

Here are some pictures; I made about 5 in total. I will try again, in a new pot!

Various shots and new year blog-a-log thoughts

2008-12-31T01:09:00.001Z

When the sun comes out so does my camera - my hair does look quite dry. I think this is something I will conquer in time with the right product. I've also noticed that I can only get my hair into a pony with one really stretched out thin hairband - I have one so far lol.

Also with the New Year closing in I have decided to just take pics when I see a change in my hair, if its an anniversity or if I am going out. This will mean fewer blog posts but more noticeable changes I hope in future.

Pics taken 26/12/08:

The two at the back are newly joined and the one at the front is where I accidently joined two together a while ago:

Pic taken 31/12/08:

Getting ready to quickly curl hair then go out to party the new year away.

Hair all done

2008-12-13T00:23:00.003Z

Finally I did things slightly backward, I retightened in slow motion taking just over a week to perfect about 1 1/2 inches of re-growth. I nearly lost it at one point when I 'lost' my nappylocks tool... luckly I recovered this while crawling on a wooden floor. Usuall I wash my hair before retightening but this time I washed my hair first, retightened and a week later conditioner washed for the first time since having sisterlocks. What I have learnt is that my hair cannot take a softening conditioner yet (but I still love me some Aveda Sap Moss). The conditioner loosened some of my more locked ends reverting them to tight coils and my hair was not as moisturised as I expected. Luckily the middle of my hair downwards didn't get so saturated in the conditioner so my ends are locking more there.

I won't leave retightening this long again, some of my locks loosened to about half the length so I had to spend time putting them back, luckily the ends were sealed. I also have joined around 3 locks which are on the thin side - I wanted to do more but for now this will do.

The only thing I'll need to find out more about is moisturising my hair - I have tried the daily water spritz, the every other day oil (lavender or jojoba or olive oil) and water mix but this just dries out. Even my trusty organic root stimulator olive oil moisturizer is no match(and I used this as a staple product before SL) . For now I have found that a mist for afros just about does my hair some good - Sta Sof Fro Hair Spray with Oil Sheen. This is to coat the length of my locks (avoiding the ends), for my scalp I still am okay with the medicated cocois.

Pics taken following wash with conditioner:

A long long time since retightening

2008-11-16T23:39:00.003Z

Here is a shot of my hair when I had no time or energy to retighten (after having a flu virus). Its been about 12 weeks at a guess. My hair went through quite a dry faze and not even water could sort it out. This is my first winter with sisterlocks so I am guessing the weather may not be helping and I need to up the moisture. I finally got around to retightening my hair which took over one week.

After friends B'day Party look

2008-10-08T19:32:00.004+01:00

Here are some pictures of my hair after dancing the night away - note it may seem longer as I had cainrowed it for the night then let it free when I made it home in the morning.

Do not be late for a coach - lesson learnt

2008-09-22T16:58:00.000+01:00

Ok so coach travel sucks but hey its dead cheap - if your on time! Unfortunately I missed my coach and there was no where to really wait apart from inside the coach station. For the next hour I had to contend with cooing pigeons with war looking injuries, flapping around and generally making themselves at home on the seats that people sit on. Ok so you know I had to take a picture right, and incase you do not know I DO NOT LIKE PIGEONS! Lol

Roti day

2008-09-21T16:53:00.002+01:00

Today I did a bonding session with my Mum and we attempted to make Roti from an age old receipe. We put split peas in it as thats how we like it! It turned out okay - it tasted better the next day and we know that next time more split peas will be needed!

Style out of a mistakeI

2008-08-13T16:48:00.001+01:00

I was just doing my hair as normal then got carried away and decided to do something different. It was one hairstyle that merged into another and here is the result, I dunno if it works but I thought it was different lol.

Hair wash and dry plus style

2008-08-13T15:54:00.006+01:00

Pictures span over 2 days from washing my hair to drying to styling. My partings need some work and I lost 2 locks at the back!

My SL Journey Video Months 0-12

2008-07-29T18:34:00.000+01:00

I have never gotten around to doing comparision shots so here is a 30 second video for you to enjoy. I see some difference but it's not that major - or is it? lol

It's my HAIR Anniversary - 1 YEAR

2008-07-29T17:29:00.001+01:00

O-N-E WHOLE YEAR SINCE SISTERLOCKS INSTALLED !!!

For my hair anniversary the sun came out and I began to snap lots of pics randomly after washing my hair. I didn't really do anything hair related apart from the hair wash.

I just relaxed and appreciated my hair. I note that my hair isn't perfect but it's getting there.

Whats good:
* No longer having to braid and and when washing
* My hair getting thicker, the ends of some of my locks are beginning to seal
* Knowing what to put in my hair and knowing how it will react

Whats bad and how I intend to conquer it:
* Some locks at the back of my neck are too thin for the hair back there which is not as thick as the middle. This has seen some lost locks from most of the bottom row.
The solution: I'll combine my locks very soon just by the regrowth leaving some two headed dragons. I'll combine maybe two rows from the back and one or two rows at my temple area. I'll leave one row with the small micro sized locks near my temple area at the front of my head.
* Dandruff mainly at the front of my hair which has been controlled but sometimes gets a bit flaky.
The solution: I have two spray bottles one with water and the other with lavender and water where either one is used every day depending on my hair. Also I still use cocois (cold tar solution) on the very occasion when the dandruff does not disappear quickly.

What I want to do in my second year:
* Continue to love my hair and make retightenings faster and more scheduled.
* Dye my hair a vibrant red colour but before doing so taking every precaution so as not to damage my locks.

Carnival Rotterdam

2008-07-26T14:26:00.005+01:00

Here are a pics from the Rotterdam Carnival. It was so nice to go again. The people, the hugh breakfasts and fresh juice really did me wonders. I found they put so much effort into making the costumes as you'll see from these pics.

Proof that I am random most days even with food

2008-07-23T17:09:00.001+01:00

Just a few pics to confirm that I do not mind what combination goes with what on certain days, including today where I ate 3 'weird' food combos: Cheesy omelette with cream crackers with jam, Asda Chicken noodles and hot tuna with salad lol.

I'm not losing a drop of this stuff!

2008-06-30T17:01:00.001+01:00

As part of my packing preparation to move into a new home I had to make sure everything that was breakable was tightly wrapped. This included my Aveda Sap Moss even though I am sure it could survive the journey any little movement and warmth has lead to the pump seeping vital shampoo out. So I thought of this idea of wrapping it up. Unfortunately some of the shampoo still came out of the pump but not as much as I thought! Lol.

The end of June - needed to be in a dark room

2008-06-29T16:25:00.000+01:00

The last two pics were taken with the lights off in the bathroom, just thought I would test my cameras light and flash! Random I know!

19/06/2008:

29/06/2008:

Wash / Dry and 2nd retightening with Napplocs Tool

2008-06-08T17:00:00.001+01:00

Here are pics on the day following washing my hair and the day after once my hair was fully dried prior to retightening. As I promised myself I began retightening my hair with the Napplocs tool on 8 June after slightly over 3 weeks and finished in 4 days. I did go past 10 hours I know that. I'm finding I'm slow and have maybe 10 minutes going fast before I get bored.

I've decided to see if it will work better to pull through the tool in one way each week to cut down the timeframe of doing my hair. As next time I won't be doing a full rotation I'll make sure to leave a little bit of regrowth so my hair lays properly. I'll be writing down where I need to start from each time, although my feel for the insertion points are getting better.

What else have I noticed?: The micro size tool does fit but I have lost some of the budding knots at the end of my locks when pulling through the tool due to the tight squeeze. I'll try and combat this by not retightening so close to the root for those ones and being gentle with the pull-through. The small size is just a little too big to use for now. Another thing I noticed when retightening hair to the front is that even if I end at a 12 at the front instead of a 12 at the side, my hair still lays properly with partings on either side and isn't in my face so much.

Hair damp:

Hair dry:

Party on - exams are O-V-E-R

2008-06-06T16:27:00.006+01:00

Very pleased exams are over and I can enjoy my summer, I’ll get a job soon, but for these past few weeks I’ve just been enjoying free time. These pics are of me at two different club nights, I had a fab time, it was hard saying goodbye to all my friends jetting off back home.

Most wanted – a dog: still on my mind

2008-06-05T16:18:00.001+01:00

I’ve always wanted a chocolate Labrador ever since seeing two puppies in a pet shop near my school. Unfortunately living in a flat and having a Mum who is scared as hell of dogs doesn’t help so I gave up on the begging. Now an independent adult, I may get one in the future once uni is over and I’m settled.

Most embarrassing moment – black out

2008-06-04T16:14:00.001+01:00

Sometimes I really have to thing hard about something embarrassing that has happened to me. I don’t drink so this means embarrassing moments are pretty low. However there was one time where I was in Dixons rushing to get a really good deal on a portable CD Player after work. This was a few years back but I still remember it. The counter was really bright, with lights shining down on all the gadgets distracting me as the sales assistant explained all the features of this one particular player. I was sold, really wanted it but felt slightly out of it standing at the display counter as he was answering my question. The next thing I know I’m in a new location, sitting on a sofa in the far side of the store with a glass of water and someone asking if I am all right. I say yes, I’m fine and ask what happened. The sales assistant tells me that I just blacked out and luckily someone caught me, and if I feel well enough to leave or sit f or a few minutes. I say I’ll sit for a few minutes and drink the water, feeling really embarrassed. I get up eventually, buy my CD player and swiftly get the train home. I’ve never fainted before (and never since touchwood), and I really am convinced it was due to lack of food, and those bright spotlights bouncing off the glass cabinets!

I still got that CD Player though lol.

Strobe lightening anyone?.

2008-06-01T16:07:00.003+01:00

I couldn’t resist I was waiting on my friend in a changing room and decided to make use of the ultra bright light, kinda cool I thought.

Camera - back with a new lens

2008-05-30T16:11:00.002+01:00

Finally my camera lens has been replaced which means my pics should have a better quality again like they use to lol. Wooo

What is in the bag?

2008-05-17T15:57:00.002+01:00

Ok this is a really crap picture but I finally got hold of my Nappylocs tool. I ordered the micro and small size. Although I have used the Sisterlocks Clip tool up to this point, I felt my thumb was hurting too much and I was getting frustrated at having to clip each lock so have discontinued using it.

At first I attempted to use the microl size version but it kept slipping from my locks. So armed with a nutcracker (no pliers) and a cloth I covered the Nappylocs tool to protect the metal (as I saw in another blog) and began squeezing. It took a big squeeze to finally get the tool to stay on my locks. There are a few locks that I have to hold when pulling through the rotation to stop the lock slipping from the tool, but not many.

So you’re probably thinking what do I think of it, do I find it easier and quicker and does it hurt to use? The answer to that in a nutshell is excellent, yes, no. At first it took a while to get use to and I did have a bit of a disaster where I caught another lock and attached two locks by the thinnest piece of hair. Luckily my trusty Mum managed to unpick it for me. But unfortunately I did it for a second time at the front left of my head. This wasn’t because of the tool, but due to the fact that it took me a while to really get the feel of the tool. I still have two locks attached but just decided instead of splitting them to join them, so that’s my first two headed dragon in the making.

The time taken to retighten my hair was a week, I did put in some hours – the total I do not know but it was a longer process due to me being a bit slow, cautious and the fact that my last retightening I completed on my own was 23 March 2008 – so that makes 7 weeks 6 days of not retightening my hair. This wasn’t due to neglect, I just was busy with exams and thought it would do no harm. I did pay slightly as I do have some that have unravelled which I had to spend time redoing about 3 inches of hair.

I have learnt my lesson big time – I actually completed retightening on 22 May so that makes 6 days total. Next time I will do it every 3 weeks 4 max so I don’t start having second thoughts about my sisterlocks. I mean I did get slightly stressed and even had thoughts of braidlocks and combining alot of my hair, but then after I retightened my hair, flicked it a few times and took a few pics I knew that I would not go back.

On the left is the micro and on the right is the small size tool.

Texture shots again and my silk pillow substitute

2008-05-14T15:49:00.003+01:00

I had to take a pic of a lock at the front of my hair where my widows peak is – I believe this is the lock that is the nearest to fully locked out of them all.

Also the last pic shows that sometimes you just have to substitute: I spread a silk scarf over my pillow case to make a change from wearing a do-rag to bed.

Guess how many locks??

2008-05-11T15:31:00.003+01:00

I have been tempted to count my locks before but just needed to be in that mood. So off I went parting and sectioning today and counted.

I have 498!!!

When my locks were originally installed I had 501, but as I lost 3 whilst learning to self-maintain (tugged a few etc) I am in the 400+ club.

This pic cracks me up. Can you guess if my face and eyes are facing the camera?

Answer: I'm not but I thought it looked like I was lol!

Where there is sun, I will pull out my camera

2008-05-11T15:26:00.001+01:00

As soon as I see the sun I fling back the curtains and start thinking and snapping pics of my hair. It must look weird to the students who pass by my window but I really do not care lol. Here are a few more texture shots, I really thought that my hair would have been nearly locked by now, but I guess the ends of my hair have other plans. Let them do their thing I say!

Texture shots

2008-04-26T15:18:00.002+01:00

For the past couple of months I’ve noticed that my trusty camera has been really losing its focus when taking pics, it just aint right! Although these pics do not look too bad thanks to the sun, I had to retake them several times. That just never used to happen; alias I will get the lens fixed soon.

Another wash hair day

2008-04-20T15:02:00.006+01:00

It feels so good to not have your shower cap on. I’m still braiding and banding for now, until I’m satisfied that they won’t slip. I noticed a few locks at the back unravelled near the root. The last pic is a few days later.

Longing for a Pony

2008-04-14T14:56:00.004+01:00

My hair is slowly getting fuller when I put it in a pony tail, unfortunately I haven’t got the length yet to be able to not have stray locks hanging all around me.

The PM /AM I attempted to make Split Pea soup

2008-04-05T14:35:00.007+01:00

Today for so long I have wanted to pick up the courage to try for a second time to make split peas soup. My Gran makes the smoothest soup without a blender and within a relatively short space of time – no more than 2hrs. The last time I made this soup it turned out like the consistency of a crunchy peanut butter. So this time I soaked the yellow split peas overnight and began the process of boiling it down, adding water each time to make sure the peas didn’t dry down. I never really watch the fire so returned after 2 hours to find little progress – the peas hadn’t even split.

So after 4 hours I called my Gran for some much needed advice: throw in some baking powder to make them split quickly she says. So here I am at 5pm throwing in a little of the magic stuff hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately even after 8 hours the peas had not split. The odd thing is even though I was aware that the peas had lost all flavour I was just determined to see them crack, I mean it shouldn’t have been that hard considering I made split peas and rice once with the same packet. Anyways by 1am I started to drift into not really caring and just ignored my pot, hoping it would somehow miracley mash. So I smelt burning, went into the kitchen and saw a crunchy hot mess in front of my eyes, which swiftly went into the bin. Needless to say I was disappointed and am convinced if I had my Gran’s trusty cast iron dutch pot the outcome may have been better.

The following day I decided to use the dough I made for the dumplings to make a pizza base (first time and not really caring how it turned out). Here are some pics before and after – it turned out O.K. but needed more cheese:

I’ve been tagged twice!

2008-03-08T22:07:00.016Z

I’ve been tagged twice by S0uthernGirl and Happy, Nappy, & Free To Be Me – here are my late responses to the questions:

Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself

I ..1. I have a phobia about Pigeons even though I am from London which is full of them. My usual reaction is to walk around them or frighten them so they fly away before they get too close. The reason for this phobia is due to a pigeon nearly landing on my head whilst walking to school. I will get over this phobia as I can imagine looking like the embarrassing Mum, should I be blessed with children, and running away from them. It also is not a good thing when having romantic walks / chats in the park lol. My friend has suggested that I have pigeon food put all over me and let them attack me that way – that sounds wayyy to drastic!

2. 2. I find painting my nails a hugh effort although once they are done I care for them, and when they are not done mistreat my nails.

3. 3. I do not like the cold but refuse to wear a hat (I’ve been pulling them off since I was in a push-chair). I wrap myself up even though my university friends who are international students from hot climates where less clothes then me. This really is strange but I think I like that duvet feeling all the time.

4. 4. I would be a Lush product addict if I could afford it. I did try a few of their products and have become addicted to sniffing around their shops on occasions.

5. 5. I enjoy hot drinks and appreciate having my 3 cups a day which are as essential as three meals for me. Some of my favourties are cinammon lattes or PG Tips.

6. 6. I love life and dream of living somewhere hot and where it is not the fast-lane type of lifestyle e.g. London.

Tag six random people:
Audrey
BlaqKofi
Brunsli
Lakia
Mel
Renea

All the other five requirements for tagging I have done, so here are the rules for those I have tagged:

1. link to the person that tagged you
2. post the rules on your blog
3. share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Still retightening

2008-03-08T21:13:00.008Z

My goal is to make sure I am done by Wednesday 12th! Ok so I am slightly or should I say very bored of retightening but I know it is necessary as it’s now a week since washing my hair and nearly four weeks since my last retightening. The reason being is that I really do want to retighten my hair every 3 weeks and definitely not every 6 weeks which was when my consultant then would retighten my hair. I am keen to take as little time possible and regularly maintain the locks, even though I still like the 6 week regrowth look. I have completed around 6 rows of the back and am retightening on a row by row basis. I watched another Tyler Perry movie last night: Daddy’s Little Girls.

The need for the Nappylocs tool

I have heard of this tool and researched it since the beginning of 2008 by looking at blogs etc. I will be purchasing this tool at some point very soon and using it instead of the clip tool. The reason is that anything that saves my poor thumb from getting red and a dent in it after retightening with the clip tool is a good thing. Apart from less irritation the nappylocs tool is also a far quicker concept where I do not have to clip the metal bit onto each lock – which usually ends up snagging one of my hairs that are keen to lock.

I will let you guys know as soon as I have purchased and start using this tool.

These pics are of my face as I don't do very much of those shots and also the hair pulling was in memory to my first picture on here where I have just had my hair in sisterlocks.

The way I do my hair so far. I mainly took this pic as a guide for me so if it is a little detailed this description that is why! The elastic band at the top holds the hair I will not be attempting to touch. The white clip holds the hair that I will be retightening. The bigger clip on the left holds the the hair in the white clip in place. The small clip just below the white clip on the right holds the hair of that row to be retightened. The bigger clip holds that section of hair in place on the right. Lastly the hair that has been retightened at the bottom is held with a clip.

This represents a classic snag of hair that was caused when I pulled the hair through and the clip came loose taking a bit of an end away. It's very annoying as that had a little ball of a knot starting to lock.

Various texture shots

2008-03-01T20:34:00.004Z

I am rather slow with using the clip tool and had the intention of doing my hair in a week, but uni work prevails at the moment and I haven’t had time. My main frustration is the tool getting hooked in my locks.

I am still retightening when I have time which is usually around a few at a time. Watching a movie is a good way for me to do it and I watch “Why Did I get Married” After feeling dreamy and falling for Mr. Sheriff man Lamman Rucker, I am far too tired to do anymore of my hair. I am so behind on my films – I haven’t even seen a Tyler Perry movie previously!!! I am trying to bring my movie personality out as I really do not see that much and one of my friends is a movie addict who recommended this to me.

Wash hair day – the first where afterwards I will be the one doing the retightening

2008-02-27T19:59:00.000Z

I washed hair with the sisterlocks salon shampoo with aloe vera and then put the sisterlocks moisture treatment to my scalp. I usually put Cocois (a cold tar based product) which is a medicated ointment for dry scalp. I have been using Cocois since the beginning of my sisterlocks journey, but have decided to stop using the product and find an alternative. This is not due to it not working, but just because I do not want my scalp to get use to having something medicated when there could be alternative everyday options available. The Salon Shampoo and Moisture treatment will be used as my routine for now. I may alternate my shampoo with Neutrogena t-gel for dry scalp formula. My ultimate goal is to only have something very pure and natural as the products for my hair, but this will be in the future once my hair is fully locked.

Before wash:

Shortly after wash:

Day after wash:

Fringe

2008-02-21T19:55:00.000Z

Random photos of the front of my hair which shrinks into a fringe most of the time.

One week since my first partial self-retightening

2008-02-16T19:50:00.002Z

Here are some pictures of my texture in natural daylight:

Retightening course accomplished

2008-02-10T19:48:00.003Z

The Class

Eager as ever I am the first one there where I look over the schedule and begin helping myself to some nibbles. There are four ladies in total, one who is a month ahead of me and two who have had their locks for a couple of years. The course begins, the packs of Sisterlocks goodies are open and before I know it I am taking notes on that all important pattern. All the ladies in the class are a 3 pattern, where I thought I would be a reverse four for some reason from looking at other peoples blogs lol.

Practice makes perfect and we all start using the Clip Tool. On a few occasions I manage to stitch locks together and hurt my thumb on the clip lever. After all my hard efforts I manage to retighten around 6 locks before I am a bit frustrated with not getting it right – a mutual feeling of the group. My consultant reassures us that all it takes is practice and gives us a helping hand answering questions before we break for lunch. Oh what a nice lunch it was – tasty salmon with new potatoes and salad with a drizzle of lemon – yummy. So the fish goes to my head and I think slightly clearly, concentrating in silence whilst retightening. I have a train to catch so leave earlier then the official end time. I think I get it and will practice more on the coach. My consultant quickly begins to give a demo of the Hook tool which is supposed to be useful for the very shorter locks – I haven’t really got the whole idea of it but am happy to know one tool. After saying our Goodbyes, it feels like I am a child again going out in the big bad world. Hahaha maybe that is melodramatic but I said I will return for check-ups in the summer.

The coach

I spend the 4 and a half hour journey trying my luck with the clip tool. I have abandoned the hook tool as I don’t really know how to use it.

Over the course of the journey I get a few looks from the fellow passengers but plod on. I lose a lock from the clip getting tangled whilst pulling it through the lock and me being a bit rough whilst pulling it out. Even the girl I was sitting next to heard my poor lock snap off and saw my look of horror. I see it drop to the floor, pick it up to see the damage – yes it is a whole lock a few rows back from the front of my head on the left hand side. I cannot feel the missing lock and worry at how it will look whilst calling my consultant for advice. After reassurance from my consultant – I begin tentatively retightening the rest. Luckily the front left section that I have to retighten is not that much and I finish the rest off the next day.

Retightening course booked

2008-02-08T19:45:00.000Z

Today (Friday) I made my usual retightening trip to my consultant. My consultant does more than half of my head before I remember to ask about the retightening course. Unfortunately the next course is in May but she has a course this Sunday which I can book myself onto – a pleasant surprise. I go home nervous and excited, planning my early start.

Wash hair day and retightening thoughts

2008-02-06T19:32:00.003Z

These are various pictures after my hair has been washed in preparation for my retightening appointment. For the last few weeks I have been thinking about self-retightening due to the travelling distance and financial costs mounting up whilst at university. I wanted to book a retightening course instead of D.I.Y. just so I know how to do my hair the ‘official’ way and to make sure I follow the correct pattern for my hair. So at the next retightening appointment I will ask to be put on the list for the next course which hopefully should be around the end of March (my 8^th month point).

6th month anniversary

2008-01-29T11:42:00.005Z

I decided to take very few pictures at my 6th month point since my installation. This was mainly due to just remembering before going to bed and I thought that I should take a few pics for the memories lol.

Shrinkage: the deceiver of length

2008-01-26T14:13:00.001Z

This lock struck me when I got up this afternoon after a late morning clubbing. It is one of the one's that has been re-started and had less shrinkage then the rest, so I just grabbed the chance literally and took a photo.

I always knew the back of my hair grew faster but it's really hard to see without stretching. In a nutshell - my hair is growing yeeyyyy!

Various shots

2008-01-20T17:05:00.000Z

20.12.2008
In the daylight you can see my texture / progress better without the bright flash.

Edinburgh Trip

2008-01-16T17:00:00.000Z

Prior to the term starting and as a celebration of the end of exams we took a trip to Edinburgh for a week. We stayed in a hostel which we will not be revisiting again, but overall it was a nice trip minus the hostel lol. Our shopping trip to Glasgow was great but they had too many shops to see lol.

Here are a few random shots of the trip from the start of the journey where I have just finished putting Cocois in my scalp on the train to near the end at a club: Espionage.

12.01.2008 - Post-wash shots on the Train to Edinburgh

On the corner of Princes Street, Edinburgh

Edinbrugh Castle

Scottish Parliament

Holyrood Park - we climbed this and did not find Arthur's Seat!

The Villager Restaurant (my meal consisted of salmon and sweet potato mash, it was yummy!)

Espionage - it was overall satisfactory for a free night however the DJ on the second night was miles better. If it looks a little smokey it's due to the fake steam/smoke machine.

Pre and Post-Shampoo Same day shots

2008-01-12T16:43:00.000Z

03.01.2008 First time I witnessed snow in Leeds

12.01.2008 - Pre-shampoo

12.01.2008 - Post-shampoo

New Years Day

2008-01-01T15:58:00.000Z

Myself and two good friends of mine went to a house party. I played CD Player DJ for a while before I got bored and went around dancing. We counted down when it was at least 12.05am but we were in high spirits finishing up at 5am.

December: Post-Shampoo shots

2007-12-28T14:56:00.000Z

18.12.2007: First time using Neutrogena T-Gel Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Even though the one I am using is for greasy hair (silly Boots sent me the wrong one twice albeit all refunded) it doesn't strip the hair and smells a bit like lemon grass. It's no match for my Aveda Sap Moss 1 litre though but one day soon I will pick up that bottle in 2008 and smell the usual woody accented smell I am use to Lol.

20.12.2007: Retightening results - My hair has settled
The slippage issue:
A few of the slipped ones had to be redone as new locs but my consultant said that they weren't too bad and there are some that have unravelled slightly but are holding up.

Lint:
My hair has a little bit of lint at the back but it's not too major for me to panic yet.

Overall:
Although it's a pain to have a few newbies again, I am really happy as my consultant said my hair has "settled" and is "locking away nicely".

28.12.2007

December Pre-Shampoo shots

2007-12-10T21:23:00.000Z

04/12/2007: Some of the ends of my hair loosened so I have plaited them for now following the advice from my consultant. This was due to me washing with Aveda Sap Moss Shampoo which I've used before but it really doesn't agree with my sisterlocks at this stage (too moisturising). I am instead going to use Neutrogena T-Gel to combat the dry scalp.

09/12/2007: Pics taken after my silk scarf fell off my head. I decided to take pictures as my hair looked fuller on this day. Even though my Aveda shampoo made some of my ends loose - my roots seem to love it in terms of growth. Oh well maybe I'll use my 1 litre bottle in a year or sooner from now :)

Fifth wash day

2007-11-26T00:22:00.000Z

This is the first wash where I used shampoo other than Sisterlocks Starter Shampoo which has run out. I used Aveda Sap Moss which was okayed with my consultant as I've used many times before. I will be looking for an alternative shampoo as the texture where my hair is less coarse seems to have loosened slightly - especially at the ends. I think I will try the Creme of Nature shampoo but will see re-read the ingredients first.

Before:

After: hair still wet

After: hair dry

Various pics a week before fifth wash day

2007-11-17T12:08:00.000Z

17/11/2007

22 & 23/11/2007