One Year on ... Observations. 10 facts about my locs.

I am enjoying the beginning of the half term holiday which this year includes a bank holiday.

I began by a well earned pamper, washing my lovely locs. Big deal? Well, read about my previous hair issues and that will explain. :)

Todays blog is about the state of my locs at 12 months. Here goes ....

Over the last few months, since the arrival of the British version of 'spring' , my locks are noticebly DRY!

As a product junkie, I was prepared and retrieved my baskets of goodies. I read labels over and over to make sure no build up, MEANT no build up! Products tried and tested are pictured below ....

Now it could be the central heating that adds to the dryness, However, my hair has alway been rather hydrophillic, (loves water, responds well to regular washing) but I suffer from slipomania! ( a manic amount of slippage!!) so I have to water sparingly.

I have used :

1. Africare
2. Paul Mitchell Awapuhi
3. JML Cactus (Jamaica mango and Lime)

I alternated shampoos to see which ones left my locs feeling moisturised. 

I shower without a cap and spritz with water, but my locks still look like this by the afternoon, especially on a warm day.

I carry my spray bottles everywhere I go.

This is my hair approximately 4.20pm on a warm afternoon,
I took this pic before a shower.

buttahflyV, a fellow blogger and now trainee consultant suggested the Sisterlocks brand moisturiser, but the number we are told to call just rings. I am at home this week so will try everyday to see if  I can get through :( ... but in the meantime, I read every spritz recipe and search blogs endlessly for suitable alternatives, all the products chosen have been recommended by various mature lockers ( fellow lockers who have been there and done that and shared solutions on LIU and blogs ;))

Today I retightened my locs, I started front left , did a few rows last night, then went to bed. This afternoon after doing all my duties, I started again, and devoted my whole day to myself :) It took a steady (when uninterupted) 6 to 8 hours ( with lots of breaks ) and i finished before 10.30 pm.

Ten FACTS about my hair type and locs.
1. I am not completely loc'd I would guess at 90% but I get a surprise if I wash my hair once a week ...

2. I had to have 2 tightening sessions (pushing down the loc to tighten them) , one in Feb and April, as my scalp is sensitive when I diy they slip easier from the root. I dont do a last rotation if its gonna hurt!)

3. Hence I only wash them bi-monthly, for the moment.I have tried once a week but only because I can diy and had my tool ready!

4. I only freestyle, because of all the above reasons.

5. I have a lot of curly ends, and one loc that is curly in the centre and loc'd at the end.

6. I have never used SL products as they are hard to get hold of.

7. JML is the best leave in condish for me, however, I am concerned because it is not clear liquid, and not sure if it will cause build up. However it has been excellent at moisturising my locs without feeling gummy.

8. I have one very long lock at the corner nape of my neck, it is the only one with signs of build up, it was first to loc at 4 months (or earlier)

9. I have a few locs that sre stubborn and loc'd at both ends but not the centre, some weaken and I had 2 or 3 break of at that point. A reason why I avoid unnecessary manipulation.

10. I DIY alternate months so that my consultant can reinstall any slippage.

and finally, I tried a suggestion off  a natural hair blog, I sprayed natures shine on my locs before shampoo. I shampood twice rinsing , rinsing, rinsing ... my locs came out moisturised and soft. I still have not added anything to my hair as I was retighting tonight (pics below), feels Ok. Well, Good Nite all, thank you for visiting.

 Nai xxx

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ONE YEAR Today!! HAPPY LOC's ANNIVERSARY TOOO MEEEE!!!

ONE YEAR Today!! HAPPY LOC's ANNIVERSARY TOOO MEEEE!!!

The Best thing I EVER did to and for ME!!!

Yaaaaay !!!
I made it and NO slippage! Well mainly because I DIY alternating with my consultant! :)
but more of that later!

Big shout out to all those lovely ladies who follow my blog visible and anonymous! You made my blog worth it, however, I also blog for myself because it was good to have something to refer other women to, who were tired of the 'alternative'.

Today (or rather this week) is my turn to DIY I coincided with half term to give me more of a relaxed time to do it, alongside writing my reports of course (kmt) lol!

One issue I have at the moment is dryness, I have thirsty hair! I do not cover it in the shower, I spritz with Paul Mitchell Awapuhi, and Oyins Juices n Berries. I have  noticed my locs still need a light oil, So, once or twice per week I use Healing Oil (LOVE IT!!) Taliah Wajid or Coconut oil. Its almost 'summer 'over here ( if you can call it summer, I almost roasted in the heat on Monday, and froze to death today!!)

I have to wash my locs at least every 2 weeks, If I do more, then they slip a bit, but I keep on top of them. So really the less I wash them the better.

Thanks again for all your love and support over this year. Keep blogging! I am off next week so may have time to relax and blog a bit more ... :)

Bless ... x

Happy Nai xxx ( time for bed yeah, one more day ... then its HALF TERM!!! :)))

JUANITA BYNUM LIVE - TO BE KEPT BY JESUS 1

HE IS the keeper of MY soul, the mighty hand I hold ... and I praise HIM!

ALL about ... progress, moisture, products at 11 Months.

I have not been blogging as often as before, this year has been intense and a lot of changes have meant that time and will no longer meet that often, as it is, today is a bank holiday here in the UK which means ...NO WORK!!!

Yes, last week Wednesday 28 April was my 11 month benchmark and funnily enough we had the school photographer in, teachers had individual as well as class pics done with the class.
IF you are all really nice to me I MAY put it up as my month eleven progress pic !LOL!

My Consultants  patience and consistence has been endless, even though I have become a competent DIYer, I went to see her for my last retight a couple of weeks ago to check my workmanship, She commenced to push down and tighten many of them, to help my progress along, She also confirmed that I could OFFICIALLY stop braiding and banding ... tee hee.

On a whole she was very happy with my handwork!

Now I have an issue, I am a product junkie from day one, always had a plethora of products, mainly because my Mum,  currently living in Atlanta ( a US resident for 24 years) previously would bring or send me products difficult to get in the UK. Back in the day on holiday at Mums, my hair would grow like a weed, in six weeks it  improved drastically.
Now my hair, when loose natural, had a tendency to dryness, and I used to use an oil from childhood, La India, it was/is still called? As I got older that was too greasy, then the British Black Beauty Product market exploded so we had more choice, problem was, what to choose!
London is a hard water area, and we struggle more with breakage than our sisters abroad.

Anyway, I have continued to peruse in search of the perfect product for my loc'd hair type. I felt guilty, but now I know why I have so many. My Locs need moisture (but not just the water variety!) I have avoided products in general ( I have lapsed on occasion, but on a whole it has been water and lemon juice only) because my hair loves to slippage!!

Now eleven months old, I NEED a GOOD tried and tested leave in conditioner/ moisturiser. I have used Jamaican mango and lime but I am not convinced that it does not cause build up, however, it appears to solve the moisture problem. I have Oyins Juices and Berries (lovely!) but would need a lot to keep it moisturised, It cost me almost $60 ( inc postage and packaging) and took exactly one month to arrive (that is long!).
I have Paul Mitchell Awapuhi (found on LIU ), I am trying out Taliah Wajid Protective Mist Bodifier, In fact look at what I have ...

This box is the one I have in my bedrooms downstairs, There is a container upstairs too, but that has mainly shampoos ... I originally started with Neutrogena shampoo, no problems with that but wanted to use something more moisturising as I think this Neutrogena shampoo was similar in ingredients to the Sisterlocks starter shampoo. I have heard of the Sisterlocks moisturiser but I am not known to be a patient person and from what I understand generally we in the UK have difficulty obtaining Sisterlock resources and products. In fact generally we have to pay more (often double) for anything that has to be imported due to postage costs and tax.

I understand via LIU that there can be a few problems, even in the USA, with accessability, communication and response from the Sisterlocks Head Office. Unfortunately I know that to be the situation here in England. If you have had a good response time fwith the head office and are resident in the UK please do let us all know ... knowledge is power. In saying that, I have heard of one or two new salons in the Tottenham, North London area that may be Sisterlock certified but have to wait for the holidays for me to check them out and their supplies.

In the mean time, dry locs is not the one! Your generous response is appreciated :)

Sisterlocks, tools ...

Ok, this post may be a little bit emotive for some, but not for me. I love my locks and am thankful for the technique which has been developed, however all things being in there correct place, I do not worship my hair, the style, technique or tool used to create them, I believe all GOOD things are inspired by or come from God.

I find it quite ironic,  my last retight I had scheduled with my consultant for her to evaluate my DIY skills and maintain the quality of my locs, we discussed the exact same thing, Lock Tools!!!!
She had anticipated the type of reaction witnessed on LIU, I was a bit dismayed but like the word says on some issues, I just set my face like flint, because it is all foolishness, I apologise, as I have never been known to suffer fools gladly, my thoughts are these, and I quote from a reply given to a fellow blogger.

There is a saying that states "... A bad workman always blames his tools ..."


What I understand from this proverb is that the tool in and of itself, is a means to an end. The instrument itself can do nothing without the hand that guides it. In other words, if the loc is damaged in any way then the tool cannot be blamed as I/you/we are the force behind it ... "
 
I also understand, from what I have read, is that the current instrument was not the original, but modifications and improvements sought over time for ease and effectiveness of use. That fact, I am afraid, negates certain statements of authenticity.
 
I have heard that quite a few people have left LIU, due to previous issues and seeds of discord sown. Lets keep all things in a healthy perspective. for those of you in a faith, Lets focus on worshipping the Creator rather than the creation ... :) BLESS!