ReTi, 2 years and 7 months

Original Post written Wednesday 29 December 2011.

Consultant Reti Day was yesterday, my head still sore, nobodies fault, just my issue.  Loving this stage, even though it took 3 hours to reti me, I knew there was a LOT of regrowth, especially as I do not reti  'tight' when I DIY.

A drastic mistake ...

.... had to wash my locs on Tuesday in time for reti first thing Wednesday, BUT I had a few friends around and we stayed up until 3am, hair washed ok, but I still had conditioner in it, and could not face washing it out! (slaps head) so I went to bed, with a view to washing it out in the morning.
WELL, my locks were DRY, I had to shampoo the conditioner out, no time to check the head,  I rushed off for my 10am appointment.

Reti style looked lovely, but underneath I had horrid evidence of left in conditioner, where I had not over rinsed, SIGH! I was not gonna wash my whole head again. so gathered the top clear portion in a bun, and mixed my concoction of shampoo and bicarbonate, THEN added vinegar. It frothed up and I applied it direct. I rinsed it out over the bath section by section, not a smple task but do-able. It worked!

 




















Today 4/1/12.

I washed my locs last night, using I Love Juicy. As Antiphilitron is no longer available from LUSH, I am in need of a clarifier that I notice deep cleans AND leaves the locs fluffy and full. As these products are drying I have decided to first wash with clarifiers and second n third wash with a

hydrating/moisturising shampoo. I am rubbish at rinsing, so have decided to avoid conditioners for a while, or at least take Ofo's advise and water them down before applying!
I will try to add Bicarb soda to I Love Juicy to see if it is as effective as the Anti Phil on removing build up. I have posted previously recommending ILJ as a great loc shampoo because it leaves them looking lovely! So lovely that I have not been able to keep my hands out of my head!
I want to alternate Deep Cleanse Clarifying to every other wash, but I do it more consistently if I choose to use a conditioner.
Also, I need another type of head wrap to sleep in, my locs are getting long, I have had to put them up in a bun for baths and shower, and even a couple of times to go to sleep.

30 Months, Sisterlocks, My Way ... (Build Up Removal and Conditioning)

Me again!

I don't really consider myself as a product junkie,  just a woman who loves water and has a passion for great skin and hair care. For too many years I struggled using soap based products as I consistently had bad reactions.  Today greater choice exists, so now I have a lot of options.  I go the extra mile and buy quality products as I found that they consistently did/do not create or accelerate any allergic reaction. The best generally means sulphate, paraben and other crap, free.

The last 30 months have been the best in my Hairstory. Never a bad hair day, and even so, I would remedy the problem by simply shampooing! No drama!

I have said it many times, I love these locks, and they are worth all I put into them, they are a part of me. I have thought about coloring them, especially in the beginning. But I feel that bleaching them would only weaken them, and I dont want to do that. My locks are not very thick, my hair naturally is fine. Having 4 children was a contributing factor also. So I am concerned about drying them out too much while my routine still requires effort  and fine tuning during the colder months here in the UK.

My quest has fundamentally been to find a great moisturising shampoo, not necessarily a conditioner now, as I found that most do build up in my loc type. I have found a recipe though that helps to REALLY cleanse and remove build up. However I found out today that the main ingredient that works so well for me is no longer available, Antiphilitron by LUSH.

Build up.

Recipe;

1 dessertspoon Antiphilitron

1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) 

1 bottle of Cider Vinegar (ACV) prepped in a 100ml bottle

(this mix may work with any clarifying shampoo, the next similar brand in make up is I Love Juicy by LUSH.)

Method.

1. Mix ingredients in a plastic cup/beaker. Apply to wet hair focusing on problem area's. apply liberally and rinse thoroughly.

2. Liberally squirt ACV (undiluted) over wet hair squeezing through the locks. Leave in for a few minutes.

3. I used a squirt of Hydrating Shampoo, rinsed and then applied a liberal amount of Moisture Maniac (TIGI). I left this in for 30 minutes or maybe less. Rinsed well.

This REALLY worked well, as I had used Hair One, and this left spots of white all over my locks! It is difficult to get a good shot of build up. trust me though, I was not happy, it did not look good.

After Clarifying.

This recipe is a major winner for me. An added advantage is the condition my locks are in once I have clarified, they are fuller, kind of puffy and healthy shiny.They feel amazing! Really happy with the results. Think I might do this one each month. But will need to  experiment with I Love Juicy and Bicarb, as once Antiphilitron is done, its done!

Shampoo: Product Shop 'til I Drop!!!!

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies!!! OH and any Brother lockers out there.

Have I got some products in store for you!!!

WHY you ask? ... AGAIN you say? Well ...

1. I LOVE washing my Locs, often, although they are getting longer and harder to handle,  (small hands) and are needing a longer time to dry.

2. On the product hunt again because I live in a HARD water area and a cold unfriendly climate with weather extremes. Going through a dry patch right now!

I have been really busy generally in life, and literally disciplined myself off to work in the last few days before term ended, by discipline I mean I denied myself a snooze alarm and late nights too far past 10pm, and literally catapulted out of bed every morning. But I made it!

I am back!  Some ME and Blogging time ...

Well I was too busy to blog but not too busy to buy!!! My locks have been dry and a bad product choice has replaced the build up I previously got rid of! Simply put, DO NOT USE HAIR ONE or any similar product on ones Sisterlocks. It is a JOKE to remove!!  Yes, it could be my poor rinsing technique, but I don't have 3 hours to rinse my head, full stop! I have prepared the next blog on build up removal to follow, to explain more about this. ...

So here we go, why the product choices?  I have found a very willing and able shopping buddy and bag carrier who has  reintroduced me to the world of shopping! My buddy also holds a major discount card and shares my addiction to silky smooth skin, lovely smells and georgeous scents. And believe me, HAVE I found some!

ORIGINS. (Attention OFO! ;)) £12.00 250ml.

I bought No Deposit, by the above and not liking that much, So the men indoors use it! ( And I am glad too, cos it keeps their hands OFF my current love, Head Organics Hydrating Shampoo).
However, I do love Ginger Up by ORIGINS, no really! Ginger up has the most delicious scent that I rinsed my hair just for the sake of it! OFO! SMELLS LOVELY like ginger candy, not overpowering
as I thought it would be! Approximately £12.

KIEHLS,  Amino Acid Shampoo. £17.50 250 ml

Expensive, but I like it! Coconut oil and Amino acids  are the main ingredient, another natural product but cost £17.50 a 250ml bottle.


HEAD ORGANICS,  Hydrating Shampoo. (TKMaxx. £9.99 33.8oz) 1000ml.

This product is additive free, I don't know what it is that gives it the edge, but it is a really great shampoo, my locks thrive on it ... If I can recall, Ofo likes it too, from what I can remember. Come to think of it, my sons also had a positive comment about it. Not that I gave them permission to use my stuff! So I took to hiding it because plainly speaking, I ain't sharing a shampoo that is this hard to find! CHA!


MILLER HARRIS, Citron Citron. £24.00.

Top of the range shampoo, mainly sourced to top hotels around the world, hence the price tag! I discovered it accidently on Salon Skincare website. No review yet ... just HAD to find out if it was truly worth it .... like me! ;)

GREAT PRODUCTS! ...  JUST NOT FOR LOCKS!
Tigi BedHead Let it Be,  leave in conditioner.  Cherry Almond, 

PERFECT FOR LOOSE NATURAL HEADS!!!

An AWESOME almond cherry scent, and a very efficient leave in moisturiser, exceptional on natural hair, I have had a lot of experience using it on my middle son, as he has decided to grow his hair long, and Miss S, a very close friend, who is on the road to her natural self.  She loves it! creates great curl definition.
However, builds up in locks! not nice, might be the Shea Butter aspect of it! great natural ingredients.


Hair One,  Conditioning Cleanser.

Again a great product for natural hair, but builds up very easily in locks. Lockers beware! Heavy on the Silicone too.
The winning product so far, with a 10/10, is definately Head Organics, for quality, efficency and great value for money, that is, if you can find a bottle ...
Build up Blog report coming up next ...