3 years 3 months SisterLocks: Dry hair and Reti's

Simply Dry.

I admire all you lockers out there who have managed their locks with very little to no product  assistance except for a few spritz of water (if that!) There are many of you out there and I rate you! This is not me testimony however, My sisterlocks love moisture (anything involving water) and devour oils.

I also admire those who are able to use conditioner, I guess I have not mastered the knack of rinse, rinse rinse.

My point is really that I have growing locks they are getting to a decent length now that I am having to rethink my regime, and trying to keep it all very simple. Long is not simple. Sisterlocks are low maintenance not no maintenance. Our summer has appeared and I am surprised that I was not better prepared. It could have been the sauna that did it. Umm I went in the sauna, no steam room available, at least 3 times in the week with NO conditioner, no spritz, nothing. Went home and rinsed, not washed my locks. Actually had to shampoo twice that week as I used the pool on 2 occasions. By the time I got back they were rough,


Remedy.

I am using coconut oil as a hot oil treatment as and when I need it and a spitz of awapuhi moisture and lately Arosci leave in conditioner. They make a good combination. 2 evenings ago I went for Co Wash, I part American cream 5 parts water to dilute, and 25 ounces heat melted pure coconut oil from Holland and Barrett. I now dislike the smell so decided to wash with diluted conditioner and then pour oil onto my head. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse OUT! This method was VERY effective. And I especially didn't have the aftermath coconut scent I have come to dislike. Finally, revived with long lasting results.

DIY @ 3 years 3 months.

Due a Reti

I admit, I am guilty. I have a lack of patience and like to get things done.
In effect, when tired I would rush to complete it. Doing so leaves me guilty of accidentally combining locks. I would combine at least 2 each time it was my turn to reti.
Yesterday I began the process. I Reti every 4 to 5 weeks. I began at approx 1pm, put a book on my laptop, sat in the sunlight shining through the open double doors and commenced. A mirror stand, locks sectioned with 4 black bands, I started from the back behind my left ear. In mind, I had a method, to work across the back of my head, removing only one band and taking out one lock at a time from the bundles to avoid tangling. There are a lot of long locks and I need to keep them in order. I managed to stop to cook dinner, eat with my family, tidy up. I then got distracted again and decided I wanted to rearrange my drawer chest ... hmmm. focused eh? I went back to task at about 9.45pm and stopped at midnight.
I made a mistake and untangled it. That was a sign to give it up! . I started again today at about 2pm after trimming the hedge, (found that kind of therapeutic ...) I worked thru until 17.59pm when I completed my Reti. I Got a great sense of achievement! No combining, not one! Approximate time in total I would say was 10 hours.

I have learnt a lesson this time. Do not continue when tired and plan the direction of the front and top well before I get there, if I want a decent
style result. It worked! Let's pray I have this much forethought after I get back to work!!! Lol!

Summer Hols, Life and Sisterlocks@ 3 years 2mths

It has been a while, I started this and two other posts long ago but life got in the way, I surprised even myself that the summer break is here and I have written zilch!
I have been extremely tired,  I wasn't ill as is common among the UK school teachers at the end of any school year, but I slept like I was recovering from a severe bout of flu or something! I could do nothing for the first 3 to 5 days ... SUDDENLY the SUN came out, as tired as I was, I left the building as much as I could. Sunshine around here (England) is less common than gold dust ... kmt.

July 30th marked another great year in this life of mine and I have so much gratitude and love for the GOD who I serve who has kept me for so many years, through so many struggles, and headed a multitude of Victories! GOD is GREAT! (this was originally scribed a day before but I didn't complete it!)

Here are some random shots of my recent lock journey ... braid outs are more frequent and one day I even tried pipe cleaners, took a while to put in, but the results were ok.

SUMMER HOLIDAY LOCS.

So here we are one month since schools been out, I spent time away with the family which was fantastic,
Oddly enough though I struggled with my Loc Loving regime. I thought I was prepared but I couldn't exactly bring a vast selection of my fave products so settled for three of the best.  I had not planned for my middle son to shove me in the pool, a head full of chlorine I did not expect!  I added insult to injury by using the Sauna regularly without conditioner, my Locs did not like this, not at all! Sigh ...

Sigh! 

During the maintenace struggle I realised mainly that my Locs are in a growth phase, it was taking me longer to wash it properly and I needed a lot more spritzing to keep it moisturised. not complaining though!

I tried only rinsing my hair in water as opposed to a full wash, thinking that this would be better than applying product too frequently, however, as I frequented the pool/sauna quite a few times I had to make sure I washed out the chlorine.

Dehydrated.

As a result of the Sauna ( I think?) my Locs were dehydrated beyond the norm, even when I used my best product, Kiehls Amino Acid shampoo and Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist. I was thinking that the water may have been different, as in hard/soft, but when I checked that out I found that the water there, was the same as London ... very hard!

Honey Washed. Nearly there ...

To get it back I washed vigourously using Free Trade Honey by LUSH (new) hoping for a moisture boost and a return to the texture I am familiar with, I then mixed/diluted conditioner with water, LUSH American Cream conditioner, applied as a leave-in then melted down some pure coconut oil and applied it as a hot oil treatment. Phew! It was some hard work!!!

I have been using a variety of different products some of which I found affordable and good value for money, I plan to cover those in a later post.

Now thats better!

Today I just want to share pics ...

Images of Locs revived from dehydration and anything else that I may have done!

Hot Coconut Oil revived.

Longer Locs can require a lot more care time and attention. I am not complaining, just something I am learning. I wracked my brain to recall the best conditioning shampoo, and oddly enough the best result was from a NEW product I got from LUSH a week before I went away, It has Honey as its top ingredient and is quite expensive, but it worked! British weather is extreme, we get sunshine but the dry type, without wind or moisture. I am not used to hot sunny weather, neither are my locs, so when it happens its a whole new ball game. Climates matter when cultivating locks, like water types. That's why product results vary across the country even the world. I have tried lots of recommendations from across the water, the best referral was Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist which I have stuck with for the 3 years. I will try to update about my recent product finds asap ... :)

Sister 'dry' Locks 2, A Review of Efficient Products.

This blog is especially for Ofo! Your wish is my command! ;)

Hello all, if you have read my previous hairscapades, you will be aware of my dry lock spell,  well , I had to go on  PJ moisture/conditioner hunt ... it was BAD!!

These are my new finds. No they don't come cheap, but neither did my locks! 

Well I had mad hair days last Thursday and Friday. I did my co- wash, however, that Saturday pm, my hair still lacked that special something, I was impulsively drawn to the product shelves in TKMaxx, a MAJOR first for me. 

On display was a serious selection of salon styled products, on reduction, I picked up this shampoo because it is labelled hydrating and is free from EVERYTHING! £9.99! (half price I think). It does the job.

TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac

Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Acetamide MEA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetrimonium Bromide, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Pentaerythrity.

This little gem above is my BABY! So aptly named. This little bottle of magic SORTED IT OUT! Yes I mean it deserves the name and lives up to its brand. One major problem? I think it is now discontinued. TKmaxx!! buy Buy BUY!!!! QUICK! again ... sulfate and silicone free. the best! Cost £5.99, 60% off retail price. More expensive on Amazon.

water, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, amodimethicone, glycerine, aloe leaf juice, butylene glycol and anthemis nobilis flower extract, cofea arabica extract and vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract, roas roxburghii fruit extract, propylene glycol and rosemary leaf extract, olive fruit oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, menthol, panthenol, behentrimonium methosulfate, BHT, Polysorbate 60, PEG 60 almond dimethylamine, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, citric acid, disodium EDTA, 1, 2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sorbic acid, fragrance

I came across this little lovely when I was trying to find out about WEN by Chas Dean. 

Hair One is a Conditioning Cleanser, a generic brand ...? A similar chemical make up, at a fraction of the price, with no subscription necessary.

I viewed many a YouTube review. Impulsed again, I 'amazoned' me a bottle ( I'm a prime customer with no postage costs) I first tested it on my Sister in the Lord, on her BEAUTIFUL natural head of hair, great results! No oils or extra moisturising necessary, even the next day after she loosened her china bumps, She said her hair was in good condition and not in need of her usual regime.

Same night I tried and tested for myself. It does not lather, at all. In fact most sulfate free's do not lather.

I pumped a lot in, its hard getting used to, applied it twice. Then only slightly rinsed out the second application as it is recommended to use as a leave in conditioner. I find 'leave ins' a little awkward because I can never quite get it 'in' and I don't like the whitish residue look after a wash.

RESULT? 

I like, very much, it takes a bit of getting used to, but, I have body and softness which I desire in a Shampoo/Conditioner . 

I located an online stockist, that have successfully delivered the items next day at the hefty price of £6.50 or thereabouts. Its a good thing I ordered more than one item, as that extortionate price was the only 'option' available! 

Beware though, I have read some poor reviews on this online store,  call first, I did, to ensure stock availability. JinnysMall £5.50 Amazon £8.49 

Oh about 'Leave Ins" - another TIGI brand Love Peace Planet, Let it Be Cherry Almond,

Ingredients

Shea Butter - excellent moisturizing and conditioning benefits, rich with natural fatty acids and other nutrients
Sweet Almond Oil - strong emollient with natural fatty acids which adds moisture for soft, supple hair and a conditioned scalp
Wheat & Rice Amino Acids - penetrate hair to help to increase moisture retention, strengthens and promotes a glossy finish
Hibiscus - anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti free radical properties work to restore hair's natural barrier
Chamomile - soothing aromatherapy fragrance, offers anti-irritant benefits for a healthy scalp

the scent doesn't last long but it goes IN and again crap free (LOL) you understand? :) It does THE Job. Will review in more detail soon, tired!! LOL!

OFO! I likes it, but I need to practice more on application :))))

Distilled water, seaweed complex, herbal complex, natural oils, herbal extract complex, preservatives, fragrance

Hmmm somewhat VAGUE! hmmm ... 

I picked this up a few months ago and disliked the scent initially and the consistency and how it felt when applied, however, when the seasons changed, so does my maintenace requirements and while in summer less means more, in Autumn / Winter less equals DRY so MORE is needed!!! 

Sister 'dry' Locks!

I have a problem. In fact, I am just not happy! A week ago I purchased Sisterlocks products for the first

time. Yay ... I thought!

Frown. 

Unfortunately, I have found that, personally, they do not live up to my expectations, especially in respect of the information we have regarding maintenance of SisterLocks.

In fact I am speechless at the results. 

I was excited at the prospect of using them, then I read the ingredients.  Eyebrows raised I forged ahead.

The result was just plain bad.

SisterLocks Shampoo.

1. I wash my hair whenever I want to. 

2. The weather has changed slightly and the temperature has dropped, yet our terrible cold misery weather has not yet set in. And I live in a hard water area. I admit that my moisturising/conditioning has levelled off to once or twice a week. At least during this summer.

I washed my hair for the first time last week Sunday, using the shampoo and the moisture treatment to follow, I noticed a strange difference, but ignored it.  I washed it again near the end of the week and the next day I had a head full of straw, in fact, straw is too generous a description. It didn't just feel dry it looked  awful. I was at work when I felt my head itch more than the norm, then I felt it. I actually can not describe how horrid it felt. 

I ran home, wracking my brain for what I could use to restore my previously lush locks. I decided to pull out the big guns (Nexus Humectress Moisturising Conditioner and American Cream Condish by Lush.) I showered, wet my head and pumped and saturated my head with them.

I rinsed, saturated again, then put on a shower cap and sat with it on for a minimum of 2 hours! KMT!!

During this weekend ...

For the last 48 hours I melted at least 4 ounces of Pure Coconut Oil and applied it from root to tip, especially the ends! I think/hope my locks are finally on route to restoration. .. but I dislike the smell  and I want to wash that out! KMT!

Desperately back on the moisture hunt again, I am a member of Lock It Up and have a backlog of unread emails, the most recent I have caught up on refer to WEN hair products by Chas Dean. I liked the sound of it but was not prepared to pay over the odds. So I checked out Amazon and discovered a 'generic' brand/ version called Hair One, for a fraction of the price. 

Conditioner.

On Saturday I came across TIGI Bedhead Moisture Maniac. I grabbed a bottle, but resisted the temptation to wash my locks again ... 

I waited ... until today, I also bought a bottle of shampoo by Head Organics (formerly unheared of) a sulfate free Hydrating Shampoo (giant bottle for 9.99). 

Head Organics is good, and great value for money.

Tigi Bed Head Moist Maniac? AMAZING!!!

Locks were still dying for moisture so went for it. OMG the IMMEDIATE SLIP, so I thought let me check what type of silicone it was full of ... only to find that it is actually SILICONE FREE!

Moisture Maniac!!!! THANK YOU!!

Colour? Maybe ... not!

So Carol and I take a trip to the local to Lush ... Which really is not so local! On the way back on the train we decide to divert to Jinny ... Black hair and beauty supplies store. We peruse the store for various things, I am constanly on the lookout for a good non alcohol based moisturiser for my loc's, and Carol ... Hair dye. Suddenly I have this great desire to colour my hair!

I thought about it on and off but remember the results of colouring my natural hair in the past, and regreting it. Then I look at Carols and her newbie baby locks look lovely with this same brown Cinnamon shade. Lovely!

So I get on the phone to  Liz and ask if she colours her own locs ... and errrr ...  could I colour mine?

GUESS what she said?! ...  NO!

Nai ... no darling, not your hair ... it's still too soft! She did not want to have to re do my whole head!

So, undeterred, I thought about another temporary method. So I found this Dark and Lovely Colour Flash  Mousse  that washes out in 6 to 8 washes. Yaaay ... I thought ...

I used Copper ... sumthin ... Copper Burst.

The Process

After the Wedding  ... result of colour and braid out

The Day After the night before ...

What did I think?? 

RUBBISH! 

Firstly, I  understand that to get a good colour peroxide/ammonia MAY be necessary, and I don't want to go down that road right now.

... this product gave something of a colour, although it felt like a residue ... I did this the day before a wedding I had to attend. My Locks were fine on the day, but this image is a day after, 

I couldn't stand it!!! The colour was there but the condition was YUK. It felt dry and rough like some sort of coating was on it ... nasty! 

I LOVE to play in my hair and I could not stand how it felt after using that cheap dye!

So as you can imagine I took this pic and immediately went to WASH that C**P OUT! 

LOL!!

It REALLY was not nice at all! 

I even picked up a bottle of SLS filled Herbal Essence Hello Hydration to help me remove and restore !

I washed it twice with HH then twice with Lush Curly Wurly and  then drenched it with Lush American Cream Conditioner. 

American Cream ... my latest Lush love! It has the consistency that works for me! It has a creamy colour but is not thick , I add a little water to it and apply . 

Ofo! ...  IT SMELLS BEA UUU TIFUL! haahaha!

I got a small bottle for about £4/5 pounds ... then another. Now I need a bigger bottle!

I had stopped conditioning for a long while, using Curly Wurly when I needed a moisturising/conditioning wash.  American 'dream' Cream ... hmmm ... LUSH!