A Journey of Four years, nine months and two days

 ...  and its only getting better!

Contrast

What an amazing difference.

Locks do their OWN thing! One close friend asked if I should have a little trim to level things up a bit,  of course I explained why I would do no such thing!

I have always had one or two very eager 'growers' from the start, but they suddenly 'disappeared' when all the others caught up. Looking forward to the others catching up with these two!

Living, Loving Locks @ 3 years 10 months.

Has spring has finally sprung, or should it be summer? ... hmm!

So it was my turn to reti, coincidentally it was the end of spring term and we were off for Easter break, so of course I would have bus loads of time to do my own reti ... right? ... NOT!

No, I did not ... no I did not want to, NO!
Actually it was my consultants turn (we alternate where possible) However, something came up and we had to cancel, it was still term time, and I originally thought that I would be cool.

Turns out I was so very tired and really wanted needed pampering.
Its hard to get a good appointment at short notice as most consults and booked up way ahead of time. However, it was not to be, by the time I realised that I had better deal with it I was a clear 2 weeks past my reti schedule.
However, the process surprised me, this time. I was almost at 7 weeks and reluctantly picked up my tool kit, clips and bands and started tightening at the back of my head. I started at about 6.00pm one evening, but by 11.00pm I had completed 3/4 of my head, without any mess ups. I continued the next morning and completed the task within 3 hours.
That's not bad at all for me. I thought the longer I left between reti's the longer the process and harder it would be, but it turned out quite the opposite.
I am seriously considering changing to 6 weeks now. I am also washing my locks once a week because they take too long to dry in the evening and I don't want to go to sleep with damp locks to avoid mildew.

Life with locks.

My fourth locversary is swiftly approaching (May end) in exactly 6 weeks  :).
I am noticing the growth spurt we all hear about that happens from approx year 3 - 4. I consistently braid my locs at night now using Taaliah Waajids Crinkles and Curls, as doing so creates great body. On a daily basis I wear hair bands on my wrist so that I can put it all up in a quick ponytail, if I am honest it is to keep it out of the way!!
Today I could feel them 'flapping' on my back if I made a sudden movement, then I caught a reflection and saw them reaching down to the centre of my back.  I turn my head and feel as if I have a  scarf sitting on my shoulders, (summer will be interesting! ;) I am NOT complaining, I just find the sudden increase interesting and know that I have to take extra care and pay attention when looking after them, it is not a problem, in fact a welcome responsibility!
I wanted locs now I have to be willing to maintain them to a high standard.

 Sisterlocks in the beginning are quite low maintenance, but the longer they grow, the
more time needs to be invested. Generally I place self maintenance at the top of my list of priorities, so I am happy and ready to do what I have to do. I'm still brushing intermittently, I find if I braid more, I brush less. I have also purchased 2 more brushes in order to find the most suitable, currently I am using a 100 per cent Boar brush, will let you know how that goes.

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 ... :)

Sisterlock Stage - Mature and Growing.

Day 1049! 

2 years 10 months and 14 days.

I remember this time 3 years ago, trawling through sisterlocks blogs for hours and hours, saving blogs of note to my favourites bar. From what I recall, I had made up my mind already, I was about to get my  test locks installed, counting down the days and weeks with excitement and anticipation. THREE years ago almost.

And now I have reached the age of lock maturity, no more slipping locks, can't remember when that stopped. The journey.

Maturity means ...

My style of choice varies, mainly loose ponytails now, even to sleep in! I need a lock sock or something similar. My scalp itches at night if I don't use a hair band before covering. 

Can you believe it? I wanted to wash my hair from MORNING! I didn't! ... waiting in vain for some deliveries. It has now come to the point that I will not wash my locs after 7pm as it now takes HOURS to dry anything from 4 hours or more ... sigh! Yeah I own a hair dryer but I don't like to .... 

I am learning to adjust my head, clothing etc, they get caught up easy, put them up in a bun/ pony and I hit people in the face! A bun In the shower is a must, or it gets wet. 

I have a loc that desires to surpass all other locs in speed of growth and length, no longer the nape lock, this one is the 'temple loc', situated in front of my right ear! I notice it because it hangs down and rests on my chest! 

I avoid anything 'furry' to prevent lint. 

Products ...

Listing below current shampoo, setting lotion and moisturising.

Essental regulars are as follows, alternating in no particular order, BIG/ I Love Juicy = Clarifying. Moisturising Shampoo = Kiehls Amino Acid (sulfate free) / Olive Fruit, Volumising = BIG/ Kiehls Rice Wheat.

New interest = Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger shampoo and cream rinse.

I use Crinkle and Curls by Taliah Waajid, regularly to help create good braidout waves. They last a little bit longer, but not much.

My Staples, Pure Coconut Oil (melted (hot oil) and used after washing) and Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist for moisturising (regular use)  for braidouts etc.

Great new find Dr Miracles Leave in, has a scent I love, honey! Real honey, listed top 5 in the list of ingredients. It is also VERY moisturising, better still it is only £2.95!! approximately $4.69 or less as the UK OFTEN pay the SAME price in pounds what US pay in dollars ... No Damn Comment!

e.g a bottle of  Sisterlocks moisturiser costs approx £11 compared to $10.95 ... £11= $17.50!!!!

And finally In Praise of Beautiful Sisters in Locks 

Today at the Gym I spotted a head of Locs, not sure what type, and not really caring, I made note to speak to said Lady to tell her how we, Locksie and I, had major Loc envy. We got to meet her in the changing rooms and find out that yes indeed, she was a fellow Sisterlocker of 6 years. Ladies let me tell you ... Her Locks were ... ARE amazingly GORGEOUS! I mean they are CRISS! Words failing me, Ladies name is Ruth and she herself was lovely, we spent a good 15 minues gushing on one another, I wish I had taken a photo, We shared regimes and found out that those lovely Locs thrived on WASHING UP LIQUID and NOTHING else!!!!!! Not even oil. and she never bothered messing with braidouts, curls and the like. Locs were/ are FABULOUS! 

Sounds to me like LESS is MORE! May need to rethink a few things ..... hmmm food for thought! serious!

Photo Gallery.

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(Sister) Locked for Life ... lock journey of a thin/fine haired sister.

Journey time - 997 days! (wow!) or 2 years 8 months and 22 days.

From hair ...

To HAIR

I LOVE ALL LOCK types, it just so happened that Sisterlocks was the first option presented to me. No turning back ... this post is for all those who are worried about their thin/ fine hair and the locking process or concerned with (lock) breakage. Handle ALL locks with care and they will thrive.  I am not very adventerous and I dont put my locks up too often as I get tension headaches. Simple is good for me, although I have braided out quite a lot recently, when I can be bothered.

Yesterday ... Apr 2007

Today ... Feb 14 2012

I have enjoyed the Sisterlock journey ... NO regrets.