One year, six months, loc'd and loving it.

Reflection.

Last night I was up late catching up on my LIU inbox, I had over 400 unread emails! while reading them I saw the date and realised it has been one month since I last blogged.

I have been busy with life generally, however, I have also been in a deep contemplation about the hair loss issues my fellow bloggers have faced. There are quite a few ladies having this experience in varying degrees. Their situation made me reflect seriously on this "hair thing" and I try to put it all in perspective. It is just hair, and it is dead, and I personally need to be careful how much emphasis I put on it, after all, I am more than the dead keratinized material emerging from my skull. Because I know how I would feel in such situation, my prayers and love go out to those lovely ladies who face this challenge. I cannot advise where I would struggle! I know, I have been there, twice before!

On a lighter note,

I been a bad girl, first off, I have always been lazy, never good at doing my hair previously and getting worse because loc's are so easy to manage. I got to a point over the past months where I wouldn't even bother to spritz or oil! I mean I just didn't do it. One morning I looked good at myself and gave myself a talking to, picked up my Rose water and Gylc bottle and 'sorted it out' ... !

Also, many who have followed my blog know how much I love to wash my hair, well I wash it when I want to, which means as often as twice a week at times ( mainly because I can do my own retights and repairs) I am guilty of that today. I washed my loc's on Thursday and then did a condish today.

Last weekend, Friday leading into Saturday early morning, I spent retightening my hair. I really wished somebody would have done them for me, but once I started I managed to do them in good time. I started after 1 pm in the afternoon, amidst cleaning, cooking, and washing. I completed by 1.40 am Saturday morning. I washed my hair later that afternoon, and went out that evening. Later however, I find that I have been having a really itchy scalp at night and cannot stand having my silk scarf on while I sleep. I am seriously contemplating silk/satin pillowcases! However, though I also find my loose hair also quite irritating too ... go figure!

I suspect that the length and thickening of my hair is creating the discomfort. Trust me I am really not complaining but will have to find a way to DEAL WITH IT!

Regime and products.

I love Aubrey organics, honeysuckle rose shampoo, that is a definite keeper, but can't resist trying something new. Soo lets see what I been using ...

I was inspired to try Baby shampoo, and found it lovely and light to use. It does a good job, cleansing gently and smelling good, a long lasting scent, I also loved the feel and look of my locks after.

The next week I found a bottle of I Love Juicy by Lush. I suspect it is clarifying and found it a tiny bit drying, and also my loc's felt slightly rough and frizzed. ( So I second washed with baby shampers!) Juicy was a good cleansing shampoo though. I would use it again.

A week later, I kept up with Baby shampoo then second washed with Honeysuckle Rose because I missed the scent. I am just in a place of indecision lol!

Thursday I used Pantene aqua light shampoo and Condish, mainly because they claim to prevent build up, which is obviously great for loc's. I pre-washed with Dax Vegetable Oil shampoo which literally does what it says on the bottle. I must say after that my loc's were really CLEAN and felt good and looked good too! I used the conditioner, and left it on for a few hours. I rinsed later and lightly oiled using Healing oil. My loc's looked healthy, shiny and the smelled really goooood!!

Today I was just, I don't know ... I wanted to just condition them! So I rinsed under the shower and then used my Honeysuckle rose which is a thick white conditioner, I made SURE I rinsed well and examined each lock carefully. If you are a newbie PLEASE DO NOT use this product ... I had to re lock about 4 loc's that loosened. Next time I will dilute the product, However, I figure that I clarify regularly and I do not use any shampoo or products that cause build up.

Styling.

My loc's are getting longer and I really should consider curling. I am concerned about weakening them as my locks are micro in some places and I do not want to stretch and weaken them further. I do need to try curling or braiding though because they are growing fast and I have varying lengths and braiding should help provide an even style.

random long loc's doing their thing.

Loving my Locs.

Training.

This post is longer than I anticipated, and I haven't talked about my escapades. Would you believe half term has come and gone this past week and I have spent it training. Last Saturday I began my personal goal to attend 3 pump classes in a week, the first at 10 am that morning.

So Saturday a.m - Pump. Monday a.m - Pump. Tuesday a.m -  LBT's. Tuesday p.m - Pump. Wednesday rest ( and boredom!). Thursday a.m - Zumba.

Friday a.m - training on the equipment for a couple hours. Today? BED!! Hair conditioning, rest, aches, and relaxation. Could really do with a massage!

Believe me, the results are EVIDENT! I am no longer a size ten in all stores LOL!

Legs, thighs and butt have large muscle and these muscles have been worked, enhanced and are now standing firm. Not my opinion, but that of a good friend who saw me this afternoon in immodest clothing (mini dress) hee hee.

I cannot repeat her Jamaican patois exclamation! Rude! haa haa! Love ya Miss M.

Also, big shout out to my gym buddy Miss C who is considering embarking on the journey! Welcome sweetie, you will not regret it. Welcome also to other ladies who I have spoken to in the past months about my hair and who have been inspired by my loc journey and are transitioning and saving for their moment!

My fellow bloggers and viewers welcome and please feel free to critisize my product junkieism, or inspire me further ... all constructive comments are welcome. Feel free to respond as it makes blogging far more interesting ... :)

Love and Blessings Nai ... x

Just had to post my new personal theme tune of the moment, as this is what I seem to spend my time doing and loving ... :))))

Black Eyed Peas - Pump It

Kindly Requesting Your Comments and Opinions, Are they Locks or Twists??

WHY?

Over the weekend I attended a friends 40th birthday party. It was great because we have remained firm friends since primary school, and are still close.
Now a majority of the ladies in attendance were Loc'd sisters! All of whom had mainly traditionals.
It was really great to see. I do know though that the friends of this lady are very afrocentric and much in touch with their African culture and roots. (Yes, she is Nigerian married to a man of Jamaican heritage)
We had not seen each other for about a year, so she was surprised to see my hair ... However her response was ... " Hey Nai ... Why you looking so hot and with ya sexy TWISTs too"!!!!"

She is and has been loc'd for quite a few years, so I ASSUMED that the loc'd state of my hair would be obvious ... NOPE!

She said ... "Well its that coolie mixed hair you got 'ennit, So it will look different ...

That was not the end ...

Another friend called me on Monday to ask  ... where I got my TWISTs done! Now I HAVE seen this person quite often over the last year , so she knows when I got Sisterlocks, but I am guessing that people are calling them as they see them ...?

NOW, this is where I request YOUR thoughts and  opinions .... I will not be (or am not)  offended if you think the same ... ;)))

Below are pics I have taken in the last 30 minutes and over the last month. Wet and dry ... WHAT DO YOU THINK?   ... Locks or Twists?

I am also due for a retight this weekend, so gonna have to be up early to train before hair appointment ! :)))

I Can seee the growth at the moment, and feel it too, so am very interested to see how it will look on Saturday, Also I know it is longer because drying time has increased, I used to dry in an hour or two, now it seems to take much longer. :)
Have any of you used Baby shampoo to wash your locks? Or do you know of anyone who has tried it? What do you think?

Enjoy these pics, and I will compare todays with Saturdays, God willing :))

Ohh almost forgot, I have 4 loc's at the front that are CONSTANTLY unravelling! It is so annoying!!!! WARNING to all Sisters with fine soft hair ... do not over manipulate, wash, or curl your locks too soon. I didn't,  but STILL have to have some redone, and I am one week off 16 months locked!!!

... and Finally!

Work out / Training Progress so far ...

I Did Circuit training on saturday morning, (un wittingly walked to the gym beforehand :0) ... She nearly killed me! EVERY muscle from waist to knee was BURNIN!!.

Then, that night, I went partying .... Sunday morning I tried to get up and sit up  ... I tell you ... I could not sit down good for 2 days straight! SNM!

At a time when I would retain water (abdominal), and feel crap loads of pain. I am happy to report, reduced symptoms of oncoming cycle (PMS) and much reduced pain. I looked in the mirror on day of the 'onset' and saw not a fat bloated tender tummy but ... ABS DEFINITION!!!! HAAAA! LOVING IT LIKE THAT!!! and last night at Body Pump, I easily lifted my weights and even thought I should have gone heavier! I cannot believe there was a time I would have NEVER dared anything like this, especially on the FIRST DAY! Now, I do not think I could exist without it! As you may be aware I have posted this blog when I should have attended class, but decided on a hot bath, prayer and some time with my big babies ... :)

Bless you ALL  xxx. ... Nai ...x

Loc TIGHT!

Hello everyone! Hope you all are having the happiest new year EVER! I KNOW I AM!

Well ... to start with, I missed my seven month locversary. I kinda did that intentionally because my hair just did not SEEM to be getting with the loc'ing programme. Well yesterday I had that BIG appointment.

Just to recap my consultant was concerned that my lovely curly hair was doing everything it could to unlock itself. Soo she booked me in to push down the locks that were too loose. Loose because my natural hair pattern ( she informs me) is a loose curl, so every time I got a retight it loosened iteslf out (why I cannot wash my hair more than ONCE a month) If I did I would have an afro in no time!
So much so i was asked if I could go without washing until next appt, which was approx 2 months.
This was not as difficult as I had envisaged, We had 2 weeks off work for the hols, and a lovely surprise week of snowdays :). That meant I left my hair completely alone, the good old fashioned dreadlock way ...

Well for those of you who are already aware, my head was soo sore Liz had to give me the mummy talk. It went something like this  " .... Now Naomi! PLEASE! we are nealy finished, only 2 more to go, you sitting so uptight is making me uptight, now PLEASE sit properly on the chair and KEEP your head down like THIS CHILE! ... " well actually she didnt say chile but I would'nt have blamed her. LOOOOOOOL!!! was not laughin yesterday trust me!!! She did do a brilliant job tho!

Oh I almost forgot, I was suppose to take the retight class but cos of my rebellious little head, I had to leave it a few more months, soo instead Liz asked me to 'model' for her, which was really cool. I just sat there sleeping for  most of the time! All in all, my tighten and retight took about 4 hours and one sore head.

HOWEVER ... the GOOD news is ... that all the loc's at the back of my head have finally loc'd, the problem is mainly the loc's at the front!!! one thing for certain tho, is I will have the curly ends for a loooonnngg tiimmme! I am glad, love them anyway :)))

I am joyfully approaching my eighth month loc'd.  The growth is lovely to see, It took me ages this evening to braid and band because my hair is much longer and thicker ... and to think how fine my hair used to be ... ! THE BEST THING I EVER DID! I LOOOVE my LOC's!!! and enjoying this journey :))

Straight after retight.

Oh Dear!

Just make this quick and painless as possible. Brown Buttah you were so right! although I have locs that are loc'ing up especially on the crown, I unfortunately have a major resistance going on and I mean MAJOR!
I officially have very soft hair, so soft in fact that it is doing all that it can to UNLOCK!!! it is unravelling from the ends enough for my consultant to be quite concerned and she will be taking me back in her OWN hands!
Liz is lovely and she explained it through and through and says it is nothing i did just my hair type.
So much so that I was suppose to take the Retight Class on my next appointment but have to wait.
Liz has booked me an all day appointment to go through and work on every loc to help them on their way. Liz even asked if I can put off washing for as long as possible, I should!!!!! sigh ...:o|
Oh well ...

Lovely Lock Progress so far ...

Last weekend I spent time reading and responding to blogs. I enjoyed it! It is great to be on a journey with soo many other sisters also striving to maintain their natural crown of glory, We are all and have always been beautiful women. However, there is something to be said to have overcome the issues and prejudices related to the natural kink and curl of the hair we are born with and wearing our hair with pride and joy, the way I believe God intended us to. Like Ofo said in her recent email, I know God directed my path to locing my hair, as He has in all the other areas in my life. My God is a wholistic God, permeating every area of my life. I too prayed and asked for his guidance and as usual He exceeded my expectations, just as his word said He would. I prayed about my hair and skin (face) and healing one led to the healing of the other. It is amazing to me that as I researched sisterlocks that is when I discovered African Black Soap, originally purchased for shampooing my locks, now used consistently on my face with exceptional results.


Product Junkie ...


Alas ... I confess ... initially I began puchasing almost every recommended product deemed 'good' by my fellow loc sisters. I am also loooonging to try some other products, fortunately / unfortunately I did not realise that my own natural hair would be doing very well thank you without all the bottled crap ... all I do is wash once a month after retight! thats it! Oh and of course shower or bath steam, not even a sprtiz bottle in sight... and guess what ... or rather take a look at the results ...


Front view loc's .

Loc'd (and loc'ing) on each side at the front.


Ok ... so I know in the future I may need some of the items I bought, but not for a very loooong tiimmme!
I do admit though, I really WANT a bottle of the Organix Coconut Shampoo, ONLY because that is the scent of my whole bodycare range right now ... and anyway ... I am bored with just plain ole T Gel shampoo ... sulk!


However having read loads of different blogs I am very WARY of the risk of ruining progress and I really do not want to have half my hair unravel at this stage.


Below: A typical neck view of my locks or should I say curls? The next pic is the longest loc in this photo but streatched out to emphasise the fact that it has slipped entirely! The next pic is the longest loc
based at the nape of my neck which is locing and growing at a faster pace than the rest of my head! It does not shrink when wet. I have stopped twisting every night. I think that contributed to the slippage of one or two loc's. In my case I think less is more, no spritzing, minimum manipulation, freestyling equals faster loc'ing!  I am also suffering from 'finger twirling loc's syndrome' or better known as 'cannot keep ma hands outta ma hair' ... I LOVE the way they feel.
click on the pic below to see the natural coil. My 12 year old son said I should say that sisterlocks are the way forward!!! He is the one that took the pics for me, and also loves my hair natural (smile). 

Slippage!! Arrrgghh!

I have lost 3 or 4 locs ... suddenly. I am not sure why, but I hear it happens anyway, especially to people with soft/ fine hair. I wonder how bad it COULD have been, since I have not been permitted to wash my hair.

Within 3 weeks, 3 out of 4 of my test locks had unravelled. However, when natural I always deep conditioned my hair and that may have been a problem. I admit that I spritz my hair a lot with water, especially as it was really humid in the last 2 weeks.

It has been 35 days since i loc'd up and i love them so much that i really do not want to lose them, however I am scheduled to see my consultant on 13th so I look forward to my first wash and retight!

I am trying to keep up with this blog thing but soo much is going on right now i just can't find the time, maybe in the summer that will change ... roll on July 22 ...