The Transformation is Complete

Okay, first letmee explain what has happened over the past few months. Although my “E-locks” or whatever one may want to call them, were born in January and I was and excited about the final transition to natural hair-there were some issues. First, they simply weren’t long enough for me. I had to be able to wear a long and low ponytail in order to get certain training apparatuses on my head similar to a bike helmet. I also had to be able to pull it all up on top of my head in one fail swoop for training exercises. With this said the 5”-6” of length I had after the installation simply weren’t going to let this happen. So I started taking some of the afro kinky hair and began meticulously extending the braids mostly located in the back of my head. I really don’t have any pictures of this process because I would just simply add a few braids every other night until I had actually completed the area on the back of head from mid ear down. Secondly, there was this weird wave or curl that just wouldn’t go away and it was driving me flippin crazy! I spent countless hours pulling, curling my hair and thought that this crinkle, which sort of looked like a permanent braid out would eventually go away! I even started looking for the flat-irons I bought waaay back in the early 90's…yes I was desperate.

Well, after my first retighting and consultation with another natural hair stylist I learned that this crinkle wasn’t going anywhere. That spirally “wavy” thing I had going on was simply the nature of the afro kinky hair that had been used on my hair during the braiding process. Furthermore, I learned that the "braid" pattern itself wasn’t going anywhere either. As my hair would be maintained using the Sisterlock and/or other tools and that hair, of course, would look the part. The rest however, would stay the same until I eventually cut it off. This saddened me the most because I thought that with time the pattern would have dissipated-but I was wrong.

So what did I really have ladies and gentlemen? I had a hairstyle that while beautiful would probably never come close to looking to the thing I dreamed-a head of Sisterlocks. I was disappointed to say the least. Further adding to this was the thinness in the top of my head which made styling the hair in almost decent style impossible. After all, I really had nothing to "curl", "plump up", or "comb-over" to hide the bald spot. I was so disappointed at one point that I thought of just cutting it all off and chalking my hair and the SEVERAL hundreds of dollars I spent to get it done up as a lost. But after I consulted with one of my old natural stylist friends about the thinness and wavy pattern she took a bit of the afro kinky hair and fluffed out some of the locks in the top of my head to help cover the baldness. It look good….damn good! I began to wonder if my entire head (all 420 locks) could be transformed too. The technique she used, was meticulous and extremely time consuming. In fact we decided to break it down into several sessions because it eventually would take 13-15 hours to complete and several sittings to finish. But I, thanks to the tireless efforts, professionalism, and skills of my stylist transformed my hair and really my life. I am forever grateful to her-and after you look at the pictures below you will see why.

Before




After

Before



After

After



Now, I am constantly asked by sisters wanting to know "how long have I had my Sisterlocks?" Little do they know. I frequently catch women looking at my hair with a look of amazement, awe and adoration-whereas before this transformation I usually got that "Gurl, what was you thinking bout'" look or ones of just utter confusion. As a matter of fact I have gotten so many compliments and questions that this has sparked me to finally get to work on this blog that I have been neglecting so.

For now we will call my stylist, friend and hair Savior “K.J”. She has told me that this process could be done on others-but I would suggest that you contact her. She can be reached at nots2locs@aol.com. In closing, my loc story has been an interesting one indeed. Did I think it would take all of this just to find hair happiness and peace? No. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I always say to those with questions about my new look.-“Honey, I am free! I took the shackles off of my hair, my life and my mind.”

Thank you Jesus for giving me kinky, strong, beautiful hair and for bringing people into my life that made it even more stunning.

Hello Beautiful and Natural America

Well Folks Theyrrrre Hereeee,

First, let me start by saying that my journey to getting Sisterlocks took such a drastic turn on the day of installation that I don’t even know if I will be using this term anymore. You see as I mentioned before my hair had become so damaged, thin and uneven over the years of abuse and neglect of braids, cornrows, two strand and literally every “natural” hair style under the sun, that I had very little to work with. My hair was as short as 3” in some areas but as long as 7” or 8” in others. Even then the little hair I had was so incredibly thin, not to mention that I was thinning in the very top of my head, a condition I began to notice a couple of years ago. So what was the option, for right now we will just call them “E” Locks because I really don’t know what category to put them in. They are basically tiny braids done with afro kinky hair but with very fine intricate tiny parting. I tried to count my locks the other day and I think I’ve got 420 locks, give or take a few. The locs are not as cylindrical as Sisterlocks so my hair doesn’t appear as fluffy or full as others. Also much like some other variations of Bradeloczs © and some other styles I’ve seen out there in cyberspace the pattern of the actual braids will likely remain for a very long time if not permanently. As my hair grows out it will be maintained like Sisterlocks and other similar styling techniques and I will juts cut the braided part off over time. But because I was so anxious and really needed a better hair care system I went ahead with my “E” locks that allowed me to have length I desperately needed for styling purposes. So on January 12th and 13th I took a really big risk (and breath) and placed my trust, hair, heck my very image appearance in the hands of my stylist. Our 2 days and 20 hours of labor my hair style was born. I’m at peace because the fact, ladies and gentlemen, of getting traditional or purist form of Sisterlocks would have meant cutting off all of my hair and this was simply not an option.

So I begin this journey that might be just a little bit different than many others but my destination is the same to have a beautiful head of locks that capture the beauty of kinky hair. Already this form of locks has its benefits,


1.I don’t have to 'braid and band' although I carefully wash them and adhere to the principles of Sisterlock type styles.

2.I can color when I want-the 6 or more month waiting period for coloring my Sisterlocks won’t be necessary.

3.There won’t be any shrinkage. I had heard, and seen, via the internet so many stories of women that had watched their hair shrink to half its original length-thus limiting their hair styling options that I had begun rethinking the whole idea of getting micro/Sisterlocks. But since the afro kinky hair was added to my hair that again, hasn’t been relaxed in some 12 years, I began with an overall texture that is very stable. I don’t know if this would work for those with relaxed or softer textured hair-but I will find out and let you guys know!


Now, for the cons-and there are some;

1.OMG is my hair itchy…yikes! I know that the theory behind starting locks is to go with as little oil as possible. But I work in a VERY, VERY, VERY dry environment. I frequently apply facial cream, eye drops and drink lots of water just to say properly hydrated-so it is obvious, at least to me, that my hair is going to need a little more moisture than most. I prepared my little bottles of water with (essential) oils for moisture and use them when I'm in the house. But I work in a heavily air conditioned environment. And as we all know-WET HAIR + AIR CONDITIONING = PNEUMONIA. Not to mention I live in Michigan! I ain’t hardly about to run around outside with damp hair in the snow. As summer rolls in I will rely more heavily on the water option but in the meantime I’ve had to address the issue of itchiness and dryness. This has included applying Carol Daughters Tui Oil, some other light hair directly to the scalp when needed.

2. The Afro Kinky hair that my stylist used is a little coarser than my own hair. So to soften it I have used some of the “Olive Oil Cream Moisturizer” that Blakcofi mentioned in her blog. It’s kinda thick and creamy but it has done a wonderful job of softening this hair so far. To cut down on build-up I’ve done one ACV rinse and will probably do another tonight-because as my hair grows out I don’t want these products to build up at the root. I’ve even referred to Salkis Rea, "Comb My Hair.com" blog and she suggested hot oil treatments. I was really scared of this one-but I had to try it I found a oil treatment formula with a minimal number of ingredients and sat under my bonnet dryer for 30 minutes or so and OMG did it soften the hair! It was glorious. Thanks to Salkis Rea and Blakcofi both.

3.Afro Kinky hair, for those who haven’t worked with it, it is really coarse and attracts EVERYTHING!!!!! So I wear a silk bonnet whenever I’m in the public eye. This isn’t very sexy while at homev (my husband has been quite understanding) but it keeps lint to a minimum because this hair is like a magnet-BEWARE.

Well that’s it folks. By my next entry I would have had my first retightening and more conditioning treatments. I’ll also talk about the issues with coloring afro-kinky hair as well as its ESCALATING price here in the Detroit area. I will also talk about the freedom I already feel after only a few weeks of having my "E" locs. So until then-be black, be beautiful, but most importantly, be natural--your “inner sister” (or Brother) will love you for it”. Holla.