Five Months

I am posting a month late but in this picture it had been five months into my journey and nothing much had changed.

Four Months and My Hair Rules

It's been a great four months and I haven't one complaint. To the contrary, my journey elicits many happy feelings. The best compliment to date was when I was standing with two other beautiful sisters, one with braids, one with a relaxer and myself in the middle. There was a gentlemen who was innocently flirting with all three of us and we all flirted back. However, in the middle of this sorted triangle, he stopped and he said "Sister, I Love your hair!" I tried not to gloat but my high cheek bones gave it away. Imagine that, we constantly think of all the ways society tells us we must conform in order to be considered beautiful and the one act of being natural elicited such a strong and striking response in the midst of it all. I couldn't have asked for a better affirmation. I remember thinking, as I politely said thank you, you ain't seen nothing yet - just wait a few months!

Three Months

It has been three months and I finally got the time - no took the time to style my hair. I rolled it on rollers, styled it and thought I was so cute and wouldn't you know that this is the day it rained and I didn't have an umbrella. Alas not even sisterlock curls last through the rain. It's probably karma, the last time it rained I gave my umbrella to a sister with a fresh relaxer and walked into the rain triumphantly. It's good to know that mother nature has a sense of humor. So after I was humbled I managed to snap a few pictures at the end of the day and these are the pictures you see.

Changes

• My hair isn't as soft as it was but not hard. It feels more cylindrical, especially the ends in the back. In fact I'm sure the edges are locking first- front and back.
• The curly que ends in the front are beginning to turn in on themselves - I guess this is normal!
• Where as most of my locks are thickening up, the ones at the crown of my head are almost as thin as the day my locks were installed.
• They have started to flop around more, especially in my face when I'm working out and this is annoying.
• It takes forever for them to dry naturally when rolled. I thought three hours but no.....even after a full night they were still damp in the back.
• Little balls have began to form on the ends of some.
• They have become fuzzy, especially in the back which is a stark contrast to the top,they still have the taylored look.

Question

For those who have been locked for a long time, how long did it take your locks to reach their full thickness?

2nd Retightening

It had been five weeks since my last touch - up and I'd experienced a lot of growth though not evident in the pictures. The picture above is me fresh out of the shower and hours before my touch up; the others are after my appointment. I remember one of my fears being that my locks wouldn't be small enough and looking at the middle picture has brought back some of those old feelings. I'm not sure if it's because they are beginning to swell or if the camera is simply to close, but doesn't the base look huge? I don't know. I try not to compare but I only have approximately 360 locks. I thought I should have around 400. Maybe my head isn't as big as I thought.
I have fallen in love with the curly q ends and I love the fluffyness of my hair after it is retightened. We had an unseasonably warm day and the wind was high. Driving in my car with my sunglasses on and feeling my hair blow in the wind is my best experience yet. I can't wait to see what's next.

Two Months and Counting

Two months ago I was anticipating installation and now I am living with a full beautiful head of sisterlocks. Time passes by much faster than you would think. My nerves have settled, my hair has taken on a life of it's own and a few friends have joined me on this journey. I have never been asked more questions about my hair and I have never directed people to any one website more than I have sisterlocks.com. I have found new friends online to discuss hair issues and have stalked more blogs than I care to admit. With all this said, two months have gone by in a flash and I understand why.

Somethings that I am looking forward to:

• No longer braiding and banding
• Actually styling my hair (it's not easy to find time when working two jobs and night school)
• No scalp (my hair gets thicker weekly but not fast enough)
• Conditioning my hair (my locs are soft but I like the way conditioner leaves my hair)
• Swimming (Freedom and feeling water running through my hair)
• Afro Puff (I know this is a long time away but I can't wait)
• Side Ponytail (I've never had one but what a joy it will be)
• Do it Yourself (I do not like depending on others - for anything)

These are just the ones I can remember at the moment -I'm sure the list will grow and grow.

Natural Goddesses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-VbyM63YYo

I was searching youtube for videos of women with sisterlocks when I came across this most inspiring and most awesome video. The video is of beautiful black women rocking their natural hair. It celebrates braided hair, locked hair, hair worn in afros and hair that is free styled. As if this isn't treat enough, the video is set to this amazing piano selection that I hope to one day find. (If someone knows - do tell).

I was so moved and inspired by this that I sat down with my seven year old and asked him," Do you want to see pictures of beautiful people?" He said, " Yes." We sat and watched the video together and I pointed out all the beautiful hair and hair styles. We looked at the amazing color and smoothness of each woman's skin. We regaled over the features(full lips, high cheek bones, noses) of these natural goddesses. I hope to foster a strong self awareness, self pride, love and respect for African American Women in him. I want him to recognize the natural and inherent beauty that God has graced us with.


If anyone has done anything special or not so special with their own children lately to foster a positive self image, please share.

One month retightening

My how time passes when you're having fun. It doesn't feel as if a full month has come and gone but it has and with it has gone any anxiety I had about getting sisterlocks.

At my first retightening my consultant asked me if I liked my hair and I responded that it was growing on me. I meant that. I would love to share the enthusiasm that I have read about on so many blogs. I would love to scream from the roof tops that I'm in love with my sisterlocks. Make no mistakes about it - I love my hair and I'm very much in like of my sisterlocks, but as usual, it takes more time for me to fall in love than the average person.

I have experienced the hand in hair syndrome that so many others confessed to. I have experienced the itchy scalp which lasted for about a week. I have braid and banded and felt my hair blow in the wind. In essence I suppose I've experienced what any one would in the honeymoon phase of a relationship. We're getting to know one another, feeling each other out and warming up to each others pet peeves and imperfections. Like any other relationship I approach, the ride will be worth any falls that I may incur.

Stay tuned - I might try to style my hair instead of freestyle one day soon....maybe!

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