Hair Accessories

Look at this beautiful hair clip. Brunsli uses similiar clips to pin up her Sisterlocks (you can check them out on her blog) which is where I got the idea. You learn so much from the ladies on the Yahoo LockItUp Group. My hair isn't quite long enough to use it, but I thought I'd purchase it anyway because accessories for our hair are very hard to come by. Of course, you know I'll be posting pics as soon as I'm able to use it.

Here's a close up of my hair accessory that I've used for the past 5 1/2 months and you've seen in countless pics on my blog. I purchased it at Target, but haven't been able to find another like it. It's a great neutral color, goes well with everything and matches most cowrie earrings or necklaces.

By the way, I purchased the hair clip above at Target as well. I love that store and I love my Sisterlocks!

Sisterlocks Styling Tools

Styling tools that I've used for the past 5 1/2 months:

Bendable Rollers (various sizes)

Hair Clips (good for holding hair for braiding or parting)

Sisterlock Starter Shampoo

Misting bottle

Rosewater Concentrate (few drops added to misting bottle along with distilled water)

Retightening, Braiding & Banding at 5 months

I got my hair retigtened on Friday. As usual it was great to see my consultant, GiGi. The difference after a retightening is more visible scalp and less fullness. But my head feels wonderful. Notice the precise parting - an important distinction of Sisterlocks. The parting patterns allows for more styling flexibility.

I decided to wash my hair after the retightening just to gain some more volume. These pictures show banding and braiding before washing. This along with a gentle washing technique is required until the locks have matured enough not to unravel. You should not scrub or aggressively manipulate the hair during washing. Instead the shampoo is massaged or pressed through the braids and rinsed thoroughly. I bet you never thought of washing your hair after coming from the salon (o.k. I'm from Texas) after coming from da beauty shop...lol. Just another benefit of Sisterlocks!

I'm still banding and braiding. In fact, I didn't even ask Gigi if I could stop during this visit. There are still several ends that haven't sealed yet. You can tell by the remaining curly q's on some of them. Probably at my six month mark in December I won't have to band and braid anymore. But I'll definitely wait for my consultant's o.k. My locking journey has gone so smoothly, I don't want to do anything to hinder my progress.

I asked Gigi how soon she thought I'd be fully locked. She estimated at the nine month juncture. That's only three months from now! But it doesn't matter, the time is going by so fast. And I'm so thoroughly enjoying learning how to care for my natural hair and the freedom of Sisterlocks; I'd be happy no matter when my hair fully locks. (Click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail.)

So many black women have straightened, relaxed and permed their hair for years, they have never had the opportunity to experience its true natural beauty. The average 30-year-old woman has been straightening her hair since childhood to adoloscence; perhaps at least 20 years. And even though she may comb and groom her straight hair daily, she is not likely to experiment and explore what her natural hair texture can or cannot do.

"Let's Talk Hair - Every Black Woman's Personal Consultation for Healthy Growing Hair" - Pamela Ferrell