I had my 18 month retightening this past Saturday. It's such a wonderful feeling to have my whole head of locks retightened at one sitting rather than doing them myself over a several day period. I envy those who enjoy retightening their own locks. 
But having my consultant, GiGi Johnson, retighten my hair is a luxury I afford myself. My head feels so "good" for days afterwards and I walk around with a kind of "bounce" feelin' so free and good about my naturalness especially now that I'm gaining some length and have wonderful body. I can't explain it, but you lockheads know what I mean. (The pic to the right is at Gigi's shop immediately following my retightening. I sometimes curl my hair before my appointment. That way when she's done...I can just strut my stuff! Plus I was going to a concert later that evening.)
My locks grew quite a bit in the 6 weeks since my last retightening and there is definitely a marked difference in my length. At each retightening I experience a new found love of my locks and this journey.
Gigi presented me with this beautiful basket yesterday as a Christmas and client appreciation gift for all of the referrals I've sent her way via my blog and people who inquire "who did your hair?" How thoughtful - but that's just an example of her kind spirit. I am her biggest fan and count it a blessing to have her as a consultant and a friend.Someone on LockItUp questioned whether they should tip a consultant after the initial locking session. There were a variety of answers from "yes, she has committed 2 days of meticulous work" to "no, you've paid so much already for the installation" Here's my response:
I did not tip after my initial locking session although I was extremely satisfied with my locks and my consultant, but I was also extremely broke afterwards...LOL and really didn't know that I could have/or should have tipped. I had not discovered LockItUp at that time (a wonderful resource for asking just this type of question and a million others.)
But I tip generously at every retightening which has more than made up for my not tipping during installation. I tip at each retightening because I appreciate my consultant's professionalism and speed. When I arrive the chair and my consultant are waiting for me. She retightens me in 2 hours flat, doesn't stop for breaks or to chat on the phone or eat or any of the other things that used to drive me crazy when I would go to a regular beauty shop. My time is precious and for this I'm more than willing to show my appreciation.
I never forget the days of being held captive by a beautician for 4-6 hours - just waiting - because she double or triple booked simply to make the dollars. Or my neck aching from being left in the wash bowl while she squeezed someone else in...so for all of these reasons and more I tip generously at each retightening.
It's really your personal preference and what you can afford...sorry that I went off on a tangent there....I have horrible memories of beauty shops.
More reasons why I just love my Sisterlocks and my natural freedom and will never again be enslaved to the creamy crack or money hungry beauticians.
