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

11 Weeks

Ok! Ok! I'm a woman who can admit opening her mouth too soon. I washed my hair the other night and I don't know if it's because I'm coming up on my three month mark or because I didn't braid and band (a no-no until the locks have settled and you have the ok from your consultant - lesson learned the hard way!) , but my hair came out some what "rougher." It's still somewhat soft, but I have detected a major difference. I woke up this morning with hair goin' every which-a-way! LOL. The moisture from a hot shower helped, but I will admit I'm feeling a little anxious.

Perhaps this "rougher" texture is because I didn't braid and brand, allowing the Sisterlocks Starter Shampoo to really saturate my hair. (This shampoo aids in the locking process.) I guess my hair has more of a "locked" feel (not look) than I've experienced before. I think this is a good thing but you can bet I'll ask my consultant on Friday, 9-2 when I go in for my retightening. That will be my 3 month anniversary! You can also bet that I'll continue to follow my consultants advice by banding and braiding before I wash again.

I read something really profound today and thought I'd share:

"Black hair is like Kunta Kinte-it refuses to be Americanized, and at every opportunity it tries to return to Africa. We cut it, weave it, braid it, relax it and color it-but the roots keep growing, trying to take your mind back home."

"From the Browder File"

Revised and Expanded Edition

Anthony T. Browder

Stay tuned, stay strong and stay natural!

BlaqKofi
SL'd 11wks