Me, Myself & I

Most of you know that I celebrated my five year loc'versary by getting my locks layered.  I wasn't really nervous about it, but the end result did take some getting used to.  Above, three looks:  Braidout, Caruso Steam Roller Set, Soft Spike Curler set.

The Pros of the layered cut:

• My head feels much lighter.  Although Sisterlocks don't pull, I did have a lot of density which was very hot in the summer and took additional washing and drying time.
• The cut is a little more age appropriate for a 50 year old woman
• I wear my hair down more often
• The bangs and layers keep the hair from falling into my face
• My high pony's fall perfectly, rather than being weighed down

The Cons of the layered cut:

I kind of miss my "signature" density

I had to learn new ways to style my hair

Pulling hair back can be a challenge because of the bangs and layers

The cut did away with my highlighted ends causing my hair to look darker.

Overall, I'm happy with the cut and bangs.  Now I have another 5 years to let them grow back!

Click collage or photos for greater detail.

What's Within

I've had a little more time of late to checkout LockItUp and read some blogs. A fellow LockItUp member posted photos of her 18 month SL journey. (Password: Chocoholic. Be sure to view them as a slideshow to get the full impact.) They were just awesome! It wasn't that the photography was so different. There were no special effects. But here was someone I had no history with, someone who didn't have a blog. And through her photos, I was able to travel her lock journey on an 18-month continuum. Blogs are updated so frequently that we only see gradual growth as opposed to an "oh my goodness, look how her hair has grown!" visual. Stop visiting someone's blog for a few months, you'll see what I mean.

What I found most interesting was the before and after shots - such contrasts! I felt this inexplicable pride seeing the woman birthed through Sisterlocks. She seemed so totally free. I could relate to that. Natural freedom - now that's a very, very cool thing.

It's what I love about Sisterlocks - the freedom to be natural and free. Free to curl my locks, free to let them hang, free to tie them up, free to braid and twist them out, free to wash them - (how odd that statement almost seems now - I could never again give up such a basic, natural freedom and luxury.) Being natural IS freedom regardless of how you express that nappturality be it Sisterlocks, dreads, twists, afros, cornrows, fades, puffs or a twa's. Check out the beautiful and diverse people of color and locks captured by Sisterlock Adoration at the recent Dallas Harambee Festival. Big props to SA and MyJourney513 for allowing me to share your pics.

My LockItUp post response:

Your photos are ab-so-lute-ly gorgeous! That is one of the best documented Sisterlocks journey I've ever seen. I loved the transformation from the first photo to you and your color-streaked-locked-tresses now. You go girl! There's something about a Sisterlocked woman - what's within - comes out and it's a beautiful thing.