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.

Just Because We Don't Have To - Part II

In the hushed tones of a golf announcer:  "When last we left, BlaqKofi was on the precipice of deciding the fate of this curl set before her upcoming retightening session.  Let's see how this drama plays out..." 

Reader Denise called it, "Of course your conscious made you wash before your next retightening." She's right. I did, and here are the results clean, styled, retightened locks.  

Style:  Braid Out

Washed locks, separated and towel dried. Braided locks into about 15-20 sections.  Used fewer locks in smaller sections to assists with drying time.  Set braids on Soft Spike curlers to give the ends a more manicured look.

Left braids and SS in over night. Following morning, removed SS, took braids down (the smaller braids made for a more time consuming process. You want to carefully handle locks when unbraiding, especially younger locks. A client was braiding her younger locks too tightly, causing slippage when unbraiding.)  The smaller sections resulted in a tighter crinkle pattern.

One week later, I'm looking tired after a full day of retightening my clients, but the set still looks nice.

Remember, just because we don't have to, doesn't mean that we shouldn't. I'm on a two week wash rotation now.  We can always find a way to do that which we are committed to.  And I'm committed to Sisterlocks! 

BlaqKofi
Certified Sisterlocks Consultant

Click photos for greater detail.

That Small Voice

My daughter-in-law recently sent me Maya Angelous' "Best Poem Ever." Although I've read it countless times before - it resonated with me at this appointed time in my life. As I continue to work on achieving many of the truths herein, I thought it might inspire other beautiful, locked, nubian sisters on this journey of self realization.

There are times in our lives when we each need that small voice that helps us to focus within, so I gift to you -

"The Best Poem Ever" by Maya Angelou
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....Something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...A youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....A past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....One friend who always makes her laugh...And one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....A feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...How to fall in love without losing herself...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...How to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...When to try harder...And when to walk away...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... That she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...That her childhood may not have been perfect...But it's over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...What she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...How to live alone...Even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...Whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...Where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...When her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...What she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

Hairstyle braid out: Braid locks in small plaits, spritz with Lottabody. Roll ends. Take down when dry, finger style.

Bummin' Around Da House & Product Reviews

I thought I'd share some products and pics of my locs during my down time. When I'm around the house on the weekends and evenings, I simply wear my hair like this.



Because of my natural layers, it's difficult to put them up in a ponytail. Separating my locs like this prevents the hair at the nape from pulling.



Here's another Saturday "do" that I was just playing around with while bummin' around. Next time I'll try the flat twist all the way to the back.

I found some thicker black bands at Family Dollar and these clips - both work great. Why spend a lot of money until you find what works.

I love these claws. They're large enough for my thick hair. I purchased them at Target.

My black Soft Spike Curlers - nothing new. But, I found a convenient way to store them. I used a bag from a set of new sheets! It has a handy zipper closure and is the perfect size.

I use these clips when sectioning my locs for rolling or braiding. If I ever had the desire to attempt to retighten my locs, I suppose they'd come in handy then also. The rounded ends prevents hair snags.

I found a local store to purchase JML products. I blogged about the protein conditioner here and continue to use it and really love it. It leaves my hair soft, clean and moisturized. Since I began using the JML Protein Conditioner, I haven't used any natural oils after washing. I only recommend it, however, for mature locs. I use it full strength because of the thickness of my locs. Those with a loose curl pattern may want to dilute 50/50 or some other combo because of it's rich consistency.

The Tingle Shampoo isn't for me - it has a strong medicated smell. It does make my scalp tingle and feel good - but the scent is too strong for my liking. I felt as if I was walking around with menthol on my hair (remember Vicks?)...LOL.

The leave in conditioner is awesome. I rarely use it, but when I do there's no residue, it doesn't weigh down my locs and there's no sticky feeling.

Just a few items I thought I'd share as my natural awakenings continue.

(Hairstyle: 2-3 day old braid out at almost 24m)

Friday Nite @ My Honeycomb Hide Out (Off Topic)

The week is over and it's Friday night - one of my favorite times of the week. I usually come home and relax with a glass of wine. I don't answer phone or cell but rather do whatever I want to do....put a movie in the DVD, light some candles and take a long shower 'til all of the hot water runs out (one of my favorite things), sleep, read, blog...you get the idea.

Tonight was one of those nights - so peaceful and calm, a beautiful Texas summer eve - pleasant temp and an ever so slight breeze. I live on a quiet, cul-de-sac of older homes lined with mature trees and lush greenery. An elementary school, where Malcolm and I take our evening walks, abutts the end of the cul-de-sac. Walking from the house to the school is our leash training time. His reward and mine -watching him run freely and happily around the schools' large, green lawns, playing and exploring everything with his nose.

As we returned home...my neighbor to the front was hosting a delegation of 25 businessmen and women from Mexico. In contrast, from my backyard came the clear pulsating beats of the inner-city - Mexican music thumping loudly, but not irritatingly so, happy voices, perhaps celebrating their own Friday night.

Our charming street of 16 historical homes is surrounded by the inner-city. An eclectic neighborhood of African-Americans, Hispanics, whites and Asians of all classes from the comfortable to the poor and homeless.

Few people know of our little cul-de-sac in da hood, disguised by trees and greenery. My sons call it, my honey comb hide out. Our street has no street lights and the stark darkness brings a calm, stillness to my evenings almost insulating the background noises of trains, music, sirens and children's laughter. (Above photo is of my back yard at dusk.) My honeycomb hideout has given me solace and peace for the past three years as I experience personal, cultural and natural awakenings. I never saw myself returning to live in the inner city. Afterall, as a child I couldn't wait to leave it. Ironically, I now feel safe and very much at home here.

I have some really nice smooth jazz playing, candles flickering in the darkness. I'm on the couch blogging, my dog's asleep at my feet...my Sisterlocks gently brush my shoulder and face as I write and reflect on the weeks journey...and how my natural awakening has brought me full circle to my true self and my hood.

(Hairstyle: 2-3 day old braidout)

Nappy Does Not Equal Bad @ 23 Months

I got retightened today and boy does my hair and scalp feel good!

I went six weeks because Gigi had to move my appointment. Six week retightenings aren't all that pleasant for me, especially when I have a lot of new growth like I did this time. Because the hair at the base wants to join the lock next to it and Gigi had to gently pull it apart - ouch! Plus I washed my hair the night before. For some reason, that always causes my retightenings to not be as comfortable as usual.

But hey, look at me now at 23 months on loc'down with my cool new t-shirt that I treated myself to. Lisa turned me on to a site called CafePress. Once you're there, type in "Natural Hair" in the search box and all kinds of cool t-shirts and other natural items will display.

And remember, not only is it natural to be natural, but nappy does not equal bad. Free yo mind and the rest will follow!

Hair Style: Braidout with slightly damp hair,
roll ends up and under and tuck. Next morning, finger style.

21 Months - Wearing My Testimony

"The education of any people should begin with the people themselves..."

The Mis-Education of the Negro

Carter G. Woodson

The dialogue, uplifting posts, new friends, prayers and support that I've received of late from my online family brought to mind Carter G. Woodson's quote above. That's what we are doing through our blogs, web sites, Fotki albums, LockItUp and other groups - educating our people, beginning with our people. That's empowering and fulfilling.

I posted recently about someone who read my entire blog - beginning to end. It blew me away while vividly reminding me of me when I first discovered SL. I read Sandy's site - from her installation to 5 years of loc'dom. I stalked that site reading it through at least 3-4 times. I was simply fascinated by this discovery of mine...a kinda "weird" feeling - natural awakenings perhap? (wink to RJQ) I was convicted of two things: 1.) that Sisterlocks were the answer for me; 2.) that I wanted to document my story as well. (As my locks matured through each stage, I used Sandy's site as a reference.)

You can't imagine my pride at helping to open the door for another. And I've come to learn there are others who have done the same. Anonymous wrote:

I just wanted to say that your blog helped me with my decision to get Sisterlocks. I have been locked now for 9 weeks and can't remember the last time I was this happy with my natural hair. I've given your blog to those that are interested in getting Sisterlocks and have heard all good things. I'm one of those people that have read your blog from beginning to end and now that I have Sisterlocks I go back to see what was happening with your hair each month and it gives me a heads up for what to expect. Thanks for taking the time to document your journey for all of us.

(Mad love to Anonymous, JTM and RJQ, new friends...and blessings. Shoutout to my gurl Char in Cali - you always got me, gurl! I appreciate you.)

As I continue to experience this "cultural awakening," I can share with others who will, in turn, share with others and others....whether they embrace it or not. But rockin' some slammin, neat, funky, NATURAL Sisterlocks is one of the BEST method of sistuhs beginning to educate sistuhs 'cause we wear our testimony!

Tomorrow I'm 21 months on loc'down and still luvin it. Check out these great pics below that Gigi took at my retightening on Saturday. She has to submit photos to continue her certification, a requirement every two years. The photos demonstrate to the home office that she's upholding the SL method in which parting and sectioning are very important. Look how precise her work is - luv that sistuh!

I know the initial installation cost may throw some - it threw me. But I was drawn to SL. My mind was so made up. I sacrificed and saved until I had enough because I knew that I knew that I knew that SL were for me. I'm willing to pay for the kind of professionalism, experience and quality I get from a certified consultant with Gigi's experience. I've paid more to sit and wait 4-6 hours for someone to put harmful chemicals in my hair - and did it religiously until an internal restlessness wouldn't allow me to continue.

The beauty of Sisterlocks is - should I CHOOSE to care for them myself - I can. I'm no longer enslaved by my hair - but free because of it. And the journey continues...

Braidout: Put hair in about 20 braids, spritz with Lottabody/water combo, tuck ends under. Take down next morning, finger comb. Pull sides up, clip and go! This style has lasted over a week now and still going strong. At night I pull into a pony and go to sleep. Ahhh! The liberating freedom of Sisterlocks.

Don't Get It Twisted

I'm enjoying my new camera. It has this neat x3 self timer that takes 3 consecutive pics. Needless to say I've been taking lots of them. I don't know if I've simply been in a writing mood, or the pics, cold weather, and being stuck home have stimulated my desire to write. Either way, I've enjoyed expressing my thoughts here of late. Besides, it's easy to write about my passion - Sisterlocks.
Nappy & Happy
The reason I blog is to share Sisterlocks knowledge and hopefully bring others to being nappy & happy. When I became interested in Sisterlocks and started my research, I wanted to see good, clear, close up pics of locks. That's my goal in the pic selection for my blog, and of course, I only choose the nicest . I took enough ugly pictures as a child, hated all of them AND my looks (an upcoming post). I read a comment recently on LockItUp - something about blogs with "only good or pretty pics of locks...that ain't real life." Well, just for the record, I don't always walk around with curled, coifed locks. So don't get it twisted.

I also DON'T spend a lot of time on my hair. I PLAY with my hair alot, but that's a joy not a chore...I can't keep my hands out of it. Sometimes I just stand in the mirror almost in awe that this is MY NATURAL hair. Not only is it my natural hair, but a wash, condition and a 4-6 weeks retightening is all it takes to maintain my Sisterlocks - no costly products, no hours wasted sitting in a salon. I have never been happier or more content with my hair and my overall personal look. I wish every sistah of color could experience this hair joy and freedom. You fellow lockheads know what I mean.

Here's how cloudnine expressed it through a post here:
I realize that my hair will never look like another sistahs locks...what I did not realize is that my hair could look like this period. There is not a day that goes by that I do not stop and thank GOD for this miracle. I have never been so completely happy with my hair in my life!

Any Day is a Good Hair Day with SisterlocksFor those of you just locking - don't get it twisted. There are some bad "lookin" hair days for me, but not "bad hair days" 'cause any day with Sisterlocks is a good hair day. When I'm at home, I don't do anything to them except put them up out of my way. This isn't a pic of a style - it's the same braidout from earlier in the week. I just quickly pulled my locks up with a scrunchie. You can see, I need a retightening and color touch up. (I'm thinking of waiting until my 2 year anniversary in June and getting highlights...don't know if I'll be able to deal with the grey hair that long, tho.)
It's casual Friday. Here I am at lunch, locks pulled back with my B-Tie. I've done nothing with my hair all week except pull it back and let the krinkles from last Saturday's braidout do their thang.


From Plain to Daaannnggg!
Four hours later, I came home and set my locks with my fav Caruso Steam Curlers for a dinner date. (Duh! Yeah, you read correctly - I said date....tehehe) The curls help hide the fact that I need some color and a retightening. This look is a result of the earlier in the week braid out, a Caruso set on large (front)/jumbo (back) curlers and the fact that I need a retightening. Both combined gives me more volume. I actually like this look very much. See how easily you can go from plain to DAAAAANNNNG with Sisterlocks? So don't get it twisted! (I didn't take the time to crop any of these pics. These were taken about 11:30 last night after my dinner date. You can see my messy bed and the man I came home to...tehehe!)

Best Pic Ever
Here's the best photo of me and my locks ever. It puts all of my digital photos to shame and really captures the true look of my locks. I'm proud to unveil it here in it's rightful place on my blog AND in my office. (The artists, "Lil Mamma" drew this while spending the day at work with Auntie Blaq while her mom had chemo.)




















So you see, your locks can have any look YOU want. And that's da real truth about Sisterlocks. So don't get it twisted!

Like Someone Else's

I tried a braid out this week. I washed and conditioned my locks, braided them (about 20 braids) rolled the ends with ssc and a Lottabody/water solution.

The result was this super curly/krinkly look that I really wasn't feeling. I couldn't style it and it just looked unruly. So I slept on it (no pineapple, no scarf). The next day, the curl was looser but I had "big hair" instead of the falling krinkly look that I admire on others like Sister-In-Locks, Leighann & Creyole.

Day three - today, the curls are loose enough that I like the look. I am always learning - no discovering - something new about my hair as this journey continues. As I was finger combing my curly/krinklies, I realized it was my naturally layered locks that prevents them from hanging the way I think they should. In fact, that's not something my hair will ever do, so I can just stop trippin 'bout dat...duh!!!


LIKE SOMEONE ELSE'S

This past week, while reading some blogs I found it ironic, that we always seem to want what we don't have. Locks "like" someone elses.

I was reading my gurls' TRA and Creyole's blogs (I haven't asked for their permission to share this, but they're my friends and know they won't mind me singling them out. Click on a name to read their full, interesting post.) Each wishes for a hair characteristics they don't naturally have.

TRA would like softer hair while I envy the feel of hers. I often feel if my hair were more course, my locks would look and hang better. The truth is, TRA's locks have naturally inherent characteristics, just as mine are uniquely mine. In other words, it is what it is. Now there are things and products we can use to help our locks feel and look closer to how we'd like them. However, I suggest the more we understand our naturalness and how to enhance it rather than change it, the more natural our locks will behave given time.

THE TRUTH

Creyole and I locked two months apart...she's understandbly anxious to completely lock, she wants her ends to lose the bud, she want's the shorter side to catch up with the longer side. But the truth is...hair locks at its on unique pace, it will bud when it's supposed to bud, and one side may have always been and will always be different. You know why? Because it's intrinsically "your" hair; like you - similar - but unlike any other.

LOCKED4LIFE!

But the good news is, when it does lock - it's locked and locked for life! Those specific hair worries never to surface again. Then you can cut them, style them, and have the freedom to do all the things that gave you reason to want Sisterlocks in the first place, making the lock journey intimately yours and characteristically - you.

As my Sisterlocks journey continues, I can break another unseen chain and embrace the knowledge that my locks will never lay like Sister-In-Locks, or feel like TRA's or look like Creyole's. But they're not supposed to. They're supposed to look characteristically like - BlaqKofi.

Caruso Set & Braid Out

Caruso Set



Friday night I washed my hair with Dr. Bonner's Peppermint Liquid Soap (diluted half-n-half with water). I conditioned with Avalon Organics Peppermint Conditioner since I couldn't find Dr. Bonner's conditioner. (I remember reading a post on Sandy's web site when she tried Dr. Bonner's so I decided to check it out.) The peppermint smelled oh so good, gave my scalp a tingly feeling and my locks felt so nice and clean!

Braid Out



I don't know if it was the Bonner's soap, but my ends tightened up - which is a good thing. I haven't been able to do a braid out in a long time because the bottom of some of my locks were fat. But since the wash, most are uniform and seem to be closing at the ends (you know that kind of rounded look that mature locks have rather than the little balls?)



Any how, I'm loving the look and feel of my locks since the wash. Here's a couple of looks that I've tried since Friday. The left shot is the braid out and the right is a Caruso set. My locks seemed to hang better and just looked prettier to me...or perhaps I was just feelin' pretty...or perhaps I just wanted an excuse to take another photo of my Sisterlocks, or perhaps all of the above!

Hopefully you can see the nice krinkly's from the braid out. Gonna have to work with the braid out some more. I felt it was a little unruly during the day or perhaps I just prefer the more manicured look of the curl sets. Regardless - well you know my song - I LOVE MY SISTERLOCKS!